As we pulled up, Juliann Sullivan noticed the Cana´s and commented how much prettier those were than the one growing in her yard. They really were beautiful. This tropical climate produces some of the most beautiful flowers the Lord has created. The strange thing was the scene surrounding these beautiful flowers.
We began yesterday morning fairly early. Though all of us would have loved to sleep in a little longer, no one regretted sacrificing a little sleep.
Pastor Panteleon sounded the horn on the bus and the kids started coming from everywhere. As we clamored out like the Volkswagon bug at the circus, we were greeted by the most precious little boy who was all smiles even though he was barefoot and very dirty. He had his bowl in hand and was fired up to see these big ol boys. In Nicaragua, when the horn sounded, these kids knew the food had arrived.
It is very difficult to describe scene. We wanted to take pictures but
something inside all of us compelled us to keep our camera´s in the
bag. There are some photos that are to significant, thought provoking
and impactful and it´s best to keep them in your heart. Yesterday morning, we discovered why Nicaragua is truly a third world country.
Since God´s plan is to use the church to change the world, we were excited to meet the man who was called to pastor this little church in the Chinendega City Dump. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch hit Nicaragua with devestating force. Many people were displaced and the government sent a large community of survivors outside the dump in the small town of Chinendega. The plan was to temporarily relocate people to this area but due to a variety of issues, were unable to help any further. Therefore, a community developed.
These are people who are very poor. As the ladies in this ministry began preparing the food for the kids, Oscar walked around with us sharing the history of the area. We all were deeply impacted as we walked through this neighborhood. The houses are pieced together with scraps found in the city dump. It was very difficult to embrace the fact that people are raising their families in these little Shanty homes with dirt floors. As we weaved our way through the tall tropical vegitation, we began to notice a strange burning smell. We all gingerly crossed a very dirty creek and made our way up a hill to reveal the source of the pungant odor piercing the atmosphere.
At the top of the hill, we walked into the City Dump of Chinendega. We walked over broken glass and through worn out trails surrounded by burning embers and discarded bottles, clothes, wrappers and debris. As we came into a clearing where we could gather together, we saw a trash truck rolling in about 250 yards from our location. As soon as the truck came to a halt, people of all ages, jumped up on the truck to see if there were any valuable resources that could be used in their lives. Oscar told us that these people are very poor and one of the ways they try to provide for their families was to go through the discarded trash. It was a very important but difficult experience in all of our lives. It was a level of world poverty that none of us had ever experienced before. The entire group was speechless as we stood and prayed for these people and then made our way back to the church to play with these children and feed them a meal.
As we retraced our steps, we stopped at the house of a young mother named Sylvia. She was a beatiful lady who lived in a little one room shack with her two children. She was pregnant with her third and had recently given her life to Christ. She welcomed us into her home and greeted us all with open arms. Since one of our Coaches had slipped crossing the creek, (He was OK, just got a little wet), Sylvia went into action and took his shoes, socks, her disinfectant soap and began to wash his feet. It was very humbling and very significant that this lady was so willing and eager to serve us like this.
She allowed us to tour her home and though this may sound very strange it is very true. She had the cleanest dirt floors that I had ever seen in my life. It is hard to put this entire experience into words. To be honest, I need some more time to process this experience. If you have the time to sit down with an Ambassador in the next few weeks or so, please ask them to talk through this part of their journey. Sylvia was another beautiful flower we found at the dump in Chinendega.
We made one more stop before making it back to the church with the pastor. This amazing man wanted us to go to the house of one of his first converts in Chinendega. They have a vision to help these people build real homes our of brick. The cost of a home is $4500. We were all so moved at this conversation, we gathered together as a team and prayed for the Lord to provide a home for this family by Christmas time. The need here is so great. The Bible say´s ¨to whom much is given, much is required¨. God has given us much. God requires much from us. We are all beginning to understand more clearly our responsibilty in the world. To be an Ambassadors is much more than baseball. It is a life long calling and it is my prayer that these young men embrace the call to be an Ambassador for Christ for the remainder of their lives. Please join with us in praying for this provision. God is calling us to be a part of this.
After praying for this provision, we had an absolute blast playing for three hours with these kids. 250 children showed up and we fed every one of them, played soccer, football, face painting and tag. While we were playing, all of forgot that we were right outside of the dump in Chinendega. Everyone of at this event were laughing, running, sweating, playing and having the time of our lives. These little kids were more beautiful flowers growing up in the midst of the dump in Chinendega.
Last night, Chase Kuwitsky commented on this experience. He said it was surreal. It was like he was immediately transported into one of those infomercials. The difference here was that it was real.
Yesterday was a challenging morning. It was an impactful morning. It was a life changing morning. It was a morning that we discovered that flowers really can grow in a dump. It also showed us all that we should not ignore our responsibilities in the world. We have a job to do.
Justin Sullivan wrote that there will come a day when we will all see God face to face. This is when we will understand things fully. When God asks me to believe something that is beyond belief, I decide if I will trust my five senses or have enough sense to believe in Him.
Coach V and I were walking together. He said to me, Where is God in this place? I believe that God´s hand is here in powerful ways. God´s hand sent us here with young men who are the future leaders of our country. Not just future leaders, but future spiritual leaders who are being called to make great contributions for the Kingdom of God.
This entire experience is more than baseball and for that I am truly grateful to the Lord.
There is more to yesterday but right now I need to go. Hopefully later today, I will be able to write about our game last night, Luke Sandoval and Coach Savedra sharing with over 1000 people very very effectively and a few laughs we have had a long the way.
I love hanging with these guys. I also love being an Ambassador.
Also, everyone is feeling better. (for the most part)
Posted on
Fri, July 29, 2011
by Chris Wall