Gods Grace and Love
This has been a great and unbelievable time in my life. God has showed me favor and I do not know why does God has been so wonderful to me. God works in mysterious ways. Here in Nicaragua we have had the privilege to have friends coming down to help us in this ministry. Since May we have been busy working along side with teams from Arkansas, Colorado, Wisconsin.
For long time we were praying to have a place for the campus ministry in Managua. Our main target for the ministry it is in Managua, therefore we were needing so bad a place to have a headquarter offices and also a place to meet with students and leaders from the ministry to have training, discipleship, meetings, and also a place to hang out, study, have fun, feel in a fellowship with other Christians brothers and sisters and also the reference place of the ministry here in Nicaragua.
Our National Directors mother wanted to see her home being used for the ministry so Jimmy thought we could use the house for the campus ministry but this was out of shape. It was abandon for about five years, no showers, no toilets, no roof, no kitchen, no power, no water, no phone, no furniture, it was dirty with lots of dust and dead animals on the ceilingetc, etc.
First God brought a team from Arkansas lead by Jimilea Berryhill to help us to clean the entire place and give a prime to the walls, but still not major arrangements. Then my friend Mike Sutter from Colorado and his wonderful leadership team along with his parents Gary and Lorie, an outstanding family. They help us out to paint all the inside house, replace the toilets and showers, turn down the bad ceiling, set power and water and even they gave us a sink for the kitchen and a refrigerator. Before they left we could made the first meeting with some of the college students that are working with us in the ministry. It was so wonderful to be able to see this place fixed to be use. Still we need to paint the front of the house and replace the whole roof buy furniture but for now it is been used for the campus ministry events and we are so excited for the blessings that God has brought to this ministry. We know that God will use this place to build the new leaders for the campus ministry and also for the society of Nicaragua.
The last team that was working whit us Mike Lace team (from Wisconsin) were helping us out with the campus ministry mainly giving conferences at local strategic colleges where we are working or we want to start a ministry. Sadly right now some of the colleges are in vacations and most of the conferences were not the ones that we thought were the strategic ones, but as God works in mysterious ways, He knew that everything was according to His master plan and everything was perfect with the activities we held at the colleges and some local churches. Every team that has came to Nicaragua have been part of a greater body which are working together in the same goal yet in different areas. Everyone have been of great blessing to us and I know God is pleased with their work down here. We had the privilege to work in churches, poor villages, orphanages, Colleges, down syndrome homes, and schools. It was such a wonderful time till now and I know there have been hard times but God is in control and I just chill and let Him do the work. Let me tell you that the results have been greater than we thought they would be.
The last July 1st I came back from South Korea in a short trip where I was appointed to represent Central America area. When I got the email from Carlos Tenorio, the first time I thought, it is good because of the previous experience with the Mexico trip planning but then later this idea was getting stronger and by the grace of our Lord I could make it to Seoul, South Korea. Because of the short notice I was having problems finding a flight from Managua. Two days before the appointed departure date I got a phone from the travel agent where she could find a space in a really difficult airline. For me this was impressive, she mentioned me that this airline is weird to have a open space so I got the ticket in a higher price but I trust God that if He has a purpose on me to go I would go. Once I made all the immigration (visa) process and the help from some wonderful friends (the Tutters). It was a long trip. I have to get two different airlines tickets so thats mean that if I lose a flight I would lose the whole trip and I would be stuck somewhere for I do not how long. Thank God, and the good advises of some friends to pack light I just got a carry on with me so I did not have to go through customs. If I would have a bigger luggage, surely I would lose a flight. All the time I had to run in the airports. My itinerary went this way; from Managua to Costa Rica, then to Panama, Spain, France and finally to Seoul, Korea. In the way back was kind of the same but with the difference that I have to stay a night in Madrid and another in Costa Rica. God made it possible to me that I did not lose any flight and everything went right with my travel.
I was invited to go to South Korea as a representative of the Central America area of affairs. I was attending a meeting for designing the Campus Mission 2007 global conference that will take place in Busan, SK. The Vision for this conference is to see
Christ Magnified- Calling students to a life of surrender to the Lordship of Christ and exalting our magnificent God and Savior
Connected Movements- Connecting the hearts and lives of our students and staff as a global community of campus movements
Completing the Mission- Unleashing a new generation of spiritual movement builder/multipliers to strengthen existing movements, and launch new movements on the unreached campuses of the world
The design team asked me to join the Operation team and help in the process to get answers to many questions about the CM 2007 Conference where we pray to receive around 20,000 students from all around the world. The Korean Campus Crusade for Christ are trusting God to raise the funds to pay for the in-country expenses (housing, meals and transportation during the conference that will take place on Jun 30th to July 6th of 2007.) they are raising about 4 millions of dollars and I can tell you that they are really trusting to see this happen. They do not care about numbers they care about reaching the lost and glorifying God.
The last two days that I have to spend in Korea, I got the chance to get a preview of what it would be like the next year. At the same time there were 10,000 students from Korean Summer Conference and I can tell you that there is nothing like that. I could see first hand how they devoted themselves to the pray and praising of our Lord. It is amazing to see so many young students willing to say YES TO GOD and also be willing to go and reach other campuses and other nations.
Now the new responsibility on my part is to inform all the Central American countries about this conference and help them to be part of this global movement. I am so excited to be part of this and I long to see a great movement of people coming before the Lord willing to surrender their lives to go and reach the nations for Christ. This is so great and I can tell you that my trip was worthy and my life is getting so excited that I want you to join me on this great journey.
I feel that here in Nicaragua will raise a group a young people that will go to the un-reached campuses in the country and other parts of the world. The world is waiting for this generation to stand bold to proclaim the message of salvation as the first Christians did in the fist century.
I know this is a long email but I just wanted to let you know how this ministry is going. You are my partner and I am really thankful to have you at my side. During the conferences held at the colleges and also the work at the communities God showed me that Nicaragua is thirst of Gods message. Sometimes I am afraid to approach someone with the message but as I was reading on the Bible and other books of Church History I fund out that I am a Son of God cause someone was brave enough to tell me about Jesus Christ and tell others with a great passion and love to the Creator so my job is to tell others about this God that Loved me so much and gave me Eternal Life even though I am a Sinner. So why I do not pick up my cross and let others to know about this God without scare to dead if I already have Eternal Life? What would I lose? Sometimes I am stopped of sharing Christ to others by memories of my sins but I have to think about that I am not perfect and God gave me the gift of salvation, and even thou I am a sinner He still love me and He wants me to come in repentance before Him so I can have a perfect relationship with Him. So if you want to remember something from this email let it be that we do not lose anything sharing God with others. This life is so short and sometimes we do not consider it like that. So lets make the differences in this world!!! Lets share Christ Today.
Love you in Christ.