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.

For us on this trip we saw lives affected before we even left Miami. People in the airport, curious about wanting to know what we were about and how they could help. Two different encounters on the plane with men asking for information about our group and giving us their business cards to contact them about going on a future trip. A flight attendant stopping me as I left the plane to ask what our group was about. After a brief explanation this person wanted to help in any way possible sharing both a private number for the airline and a personal cell phone number. Who would have been there for those people if we had let our hindrances prevail?

We had the privilege of meeting and offering words of counsel and comfort to the mother of a young girl with Down Syndrome when she asked through an interpreter if we can make her daughter normal.

We experienced too many young children so afflicted with intestinal parasites and hunger that their bellies are grossly enlarged.

Medical staff disinfected the young boy with lice so bad the patches of eggs were evident on his young head.

Remembering the young boy with severe abscesses on his head and abdomen that he was in danger systemically.

The afternoon of the medical and shoe clinic in San Francisco the rains came and came hard. What a beautiful scene it was to see everyone working in the mud, the children wet with muddy feet yet unfazed. At one point I paused in the midst of it all, looked around and saw such a beauty in that exact moment. All so purposeful, nothing by chance, a point in time orchestrated by God, for His joy and ours no doubt. I came fully to realize that to experience missions, and be so undeserving of it all is to truly find our joy in the Lord. If we never answered the Lord by saying “send me” who would have the privilege of washing the children’s muddy feet and tickling them for a precious smile as we fit them with new shoes and socks? Their hope of going to school now realized.

An incredibly powerful moment we all remember was meeting the eight year old girl who’s responsibility (by herself) was caring for her 3 siblings, ages 6 months, 2 years, and 4 years so their mother could go to a job – something most Nicaraguans do not have. Dave had the privilege of handing her shoes, socks, and clothes for her and her brothers and sisters. How incredibly humbling!

When I returned home I had waiting for me in the mailbox a CD of Pastor Larry’s sermon from that week we were away. As I listened to Larry speak of John 13:34: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another, I heard Larry say again and again that we must make LOVE a verb. It’s not just a noun. I thought how perfectly this related to missions. My prayer is for you to ask yourself “should I go” and make LOVE a verb this way. The accomplishing begins as soon as we believe that God will make a difference through us.

In His Service