Not to us

Word of Life held three weeks of summer camp here in Nicaragua this past January. (summer here is in January) Our main ministry has been here in Managua, the capital, where we partner with different local churches. Well, Jader was able to get in touch with a pastor from a place called Santo Tomas and he invited the church's youth to the summer camp. They ended up bringing a large group of people from their church. They live three hours outside of Managua where it's more rural.

The group left camp as transformed people and enthusiastic for more. They asked to have a Word of Life Bible Club in their church. After consideration, it was decided to go ahead with the Club even though they are three hours outside of Managua. We are really involved with our clubs and the lives our the youth so it's a little different than what we've been doing but looked like an open door.

Several months have passed by since they received their Bible Club materials and the group of leaders have driven to Managua twice for large group trainings and then also for the football marathan. Apart from that we haven't had much personal contact with these leaders at all.

We traveled to Santo Toma for the first time, Jader, myself, and the Aguilar family, this past weekend and we were sweetly suprised by our time with the leaders. During a time of sharing they began to talk about how their WOL Quiet Time book has transformed their relationship with God. They have begun doing one on one discipleship times and one youth is discipling 6 others! Also, they have been evangelizing with friends and house to house. They recently baptized 12 people in a river.

They were sharing about how much Word of Life and the Bible club program has changed their lives and Guillermo, the Director of WOL Nicarauga, laughs and says to them (paraphrased) "Do you realize that this is one of the first times we've met in a personal setting? What has happened is that you guys personally made a decision to give God everything. Now you are reading His word everyday and desiring to live it out. We, WOL missionaries, haven't done a thing but, it's God doing a work in you all."

It was so clear, the work of God in the lives of these youth. Their desire to love Him and express His love to others was strongly evident, and it was so encouraging to see God at work in such a way that we clearly had nothing to do with it.

I was telling Jader how honored I feel to be able to participate in what God is doing and in this case more than anything, just be a spectator and joyfully thank Him for how He works in the lives of humans because He loves us and want to be known and worshiped.

I'll keep you updated on the Santo Tomas happenings and post pictures of Santo Tomas youth soon! Thanks for reading and praying!

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1