FBC LaBelle
My biggest fear coming to Nicaragua wasn’t the fact that I hadn’t flown in twenty years or that I didn’t know what to expect or that I doubted myself. My biggest fear was this trip would not be life changing and that I wouldn’t love the people we would be meeting and sharing Jesus with. I kept hearing people tell me this is going to change your life. I got to thinking what if it doesn’t. What if this trip isn’t life changing? So I began to pray and pray and pray about these things. I didn’t want to come here and this not be life changing. I didn’t want to come here and not love these people. Thank goodness I serve a God who answers prayers. I won’t be leaving here unchanged and I won’t be leaving here without loving the people I came in contact with. Matthew 7:7-8 says this “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. This is true. God answered my prayer and I am forever changed!
Today was the last day at the nursing home. I left there with mixed emotions. I came to love these ladies in just a few days and I will always be forever grateful for the time I got to spend with them. They made me laugh and smile. They touched my heart in a way I never could have imagined. The language barrier was frustrating but at the same time it didn’t seem to matter. I believe they felt how much love we had for them. We gave them some bracelets and earrings today just to show them we care. Nothing fancy but they enjoyed them. I knew that today was going to be hard for me but I wasn’t expecting it to be this hard. The nurse who helps take care of these women told me and Michelle today that Dora has cancer. She showed us the sore on her foot. Maybe I wouldn’t have broke down if I hadn’t seen the sore but never the less I lost it. I couldn’t quit crying. I know she is around 97 but the fact is she has cancer on top of being blind and bed ridden. Michelle convinced me to leave so I could have my moment of heartbreak. I got it together after a few minutes but didn’t go back in as I don’t think I could have so I just enjoyed what time I had left with the other women there. Later on Michelle told me Dora is very secure about her salvation and relationship with Christ. This gave me some peace. I have thought about this a lot today off and on. I came to the realization that one day I will get to see Dora again but not in a bed and not as a blind woman with cancer but perfect and still beautiful. This is because we both have a common bond. We both have a savior who loved us enough to die on a cross so we could stand in Heaven one day…………..PERFECT!!!!!
Another hot day at VBS but it was well worth every drop of sweat. We had twenty kids give their life to Christ today! How awesome is that?! I knew two of them. They are Dennis and Ernesto. They are adorable and I wanted to bring them home with me. In fact I would love to be able to bring all of them home with me but that’s not possible. These kids are just amazing! All they want is love. They just want somebody to love them. It was hard leaving them behind knowing that I probably wouldn’t see them again. I think we all left there today with a heavy heart. These kids touched all of us and we couldn’t be more blessed than to have had them brought into our lives. I had this small group of boys that I fell in love with and then God placed this little girl in the middle of them. Unfortunately Allison didn’t show up today which made me sad. I really wanted to just love all over her again but I didn’t get to. I didn’t get to tell her bye. Tonight my heart is heavy and it hurts. God allowed me the privilege of falling in love with some amazing kids and I am going to miss them all. I already do. Please don’t miss understand me I love all of them but there are some that just tug at your heart more than others and God knew which ones were going to get at mine. They are Dennis, Ernesto, Richard, Derrick and Allison. There is a song I am reminded of as I write this. Jesus loves the little children. Red, yellow, black or white they are all precious in His sight. It’s because of Jesus that these little children became precious in my sight
“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is also welcoming me. Matthew 18:5
Jennifer Ruble
No comments:
Post a Comment