Before and After

It's amazing to me the way that pictures tell a story. Just simply looking at a picture can evoke a flood of memories causing us to say "hey, do you remember when?" or "wow look how different we looked." Pictures can also show us how far we've come. Taking a picture of a building project there's a sense of accomplishment to be able to look at the moments that are captured from start to finish. Overall, it's just something that I love! I love to be able to look back and re-live those memories and lately that's what I've been doing.

I've been looking over my pictures and I know it doesn't come as a surprise to anyone that they have been of Nicaragua. What started this whole endeavor was realizing how much these precious babies (who aren't babies anymore) from Bethel have grown!! Comparing the pictures I couldn't help but think about how much life has happened between this pictures and the immeasurable blessing I've received to be a part of this "life happening." The relationships that have deepened...even the voices of these boys have deepened lol...the kids that were once small enough to fit in my lap I'm now looking up to!

It's been more than just the kids that have changed. Since Vision Nicaragua has been working alongside the people of Bethel there has been major structural differences too. We used to stay in the Leon a nearby city that's about 30 min. away from Bethel. But God provided this piece of land several years ago. Our initial intention was to use this piece of land to be able to create micro-buisnesses that would be self-sustaining and help provide other avenues of employment instead of the sugar cane fields. It's been nothing short of amazing to see how God has used this Mission Center which we thought would just be for housing our groups. Nicaraguan churches are now bringing their church groups and having retreats and we're not only able to house our teams but we are partnering with other US teams and they are able to bring their teams to stay as well.

Now on to the lovely before and after pics....

Check out this picture of the church in Bethel (at least 10+ years ago)

Now... in 2011 here is what the church in Bethel looks like

Isn't that amazing?! So much has changed from that church that was just made of sticks and tin. Now, it's an actual sound structure...it's painted...and has beautiful plants growing around it.

Here's some more before and after pictures.....

My sweet little family I stay with in Bethel. 2007 is on the left and 2010 is on the right.

Mission Center Property 2007

Now in 2011

Michele

2006 & 2011

(photo on the right by Dan Squire)

My sweet little brother Tony! Love this boy! He was 9 yrs. old when I first stayed with his family and the pic. on the right was 2010. He's taller than me now and is growing into such a strong young man whose heart for the Lord is so precious!

Here's little Jairo...not so little anymore.

Josue....love this boy!

Kareli...probably the spunkiest lil girl I've ever met! I love her energetic spirit and her sweet little personality.

I just can't explain the thankfulness I have when I look at all of these pictures! It is such a story of God's faithfulness provision and just abundant joy! Although I can't show pictures of my heart I'm so grateful and humbled in how he's walked through life with me as I've been given the upmost privilege of serving alongside the community of Bethel. There have been major ways that God has impacted my heart and grown me personally through going to Nicaragua.

My first trip I was amazed at how strongly I could feel his presence in a place that has so little...I've seen how worship is not just something we do on Sunday morning...it's a lifestyle that these people so vividly live out. It was here that I feel in love with God's Word...when I first felt that I truly heard God speak to me directly! This past summer I was reminded of how dearly he loves me and loves me in the way that I can trust him with my whole heart. I can loosen my grip on my plans that I have for my life....in realizing that my life is not my own! That I am bought with the precious blood of his son and that in resting in that I more eagerly let go of control and in an act of worship present my life as a sacrifice!

So, I wrap all of this up to say that God has blessed me richly through the faces of the people you see on this blog and it's the common love of the Lord that binds all of it together. It's a testimony of what he's able to do and I think it's a natural response in looking back over this pictures to give him thanks for what he's done and what he's going to do!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Be Strong and Courageous

I've been wanting to start writing this blog since I've been here, but there's been so much processing going on within my heart that it's taken until now to be able to write it all out.

I can best sum up my first 2 weeks here in saying that it's been time that the Lord has used to work on Lauren! Before I came I knew there were some areas in my heart that I was not allowing God to take control over, but something I've noticed is when I open myself up to the Lord taking inventory on my heart there are things I never knew that I was holding on to on top of what I was aware of. One of my memory verses recently has been Philippians 2:13...

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

This verse has been my prayer since I've been here....my time here started with 24 wonderful team members from my church and I'm so thankful for the time I had here with them. Their 10 days flew by!

These are people who know me well and know my heart and where I've been so their advice is always welcomed. But, once they left the words of encouragement and what God was showing me in scripture started coming together and my time with the Lord has been so rich!

I've been reading in Joshua which is one of my most favorite books in the Bible! I read it for the first time 3yrs. ago when I was here after I graduated college and that was the summer that I can truly say I fell in LOVE with Jesus! In wanting to celebrate that and rekindle my love for him I decided to walk through it with him once more (and I'm sure not the last ) to revisit what it was about his character I learned and how he pursued me into a deeper relationship with him!

I can identify with the Israelites so well because of their ups and downs they experience in their walk with the Lord. That have def. been moments and times when I forget who is God and I start following my own game plan.

So, I began reading and in Joshua 1 is where God calls Joshua to lead the Israelities into the land God had promised them (hence why it's called the "Promised Land"). This is after Moses has just died and Joshua was his assistant. What strikes me in this passage are the strong commands that God gives to Joshua, BUT not one command is not followed by a promise!

COMMAND v.2 "...the time has come for you to lead..to the land I am giving them"

PROMISE v.3. " I promise you..wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you."

COMMAND v.4 "from the Negev willderness...(and a lot other places that are listed as where he will conquer)

PROMISE v.5 "No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or adandon you."

There's more than that but WOW...a lot of strong things he's calling Joshua to do but noting does he command without promising his presence to be with him. He promises him that he WILL NOT FAIL him or abandon him. No person can ever promise that to us! Read Joshua 1 it's incredible how God pours all of this into Joshua and then Joshua shares all these commands and promises with the Israelites!

I share of all this to say while I've been in Nicaragua these first 2 weeks I've been in my own personal Joshua 1. It's been filled with God calling me to step out to "be strong and courageous" in giving him FULL control of the areas that I know he wants to mold! All of which have been followed by him promising to step with me...to make me more like him and give me the "desire and the power to do what pleases him."

These next 2 weeks I feel will be like the second part of Joshua 1...now I get to better pour into the lives of these precious people (in a more authentic and intentional way) to encourage them and remind them on what God promises for all of us. Which in reality they already know so well....but we can all use encouragement! There are several youth in Bethel that we have planned little "dates" throughout the next 2 weeks. One of which stayed here at the project with Matheson and I last night and she is going through some significant transition in her life and it's amazing to see how over the past several days what God has been teaching me is aplicable to her situation (just how Joshua was able to share with the Israelites). I'm so thankful for those opportunities that God puts together here...the feeling of knowing you're in the exact place you need to be!!