FBC LaBelle
Today was our second full day in Nicaragua. It was the first day of our work though. We started off by visiting a retirement home with fourteen residents. The reason these people are there is because they have either been abandoned by their families or just have no one to take care of them. Before going to the retirement home we were told the condition of it would be different than what is in the states. We were given a tour of the facilities and were able to spend time with the residents. One of the first women we met was Dora. Dora was really cool. Dora is blind and likes to sing love songs. We met Dora lying in her bed and as she was singing our Youth Pastor Preston came over and held her hand. This was one of the many times I have seen the love of Jesus shining in the world of darkness we live in since I have been here. It was such a moving moment. It took everything I had to keep from crying. God is moving and working in Nicaragua. After leaving Dora we met a few other residents. We met Rosita and Luisa. There were others there as well but unfortunately I didn’t get their names. We got to sing to them and talk with them. It was just such a moving and joyful experience. We were singing one name under heaven which has some hand motions with it and one of the ladies was trying to do the motions with us. As I was watching and experiencing this God given moment I couldn’t help but smile. To watch her try out these hand motions was awesome. I also saw Rosita with a few tears in her eyes at one moment. God was just there. He was touching their lives and He was touching mine. At one point I felt like hugging Rosita so I did and she hugged me right back. I have got to say this is one of the best hugs I have ever gotten. This was such a blessing from God. There were so many God given moments while we were there and I am just so thankful for every one of them.
After the retirement home we went back to Bethel for VBS. We had over two hundred children today. All I can say is wow!! Most of the kids we had were orphans or whose parents didn’t really take care of them. It was so fun to be able to talk with them and tickle them. There was Derrick, Selena, Jimmy, Dennis, Telma, Jennifer, Richard and so many more. These kids were amazing and beautiful. They were so fun to be around. There was a little girl who sat in front of me during the opening in VBS who was not any older than four or five. She would talk to me in Spanish and just start laughing and I would tickle her and press my finger on her nose to make her laugh even more. She was adorable and loving. Her laugh was infectious and I want more of that. I want to hear her laugh and see her smile. I want to see them all smile. I want these kids to know how loved they are. Unfortunately it’s also a reality check. I have three nieces who I love with all of my heart and they know they are loved. To know that many of these kids are orphans and don’t know where their next meal will come from is heartbreaking. After their bible study lesson we got to serve them a hot meal. For many this is the only hot meal they will get. Some of the kids ate it slow, some inhaled it without tasting it and some didn’t eat at all or ate just a little bit. The reason they didn’t eat or ate very little is because they were saving it for someone in their family. It breaks my heart to know that these kids are living like this. They don’t have a home and many of them don’t have a family. Another reality check I had while I was here today was how grateful these kids were for a stick of gum. I had remembered that I had these in my bag and decided to give some to the children. They were so thankful for this. I have never thought twice about a stick of gum this is something I’ve always had. I didn’t know that when I went to VBS today that a stick of gum would mean so much to someone or show me just how much I have been blessed with. Next time I chew a piece of gum I will remember just how much I have and how much God has blessed me and I hope you do the same.
1 Timothy 1:12 says “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” I am so humbled that my Savior considered me faithful enough to do His work here in Nicaragua. I know the only reason I am able to do this is because of Him. There is no way I would be able to do any of this without Him. He is the one who is keeping me going so I can do what He needs me to do.
Jennifer Ruble
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