May 16, 2014.

Today was our first day in Nicaragua and I am very excited to be here. It is so great to know that there are Christians here in a completely different country that I can call part of my family. Some people might say that short term mission work is of little to no value and may even hinder the church in the area, but I would have to differ if it is done in the right way. These people are so happy to see us again. We were greeted at the airport with smiling faces and everyone remembers us, even though I’ve only been here once before. It’s lovely to see the family again.

Today we used to get organized and figure out what we are going to be doing here over the next few weeks (some are on for two weeks and the rest of us will be here just under four). The church had a meeting tonight, and though my spanish is poor, I did catch something the preacher was talking about at the beginning of the lesson. He was talking about us being from the United States with a different language and culture now, but one day we will all be together, with one language (if I had my guess, I think we will be speaking Hebrew) and how good that will be. I think John states in beautifully in Revelation:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
(Revelation 21:1-4)

One day there will be no more saying goodbye to our loved ones who are in the Kingdom. Isn’t that the more encouragement to go out at reach more people? There are so many people in the world who have not submitted to the one and only Savior who will not get the privilege of being in the glory of God for all eternity. Is that not sad? If we truly believe in the God of the bible, why are we not out every day seeking the lost? You don’t have to go to a different country to find lost people. Just look around. Hear the words of our Lord:

“Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for the harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.
(John 4:31-38)

Do you hear him? We have a job to do, a job that has already been started. There will be no more, “I’ll have time for that later.” Jesus says the harvest is now. He bids us to join in the reaping process, that we all may enter into the rest promised by the Father. And rest it will be, for those who have accepted the offer extended by The Lord.

What are we waiting for? Have you talked to someone about Christ today? If not, why not? Be honest. I fail at this a lot; way too much. I’m afraid I will loose my standing with people or I think they will think weird things about me or label me. But shouldn’t we be labeled? I’m afraid I won’t know what to say. But have I thought about it? I’m afraid they will say no. But should that matter? Into our hands the gospel is given. Who will we share it with?

“How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.”
(Isiah 52:7-10)

Suggested Daily Reading: Isaiah 52-53, Matthew 9, John 4.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

-Walter