Update #8
/Update from Friday, July 26, 2024
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Our group has experienced the wonders of God this week through so many ministries.
Every day we experienced how wonderful the people are in Nicaragua. Hearts filled with love, generosity, and the Lord’s Spirit beyond measure. New faces meant new friends!
The incredible medical clinics at which we shared the gospel with so many people touched my heart!
While at the Veracruz English Academy, many of us had the opportunity to lead a class. However, personally, I know I learned more by leading the class than the students did from the lesson!!
Friday, was our last full day in Nicaragua and was our designated cultural experience day. Honestly, every day of this journey was a cultural experience beyond measure.
Many times we take for granted the beauty of the land that God has provided. We tend to take for granted the wonderful people we come to know through God’s blessings. With the Lord’s blessing, we made the three hour bus ride to San Juan del Sur. I really want to share a bit about all of these blessed people who joined us on the trip to the West coast of Nicaragua!
In part, with the help of One By One, Inc. (and Faith Presbyterian Church) Regan and his wife, Blanca, founded the Veracruz English Academy! He has spent most of his waking hours with our Faith PCA team as our interpreter, our cultural liaison, a faith leader, and really most importantly, a friend to each of us! The bond that each of us has developed with Regan is one of love. Without a doubt the Lord has brought us together to bring good to this world.
Darol was our faithful bus driver! He was at the complex before breakfast and until we were finished in the evening! Oh my goodness!! He was amazing. What a driver he was in some of the wildest traffic!!! He not only drove the bus, bus shared in our fellowship and mission throughout the time we have spent in Nicaragua.
Olga is Darol’s daughter. She has joined us several times throughout the week. Olga is a fresh youthful addition to our group. She is a nice young lady who shared in fellowship and mission with our team!
David, Regan and Blanca’s youngest son, served as an interpreter at the Saturday medical clinic. Additionally, he occasionally fills in teaching at the Veracruz English Academy which he did on the Thursday field trips. He works in Managua and enjoys playing volleyball! We had some great conversations about volleyball!!! David spent quite a bit of time with our team in fellowship, prayer, and mission!
The final member of our excursion was David Elijah who everyone calls Elias! This young man of eleven is an incredible and loving soul! Elias served as an interpreter at all three of our medical clinics. Elias attends the Veracruz English Academy. Throughout the week Elias’ confidence improved as he translated for so many of us! He also translated from English to Spanish helping the Faith PCA team with learning Spanish! Elias and Roman formed a fast friendship, so much fun to watch their interactions! Elias is a loving young man who Mike and I enjoyed our time with! It will be hard to say goodbye!
The majestic Glory of God is so obvious when witnessing the beauty and strength of the ocean. In the vast waters we were humbled watching two humpback whales pass by us. Swimming in the warm waters in a beach surrounded by mountains on the coast of Nicaragua was a joyous and relaxing way to enjoy fellowship. This shared experience between us was one more blessing of the Lord above!
As we returned back to the complex, we reminisced about all the joys we experienced. God blessed us with a beautiful day and beautiful friends!
Candy and Mike McLearen
