Random thoughts of the day...

While doing my devotions today, the passage was about having compassion on people. Which I am often severely lacking. But compassion, which literally means 'being with those who are suffering' is exactly what Jesus was and what we are called to be. Anyways, at the same time, I was killing a bee that landed in my coffee by drowning him to death and enjoying the fact that he was suffering and couldn't get out the the sugary caffeinated mess. Then the Lord confirmed to me my lack of compassion.

It is clear God wants to do a huge work throughout the whole country of Nicaragua. Like my mom pointed out, perhaps God is choosing to work in this country because this is one of the few countries that doesn't condone abortion. They haven't begun to sacrifice their own children. My only remark is that is very clear the country cares for their children. Considering that fact that no orphanages are allowed to exist because "every child has a family" - there is no such thing as an "orphan" here (hence why there is year-long "schools" for children who never go home). And no more schools are allowed to open because the literacy rate is extremely high and every child is educated (even though many children are not allowed to go to school because they can't afford the required uniform). And every child here has excellent health care and dental care. Ok my sarcasm is too far. But perhaps my mom is right. Perhaps God really does want his spirit to move across this sweet country...

Ministering to little children is not my forte. But I know that is often the exact thing that the Lord is telling me to do. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Luke 18:16). How important it is to minister to them while they are young - while they are still so pure in heart, simple in thought, naive to the world - because it's those foundations that stand the test of time and sorrow and temptation. In front of El Puente, a mission base, is the dividing line for 3 separate gangs. There is often rock fights (for lack of knives and guns) that take place there. Just like the gangs in the U.S., when they turn 18 they can be initiated into the gang. Once a part of a gang, I don't want to say there is no coming back, but truly, very few will break their loyalty to a gang in order to follow the Lord. Minister to them while they are young. For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.