To reply, please e-mail jen_chip@hotmail.com.  You can also visit my website, www.jensjourney.zoomshare.com.

 

Dear Friends,

 

I hope this finds you well.  It’s time for an update on what I’ve been up to in Nicaragua – I’ve now been a student in The School of the Bible for well over 3 months.  My time has been very full and I have been learning SO MUCH.  I am so thankful to have this special season of growing deeper with God – and right now I’ve been doing a little reflecting on why I’m here.

 

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword…and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  After 14 intense weeks of classes, we’ve studied most of the Old Testament and examined many other theological topics and their application to missions.  I feel like I’ve eaten a great big feast – carne asada, plantains, cheesecake, the works!  At times I wonder, “How am I going to digest this all?” 

 

I go back to the first week of classes in January.  I was struck by the strong reminder that   God’s Word is more precious than food and possessions.  I am here in The School of the Bible (SOTB) because I long to know Jesus more – and far from the mere academic study of His Word, my heart’s cry is that I would love His Word and put it into practice.  In so doing, I will be cultivating the most precious treasure I can have – a dynamic friendship with Jesus, where I daily become more like Him and invite others to come follow Him too.

 

Exercise and rest

Just like my body needs regular exercise and rest to stay in balance, the same is true spiritually.  After eating this big feast for the past 14 weeks, I now have the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and do a week of outreach with a local church here in Diriamba (the same city where the YWAM base is located).  Starting yesterday Apr 23, through Sun Apr 29 my classmate Maria (from Mexico) and I are throwing ourselves into the life of the church, doing home visitations, participating in prayer meetings, and I even have the chance to give flute lessons to the youth pastor.

 

Then next week, we have a week of vacation.  That’s where the “rest” part comes in.  I will be visiting some good friends of mine (Francisco and Marisol), who live in a small town in northern Nicaragua.  Both the “exercise” and rest will be a good recipe for digesting that feast, and evaluating how much we are truly living out the truth that we’ve learned. 

 

“Our actions are the evidence of what we truly believe.” – Anonymous

 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built His house on the rock.” – Jesus (Mt. 7:24). 

 

All of us in the SOTB, both students and staff, greatly appreciate your prayers during this week of outreach and the following week of vacation.   Here are some prayer points: 

•  For my classmate Noe Mendoza.  Noe's only brother died in a car accident about 2 weeks ago.  Pray for God's continued comfort for him and his parents, and that they can hold onto God's goodness in the midst of their pain.
• For protection and health.  Oftentimes spritual attack is at its height during outreach or vacation days.  We know that Jesus goes before us and in Him we have the victory over the enemy's schemes.  We need to be alert and keep our eyes on Jesus!
• For our relationships with the pastors.  We want to be an encouragement and help to each of the pastors in the local churches where we are serving this week of outreach, and cultivate lasting friendships with them.
• For unity among the SOTB students.  As the first ever SOTB to be offered in Spanish in Latin America, we know that God has special plans in store for each of us.  God calls us to daily choose humility and love - and to encourage one another to develop the unique gifts that He's placed in each person.
• For finances.  I have been really blessed in this area, but some of my teammates are struggling and are short on support.  We are seeking God together as a school, to listen to His voice and obey, and to be faithful steawards in this area.

Okay - I need to sign off now!  I will give an update next week on how outreach goes.  And for those who are wondering about Herlin (the little boy who had surgery for his hearing), he is doing very well.  More to come about Herlin in another e-mail.

 

Love,

 

Jen

 

P.S.  Would love you hear from you!