In 2009, Don and I made a decision to say “yes” to one of those God nudges that He gives. There were several things in our lives that led up to this heavenly nudge. I (Wendy) was on the missions committee for our church (Keystone Community Church in Saline, Michigan).
I had been on a couple medical mission trips to Central America, our kids had been on mission trips through youth group, and I knew the impact that being on a mission trip could have on a faith journey. Our mission committee had faithfully set money aside each year for adult mission trips, but it was rarely used. The committee felt that God had a plan for an adult mission trip – we just needed a place and a leader. At about the same time, I was in a group study of “Experiencing God” (by Henry Blackaby, Claude King, Richard Blackaby). One of the study questions was “what would you do for God if you knew you would not fail?” My answer – lead a mission trip. So, Don and I stepped out of our comfort zone, into God’s comfort zone, and decided to lead a trip. We knew a mission trip could change lives, but we honestly had no idea how big God’s plans were for this.
In May, 2009, our team headed for Managua, Nicaragua. We were going to work with missionaries who were running an orphanage in Managua. They arranged pretty much everything for us once we got there, we just had to arrange our flights – a great set-up for leaders stepping out of their comfort zone! Two of the people on that team were Tim and Amy Taylor.
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere (Haiti is the poorest). On this trip, we cared for children who had been abandoned by their parents, some of them found abandoned in the city dump. We saw children whose hair was light in color from malnutrition, with darker roots now that they were being fed. We were taken through the city dump, where we saw people living in shelters made of trash, living on top of trash heaps, searching for food or useful items in the trash. We cuddled and played with children, we cleaned and painted the orphanage, and we had our hearts broken. Each evening, we met for devotions and we talked about our days. Each of us would tell what the best and worst parts of our day was, and we would pray. And God moved hearts, and God changed lives, as only God can do.
The following year, Tim and Amy Taylor led the trip. Again, God moved through the trip to break hearts, change hearts, and change lives. In early 2012, Tim and Amy moved to Managua to help the missionaries with their mission, and in October of 2012 they started Life Together Nicaragua with the feeding program in Cristo Rey. God had even bigger plans, and they expanded into an education program. And God’s plan was even bigger – now LTN is sending kids to college! And God continues to move hearts and change lives in Nicaragua and here in the states.
Almost every year since our first trip in 2009, Don and I have returned to Nicaragua. Every time we go, we are awed by what God is doing in the community through Life Together. We have continued to sponsor kids in school, to support the feeding and education program, and to be a part of fund drives. Some of our highlights over the years: Bringing teams of people who have never been to Nicaragua, seeing Nicaragua through their eyes and seeing their hearts expand. Spending time with our sponsored kids, taking them to buy shoes and backpacks, buying them lunch and ice cream, getting hugs. Watching teens from our home church play with kids and hearing laughter from everyone. Hearing the well pump work for the first time. Seeing the education center for the first time. Attending the 6th grade graduation for one of our sponsored kids.
We are grateful that God trusted us to be a part of this, grateful that we said “yes” to God’s nudge, and so grateful that Tim and Amy said a big “yes” to God’s plan.
You may feel God nudging you to move out of your comfort zone, to take the next step in supporting LTN. If you do, the most important thing I can tell you is to consider the question of “what would you do for God if you knew you could not fail?”, and say YES. From a tiny mustard seed of faith and even just a whisper of yes, God can move mountains and change lives.
Praying for all of us to say “yes” to God’s plans.
