Twenty-one Days in Nicaragua

Students International Base

Located on the highway outside of Masaya, the base will be our center of operations and will house outreaches of up to thirty people.

Twenty-one days ago, American Airlines Flight 985 touched down at the Managua airport.  After five months of transition, we had finally arrived.  Somehow it seems like we’ve been in Nicaragua for much longer than three weeks - not in a bad way, but because of everything God has allowed us to experience and accomplish.

      Our primary focus in these weeks has been two-fold—to personally get settled in and to get the Students International ministry base up and running.  Appliances, bunk beds, kitchen supplies, and office equipment needed to be located and purchased for the base. Curtains needed to be sewed. Wiring and plumbing had to be adapted to the ministry’s needs.  The grounds had been neglected and needed attention.  

      God has also been gracious to us personally.  We have purchased a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero which will serve us well in ministry.  We have also located and signed a rental contract on a house.  We’re excited because it has extra bedrooms which give us the ability to host visitors and a large living room which will be used for staff bible studies and other staff events.  Nate thinks he would like to buy a bicycle.  Many Nicaraguan families can’t afford a car or a motorcycle, so bicycles become a much used form of transportation.  Using a bicycle to run to the store, visit our ministries as they become established,  and run other small errands will be a way for us to identify with the culture.

      We have begun to connect with the local church here in Masaya.  We have been attending Sunday morning services and have been part of a prayer summit and a evangelistic event.  We are blessed by the church’s vision for outreach to the community, their emphasis on discipleship,  and their dynamic church gatherings.  Pastor Luna is a man of faith, prayer, and humility, and his example inspires us.

      In these three weeks, we have been experiencing  the grace and power of God.  Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”  As we complete this first phase and move on into developing ministries in the community, we are confident that God will continue to grace us with discernment, key connections, and the empowering of his Spirit that we so desperately need.

Our First Team

      Ten days after arriving to Nicaragua, we hosted Students International Costa Rica director, Jeff Dixon, Cailah Pritchard and eight semester students from Fresno Pacific University.  S.I. Costa Rica ministers to many Nicaraguan immigrants.  Bringing the semester students to Nicaragua provided the opportunity for them to learn about the history and culture of Nicaragua.  They visited historical and political sites, the local market, and scenic areas.  They also dedicated two days to working at our base.  They worked in the lawn, washed windows and screens, and helped with other maintenance projects.