CATALYST TEAM TRAVELS TO NICARAGUA - DAILY PRAYER AND UPDATE BLOG

Jan 8-15 2011 - Jana Ogg, Catalyst Leader

Field Partners in Managua, Nicaragua - Guillermo Morales and staff, Chosen Children Ministries

FRIDAY JAN 7, 2011

Pre-Trip Prep:   Please pray for team safety as a majority of the group begins to gather in Nashville, TN. 

Pray that God will prepare many first-time missionaries for upcoming culture shock as they travel

from our blessed nation and encounter third world grinding poverty...both physical and spiritual poverty.  

The Catalyst team will plan to work in the barrio called Flags.  This, like many other squatter communities,

is filled with people migrating from the countryside nearer to cities hoping to find work.  Nicaragua is the

second most improvished country in this hemisphere, standing only behind Haiti. 

The team will be flying Saturday into Managua, the capital city.  Nicaragua is only about a three hour

flight from Miami or Houston. (post by Andrew Brown).

 

 

SATURDAY JAN 8, 2011 We have spoken to our team leader in route today, and as you see from the picture above taken on the Miami flight, all is well!  Please pray as the team begins routing in country, meets the national leaders and translators, and gets settled in.  At 4:17 p.m. EST Catalyst has confirmation that the full team has arrived safely, cleared customs and immigration, and is safely enjoying lunch at the Chosen Children guest house near Managua. God be praised for safe travels.     Nicaragua fact of the day:  Population and Ethnic Groups   The people of Nicaragua number nearly 6 million.  A majority of the people are Mestizo, people of European and Indigenous mix.   However there are 18 total people groups in Nicaragua, some of them havingdistinct non-Spanish languages and cultures.  In general, non-Mestizo’s are often outcast and impoverished.    Many of the people our mission team will encounter in poor barrios such as Flags will be darker skinned and look more indigenous or “Indian” as we would say in the U.S.   Less than 20% of Nicaraguans would be classified as Christian Evangelicals.   Catholic Culture and dominance is strong.  More about Central American Catholicism on Sunday.  (Source of Information www.Joshuaproject.net). Pray the mission team and their translators will have clarity as they share the Gospel in this beautiful culture.

SUNDAY JAN 9, 2011 Our Catalyst team is already taking leadership in a Spanish speaking worship service! Today’s report had Whitney, Taren and Josh taking leading a bi-lingual song and Jennie speaking to the church in Spanish ….always a blessing to remember that Jesus didn’t just die for Americans…all tribes, all peoples. The team is feeling well, getting adjusted and are quite thankful for the wonderful accommodations and meals provided by our partners at Chosen Children. Many evangelical churches, including the one our group attended today, are established and well grounded.   But with less than 20% of the population touched by these churches, tomorrow our team will see the mission front lines in the community called Flags…no church there.   Pray for safety and that our team will be warm Christian ambassadors and not ugly Americans.  Jana has trained them well, and I know the kids will come from all around for the sports camps and Bible clubs! Below is a picture of a simple barrio church in another section of Nicaragua.  The structure and size are typical of many Evangelical mission congregations. Sign reads  "Jerusalem Evangelical Church - Central American Mission"

 

MONDAY & TUESDAY JAN 10-11, 2011 Jana's report from the field Monday noted the group was leading out in sports clinics and and VBS at both Hilea and Flags barrios.  Josh and Rob were taking the VBS leadership challenge head on!  Bentlee, Ashley, Jill and Whitney are leading evangelism groups in these communities. On Monday evening the update was the group was energized to see God at work!  Today a lady prayed to put Christ in charge of her life (in salvation), and another man recommitting his life to Christ.  The VBS and Sports clinics were a success as well.   Jana reports the group is reflective and amazed at God's work. Pray for good health and safety as the group works in and around the barrios.    Often the intestinal bug bites with a change of food and water...this can be distracting but is usually tuned up with a quick dose of pepto! Pictured below is a typical barrio child in Nicaragua.  Pray for our group as these loving and needy children overwhelm the volunteers' emotions and capacities. Pray that God will use these encounters for the good, but ultimately that these single adult volunteers will never forget.  As I often tell groups, I hope what you have seen burns in your mind a long, long time. ..just use that burn to spur a lifetime of action. Our teams can often help with immediate needs of food and medicine, but the ultimate need is Christ! Thanks to Kris Rickert, former Catalyst missionary for use of the picture.   LATE EVENING UPDATE TUESDAY JAN 11, 2011 Jana has phoned in with a quick update on todays events.  Nicole, Jill, Reagan, Courtney and Jordan led VBS today.  Jana notes that the group also did an adult discipleship session (important follow up from previous decisions, and the groundwork for  a new church).   The team is excited to see relationships developing with the Nicaraguan translators and barrio residents.  Everyone is healthy and hard at work as mid-week approaches. Please pray for the Chosen Children staff by name in your prayers....especially Guillermo Morales the lead missionary, "Big C" the assistant missionary and bus driver, and all the translators and kitchen workers.       US FIELD OFFICE SNOWBOUND WHILE GROUP ENJOYS 80's: We apologize for the lack of updates before mid-day today.  We can not reach our US Field office (and the main computer) due to almost a foot of snow . We live about 4-5 miles from the nearest state snow-plowed road.  The snow is beautiful but with only an old laptop and a spotty internet connection, updates have been a challenge.  Here's a picture out our front window!

 

WEDNESDAY JAN 12, 2011 Quick report from Jana : Mack, Kellie, Jenny B, Mikel and Jennie Y led the VBS outreach today The group took on a group of older Nicaraguan youth in a soccer match, and used this event as a platform to share the Gospel...Mikel and Mack got to lead out the sharing at this event. The team continues to have good health and safety.   Please Pray: For Evan and Nelson as they take a lead in outreach events for Thursday. That the relationships will continue to grow through sports and VBS events.

Nicaraguan kids beat Americans in many barrio soccer matches.... photo courtesy of similiar mission project.

 

THURSDAY JAN 13, 2011 Below is an update directly from Jana Thursday morning: "Yesterday (Wednesday) was AMAZING! God put numerous adults and children in our paths that we got to witness to and disciple.  Each of our hearts are so touched for these people. Last night Jenny Bain led the devotion and then we (as a team) spent lots of time in focused and fervent prayer for our last working day.  God was SO present.  We ended with a worship song. WOW I can't wait to see what God does today."                                                       ....Jana, Catalyst Team Leader   The team continues to be blessed with good health and safety. Please Pray: That the team will be bold in sharing faith today, Thursday as this is the last working day there in Nicaragua. That relationships will continue to build to the point of sharing. For the people of the Flags and Hialeah barrios. For Friday the "cultural day"...that God will use the tours and visits as another way to burn the ethnos/ethos (people and culture) of Nicaragua into the hearts of this team.

Typical Barrio Scene in Nicaragua

 

FRIDAY JAN 14, 2011 Good reports from Jana again today.  The group took time to unwind a bit today with tourism and relaxation.  Everyone is healthy and faring well. Yesterday's ministry report included the following ways of seeing God at work: The group was able to present a wheelchair through Pastor Juan Pedro to lady that previously had not been able to attend church. VBS team Katie, Justin, Nathan and Taren lead out in a powerful way. The team then went over to The Flags where Reagan gave testimony and Whitney and Taren sang.  Then Nicole read scripture to the crowd....Jana describes the whole day as "AMAZING!" Please pray: for the team as they begin the return journey back to the US on Saturday morning.  Most of team will route back into Miami around 6PM. for reverse culture shock....a very real condition....it is hard to handle our US wealth after visiting a third world country. that God will continue to work in each team member many days and years after this trip.

Inactive volcanos are common in Nicaragua - what a beautiful country!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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