Nica News January 5th

Today, the backpacking team returned to the Casa de Shelly. The first night we left for Mount El Bariador starting at 1,620 ft. We finally set our packs down at 2,800 ft after five hours of rolling hills. We set up camp outside the house where the previous team had visited year before. We found out that the solar bible reader that was left the previous year was still working and in use regularly. They told us that they meet every three days for church. Lots of people from the village came to the church service that night. We sang songs and Jonge preached. That night, we had a nice cool breeze from over the mountain to help us sleep. Then the next day, we hiked the rest of the way up to the summit of the mountain which was at 4,000 ft. God’s creation is unfathomable!! We could see the whole valley. After lunch we continued to another village called Por Vason. During the service, Jonge opened with Psalms 66:16 and several from the team shared what God has done in their life.  It was so cool because a lot of the people there we not Christians, but they were listening very attentively to the testimonies. Because our team was diverse, every person listening could relate to one of our testimonies. After service we made balloon animals and gave out toys, toothbrushes, Bibles and food to the people and they loved it! The next morning we hiked to our next village called San Pedro, which was by far the largest village we had been in. The service that night was packed with people! Then the next day, we got up at 6:00am to go back to the Casa de Shelly. In total we hiked 17 ½ miles with a total accumulated ascent of 8,000 ft. We reached a lot of people and planted seeds in the hearts of many! The hikes were long and strenuous but we would all gladly do it again. Our team verse was 2 Corinthians 12:15 “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.”  We leave for Managua tomorrow challenged to share the gospel at home with the same overwhelming passion as we did here in Nicaragua.