Richard's Blog >> 4/4/09
Richard’s Blog – April 4, 2009
Mission: Nicaragua
This is the last day of our Nicaragua outreach. This morning, we worked at the neediest location we’ve seen during this trip—the trash dump known as Chureca. One thousand families make their homes in the middle of hills and hills of garbage….as far as the eye can see. The air is filled with smoke because the trash often catches fire as it decomposes. It smells horrible. It’s unsanitary. Yet the people of Chureca comb through the garbage every day to hunt for food to eat, clothes to wear, and anything that can help them survive.
These people suffer so greatly. In just the first hour of our clinic, our doctors and nurses saw numerous patients, including a 12-year-old who could barely walk, a 7-year-old infected with parasites, a woman with scabies, a diabetic, and a boy with vision problems. Others suffered with lice and bug bites. Some had injuries and sicknesses caused by physical, sexual, and drug abuse. One little girl, Blanca, came to us with scabs and cuts on her face and body because she had fallen down a manhole a week or two before we arrived.
It’s hard to see people enduring such awful conditions. But I praise God, because we saw the power of God invade this trash dump in a mighty way! People received Jesus as Lord and Savior. They asked for prayer for strength and peace and healing. One woman especially stands out to me. She came to our doctors with a thyroid goiter the size of a fist. I laid hands on her. A few minutes later, the doctors called me over to tell me the goiter was completely gone! When we talked with the woman, she told us that even though she didn’t know English, she felt the power of God when I prayed for her. So she said to God, “I receive,” and she felt the skin of her neck loosen up. Glory to God for His healing power!
Many people complained of coughs, headaches, and skin rashes—problems related to the constant smoke and vitamin deficiencies. Jordan and Adrian were so thrilled to bring food and medicine to the people of Chureca through Hunger Needs a Voice®. And then something happened that made Jordan’s day! She saw the little girl that caught her eye when she first visited the dump last December. The little girl had come to the clinic with her family to get medical care and much-needed food. For them and for all the families we helped, our food outreach was critical because it’s so hard for them to find enough to eat.
When we finished our clinic at Chureca, we went to the Plaza de la Revolucion for the final night of our healing rally there. The crowd was huge, and the atmosphere was supercharged with the presence of God. I preached on Jesus as Savior, Healer, and Deliverer. What He did in Bible days, He’s still doing today. And I asked the people to reach out in faith to receive what they needed from God. All over the crowd, miracles took place. People came up to testify—among them a little boy blind in his left eye who could suddenly see, a woman who was brought to her knees because her failing eyesight was healed, and numerous people delivered of back pain.
Most importantly, hundreds of Managuans responded to the call to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of their lives. That brought tears to the eyes of everyone on our team. In just one night, the family of God grew big time. I am so grateful to be a part of what God is doing in the beautiful nation of Nicaragua. He is so faithful!
Partners, I want to let you know that I appreciate you so much. Many of you helped us by sowing seeds of your time, prayers, love, and financial support to help us reach Nicaragua. And I can tell you that it has been a tremendous success. This nation will never be the same. Thank you so much for helping us make a difference in the lives of these precious people. To God be all the glory for the things He has done this entire week!
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