Each night at dinner, she began to pray for them ( and still does). Soon after they had left for Nicaragua, Wynn began to pray for fresh water. Her prayer at dinner was..."Dear Lord, Thank you for today. Thank you for our food. Be with Rick and Mary. And for fresh water." She prayed for what other concerns might come to her. Each day the prayer for fresh water.
Rick and Mary returned home for a visit. I asked her about the water situation, and she said the water wasn't good unless filtered. I was overwhelmed to think that God had placed a need in her heart for something that others-people that she didn't even know. For goodness sake, this baby was 5.
Fast forward 4 years, our dinner time prayer still consist of ...thanks for the day, the food, blessings on Rick and Mary and for fresh water. Some nights it seems that dinner might get cold based on the needs she has heard about all day (friends who are adopting, or sick, etc).
Back in the Fall, plans for a Spring Break mission trip to Nicaragua began to surface. Mary Katherine and Sarah wanted to go. I had been praying and felt God place this on my heart to go as well. We planned and prayed. The time for our journey approached ....
This week was Spring Break. Mary Katherine, Sarah and I traveled with some of our youth to La Dalia, Nicaragua. Our job was to work in a rehab facility meeting with the children and women. Our eyes were opened to a whole new world. One that is much different than ours. This was a journey to fresh water.
The people we encountered do not know about the need for fresh water. They drink, bathe, cook with water that is contaminated. The people we saw in the clinic were treated for diseases from parasites. The bathroom at the rehab was an outhouse.
One night in our group sharing I realized ...fresh water. I had seen what my child had prayed for. I had lived for a week in a place where I made sure I had bottled water for drinking and brushing my teeth. I wrote in my 1000 gifts list ...fresh water. The reality of it all was overwhelming. My journey to this fresh water had begun four years before with a five year old girl whom the Lord speaks to. I am truly grateful for fresh water and the people of Nicaragua. I am also grateful for a little girl whom the Lord uses to teach me.
* sound of gentle rain on the window
* memories of a Grandmother on her birthday
*a morning walk in the cool breeze
* sunshine that overcomes the darkest of days
* a town of dead trees coming to life with white pear blooms
* a daughter's diligent work paying off in her ACT score
* freckled faced boys who still find joy in Nerf guns
* friends who in their grief help ones find healing
* kids laughter first thing in the morning
* seeing tiny arms and legs wiggle on an ultrasound screen
*seeing joy on the face of an expectant mom as she sees her baby for the first time
* sharing in good news with friends
* a gift that will make the birthday boy smile
* the almost 11 year old who still excitedly plans every detail of the party
* news from the doctor that makes you stop and think - realizing God is in charge
* grateful for tears that finally come out
* pink and purple sunset outside my dinnertime window
* little girls who make Philip and I smile
* a wonderful family
* baking with my son who ask lots of questions
* 42 years of life
* Trippe's 11 years of life
* helpful teenagers
* gaining of more time to get it all done
* medication that can correct what bad genes might could do- extension of life
* many well wishes from friends
* lunch with a confident 11 year old birthday boy
* pay day
* extra time to get it all done
* time of renewal
* laughter with friends
* a patient man
* new wisdom about a new culture
* laughter of kids and grandmother
* news of new babies
* friends who help you continue to celebrate birthdays
* friends who share a heart for missions
* a great day to worship
* a fun boys birthday party
* great discussion at small group
* coffee and blankets on cold mornings
* wedding plans for a patient, deserving young lady
* a quiet day at home
* financial commitments to our mission trip
* watching ducks sleep so oddly
* friends who share burdens
* naps of refreshing
* warmth of a blanket
* your word that brings refreshment
*the birth of our Sarah- her joyful 15 years of life
* seeing teen friends laugh and enjoy themselves
* a night free of cooking
* hearing a girl be excited about her plans with her Dad for Spring Break
* a husband who lives life and loves it
* after a big rain seeing nature nurture itself
* quiet time alone with God
* a day to find order and cleanliness
* videos that show my kids a grandfather they never knew
* friends who support and pray for you
* smells of a clean house
* energy to clean and wash
* the right mind to write notes of thanks and encouragement
* teachers who love to help children learn
* the tradition of the birthday banner and cards on the mantel
* Japan placed in the heart of a friend before a natural disaster
* encouragement from a friend about mission talk
* supportive husband who has a heart for missions
* last day of classes before spring break
* the sun and breeze that makes it feel like spring break is beginning
* smell of crisp, new dollar bills
* Philip getting off work early today
* hugs from little girls who will miss their Mama
* quiet time to read and prepare
* suitcases that zip
* girls excited to spend spring break on a mission trip
* getting to wake up and serve
* watching the faces of my girl who have never traveled by airplane
* like-minded mothers
* well wishes of airline workers- "praise Jesus"
* movies on airplanes that remind me of the 2 kids at home
* notes from a Mother who wants to encourage
* husbands songs on playlist to remind me of us
* tears from a little girl who aches for the country that I'm headed too
* a good nights sleep
* waking up to new sounds of birds and roosters
*a day talking with women who share hurt, pain, struggles and a love for Jesus
* understanding a language I can't speak
* seeing God move in heart of people when I can't understand their words
* helping the sick
* seeing our youth see God in a new way
*seeing beautiful mountains
*songs of praise in any language
* smiles of children who have so little
* delicious meal
* clean water
* Wynn's heart for praying for this country as they need her answers
* seeing Jesus in the faces of the Nicaraguan people
* the children who joyfully greet us each day
* a man who gets relief from a bad tooth
* a doctor/dad who loves Jesus and his kids enough to share them
*rain that would cool us
* time to laugh with kids who otherwise wouldn't interact
* quiet time to pull my thoughts together
* a passionate ending worship
* time to help others in the clinic
* conversation about ministry with Mary
* clean bathrooms and paper at home
* seeing kids get teh purpose of why we were there
* seeing MK and SG making a connection with people
* a bus ride without being sick
* a day of shopping in the market with my girls
* translators who seem to let us ask as many questions as we wanted
*a good talk with a new found friend
* a bed to myself
* girls who follow the rules -respect the leader
* hot shower
* seeing the passion on a college students face about missions
* pizza for dinner
* new friendships with translators
* a home with electricity that works
* the beautiful lush resort
* hot breakfast
* warm sunshine
* safe exit from the area
* electricity that stays on
* laughter with friends
* Rick and Mary's passion
* getting back up the mountain from the waterfall
* making it on a mission trip when my body was so tired
* being home
* my family
* time to rest
* a quick nap
* first day of spring
* a husband who makes life fun for our kids
Nothing moves me more than the prayers of a child!!!! Thank you for sharing this. I have always taken for granted that water -- good fresh water --- would always flow from my faucet. I grew up with water -- it was always supposed to be there. I've learned as I grew older that very few are so fortunate!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour list was beautiful today. But what stood out to me was the Pear tree blossoms!!!! When I was little, we had a HUGE pear tree in our yard and the blossoms were just too beautiful! I can just imagine a city of them!
Thank you for sharing today! It was just fantastic to be here!