NICARAGUA

As many of you know I am leaving with a group of dedicated doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and human beings for the village of Israel in the Chinandega region of Nicaragua this weekend.  We are going to meet medical, dental, veterinary, and most of all spiritual needs of the people in this region.  I am excited and frightened at the same time.

I have wanted to go on a mission trip for a number of years but I have never been in a position financially or been available from a time standpoint.  When we moved to Jackson, we were blessed with a very flexible schedule and greater financial security.  Because of this, I began to look for opportunities.  Shortly after we began attending Englewood Baptist Church, the summer mission opportunities were listed.  I also began reading the book Radical by David Platt.  This book really challenged me to look outside my comfort zone.  I soon discovered that one of my partners at the Jackson Clinic, Dr. Jenkins would be on the Nicaragua trip.  I spent some time in prayerful consideration, in discussion with my wife, Lynn, and with Dr. Jenkins.  I became convinced that the Lord was providing me an opportunity to serve on His mission field in Nicaragua. 

There have been very few times in my life when I have been so certain of what I should do.  I am very excited for the opportunity.  I am frightened, or maybe I should say concerned about a number of things.  I have never been away from Lynn and the girls this long without any communication.  I am concerned for their safety and sense of well being in my absence.  I have never been out of the United States.  It may seem odd, but I never had the opportunity to leave before.  The idea of being on foreign soil in a country where I do not speak the language is a bit unnerving, if only because it is unknown to me.  The entire process of international travel is a bit overwhelming since it is my first time.  The task before me is daunting.  We will each see about 200-250 patients a day with the aid of an interpreter.  Our supplies and medications are limited.  I have never tried to see this volume of patients even when I can communicate effectively. I hope that I can be of some aid to these people.  I have concerns about the heat and lack of air conditioning, the lack of indoor plumbing, and whether or not I will get adequate rest.  I am also concerned about picking up some tropical infection or parasite.  I have taken the malaria prophylaxis, typhoid and hepatitis A vaccines as well as Tetanus.  All of this has me filled with a bit of angst, but I am mostly excited.

I am planning to journal the experience and take as many photographs as time will allow.  I plan to post my experience on this blog when I return.  In the meantime, please keep me in your prayers.  I will be out of telephone and cellular range most of next week.  There will be no Internet access until I get home, so the updates will have to wait.  Please pray that we have safe travel.  Pray that our supplies are in order and that we can help meet the physical needs of the villagers.  Pray for those who will preach the gospel.  That is after all why we are going.  I hope that all along the way folks see the love of Christ in us.  Pray that we will remember who we are and to Whom we belong.  Pray that we make much of Jesus.  This trip will be a success if even one person accepts Christ as savior.  I am thankful that I have been given gifts that allow me to minister to folks physically, but even more thankful that those gifts open a door to allow our group to meet spiritual needs as well.  Finally pray for our health and for our families who anxiously await our return.  I will update everyone on our trip when I return next week.

As our leader, Adrian Cross, always says, Dios es tan bueno!