Joshua Brown-Culp's Blog
Mi Amigos / 07.26.10, 11:06 PM
I’ve just returned from a week stay in Nicaragua. It was the single most incredible experience of my life to date. I went with 60ish people from Plymouth Covenant Church (who we had not known well prior to the trip) and 3 other TreeHouse kids, plus Tim, our staff.
I met some truly incredible people while I was down there. Our translators were amazing. They were very open and willing to share their own experiences, and loved to help in any way they could, from translating, to escorting, to just listening to our experiences in their country.
I was in awe of the hospitality and openness of the people in Nicaragua. We went on a few prayer walks, and each time people would litterally wait outside of their homes for us to arrive, invite us in, and ask for specific prayer. They opened their homes and their lives to us. It was truly incredible.
On the other hand, I’m not sure how much of it was real. People were much more open to prayer and Christianity, but a lot of it seemed very surface level. I wouldn’t be where I am today with Christ if I hadn’t had someone there to talk about Christianity, somewhere to learn about God’s word, and a bible to read God’s word directly. I think that a lot of the missionaries who go to Nicaragua are there for such a short period, that they don’t get a chance to really share who God is, but only get a chance to give a ‘Christmas special’ version of Christianity with nor real follow through. That was hard for me, because there wasn’t much more follow through I could do at the time. I hope to return someday soon, and stay for a prolonged period, where I can build real relationships, and really show the love of Christ, and what He’s done for me. That’s something I’m really looking forward to about MissionYear.
I got to talk with my guys for the last time. It was really hard for me. I watched as one of my guys who I’ve been working with for nearly 3 years, trying to get through to him what God had to offer and what mattered in life, didn’t get it. He was in one of the poorest countries in the world, where God was clearly working in the hearts of people, and he didn’t take in anything.
He came out of the trip with some neat memories and a few souvenirs, and not much else. This was so hard for me. I’ve poured myself into this guy for 3 years, and I thought I’d made some progress… and now I’m not sure I’ve done anything. I can only hope that I planted a seed, and that one day he’ll get it, but only God can make that change, no matter how hard I wish I could.
I fell in love with 3 little girls in Nicaragua. Rosa, Catharine, and Beht.
I met them at the orphanage I visited while in Nicaragua. I spent hours with these kids, and grieved for them when I had to leave like I’d known them for years. They didn’t speak a word of English, and I spoke approximately 6 words of Spanish, and I felt like we shared our whole lives. We played hide and go seek, made bracelets, played ‘Catch-us-while-we-jump-off-of-tall-things” (a game I especially dreaded), and taught each other Spanish/English. They are beautiful, smart, loving girls, and I miss them horribly. I don’t know what lesson God’s trying to teach me with this one yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be a good one.
There’s so much more I could (and plan to) write about Nicaragua, but that’s it for now.
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Joshua,
I’ve been to Nicaragua, and I spent six weeks there. I’m curious, in what part of the country were you?
I understand partly what you mean about the surface-level knowledge. It is very hard for some of them, because of the conditions in which they live, to be able to understand more. Some are just so busy with the life of the family, and have so little education, that they can barely remember the names of their children. If I were in this situation, faith and knowledge of God would be completely different.
Yet, at the same time, I saw some of the people in rural communities, where the pastor travels between churches, seem to have a depth of faith. For some at least, there seemed to be a passion for God, what we’d hope for in some churches in America. At any rate, they were all very friendly and cheerful, which to me shows through as Christ in action.
I’m not trying to degrade your post at all. I just saw the common ground of Nicaragua, and wanted to share a little of my experience.
Keep up the great work, following God and loving His people!
PS: My special friend from my time there is Tania.
By Jess / Jul 28, 07:48 PM / #