Grits, Theology, Mission, and Life

As an culture America we have an incredible short attention span.  While things like 9/11 was only 6 short years ago I know for me and others it passed by this year with little notice.  But what I don’t want us to forget about is to pray for things that are important and which God has put in our path.  With that in mind I would like to share with you an update that I have receive from some ministry partners in Nicaragua.  The following e-mail was sent to me about the recent hurricane that hit Nicaragua:

As you must have heard Nicaragua was hit by huracane Felix  exactly a week ago.   The northern east coast was hit when Felix of category 5 made landfall near Puerto Cabezas on the Atlantic coast.   I was talking to a pastor friend of mine and he was telling me  about some christians that were killed including their children.   It`s been a tough time for all the people in that area. There are women that lost their husbands. Children who will grow up without their fathers and some without their mothers.   There are around 30 dead women and around 50 dead men and some children.   We`ve been watching the news everyday and we hear all of the time about a Miskito lady (local indian tribe) who lost her teenage son while she was in the Atlantic water. Both were hanging on to a peice of wood that was left after their boat collapsed and saw how the waves took her son away. She kept fighting for her life but suffering and not wanting to live without her son..   She and many others were rescued 2-3 days later. They were out in the water fishing and did not hear of the danger of Huracane Felix.   (As you know I was in a similar situation last year on lake Nicaragua and I think I understand what these people lived when their boat collapsed. Fear is a strong and permanent emotion until you get out of there.)   But, the sadest thing is that the Nicaraguan army keeps finding more and more bodies on the coasts or still in the water. While ladies, children and relatives await for the military boats to arrive with good news.   It is a tremendously painful scene when these people see only what is left of the bodies. Some recognize their relatives by the close they were wearing and most bodies are not recognized becuase of the flesh condition.   But, in the middle of pain and suffering, people are showing their good hearts to us. Planes from Spain, USA, South America and many more are coming with humanitarian aid.   The Nicaraguan people have organized a campain to raise more help inside the country taking place today in Managua.   The number of destroyed homes is over 16,000 and 115,000 people greatly affected by Felix.   70 bodies found in Nicaragua and 21 bodies found on the coasts of Honduras but all Nicaraguans.   There are still 105 people missing and as time goes on, the Hope is less.   Please pray for our country as we try to recover from this catastrophe. We know that without the help of other countries it would be almost impossible because of our great level of poverty. We hope that other countries will be touched by God and will arrive with more help.  
MINISTRY   After talking to some pastors, we strongly believe that God can use this tragedy for his Glory and that we must take this great opportunity to share the love of Christ with those people which know very little about God.   Some churches are getting ready to go and work for the Kingdom by sharing what they have but mostly by sharing the precious Gospel.   Again, we ask you to pray for Nicaragua and the believers who are going to work in the damaged area.   In advance, thank you all for your prayers and love!

Please continue to pray for our brothers ministering there.  Pray that the gospel would be furthered!