Well, It's been almost a week in Nicaragua and what to say?

You know guys I have this vision in my head of my pastor back home, Paul Vallee, preaching on the platform of our church and in this picture I recall him specifically saying in demonstration: 

                                                      "GOD WHERE ARE YOU!?"

 Well to be honest right now that is the question I am asking, and maybe an occasional:  "Who are you?" also. I did not see this coming. I will simply say its been a hard week. A Hard Week and that, right now, God seems intent on taking me into the refining fire. 

 Oh Boy. Here we go. Pressure, testing, lonliness, failure...Turns out I am nothing like Job.

Not sure what else to say at this point, except that amidst the confusion and even pain of the last week here that it has absolutely nothing to do with Nicaragua.

True it´s tough to understand the Spanish constantly but the place I am staying has been nice and my hosts are very gracious and interesting people.

  Last week I said that I would tell you something about the place I found my self at down here and will do just that by taking a minute to tell you about a new friend of mine

Fernando is the security gaurd here at the "Hotel Casa Mateo." I suppose anyone would immediately identify Fernando as an extremely hard looking guy. 

Big boots, rough complection, chest out, shoulders back, tatooed arms and face and generally just looks like this dude would throw some bombs at you if you stepped on his toes.

 In actuality I encountered somebody somewhat different.

I appoached Him and asked if he could show me an ATM, He did so and then offered to show me around. We got to hanging out a little bit and He said to me:

"You working for Jesus?"

                                                     "Ya man, I am." I replied.

 "Me too man, He change my life man" comes the thick Spanish accent and broken english.

Fernando has been a Christian for a month and a half and he is being wrecked. I am witnessing even in only the last few days the Lord just open up His arms and bring Fernando in.  

 Since first meeting Fernado I have been to his home, his Church, His Bible study and I´ll tell you this; He has quite the story to tell.

 Fernado is 33 years old now. He grew up in an abusive home, beaten at the hands of his Father and even starved by him at other times when His mother would be away. Into the Nicaraguan army he went at 16 years of age being introduced to a life of violence. At Nineteen being released from the military he resolved to go to the United States and amazingly...that he did.

 The next 12 years unfold a story of driving (with ZERO english) no problems right into the United States, then being arrested countless times, being LET OFF almost as many times, starting a family, moving around, boxing professionally, gangs, guns, and somehow despite his efforts (and second chances) always finding himself back in trouble.

When He tells the story of His time there I hear a boy inside of Him who desperately wanted to find life but was filled with a pain that roared and was surely a long way from home.

 Now, He is here in Jino-Tepe.

Back in His home land (which he refuses to call it) after finally being deported with 10 U.S. dollars in His pocket and after that only His clothes.

"Jesus I need you come, change my life!" he cried. 

I have been blessed in this short time to hear this amazing story be brought to the feet of Jesus.  And came He did, and as such a new man was born.

                                         Not figuratively but actually Spiritually.

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

                                          But indeed the new man has come.

                                Born again. Re-Birth. Regenerated. Made New.

 "Here is a saying that is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...." 1st Timothy 1:15

 Please pray for Him if the Lord puts it in your heart to do so, he is so young in the faith and I also know he dearly misses His kids.

 Please pray for me if The Lord moves you to do so. This is an uncharted water in my life of faith and though it´s hard I wish to grow and remain faithfull through it all.