Christ Community Church Daytona Beach Florida

It’s amazing how God can prompt any of us to evaluate our relationship with others in the body of Christ and with those to whom we are to show the love of God through compassion and a caring hand.  Above all, as a Master Craftsman of the human heart and soul, He knows when and where to bring us to evaluate the genuineness of our own heart’s disposition toward Him.  Now, there are indisputably a myriad of ways in which God can bring each of us to such an inward probing of the heart.  Speaking for myself, and I do believe that I’m speaking for others as well, the mission trip to Nicaragua with the team that God assembled was one such way that God presented a mirror for self-evaluation in respect to what truly matters for one who takes the precious name of Christ.  

            The setting up and operating the village clinics at Sabana Grande/El Carrizo, La Pita, Pena Blanca to San Pablo where the impoverished in Nicaragua were shown the love of Christ through medical care and medicine, by means of instruction in dental hygiene and the distribution of shoes and clothing, was, indeed, an experience of servanthood.  It was a servanthood that reminded me of what James calls “pure and faultless” religion that God accepts: “to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”  In other words, the marginalized, those most in need of a generous heart and manifested by a giving and serving hand.   Particularly arresting was that when you looked into the eyes of the Nicaraguans who arrived at the clinics, from the very young to the aged, you were acutely aware that you were no longer dealing with an abstraction.  These are not people in poverty, born into a cycle of illiteracy and suffering, which are somehow far away from your everyday experience; people you see pictures of and read about in brochures asking for financial support.  Rather, they are squarely in front of you in real space and time.  The abstract is now concrete.  You can read despair on many faces and the sheer drudgery of living in a country that does not meet the basic needs of its people.  Yet, unexpectedly, you are also met with abundant gleaming smiles despite such need.  There was nothing more stirring than the smiles, either from a youngster carrying their 6 month old sibling or an old person seeking relief from particularly painful condition; and all those in between.  The people we served had such dignity, such appreciation for the hope that was brought to them through practical aid.  We gave, and, yes, by those Nicaraguan smiles, we all received as well. 

            Despite the language barrier, many of us teased out enough Spanish to express a connection with the people we served and a word or fractured sentence about Christ’s love for them.  For all of us, just a touch, a kiss on the cheek, a hug, a smile, or teary eyes that couldn’t be restrained were sufficient.  In that way, and with the Nicaraguan people’s overall awareness that it was under the guiding hand of God that we were there, the love and help that was shown glorified and honored the God; the One who called each and every one of us to go to others who are also made in the image of God and with whom we share the same dignity. 

            So then, I feel humbled that God has allowed me to serve others also made in His image and who are most lacking in basic physical needs.  For in serving them I serve Him.  And I am much more deeply aware that a healing hand, a comforting hand, can point anyone upwards to where our Lord has open arms to all who will come to Him.  And He will work that part out; my part is to show the love of Christ where ever a need is to be met.  Further, something that was so impressive was the diversity of abilities and talents, personalities and the sheer span of ages on the mission team; from 6 years old to 89 years old.  I felt a closeness to my brothers and sisters in Christ on the team that was very endearing to me and more apparent as a result of our mutual servanthood and submissiveness as a family in Nicaragua.  I praise God for that and am grateful to all of you with whom I served and to all of you who supported and prayed for our fruitful efforts in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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