Our first main event today was a Sports Camp with the kids on Pochocuape, so we began our morning with splitting into groups and cleaning all the trash out of the nearby field that Ginger Creek helped build on a previous trip. Here Bob prays for the upcoming day’s events right before heading out.
Carissa Petit preparing to get dirty.
There was much more than just garbage in the field. Megan McKinley found a jawbone of a long-dead horse.
Many people in the community were touched by our work in their field, and some of the children decided that they wanted to join us in clearing the garbage. Here a young boy, Juan Garcia, takes care of some trash. He’s only ten years old.
While clearing the field we spread the word to the kids in the area to tell all of their friends to come to the compound at one o’clock for crafts and games, and then to stay for the Sports Camp at two.
The response was enormous! Our dining hall was absolutely packed with kids coloring, playing with play dough, and making crafts with the help of Salt students.
The area outside the dining hall was crowded as well! Our kids played soccer and basketball with the kids while others had fun with bubbles! Everyone was having a great time.
The forecast today called for a storm, but the worst of the rain went right past us. You could see lightning on the far side of the mountain, but we got nothing more that a light rain for the majority of the afternoon. This made the Sports Camp to be a great hit! The afternoon started with a rotation of drills teaching the kids the basics of kickball and “futbol americano,” and ended with everyone breaking into two groups and playing games! Here you can see Allen Gilchrist, George Morgano, and Doug Faber working on their drills.
During the sports camp we made sure to tell all the students about the upcoming service that night, and to bring their parents along!
The worship went great, and our band rocked the house with the Nicaraguans worshipping along for every song. Autumn Gilchrist, Alese Orchard, and Carlee and Lisa Hilt raise their hands in praise while singing “Eres Fiel” (“You Are Good”).
The house was packed! Every row was full and people were crowding the doorways at both entrances. Some of the locals were even standing in the street trying to see in.
We collaborated with a local teen missions group, The Generation of Light, and put on a service full of music, worship, dramas, and testimonies from Curtis Townsend and Sam Berg. At the end, after delivering a message of salvation, Bob Hilt invited anyone who wanted to come to the front and kneel at the cross, laying themselves open before the Lord to use them for his will, whether they were accepting Him for the first time or recommitting their lives to Christ. Dozens came forward.
It was a very emotional moment.
Many adults came as well as children. Several children from the school came up with the friends that they had made throughout the week. Here is Amanda Ford, kneeling at the cross and praying with one of her Nicaraguan friends, as well as two women, who were extremely passionate and emotional, who came up with Marie Bridges.
Many of the students told us after the service that they had accepted Christ. One of them, a boy named Michaelangelo who has been hanging out with Salt Students for the last two weeks, cried for half an hour after pouring out his heart to God. Here he is with Bob Hilt, sharing a joyous tear-filled embrace.
As you can tell it was a very emotional, not to mention powerful and impactful day. But the trip is not over yet! We still have one more day. Tomorrow we’re going into the city of Managua and partnering with one of the local churches in our own Operation Helping Hands. As we go through the city serving we’ll be inviting people to a large school nearby where we will put on our final service.
“I didn’t go to the foot of the cross with everyone because I wanted to witness it all. And just seeing everyone down there crying and praying together, huddled at the cross. And then I turned around and saw this whole group of women in the back and they were bawling their eyes out and praying. It was…beautiful.” Carissa Petit
“I’ve been really struck by how these people here have nothing, and their faith in God is way stronger than people at home. How can the faith of people who have nothing be stronger than those who have everything? We worry so much more than they do. And why? I worry about stupid stuff like if I’m going to catch the finale of my favorite T.V. show. They don’t even worry about if they’re going to eat the next day. Just something to think about, ya know?” Marie Bridges
“I’ve told you before that there have been a handful of times in the two and a half years that I’ve been with you where I could just feel God’s presence moving with us. Tonight was one of them, and definitely the strongest. It took every piece and every part and every personality of this group to get us to where we are tonight, and it’s been an awesome journey. Just awesome. Thank you so much.” Bob Hilt
Please pray:
One more day left! And it will quite possibly be the busiest one yet! Pray that everything goes smoothly and that the rain doesn’t cause too much of a disturbance!
One of the ladies who lives near the compound (and used to be one of the cooks), has a daughter who attends the school and the church. Her name is Milagros, and she is four years old. She has been diagnosed with an intestinal condition since she was twelve days old, and has had surgery inserting plastic intestines inside her stomach. One of the leaders on our trip, Autumn Berger, actually suffers from the same condition. Milagros went to the hospital last year and everything seemed to be going very well, but it turned out that just this afternoon she was complaining about pains and ended up having to be rushed to the emergency room. Please pray that she stays healthy and safe and that God will work miracles through her doctors.
Milagros and Autumn during Wednesday night’s worship service.
Pingback: Salt Co. Missions Trip – Day 5 | Ginger Creek Missions