Nicaragua Confirmation

On November 6, a Students International exploratory team left Costa Rica and traveled north into Nicaragua to investigate the possibilities of starting a new ministry base there. The team included Maggie and I, Lowell and Cheryl Troyer, Jonathan and Trica Thompson (S.I. operations manager), and Maria (Nicaraguan staff member working at S.I. Costa Rica).

(The border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.)

We crossed the Nicaraguan border and drove north on the Pan American highway passing along the shores of Lake Nicaragua, the second largest lake in Latin America. We passed fields of bananas and plantains and saw majestic volcanoes in the distance. Most of our three day stay in Nicaragua centered around getting to know the town of Masaya and the surrounding area. Masaya has a population of 140,000 and was the town that Lowell had visited during a trip in April. We learned the general layout of the town, spent time at the central market, and connected with believers and missionaries in the area.

(The exploratory team with Nicaraguan pastor, Isael, and his wife.)

One of the most significant events of our stay, was a connection with Pastor Isael Luna, a national pastor in Masaya. He pastors a thriving church that has 110 cell groups and a school for 1100 children. As we talked about the possibility of Students International beginning a ministry base in Masaya, he opened his arms to us and said, “Come, the Kingdom of God is big enough for all of us. There is plenty of work to be done.” For Maggie and I, this was important, because we felt that if God wants us to begin a work in Nicaragua, the church leaders (spiritual gate keepers) would welcome us.

Maria was a valuable part of the exploratory team. She is Nicaraguan and is currently on staff with Students International Costa Rica. She arranged key connections and was an excellent tour guide. We also learned that she has been praying for three years that Students International would begin a work in her country.

(We tried out a Nicaraguan bicycle taxi.)

We ended our Central American trip by making a visit to Students International in Guatemala. We were able to be part of the dedication of a new S.I community center that will house a medical clinic, feeding program, and tutoring center. Ten of the fifteen Students International board members were at the dedication. They called a meeting and had the Nicaragua exploratory team share their experiences and thoughts. At the conclusion of the meeting, they gave the final approval for moving forward on beginning a ministry base in Nicaragua.

I can’t say that we came away from this trip having heard an audible word from the Lord or having received a miraculous sign as confirmation that we are to move to Nicaragua. But we did unanimously sense a settled conviction in our hearts that this is right, an expectancy of what God wants to do in Nicaragua, and a deep peace. I was reminded of a line of a song that I heard some years ago, “Go where the peace is. That’s where the Prince of Peace will be.”

At this point our plans are to take the next ten months to train leaders to take our place and to transition out of the Dominican Republic. Pray for us. Pray that we would be able to hear and obey God’s specific instructions in each step of this process.