Belin zu Berling

wir sind in Nicaragua.. in Berling...
aber ist es nicht gleich.

we are now in Nicaragua in town called Berling.
how is it that God brought us from germany, from berlin, across the world to another town called berlin. it is obvious that He loves this place just as He loves Deutschland.

i am very glad to be here. costa rica was... hard.
ich bin gluecklich zu hier sein... costa rica war... schwierig, und mag ich es nicht.

it was very westernized mixed with poverty and pollution. there were times it was more than enjoyable but most of the time i found myself wondering why i was on outreach.

God has been so good though..
Gott ist immer gut!
He was preparing me for this place. though my spanisch is still minimum to none, there are ways of communicating with the locals and we have had some amazing opportunities to speak and pray with some.

the first day here, we walked around Berling and took it all in. this is my first time in a district that is considered third world poverty. a dog tried to bite a couple of us, lack of cement... i don't need to go into detail. however, as we approached one ladies home, she invited us to pray with her. we prayed for her son, pedro (peter).. and it was incredible to see her heart about her family and God. as soon as we started she started crying and speaking in tongues... but as she was praying, she was speaking german words.. meine kinder, danke... it was crazy good. es war toll! as we left her home, we stopped and talked to her neighbor... he was poorly bandaged on his right foot.. and after we inquired, we found out he had cut himself with machete a few days back, possibly when he was drunk.
we prayed with him, and after we left, i looked back a few times to see him with his face in his hands.. sitting.. some of our team saw him the next day and he had gone back to the hospital (the first time he was turned away... possibly because he was... drunk...) and they bandaged him up and was gonna give him some more supplies to take care of his wound.

i wish i could tell of all the experiences here.. but to sum it up, it has been far past blessed being here.

thank you for all your prayers.

heute und gestern haben wir viel drama gemacht.
we have done many dramas and interacting with kids and people lately.. which is a change from the practical work we mostly did in costa rica.
it is so good to see all the children smile and laugh.. or the teachers singing along with the songs. hallelujah!

the other night we held a prayer meeting at a local church.. and encouraged the people to strengthen each other.. their families, neighbors... strangers in the community... and to act out their faith...
much to do with the paint vision in the last blog.

we are staying at the ywam base here since sunday evening and leaving for another location tomorrow for a week.

the food here is super good... even though there are onions.. hehe..
and the temperature is much cooler than costa rica.
the people are very friendly too.. but almost all of them don't speak a common language with us... Thank God for translators!!!

as for finances... i am still missing the needed funds to be here. please continue to pray for this. God is better than what we can imagine... but i know that He is faithful... i believe He called me here.. so it comes to praying and waiting on the Lord.

it has been 4 weeks today. 6 more, and i know they will be good ones!

ich muss gehen..

Father, thank You for bringing us here and all that You are doing. please keep our eyes on You and hearts after Your own!
we love You.. use us for Your glory.
In Jesus Name, Amen!

much love, israel