Wow . . . I had not realized that it had been quite so long since the last update. My sincere apologies to those of you who may have been waiting around for the next blog entry or wondering what we’ve/I’ve been up to since June. When I think of all that went on over the summer, the first things that pop into my mind are construction, Forestburg Baptist Church, and Ancient Path. So, I guess I’ll begin by getting you all caught up on some of the construction outreach projects that took place in The Isaiah Ministry’s packed summer.
The picture to the right is a photo of one of two mini-construction projects that sprung up during the summer as the rainy season was laying waste to the tin roofs on some of our kid’s/family’s homes. The first roof that was in dire need of repair . . . actually, complete replacement, was that of Kenner and Kevin, two of our boys enrolled in The Isaiah Project. These poor boys and their family were forced to leave their home most nights in May and June due to the afternoon rains that would sweep in and fill their home with water and soak everything. Thankfully, the Ancient Path boys, i’ll explain who they are a bit later, were serving alongside The Isaiah Ministry for the month of July and were able to provide some labor and in just about 2 days we were able to put a new roof on and give Kenner, Kevin and their family a dry and more safe place to call home. What a blessing! As always, a most grateful thank you goes out to Kenner and Kevin’s sponsors and to all of you who donate to The Isaiah Ministry from your hard earned salaries to make little projects like this one possible. Yes, it only took us a few days to accomplish, but the lasting effects of construction outreach projects such as this we may never fully realize.
The Isaiah Ministry was able to not only reach out to meet some basic needs of some of our kiddos, but a few of our workers and their families as well. To the left is a shot of . . . yup you guessed it, the Ancient Path boys, lending a helping hand yet again this time in placing a new roof on Franklin’s home. It is always a real joy for me to make sure that not only our kids are cared for but the Isaiah Project staff as well. Franklin is one of the hardest working, if not the hardest working employee of the Project. God is doing a mighty work in this young man who lives in just as humble and meager, if not more so, surroundings that most of our kids. Needless to say Franklin can relate to the poverty and despair our kids have grown up in a way I will never be able to fully relate to myself. So, when Franklin asked me if I thought that the Ancient Path boys would be willing to help him with his roof we jumped on the opportunity to serve and work alongside with our Nicaraguan brother in the faith. His big smiling face those few days after the roof was finished sure made it even more rewarding than it already was.
Two other employees of the Project that are near and dear to my heart are Guillermo and Maria. I have known the two perhaps just about as long as I have known anyone here in Nicaragua and am thankful each day knowing that they are working alongside us in teaching the kids. Guillermo and Maria have suffered a lot in their young lives and have pretty much been under Patricia’s watchful care for the last 10 years; therefore, to be able to come alongside Patricia and provide Guillermo and Maria with a payed job, one which they had already been doing voluntarily, is something that I have always been thankful for. Recently their mom approached me about their roofing needs as well, as theirs was pretty much at the point of falling in at any time. Needless to say it wasn’t a decision I had to take much time to ponder. I personally feel that some decisions, maybe even most decisions, do require time spent in prayer and earnest pursuit of God’s will over the matter; however, sometimes you just know in your spirit right away that its what God would have you do or not do, simple as that. This was one of those decisions. To the right you can see Maria sitting in the chair, looking on as the old roof is taken off, and the new is about to be put on. Thank you so much to those of you who, while not able to sponsor a child or family, still chose to donate towards the ministry; because of your faithfulness and trust in what God is doing through us, we can meet the needs of others such as in this case.
The biggest and longest construction project The Isaiah Ministry took part in this summer involved a home construction for a young family in a little town about half an hour outside of Managua. The home that we helped build was for a family who had recently had their house burnt down and were having to split time in a little plastic and wood shack with their in-laws. The couple, Luis and Marjorie, are new believers and have a newborn with respiratory problems. You can imagine our thankfulness in being able to be a part of blessing them with a new home. I say we played a part, because this home was made possible by donors all over who donated towards the mission team’s efforts of Forestburg Baptist Church who came to serve alongside me for a week in July. Below are a few pics of the home being constructed, and yes, the Ancient Path boys did come a lend yet another helping hand . . . don’t worry, I’ll get around to explaining them shortly 
 |  |  |  |  |
The Forestburg Baptist team really came to serve and that was plainly evident in how they spent each day here with me. While the home built for Luis and Marjorie was funded through the team, most of the time they spent here with me was in Bible instruction and building up the local church body here in Nicaragua. I wasted no time in getting their feet wet, well . . . maybe it was more like just throwing them in the deep-end of the pool, by taking them to experience their first Nicaraguan church service out in the campo. Bill preached, Thad worshiped, and God received the glory. I know it was an experience that will not be soon forgotten; isn’t that right Kate? 
We really enjoyed our time spent out in Xiloa with Mount Sinai Pentecostal Church, the church body you see in the picture there, visiting homes, praying with folks, and helping give the church a face-lift with a new coat of paint. All in all the team from FBC was such a blessing not only to the Nicaraguans they served and bonded while here, but to me as well.
Ok, so what is Ancient Path? My good friend Coburn spent the summer here with me and for one month we were living it up dorm-style in the house with 9 young guys. No, Coburn and I weren’t trying to relive our college days, rather our purpose was pretty simply to chase hard after God together and bring in young men from the U.S. who shared this same desire to go deeper with God. Let me just say that is was quite the experience, unique for many reasons, a few being flooded rooms with toilet water, riding in truck beds in the middle of torrential downpours with scorpions, and Ghost-Pepper hot sauce torture. Seriously, would you expect anything less? Well . . . as you saw in some of the pictures above, the guys had wonderful servant hearts and were up for anything. Building homes, patching up roofs, prayer-walking, bible studies, home-stays, we did it all together. As I am sure any of you know who have lived in such an environment for a week or more, it wasn’t all gumdrops and lollipops, as we all learned a bit more about ourselves during that month, our struggles, our strengths. I for one was very blessed to see how God is working in these young men, all of which came to know the Lord at a younger age than I. It was very encouraging to have these young guys around making the pursuit of God the center of our day and doing it together, learning from one another and sharing with them what little wisdom God has given to Coburn and me. 
And as usual I will wrap-up this update sharing a bit of what’s on my heart in writing this. To be completely honest with you, its been a difficult last month or so for me. I believe this may be for various reasons, the details of which I will not delve into here, but if I could put a title on it I guess I would say that i’ve been experiencing somewhat of a “wilderness” season. Its hard to explain what goes on inside, spiritually, when you find yourself in the middle of one of these difficult times in our walk with the Lord, but in my case it does have a way of leaving me a bit withdrawn and despondent. I find myself struggling more with doubts, temptations, and lack of desire for God than is what I guess I would call the norm for me. Yes . . . I did just say that I am lacking in my desire for God. You may ask yourself, “How can a missionary who’s vocation is to preach the gospel and serve the poor lack desire for God?” Well, believe me, I have asked myself the same question; but you know what?, what I do for a “vocation” or whatever my calling may be has little to do with it. An even better question would be, “How can Michael, having been saved from eternal damnation and torment by a loving God who willingly sacrificed His Son in his place, lack desire for his Creator?” And I can’t answer that question and i’m not so sure it always finds its answer in something we are or are not doing. Perhaps God just wants more; more of my devotion, more of my passion, more of my heart, more of well, me. All I can tell you with certainty is that while wandering and searching for answers in the wilderness, we, or at least I am weakened in my defenses against the evil one and his ways. Obedience out of a love for Jesus and a thankfulness that flows effortlessly from the heart seems to be replaced by some legalistic form of discipline that forever seems on the verge of tottering-over and breaking into a thousand pieces.
I don’t tell you these things to alarm you or make you worry, but to be as transparent as I can to those who pray for me and the ministry. I am no super-human, extra-holy missionary man who has it all figured out; in fact, sometimes I feel like I’m just trying to keep it all together. Yet, God’s promises are still the same and as true as they ever were, for you and for me; sometimes I feel like we just have to fight to get to them, to really take ownership of them on a deeply personal level that leaves us changed forever. All this being said, I humbly ask for prayer from those of you who would. Its not so much that i’m looking for specific answers from God, its that I need more power. I need more of the Holy Spirit to be more devoted, passionate, compassionate, more radical and reckless in placing every bit of my being in loving and willing submission to the Father and His Word. I have much to learn, even more yet to give.
Thank you for bearing with me.
Lamentations 3:19-24
