Nicaragua

Buenos, Amigos!

I just returned from my third international spring break service trip. This year I spent my spring break serving the people of Nicaragua along with 16 other honors college students and a team of medical and dental students from UCATSE (A private Catholic University in Nicaragua).

We flew into Managua on Saturday evening of the 17th. We spent Sunday in Managua exploring the sights and sounds of the city before heading to our service site. Monday morning we loaded up and headed to Esteli, a small town about three hours out of Managua.

I think the most incredible part of our day in Managua was our visit to an active volcano. I have never seen anything like it before. The massive size of the crater was beyond description. It was incredible to smell the sulfur and see the gases rising up from the center of the crater. I felt as if I were getting a glimpse into Hell. I shuttered to think of the agony of eternal fire that awaits those who reject Jesus Christ. 

The gases at the top make breathing nearly impossible. I started coughing as soon as I reached the cross.

On Tuesday, our group split into teams of four and we spent the morning in different local health clinics. At the clinic I learned a lot about public health in Nicaragua. I also assisted the nurses with giving injections and taking vitals. I really enjoyed teaching my team mates how to do vitals and take manual blood pressures. This trip really revealed to me my heart for teaching.

 

In the afternoon we toured a local hospital. I was pleasantly surprised at how well run the hospital was. In other countries I have visited the public hospitals are less than reputable. However, this hospital was clean, quiet and orderly.

We spent Wednesday at UCATSE's campus. In the morning we spent time in their lab. This was when I learned that my guess that I would not find lab work interesting came true. About five minutes into making agar to grow specimens in, I was ready for a nap (haha). That afternoon we went to their cadaver lab; well, everyone else went to the cadaver lab, I sat outside. I do NOT like dead bodies, especially extremely decayed ones. In all honesty, there is just something unnatural about fiddling around with someone Else's organs.

At UCASTE's Labs

Thursday and Friday we did two rural medical clinics at two different sites, 30 minutes and 60 minutes outside of Esteli, respectively. This for me was the highlight of the trip. I loved interacting with the local people and providing direct care and service to them. 

I loved teaching my team how to take manual blood pressure. It was incredible to see how accomplished it made them feel

My new friends, Claudia and Ricardo

Our first clinical site, a two room schoolhouse about 30 minutes outside of Esteli

One of the children at the clinic shared their pet parrot with me

Helping to give fluoride treatments to the local children.

A few personal reflections:

Before this trip I was familiar with the John Piper quote "Missions exist because worship doesn't", but I never truly grasped its meaning. However, I gained new understanding on this trip. I had an epiphany as I was standing with my team looking out over a mountain lake. Internally, I was marveling at the glory of God revealed in nature. My heart was filled with praise for the Lord; I wanted to sing at the top of my lungs about His greatness. I looked around and realized I was the only one who was thinking this way.  I was struck with the realization that these people were created to worship God, yet they worship idols. They were created to love Him, but they hate Him. I wanted to shout, "The Lord is great! Worship and love Him!"

I view these trips as personal mission trips to my fellow Honors College members. It is a unique time to have extended conversations about the gospel with them that are not possible at other times. I have to say, this trip was one of the most difficult times I have ever had sharing the gospel. It was a deadly combination of personal exhaustion as well as widespread hardness of hearts among the students. Over all it was fairly discouraging. But, the Lord was gracious and faithful. I rest in His sovereignty.

If you know me, you know that I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew. This trip to Nicaragua was, unfortunately, one of those times. I was just too stressed, exhausted and overwhelmed to really enjoy myself. I spent most of the week wishing I were home.

On that that thought, I don't think there's any better feeling then coming home to GBC. There is no place on earth I'd rather be. I never knew that I could become so attached to a group of people so quickly. But, truly these people have become my family. There has never been a place where I have felt as accepted and loved. No matter how much my world is falling to pieces, I always know that on Sunday I can go to church, worship the Lord, hear the word of God and get a hug from some one who loves me.