What did we accomplish?

The F250 truck is still not running... After all the effort to find and bring the part from the United States, the truck will still need to go to Managua for where there is more diagnostic equipment.

Another team from FBC Cornelia has returned safely home after a busy and meaningful week of work in Matagalpa.  We saw 500 people in the clinics and even more in VBS.  We dispensed over 1500 prescriptions. This year we saw hundreds of women attend health and hygiene classes, including potentially life-saving instruction on self breast examination.  Our prayer station in the clinic was constantly filled with people being prayed over (sometimes in both English and Spanish).  We worshiped, prayed, and worked with multiple faithful members of FBC Matagalpa (many of whom had to get time-off from their jobs to come and work along side us).

While it's pretty easy to tout a variety of "numbers" to measure the "success" or the "impact" of a ministry effort like this, I think that those really miss the point.  After working in Nicaragua for 12 years I can see that there have been some overall improvements, yet it remains the second poorest country in the hemisphere - kind of like the truck that is still not working...  Some (usually those who've never been) might ask, "Why go to all that expense... Surely there are more 'cost-effective' ways to help."  I would answer that Jesus reminded us that "The poor you will always have with you..." (Mat 26:11).  I would argue that the real enduring value lies in the relationships that have grown through this work.  Jesus also said, “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:34 The Message) This love doesn't happen in a vacuum. It requires relationship.  This work allows us to model that love for "one another" in a variety of beautiful relationships as we come together from all over Georgia as a team, as we serve side-by-side with members from FBC Matagalpa and MVI, and as we meet and serve and love those people in the surrounding communities. Paul reminds us in his great Love chapter in 1 Corinthians that while prophecies and tongues and knowledge will all pass away, "Love never fails"!
Gloria a Dios!
Hasta próximo año
Rhett