Before I came on this trip to Nicaragua I had so many expectations of how it was going to look. How my team was going to be, how ministry was going to look, what I would get out of it all, what the people here were going to be like...all kinds of expectations. My expectations were completely wrong so I'm really trying to stop having so many expectations and just let God lead this year. Many people that go on mission trips and come back talk about how they brought back more from the trip than what they gave. My team is wonderful and I have realized that I don't care how much I get out of this or how much it changes me as long as I have the chance to impact someone's life here and the people here are beautiful. Ministry here is different than I imagined but that is a good thing. I expected to come, jump full force into going to feeding centers, orphanages, and hospitals but God is really starting to redefine my image of ministry. My leader Tana said something pretty cool. "Ministry is life and life is ministry". I didn't get that at first but I'm starting to now because sometimes the greatest way to minister to these people is just to live with them and be a constant in their lives.

Our team is the first FYM team here in Nicaragua and so we have the exciting opportunity to help develop some ministries here and break some new ground. I think some of the people and kids here at first expected us to just stay for a couple of weeks and leave but I think its cool to see them realize that we are here to stay for a while and want to invest in their lives. Ministry or loving people is not just giving them money on the street or buying a meal for them but it is sitting down with them while they are eating the meal and starting a relationship with them. I honestly would think that's how Jesus would do it.

We have had so much rain here in Nicaragua. Last night the bottom level of our house flooded but thankfully we had time to get all of our stuff to a higher part of the house. The only reason our house flooded was because of some random things like rats and nerf footballs being stuck in our drain. It was crazy and I think because there is so much rain is why I haven't seen any carpet in any of the houses hereJ These folks are smart! We have been doing a lot of work at El Puente this week. I love going there and will try to get some pictures of it up soon. I miss everyone at home...hope yall are doing great! I love showing kids around here pictures of my family and friends and I think they enjoy it to.

On Friday nights an American couple living near us have been showing a movie on the side of their house(all the houses here are connected to each other) and that has been a great way to get to know some of the kids and teens that live near us. Another cool thing that has happened the last couple of weeks has been getting to know our translators Mario and Natalia. Both of them have been such great helps around the city and also just getting to know about their lives has been great.

I hope everyone has had a blessed week!

JennJ