I’ve been in Nicaragua for a whole week already! It is so beautiful here. This past week has been an incredible learning experience.
Each day here is a little different, but here’s a general run-down of how each day goes.
-5 am prayer
-6 am devotionals
-7:30 breakfast
-MINISTRY!! Ministry looks different every day. We are split by our teams and do different things in the community. This past week we went to the trash dump and lead a church service for the people who live there, prayer walked through the neighborhoods, went to the local hospital and prayed for the sick, worked on the farm, and ran a kids program.
-noon lunch
-back out to ministry
-5pm dinner
-6:30 team time
-8:30 is my bed time…
This past week has been highlighted by prayer. Starting my day at 5am with an entire hour of prayer has been so sweet and challenging. The Lord has been revealing so many things to me each morning as I come to Him in prayer. They aren’t easy or preferred things either. They are things that have brought me to tears many times and things that I cannot do without the Lord. But it has been such a gift to spend the first early hour of my mornings bringing these challenges to the Lord and asking Him for His help and provision. He has not failed to show up in even the smallest ways. Another ministry that has been highlighted by prayer is our prayer walking ministry. We take about 3 hours of our day to walk around the communities and go into peoples’ homes to share and pray with them. This has been such a blessing and eye opening experience. Seeing how welcoming the people in this community are to us has been so sweet. They welcome us with open arms and hearts to come into their homes and share Jesus stories with them. These people live in homes made of hardly anything but they still have so much joy and willingness to let us into their homes. It has been so beautiful to receive the love that these people in Nicaragua have to give us even while we are giving it to them. I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn about the culture in Nicaragua. I am learning that there is so much here for me to gain and learn even while I am on mission. I am learning to open my arms and heart to receive love from those around me, even if it is the people who live here that we came to serve. It is not an easy road and I am just at the beginning.
Please be praying for me that I will keep my arms open to receive the Father’s love so that I can give it to those around me. Pray that I will keep my heart and mind open to see the newness in every day and that I will never lose the awe that I have for this place, culture, and people. Please also be praying that I will stay present and intentional with what is in front of me here. Lastly, I am still a little over $400 away from being fully funded! If you feel led to consider donating it would mean so much. Or if you know somebody who wants to be a part of this journey please send them my blog!
I think about you all every day!
I love you guys,
Ryann
???? Jesus is good.
Don’t know why the question marks appeared. Love you
Ryann! I love what God is doing! Your prayers to receive His love is so good! He is faithful, you just keep putting Him first and looking up to Him. I have no doubt that He will show you more than you thought possible. Keep going Ryann!!!!
Ryann
Wow, what a privilege to start everyday in prayer, I am so thankful you are seeking God first and meeting/talking with him about all things. I also Love that you are getting to do different ministries, how awesome. Praying for you and the team.
Much Love
Stephen and Teri Jernigan
So Blessed to have you as my Daughter.
Love reading all about what you are seeing through God’s plan.
Love Dad
Ryann – we sat next to eachother on the flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica – our mission team just got home Sunday and we ALL spoke about your team and how God ministered to all of us and challenged us through your group – doesn’t seem like a coincidence there were 13 of us and 26 in your group – I will be continuing to lift you up in prayer every morning for the next year and cannot wait to read what God does through your life – in my reading today “father open my eyes so that I might see you more clearly, savor you more fully, and share you more freely”
There is such a beauty in the way you talk about your mornings. It’s like a description of a peaceful walk along a garden path with the Lord as you bring your thoughts of days past, the day you’re about to walk in and days to come to Him. As you leave the garden, you’re heart is filled with His love for the people of Nicaragua. As you’re walking into their communities His love overflows on to them and they are filled with joy. You are learning alot and quickly to give is to receive. I agree, it’s just the beginning!
Rising at 5 am for an hour of prayer is a great way to start a busy day. I love that you see the Lord show up in even the smallest ways. I hope that you are writing about where you are seeing Him. I know for me, I need to look back and see Him! The people of Nicaragua sound so kind and giving, even with what little they may have. How beautiful to spend time in their homes with them. Praying for you to continue to see the Lord in every way, to know his love so that you can love others, and to keep those wonderful arms open and intentional to where He takes you daily. Loving you from afar.
Wow Jeni! You are such a blessing! Thank you SO much for this encouragement and for all of your prayers. I am so blessed by you and that we got to talk on the plane! I hope and pray that your trip in Costa Rica was a blessing to you all and that community.
Thank you so much Coach Matt. You are so encouraging. I miss you all so much!
The people here sure are awesome. Thank you Kendra! Thank you for your prayers as well. Miss you guys!
I am so blessed by y’all! Thank you for your support and prayers
Thank you Dad. Love getting comments from you guys and miss you a bunch. Love you
He is so good. I love you too. So happy when you comment on here