Something that I have wanted to do for a long time was to be involved in medical missions, but I didn't think I would ever get the chance because I don't have a medical degree-and don't plan on getting one anytime soon. When I heard about a medical team coming from Florida to Nicaragua at the same time we would be there I jumped at the opportunity. They said they would need help even from people that didn't work in the medical profession. So off I went with team seveneleven to Granada, Nicaragua.
Me plus team Seven:Eleven
Before each day the whole team; us, the medical team, and the staff from the church, would pray and invite God's presence into the clinic, and ask for His guiding hand over the day. We worked as a unit. Even though we were placed in different areas, we were all there for one main purpose, and we were all one body in Christ. Each person worked in their unique way, and each position was there to help the other. One part of the body can not say to another part, 'I don't need you', because we all need each other to function correctly.
The way the clinic was set up was one half was the medical side, and the other half was the optical side. On the medical side they had blood pressure and blood tests for blood sugar and anemia. After the patients got tested they would go see the doctor for an exam. After they saw the doctor they would go to the pharmacy to get basic medications and vitamins. On the other side of the clinic the patients would get their eyes tested to see if they needed reading glasses. This is the area I helped out with.
Taking Blood Pressure
Blood Testing
Doctor Andy
The Pharmacy
I have prayed all year that the Lord would allow me to see miracles in the lives of His children around the world. God truly performed miracles in the lives of these people at the clinic. Most of the patients that came through the eye clinic were from ages about 40 and up. Some were younger, but most of them were in this age range. Before they came to the clinic they had gone through a large part of thier lives not being able to see clearly close up and far away. Person after person would come and sit down in front of a piece of paper with lines of different sized numbers printed on it. Through translation, we would ask them to read the lines of numbers out loud to us. Most of them not able to even see the larger numbers on the page. They would look defeated and embarassed, because of their lack of ability to see. As we handed them a trial pair of reading glasses, and asked them to read the lines with the glasses on it was as if their whole world changed! They could see!! A huge smile would form across their face, and some would praise the Lord for their new sight! Who would have thought that one pair of reading glasses could turn someone's world upside down? Praise Jesus!! Then after they were tested for the correct prescription they would come over to me so they could pick out a pair of glasses that they liked. This is what I got to witness over and over, and be a part of, for a whole week! It was amazing seeing person after person dicovering the gift and miracle of sight given to them from God. There is nothing more powerful than seeing God's love and healing hand placed over His children. These people were truly experiencing God.
The medical clinic got TONS of reading glasses donated from several different places before they came.
Testing people's vision
Picking out glasses
After they went through the clinic, before they left, there was a prayer team by the exit door. Each person that came through got prayed for. This was the most important and impactful part of the whole clinic. Several people each day came to know Jesus as their Savior! The prayer team consisted of many amazing teenagers from the youth group, and a few of our team members. Hearing the youth pray for these people was so amazing and powerful. The Holy Spirit was most definitely present throughout the whole week.
A couple of cultural facts about the Kuna people group:
1. They are the second largest indigenous people group in the world (they are only in Panama City and the islands of Kuna Yala).
2. They are the second smallest people, physically, next to dwarfs, in the world.
My expereince with the Kuna people was one of the best cultural experiences I have ever had. Spending ten days submerged in a completly different culture proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated, and it also showed me the greatest picture of real community living I have seen all year.
This is the pastor and his family.
The island we were on had about 900 people living on it. To walk from on end to the other took probably five minutes at the most. Houses crammed next to one another with narrow walkways inbetween. No electricity, except for the light in the church is run by a generator-also they have solar powered lighing. Most, if not all of the homes, have hammocks that they sleep in. Tons of children everywhere you turn. One little store where they buy their main food staples for cooking and such. All day long the women would sit outside their houses making thier handy-crafts. They mostly make quilting squares, and beaded jewelry. They have about two months of tourist season when groups come through for tours, so in the meantime they make their crafts to sell when all the forigners come to visit. The men go out fishing durring the day to catch fish and other sea creatures for the meals for thier families. It was incredible to see the men come up to the shore with boats full of the largest and most beautiful crabs, lobsters and conch I have ever seen in my life!! Meanwhile all the children are in school from 8am to around 12pm. So this is the life on Kuna Yala. Very, very simple. Very laid back, and tranquil. Oddly enough this was the difficult part for me. It made me realize how busy my life has to be as an American. I feel like if I'm not up doing something or going somewhere then I am wasting the day away. But these people live and thrive off just being with eachother, and working on their handycrafts or fishing. This is how they live. Simple. This is how they prefer to live. By our American/Western standard we would say they are poor financialy. For them, they just see it as what they have always known, and I didn't sence that they desired anything more. The islanders are one big family, and all they need and want are eachother. Some of them are Christians, and some aren't. They all love and accept one another for who they are.
This is the "bathroom" over the ocean.
The village
This is where we slept.
Making quilting squares.
Bead Work that the women do.
The children on the island are probably the most joyful children I have been with all year. They have the most amazng sence of adventure and wild imaginations. It was so sweet, because I would just be sitting outside and a within minutes I would have a swarm of children around me-poking and prodding, smiling up at me and asking me questions I couldn't understand...I think most of them were about my tattoos and piercings. It didn't take very long for them to warm up to us, and soon enough they were always in the church where we were living and always wanting us to come out and play with them. They would stay with us all day until we made them leave at night so we could have our rest. It was also amazing to see how non-western they were. It's possibly the first place I've been to this year where the people still hold to their traditional ways and haven't allowed the western life style influence the way they function as a village and culture. They do what they have always known to do, and it works for them. For me, Kuna Yala was one of the hardest places to leave all year, because of the love I felt from the people.
Me trying to go to sleep, but the kids wouldn't leave :)
Playing games on the basketball court.
The kids playing around the bathroom water...yuck!
We took some of the kids to a nice beach one day.
Sweet little Nathan :)
Whenever we needed to go anywhere we had to take a boat.
This is the water we drank...we prayed against parasites with every drink.
the world of media in your face all day long. if you don't fit their mold of what you should be and look like then you're not worth paying attention to. so why bother evening trying to amount to anything? you have no self-worth. so you turn to things that make you feel better about yourself, and try to drown out the noiseof life. drugs, sex, alcohol, abuse, neglect, abortion, eating disorders, suicide, cutting/self-mutilation, self-condemnation,depression...you allow your soul to get cut deeper and deeper in search for freedom and significance, but all you're left with is emptiness and hopelessness. nothing will fill the void in this thing called life. satan is trying to steal this generation's innocence...and he loves it, because he thinks he's winning.
six young girls sitting before me. i'm looking into their eyes, and i see freedom. this freedom has not always been there. thier eyes were once left empty and hopeless. they were lost in the darkness. they didn't know where to turn. so they turned to the quick, nonsatisfying fixes that the world hands them on a silver plater. their quest for life becomes almost nonexistant. where is this hope, freedom, release, peace, and significance found? before they knew it life threw them into a whirlwind, and they found themselves living at a boarding school for troubled teens. as much as they don't want to be there, and hate it, they have no idea that it would end up being the thing that saves thier life, and changes them forever. they come from families that were at the end of their rope, and with no other choice but to send them to this nine month, rehabilitation and restoration program. as i talked to these precious girls they told me about the lives they came from. my heart aching more and more with every word. my spirit screaming, "God rescue them! save them from this hell they come from" his strong wisper comes back to me and says, "I already have". as we continue to speak to one another, His promise becomes more and more real to me. these girls have gone to hell and back, only with the help and grace of Christ. these girls now have hope, because they trust in the Lord. they know that even though life has handed them crap, God is making it into gold. during worship one night i was looking at all six of them and praying for them. praying that God would reveal himself in a way that they have never experienced before, and know it's him. as i prayed this, God told me, "these girls are the voices of their generation. they are the voices of truth, freedom, and hope. they are the living example of what this generation will become". his peace flooded me instantly. i could see and feel the hope and calling in them and through them. these six girls are going to be tall pillars of strength and redemption in thier schools, homes, work. every where they go people will see the light in them that comes from Christ. as much as my heart aches for the things they have had to go through, and are still going through, God keeps tellng me, "megan i have them in my hands. i am taking care of them. i am their protection. i am their father. i love them. trust me. they are my daughters".
after worship i went into their room, and talked with them about the incredible calling God has over their lives. i got to speak life into them, and pray covering over their lives. it was hugely encouraging, and more of a blessing to me than i can express. i pray it was the same for them.
they are taking their innocence back that satan tried to steal from them. they are made whole again through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. they have purpose and calling over their lives, and i can't wait to see the fruit that will come from it.
And this is how my 23rd birthday started! I woke up at 6am to Sarah B. shaking me saying, "Hey! It's May 13th, and it's your birthday!" Then at 6:15am I woke up again to Molly and Jeanette throwing 11 1/2 orange balloons all over my bed while singing "happy birthday" in a whisper, because everyone else was still sleeping. Then needing to get up to use the bathroom, I walked out into the hallway to see a bright "Happy Birthday" sign hanging on the wall-thank you Pammy!! After I got ready for the big day I walked over to the YWAM base, and Seth made me some amazing organic Costa Rican coffee. Colleen gave me a spanish strawberry short cake card with a birthday message for a free pedicure (something that is long overdue for me).
Then I did what any birthday girl would do...
JUMPED OFF A 260 FOOT BRIDGE!!!!!!!
I was nominated to go first, because I was the birthday girl. Suprisingly, I wasn't that scared. I figured that if I spent the whole time being scared then I would miss out on the exhiliration of it all. After I got the velcro wrapped around my ankles, I stepped up to the platform. Aaron (the bungee worker) says, "ok I'm going to count down from 5. I will be ready for you to jump as soon as I say five, but you have to jump by 1-no hesitation." There I was, standing on the edge of a metal platform listening to a guy behind me count down from 5. I waited until he said 1 just to make sure he was ready. Then, without any hesitation I jumped. I jumped into the unknown, not even "am I sure I saw him strap that velcro tight around my ankles?" Free falling into the wide open is the most freedom I have ever felt. It's the closest to flying I have ever experienced, and I loved every second of it. It was just me and God, out there in the open. As I was screaming my guts out, I felt His closeness wrap around me. After I stoped bouncing in the air, I felt stillness. Hanging by my ankles, all I could think was, "I hope I don't black out", as all the blood had rushed to my head. As they started to pull me back up, that's all I was consentrating on, "don't black out, don't black out." I was seeing stars floating around me. Then sucess-I made it back to the top of the platform. Holding on for dear life, not wanting to experience the rush again, with my body shaking, and wearing a huge smile on my face, the only words I could get out were, "That was freaking awesome!!!" Then it was Mark's turn.
After I got back, my amazing team had a night-o-fun planned out for me. They gave me clue cards for every place we went. I got to have mexican food, pizza, and AMAZING red velvet cake. After cake they told me they had one more suprise for me. They sat me down infront of a computer. As I watched my birthday video from all my teammates who were unable to be here because they had gone to Panama, my heart was flooded with joy and love. That night I fell asleep in my balloon-filled bed.
There I was, laying on the beach with Pammy and Traci. We noticed that the tide was comming pretty far up, but we thought we would move back when it started to get a little closer. Traci said, "ok, when I say 'get ready' be prepared to grab your stuff and run." Not even five minutes later she starts yelling "RUN, RUN! HERE IT COMES!!!" We all jump up, laughing our butts off, and grab the towels we were laying on and everything on them as the tide came in very quickly, but to our demise we realized, too late, that our bags with our cameras, money and everything else in them were attatched to our bikes-they were COMPLETLY soaked!!! With salt water none the less. So needless to say, mine and Pam's camera's are now ruined. But it sure was funny!!
Minisrty, Missions, Chrstianity, Grace, Love, Unconditional love, The World Race, Trust, Worship...
All these words we put into this box that we think God lives in. Oh, but boy are we wrong. What does ministry really look like? What does freedom in Christ really mean?
A repeating pattern on the race that I have seen is that God does not work by our agendas or plans. In our little American-christian minds we chalk 'ministry' up to be these programs: build a house, plant a tree, paint a fence, go to orphanages, pick up trash on the side of the road, teach english to forigen students, perform two hour programs with a drime, a message and maybe a worship song or two, show the Jesus film...and when you're doing these things you feel good about yourself, accomplished, and good-natured. I believe God is in these things, and they are minisrty. But it seems to me that when we're not out 'doing' these christianese, religious programs-we're not really doing ministry. And we feel guilty because this is the way we've been taught in church.
Can't minisrty also be hanging out with non-belivers, going to a concert, surfing at the beach in Costa Rica, sitting at Starbucks drinking your soy, white mocha with no whip cream and some caramel syrup, hanging out at the beach, going to the mall, working at a resturaunt, or sitting behind a cubical? Can't it be walking in down town Manhattan or sitting in Dean and Deluca's reading a book? Talking to your taxi driver on the way to the movies or an art museum? Getting a tattoo and sharing the love of Christ to the tattoo artist? Going on a road trip with a few close friends? Talking to your waitress at Chili's?
Christ doesn't ask us to do two hour programs, teach English, paint houses, or plant a tree. He asks us to take care of the widows and orphans, and to bring Kingdom down to Earth.
How do I do this? How can I make this my life style?
When I go home after this year there aren't going to be setup programs for me to do everyday. There aren't going to be people around me telling me that I have to go do this or that. I am going to have complete freedom-the kind of freedom that Christ came to give. Just because I'm not out painting a house or picking up trash doesn't mean that I'm not doing ministry. I am being ministry everywhere I go and to everyone I see. I am being ministry by the way I talk, and the 'not casting stones' attitude-not judging people, because I have just as many planks in my eye as the next person. Loving people as Christ loves them-unconditionaly. Making myself avaliable for anyone in need. Being aware of other people's stuggles and faults, and loving them in spite of it. I want to be able to seap Jesus out of my pores so much that anyone, at anytime and anywhere knows what I'm all about-Jesus Christ. This to me is being Christ to all people at all times: the tattoo artist, the homeless man, the hopeless pregnant teenage girl, the druggie, the alcoholic, the mother with four children going through a divorce, the husband whose wife just passed away, the child with his hands out asking for money and food to bring back to his family, the girl at the beach, the waitress, the bartender, the single mom, the list goes on and on.
how do i love when all i want is someone to show love to me?
how do i love when i feel rejected?
how do i love when i feel betrayed?
how do i love when i don't feel like it?
how do i love when i'm having a bad day?
how do i love when i'm feeling alone?
how do i love when i feel satan attacking me?
how do i love when i'm irritated?
how do i love like You love?
EPHESIANS 4
"...Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowences for each others faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace..." "...Instead we hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does it's own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love..." ..."So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to eachother. And "don't sin by letting your anger gain control over you". Don't let the sun go down while you're still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil..." ..."Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
This is something that was put on one of my teammates hearts. I just wanted to share it with you :)
A couple of weeks ago I was fasting and the Lord clearly asked me to pray and fast again.
"Pray and fast for the men of all ages and generations"
Within those few brief moments God revealed to me a real burden, concern, respect and love for my brothers in Christ.
The whole vision then began to unfold…A call for all women of all ages and from all generations to rally together for a day of fasting, repentance and interceding for the boys and men in our lives, in others' lives, and in the world. Men are created to be Godly strongholds, pillars and towers for their families and for future generations around the world. Some men today walk boldly in this call on their lives.Others need to learn how to do this; they are capable - they just need encouragement and empowerment.
The Lord showed me that for far too long, men have received attacks - on their character, on their intentions, on their actions or lack thereof.Then the Lord shared with me how we as women can positively influence this to make change.We are to enter into their world with encouraging, uplifting and interceding words and actions.
Beyond prayer, I was asked to repent (ask forgiveness) on behalf of how I and generations of women have thought about, disrespected and treated men in our lives. Any thought, frustration, attitude and word that wasn't uplifting or edifying to them I was to ask forgiveness for. As the first step I asked forgiveness from the men of the September 07 and January 08 squad. This time brought encouraging verbal affirmation on the impact that this call of obedience is going to bring.
Along with interceding and repentance, fasting was the last part of the process.I believe that fasting brings the cry of one's heart to a closer intimacy and urgency to the Lord. It can be a fast of food, things, events, etc.
The day that was chosen is Wednesday, April 30th…the last day in April.
Join me for a day of impact: impacting men's' lives, our lives and therefore the world!!!
The vision that the Lord showed me was that this needs to spread like wild fire. The more women that are praying…the greater the interceding…the greater the change…the greater the impact. Please join us on this day. Send this message to women all over the world…even send them this blog.
I believe that God is calling thousands of women to participate on this day!
A few things that are laid on my heart for us to intercede for our brothers about:
-Godly men to come along side each other - covenant brothers that will love, challenge, and uplift and hold each other accountable.
-Direction in the calling the Lord has put on their lives and to rise out of a life of discouragement and confusion.
-For a life that rejects passivity and abounds in courage, strength and power.
-That they would be men who pursue the woman God has chosen for each of them (if called to marriage) and that they would then lay down their life as Christ laid down His.
-Vision, obedience, encouragement and power to step into spiritual leadership of their family.
As this day comes nearer my prayer is that God will reveal to each woman what this day looks like…for things to pray for, repent for and fast of.
The call of obedience for this day is so strong. I can't wait to see the change that this is going to make! Thank you for joining me in uplifting the men that are currently impacting and will continue to impact our lives.
You know those people in your life that
you know will be there forever no matter what? The kind of people
that no matter how long it's been since you've seen them or
talked to them you seem to just pick back up where you left off.
Shelly is this person for me. She is my friend and my sister. She has
been in my life for about eleven years now. She was there when I
asked Christ into my life at the age of twelve. She has been my
spiritual mentor and an example of Christ throughout our whole
friendship. She is the kind of friend that I know I can tell anything
to, at any time and she will never cast judgment or think differently
of me. She is a very rare kind of friend to have.
Shelly, you have been more of a friend
than I could ever ask for. You are a blessing to me. I cherish our
friendship very much. You have been there for me when no one else
was. You've welcomed me into your family with abundant love and
grace. You have pushed me along, and encouraged me in my spiritual
walk throughout the past several years. Words can't describe the
amazing example of a woman of God you are to me. You are a woman full
of integrity, love, wisdom, gentleness, patience, kindness, trust,
beauty, and grace. Your faith in God is one to admire. There have
been countless times when I have seen you walk completely in faith,
with no looking back. You are an amazing mother. It makes my heart
sink when I see you with Timothy. Your sense of adventure and travel
is awesome. It makes me want to travel more, and the way you
encourage me to speaks volumes. You (and Brian) are huge influences
of my decision to come on the Race. Your support and encouragement
this year has been over flowing, and has kept me going when I thought
I couldn't go anymore. I am undeserving of a friend like you, but I
am very thankful that the Lord has put you in my life.
I love you more than you know Shelly. I
could never put it into enough words.
During the time we got to Costa Rica
and before we left to go to our ministry locations, some of us
decided to check out the beach. We took a bus about four hours away
from San Jose to the coast to a beach called Quepos. It was very
beautiful, and the weather was perfect! I went with eight other
wonderful people from my squad. It was the most fun I've had in a
long time, and if you know me that's saying a lot for just going to
the beach. Beaches aren't my favorite places; actually I really
don't like them at all. But this time, for some reason, it was
different.
Maybe it's because I went SURFING for
the first time!!! It was so incredible! First of all, I never thought
in my entire life I would be going surfing. Second, I never thought I
would actually enjoy it. Getting into the ocean is a big step for me
in general, let alone getting that far in with waves and such.
Surfing is harder than it looks. It's very exhausting, and it is
hard to get the balance of staying on your board when you're
waiting for a wave to come. But once I got that down I was doing
pretty well. I caught a few waves riding on my knees, and half way
stood up a few times before the wave came crashing over me. Tossing
and turning under the water I had to tell myself-"Ok, don't freak
out…you'll see the top of the water in a few seconds. Then up I
would come gasping for air, laughing, and yelling-"THAT WAS
AWESOME!!"-then ready to go back out and try it again. Now I know
why surfing is such a popular pastime. The adrenaline rush is enough
in itself. Plus it's a pretty intense workout. Besides the bruises
on my hipbones and chest I didn't get injured-unlike Danny that got
hit in the head with his board.
Surfing is one of my new favorite
things to do. Maybe one day I'll live on the beach somewhere.
I was nominated to go first, because I was the birthday girl. Suprisingly, I wasn't that scared. I figured that if I spent the whole time being scared then I would miss out on the exhiliration of it all. After I got the velcro wrapped around my ankles, I stepped up to the platform. Aaron (the bungee worker) says, "ok I'm going to count down from 5. I will be ready for you to jump as soon as I say five, but you have to jump by 1-no hesitation." There I was, standing on the edge of a metal platform listening to a guy behind me count down from 5. I waited until he said 1 just to make sure 
