alisonmanning - This Week

Not one day here in Nicaragua has a day been short of surprises. All of which, have been only more of a validation that we were meant to be here. Already we’ve dealt with volcanic eruptions, death, and more personally – embarrassing allergic reactions.

I was just minding my own business next to a palm tree when most of my team surrounded the area yelling and pointing at the sky. Which was justifiable, considering it was one of the greatest sites I’ve ever seen. We saw a huge cloud of ashes coming from the volcano. The eruption was not a big deal for my team nor the city of Chinandega. I felt like it was just a show of how good, powerful and present God is and will be in the months to come.

On Sunday my team and I visited the church in the village of Bethel. We had been there a few times but we still had yet to make a strong connection with them. That night we stood in the chapel as they praised in Spanish and it was surprisingly exhausting. There was no air conditioning and you stood so close to one another that it felt physically tolling just to be there. But my team and I enjoyed our time anyways as much as we could. Eventually the church asked us to sing a song for them, so we sang, “Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord”. I’m glad my team and I had the chance to do it, even though it was a little awkward, it was still something I was glad we got to share with them. Soon the preacher came up to speak over the church in the middle of worship, with a barely a few words said he falls over and people from all over the church run to his rescue. As the service progressed, prayers and worship ensued. After an hour a women came in to bring in the news, and as we all wait in anxiously we soon figure out that he died right there in front of us. In a moment where it could have been unbearably uncomfortable for us to be there, Jesus was right there guiding us to the start of his perfect plan. My team ran up and put arms around the people of the church and mourned with them. I ran over to a few ladies crying and then I cried so much they turned around and prayed for me. It was such a beautiful example of how language barriers can’t stop the love of Jesus being exuded. Whether or not Gods plan for us is to rebuild the town and church up spiritually or not, our hearts weigh heavy for Bethel.

So long story short I had an allergic reaction and my face swelled up so much you can barely see my eyes. I wasn’t quite sure whether this was God teaching me something or it was nothing but a reaction. But little did I know until I now, if it wasn’t for the specific ailment of eye swelling I would miss out on some of his teachings. It is odd, I know. To explain it best I’ll just put what I wrote in my journal this morning…. “My eyes are so close to being swollen shut and as much as I hate it, God has been so much louder and speaking even more truth in these past 72 hours than before. God has been teaching me how to be intentional with my team members. Since the swelling had cut down my confidence a bit, I finally listened more than I spoke. He was revealing to me that I’m missing out on Him be being too much of me. Then in my fear of the severity of the situation God reminded me that if my body is for Christ, then I’ve lost nothing physically. In fact, I’ve gained – God disciplines those he loves. Lastly, or so far- as I wait here at 4 am to see how my medicine helps I started listening the song “Slumber” which says ‘Wake on up from your slumber and open up your eyes’. After realizing the irony I looked up the similar verse in Ephesians which says ‘ Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful then how you live- not as unwise but wise; making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil’. And there it is, God asking me to intentional and bold with the people of Bethel. God is good. Also I think he has more to say because my eyes are still very swollen.