POST by JOSE: The Ladies in My Life

Jose cooking dinner in the Ohio Valley (West Virginia)

Hello my name is Jose Ballardo and I would like to tell you a little bit about how Jesus came into my life and how I accepted him as my Saviour.

My life in the past: I hadn’t yet accepted Jesus in my life. When I was 10 years old I was very spoiled by my mum. She worked hard and spent most of her time with my brother. I had a babysitter that took care of me. My mum gave us everything we wanted and we were very happy because we had everything we asked for.

Bad friendships: Over time, things became worse for our family. My mum got fired from her job and we didn’t have enough money. I would watch my mother cry because sometimes we didn’t even have food at home to eat. When I was 12 years old, I made some friends who were going through the same economic circumstances as me.

Bad decisions: My new friends were poor and knew my life. I felt comfortable being around them. Yet I saw that they would go out well dressed and with elegant style. They would say to me, “Do you want to look like us?”

I looked at myself and thought about all the poverty we were lived in. I said “okay, I would like to dress like you.” They said, “Good, let’s go steal some stuff… We are going to teach you how to do it!” So I followed them.

We walked to a specific location and then my friends said, “See the lady who is walking along the road? We will follow her and you're going to grab her around the neck and you’re going to throw her down to the ground and then steal all the money she has.”

I started to think about it, because the lady was very old and it seemed like a really bad idea. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and so I agreed to the plan. “Alrighty, I'll do it. I have nothing to lose…” So I approached the old lady and robbed her of the money she was carrying. I then ran fast and far. When we regrouped, we split up the money somewhat evenly and I felt full of adrenaline.

After the “old lady” incident, I started getting into fights with other people. I viewed it all as a game. However, my mum did not realise what had happened or any of the bad stuff that I was now doing. I would skip school to go and get into trouble with my so-called “friends.”

FLAWS THAT ENTERED MY LIFE: I would escape with my friends and they began to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, but I would only watch them. Then one day they said, “Jose, try this… You’re going to like it a lot and it will make you feel better, and you will forget about your troubles…” I asked them, “What is it?” They intelligently explained “It’s Marijuana.”

I started smoking the Marijuana and then began to feel really weird. After that I didn’t try it again, but I did try alcohol and cigarettes. Thank the LORD my body would reject these different drugs. I would ask my friends, “Why would you consume these drugs if you act like idiots after using them?” Their only response was to laugh at me.

The Sadness and suffering of my mother: as the time passed I would spend my time doing bad things. All I would think about were bad things and I listened to a lot of Satanic Rock and very violently music. I internally felt that my life was rubbish. I even came to a day where I cursed and insulted God’s name and blamed him for all my problems and thought about killing myself.

However, in these moments of rage, something would stop me. I would get really angry and I would yell and offend my mum and she began to cry because I treated her badly and would yell at her.

She had begun to notice me hanging around with bad people and doing bad things. I would never have acted like that in the past. My mother became very sick because of the problems I was causing her. She asked me, “Son, please change? Please go to church and seek God in your life?” It was funny to me and so I would laugh at her, “Who is God? For me God is like a whatever…”

Jesus touched my life: I was still into really bad things but one day a lady came and said to me, “Son, can I talk to you a little bit about Jesus?” I was 17 years old and I said “Okay, sure – why not…” This lady started talking to me about the Lord, and about the love he has for us.

She explained to me that Jesus sacrificially gave his life to save us and I hadn’t really known much about Him before this. When she had finished reading the word of God, she told me, “I’m inviting you to church tomorrow and if you don’t come I'll come get you and bring you myself.”  I told her I’d go because I had nothing better to do.

The next day I went to church to see what it was all about. When I entered, “wow” - I felt something different. I felt a heat in my whole body that comforted me and made me forget all my problems.

We started to sing and praise God. After that day I started going every week to church. God began to walk in my life. All the evil things I’d done were forgiven and I didn’t have a lot of problems in my life anymore.

Growing In Jesus: God has healed and changed me. Now I am a missionary and I give my testimony for the glory and the honour for God. Every day I pray for all the wonderful people that I have met on these trips.

My mother is healthy and everything is all falling into place, even though sometimes I fall down, God is there to pick me up and he says, “Come on son, I’m here with you. My hand is holding you.” In each church that I go to, I meet wonderful, nice people and I know that God has changed them like he has changed me.

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTINGsomething significant?

To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

Jose & Eliezer at Niagara Falls

Jesús en mi vida y como me a cambiado

Hola mi nombre es jose ballardo y les quiero contar un poco de como Jesús entro en mi vida y lo e aceptado como mi salvador.

Vida pasada: En mi vida pasada cuando no había aceptado a Jesús cuando yo tenía 10 años era un chico muy mimado por mi mama ella trabajaba mucho y pasaba solo la mayor parte del tiempo con mi hermano y la niñera que nos cuidaba mi mama nos daba todo lo que queríamos y éramos muy felices porque teníamos todo lo que queríamos.

Malas amistades: Con el tiempo las cosas se fueron  poniendo peor a mi mama la habían despedido del trabajo y no ajustábamos con el dinero habían mas deudas yo solo miraba llorar a mi mama porque abecés nos hacía falta la comida en el hogar. Cuando tenía 12 años conocí a unos amigos que pasaban por la misma situación que yo.

Malas decisiones: Ellos pasaban por lo mismo y me sentía cómodo con ellos, pero yo miraba que caminaban bien vestidos y muy elegantes y ellos me decían quieres ser como nosotros, yo me miraba y pensaba en la pobreza que estábamos pasando y les dije ok si me gustaría vestirme como ustedes y ellos me dijeron vamos a robar  te vamos a ensenar como hacerlo y yo les seguí y me decían te vamos a explicar vez aquella señora que va caminando la vamos a seguir y tu la vas a sujetar del cuello y la vas a tirar al suelo y le sacas todo el dinero que lleva y llo me puse a pensar por que la señora era muy anciana, pero después me dije ok lo voy a hacer no pierdo nada y vine y agarre a la señora y le quite todo su dinero y salimos corriendo y nos repartimos y yo me sentía con aquella adrenalina.

Después de lo sucedido con la señora me anduve metiendo en peleas con los demás yo lo miraba como un juego hacer todas esas maldades, pero mi mama no se daba cuenta de lo sucedido y de nada de lo que hacia, yo me escapaba del colegio por andar haciendo maldades con mis supuestos amigos.

VICIOS QUE ENTRARON EN MI VIDA: Yo me escapaba con mis amigos y ellos comenzaban a tomar y a fumar cigarrillos y llo solo los miraba y un dia me dijeron jose prueba esto te va a gustar y te ara sentir mejor y olvidaras todos tus problemas y yo les dije que era y ellos me dijeron es marihuana y yo les dije que si y la comencé a probar y después me comencé a sentir muy raro y después de eso no la volví a probar y después probé el alcohol  y los cigarrillos pero gracias a dios mi cuerpo los rechazaba, y después yo les decía a ellos que para que consumían ese tipo de cosas si se miraban como estúpidos y ellos solo se ponían a reir.

Tristeza y sufrimiento de mi mama: Haci paso el tiempo y yo solo pensaba cosas malas y escuchaba rock satánico y músicas con mucha violencia y yo sentía que para mi la vida era basura hasta llegue a maldecir e insultar a dios y lo culpaba de todos mis problemas y pensaba en quitarme la vida pero siempre algo me detenía me ponía tan enojado que ofendía a mi mama y ella se ponía a llorar por que yo la trataba muy mal ella se había

 dado cuenta que andaba en cosas malas porque yo antes no me comportaba aci ella se ponía muy enferma por los problemas, le ocasionaba  muchos problemas ella me decía hijo por favor cambia por favor ve a la iglesia y busca de dios y llo solo me reía y le decía quién es dios para mi dios ni es nada le decía.

Jesús toco mi vida: Yo seguía en las cosas malas pero un dia se acercó una señora y me dijo hijo le puedo hablar un poco sobre Jesús yo ya tenía 17 años y llo le dije si está bien y me comenzó a hablar sobre Jesús sobre el amor que nos tenía a nosotros que dio su vida para salvarnos y llo no savia nada sobre Jesús y cuando termino de leerme la palabra me dijo mañana te invito a la iglesia y si no vas yo te voy a venir a traer y yo le dije que si no tenía nada que hacer.

Y al día siguiente fui a la iglesia para ver de qué se trataba y al entrar wow sentí algo diferente sentí un calor en todo mi cuerpo que me reconfortaba y hacia que olvidara todos mis problemas y en ese instante comencé a cantar y alabar a dios y después de ese día comencé a ir más seguido a la iglesia y dios me iba cambiando mi vida y todo lo malo en mi lo perdono y no tenía muchos problemas como antes.

Creciendo con Jesús: Dios me sano y me cambio ahora soy misionero y doy mi testimonio para la gloria y honra de dios cada día oro por todas las personas maravillosas que e conocido en estos viajes gracias a dios mi mama es saludable y todo está saliendo bien aunque en veces tropiezo y caigo pero dios está ahí y me levanta y me dice animo hijo estoy con tigo mi mano te sostiene, en cada iglesia que voy conozco personas bellas y amables y dios a cambiado sus vidas como a mi gracias a dios y a ustedes por esta oportunidad de estar aquí.  DIOS LOS BENDIGA

POST by RENZ: The Haunt of Our Jaunt

Lorenzy with her NEW YORK cousins

Right now we are in Wisconsin at a camp. We have been in Minnesota and Wisconsin over the last week. On the first day of being here, about a few hours after arriving, Jose, Orlando, Eliezer, and I decided to go into the woods that were close by and well, just explore.

We decided to make it even more fun by recording it and pretending like we were in a horror movie or something like that. My phone battery was low so we decided to use Jose’s huge, black phone.

When we were about 30 feet away from where we entered, we came across a really big, wooden, old looking door. It was really tall and creepy looking. On the other side of the door, there was a net hung up and on the net were black strips of some sort of plastic. It was the only way to get to the other side and so we raced through it not wanting to stop, for fear of the nasty black things being some sort of poisonous snake animal.

Once we were on the other side of the strange obstacle, Eliezer told Jose to pause the recording until we found something else interesting. He went to pause it, when a shocked expression appeared on his face. We all looked at him waiting for him to explain why he looked shocked.

He glanced at us and with embarrassment and said that he had accidently not been recording. We just stared at him and then burst out laughing so hard. He just stood there looking embarrassed until he decided to laugh along with us. Once we had gotten back to normal, we kept on walking.

We had not been walking for too long when we came up to this tarp covered hut thing. We found the entrance and before slowly walking in, Eliezer told Jose to make sure that he was actually recording this time.

It was really dark but we just kept on going. Once we found the exit, we climbed onto this black thing and then jump off at the other side. After I had jumped of the wobbly wooden thing, I looked at it and saw that it was an empty broken coffin.

We were just wandering around when we came to another sight. This time we discovered three wooden crosses. (I wonder why everything was made out of wood and the black tarp stuff…) On a tree close to the crosses we saw the head of a deer hanging onto the side of a tree. Lying on the floor underneath it was the skull of a dear head and a few bones.

Orlando picked up the skull of the deer and started talking into the camera. Eliezer stood underneath the deer attached to the tree and made ‘deer’ faces. We became bored and kept on walking.

We were strolling along and found an even bigger, tarp covered, fort thingy. It wasn’t too far away and so we started walking towards it. Then we heard a bush move on our left side and automatically froze. We looked over and saw that there was nothing there. We keep on walking.

*SNAP* a branch behind us broke and we looked ever so slowly behind us. We saw that what had snapped the branch was actually Erick. He told us that he had been trying to scare us, but had failed miserably.

Once we got into the huge dark fort, I saw that there was a steering wheel at the front and looked around. It was an abandoned school bus with a tarp over it!! We walked through the bus and then entered this really bright room. On the top there was white fabric and hanging down were sacks with who knows what inside.

I walked through and then felt something hit my back. I looked behind me to see Eliezer bending over laughing, and a sack flying through the air. He threw the sack at me! I ran out with the rest of the group, leaving him there running around like a lost sheep stuck in a bush of thorns.

Our group ran all the way back until we got inside, laughing and joking all the way. After not too long, we each fell asleep wherever we could. It was an exhausting day. Traveling, and then having an adventure. How cool was that?

Lorenzy with her little cousin, Allegra

POST by YORDY: The Purpose Driven Search

Raffy, Yordy & Jonny

My time in the States was very exciting. We met a lot of people with good hearts. They talked to us about their pasts and the changes that God has made in their lives.

We too, were able to share the truth about how our lives were before we got to know Jesus. We had very hard lives when we were lost on the streets. We only did bad things, and so I thank God for placing Jed and Elizabeth Brien in my life.

They are a very good family who follow the foot prints of our God. They showed us how to live with Jesus in our hearts. We too have been able to help others make changes in their lives. We’ve been able to help people who really needed it, in the United States.

I have a lot of faith in God, that he will give us another opportunity to share the gift that he has given us.

I hope to see God move in a lot of lives on this next trip (to Minnesota and Wisconsin) and also hope that the people we visit will learn more about the purpose that God has for their lives.

Thanks for reading and God bless you.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page,ContemplatingSUPPORTINGsomething significant?

To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable. 

Mi experiencia en Estados Unidos fue muy emocionante conocimos muhas personas con un buen corzon, ellos nos ensenaron su pasado y el cambio que dios hizo en sus vidas, nosotros tanvien les demostramos la verdad de como era nuestra vida antes de conocer a jesus, teniamos una vida muy dura perdidos en las calles solo hacienda cosas malas pero le doy muchas Gracias a dios por poner a Elizabeth y a jed brien ellos son una familia muy buena que siguen los pasos de nuestro dios, ellos nos ensenaron a vivir con jesus en nuestro Corazon logramos muchos canvios a personas que lo necesitaban en los estados unidos, tengo mucha fe en dios que el nos dara otra vez la oportunidad de compartir lo que dios nos a dado esperamos lograr muchos cambios en las vidas de las personas en este viaje y tambien aprendan mas sobre los propositos que nuestro dios ha puesto en nuestras vidas Gracias por todo y que dios los bendiga.

POST by JED: California Dreamin (Part 11)

Capital on the Edge, performing at Davis Christian Assembly

It’s always tops to start on a good note and that’s literally what happened for us at the beginning of Californian tour, week four.

Davis Christian Assembly PUT ON the RITZ for our troupe, measuring us from head to toe and later giving us gifts of brand new clothes and shoes. Quite necessary, and completely welcomed. In fact, as I type this post, I look down with fond memories at my fancy-pants, Jarman shoes – so comfy!

The Church made sure that every meal was a spread fit for royalty with pastries, fruit and coffee for breakfast, and every tantilising delight available in mountainous form, for din-dins. My mouth was watering, at all times, on account of savoury and sweet fumes wafting throughout the building.

They drove us around their gnarly little town, from east to west and north to south, without any concern for the cost of gasoline or their own time.

They cut our hair, gave us tips for our production, helped with marketing our tour, loaded us up with cash and counseled, BOY DID THEY COUNSEL us!

Liz was treated to day-spa appointments, our girls were taken out for ice cream, the Brien boys went on play-dates and this little compilation I’ve delivered now, doesn’t even scratch the surface of their nonstop give-a-thon!

They prayed over our boys one-by-one, wrote letters and spoke with immigration officials on our behalf, organised covert evangelism events in public schools, universities and secular places we shouldn’t have dared step foot in.

They showed us every Christian kindness, with grace, mercy, compassion and unity, and all out of a Jesus-heart for their world – they were love to us. We’d come to be a blessing and whaddayaknow? The tables had been ferociously overturned!

And so from the very start, we knew that Davis Christian Assembly had our backs. Sunday morning was a great way to start our week, with Church consisting of prayer in small groups, praise and worship that was not trying to go somewhere super-dooper, but rather just focused on praising Jesus, and touching God’s heart, and then we performed our street theatre production, "Created."

Capital on the Edge, performing at Davis Christian Assembly

Our troupe was magnificent: high energy, correct form, good acting, the works. The Church was very supportive and really gave the boys something to get excited about. There were small bloopers, there always are, but nobody made mention and all was simply groovy-baby.

Pastor Jonathan, you’ve never met anyone like him. Quirky/hilarious sense of humour, strong leadership ability, musically talented, gifted speaker, hands-on approach, Greek ancestory, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, a businessman, husband and father to a beautiful family, a true pastor’s heart – I s’pose he really was an all-round AWESOME bloke…

Pastor Jonathan, left, with the lads of Capital on the Edge

And Bensie – Darling Bentz! The girl who dances in your shadow, always making certain that EYES are permanently dotted and TEAS are forever dashed, never seeking the spotlight and so articulate. She makes everything beautiful and the wheels definitely go round, not on account of anyone’s great work, but because she’s there pushing that bandwagon with everything she’s got! (and possibly with her darling little kiddies watching on!)

Bentz, an incredible exemplification of the love of God! This gal was the BEST communicator for us, from the Church’s side, of our entire Californian trip. So much thanks goes to this Treasure Pot, for all she did to make our lives simply Heavenly…

Bensie, far left, with (mostly) Capital on the Edge

But, I’m still not doing this Church justice. And why? Well because it’s a bargain basement, two-for-one jobby! They have a Spanish arm, which is more like a foot!

Again you ask “Why?” Because, during the week the Spanish Church utilises every inch of that Davis Christian Assembly building, pacing up and down it’s corridors, and walking around and around that Church’s sanctuary room, praying into the Heavenlies and giving praise, worship and all glory to God.

So at 2pm we enjoyed the Spanish service.  The music had a gigantic wow-factor attachment (saxophone and all!), and the announcements almost sounded like a sermon - lots of gusto and fanfare, totally Latino – I was in smitten.

Spanish Church at the Davis Christian Assembly

Then once again we presented our street theatre production, though on this occasion we were down 3 people. No matter, the crew soldiered on...

In the evening the Spanish Pastors, from Guadalajara no less, cooked up a storm and we all ate lots of great food. I told the boys to savour every mouthful, unaware that these kinds of meals were to be the norm for the entire week.

After our feed, the Latino pastors graciously took us to their homes where we each were able to have a well needed shower – two performances in one day – peeeeeYOUUUU!

We were also prayed over for about the 10th time that day and what a hoot! The lads have experienced Spanish prayer meetings and English prayer meetings, but never the both together. In fact, some of the second generation Latinos from Davis, prayed in both languages within the confines of the one prayer – ha ha SENSATIONAL! We had a good laugh – it was TOPS!

More presents of lotions and bathing stuff, and we were then brought home for a great night of R&R.

Spanish Pastors (The Montoys)

Now my old childhood pal from YWAM, Laura Larson (then "Rediger"), did a bit of a brag about the Davis Christian Assembly before we came to the pretty inland town (she used to attend the Church in her husband’s masters days). However, I was like “yeah, yeah, I’m sure it’s probably the best Church in the World.” (not really believing her…)

But truly, it may not be the BEST Church in the World, but it’s most certainly in the top 10, and considering there has to be some 10,000,000,000,000 Churches on Planet Earth, I’d have to say, and I’m no mathematician - so correct me if I’m wrong, that Davis Christian Assembly is in the TOP 1 percentile band of Best Churches in the World. That being said, I’d also like to go so far as saying that I think they’d probably make the TOP 1 percentile band of the Best Churches in the entire UNIVERSE!!!

The following morning we were up at the crack of dawn and off to an elementary school in downtown Davis. The school we visited had implemented a Spanish Immersion program, which I thought meant that it was an educational institution for Mexican kids, desirous of acquiring the English language. Nuppo muchachos, incorrecto. Other way around.

The kids at this school were everyday American kids (African American, White, Asian, 3^rd/4^th generation Latinos) whose parents thought it would be beneficial for their children to learn in Spanish.

Jed & Capital on the Edge, in an American public school

Hence, the kids were being completely immersed in the Spanish language and learning it really quickly, suffering only a wee bit of English instruction per day. The kids at this school were fully bilingual!

Anyway, the point of my story is that we were able to perform for 50 minutes, in two assemblies, in a CALIFORNIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL! To-date, this has not been possible. But I’m here to tell you that con Dios, no hay nada impossible!!!

Capital on the Edge performing in a Californian public school

I had a ripper of a time, stepping back into an American School, and was able to freely share the Gospel message through our street theatre production. We had the kids and teachers singing praise songs, were able to invite kids to other venues to see the production again with their families, and generally had a hum-dinger of a good time!

The kids of an American public school, sat still, sang loudly, and applauded with all of their might

Of course there were a few tears, but only from tincy-wincy kids who were afraid of the Devil (Jonny, otherwise known as Bad Choices), and Stivey.

In our street theatre production, Stivey gets REALLY angry and taunts his audience. We hadn’t prepped Stivey, assuming he would not go up to 6 year old kids and eye-ball them, smacking his fist.

Stivey, eye-balling his audience

Funny thing to me is, he didn’t think the little preciouses would be scared! Most Nicaraguan kids would laugh, having already been exposed to all sorts of horror, gore and physical abuse, and from the earliest of ages.

Our boys were really touched too, being able to come in as “teachers” to American kids. The little darlings looked up to our big boys because of their excellent Spanish language skills and athletic ability. And so the relationships blossomed, as did the dialogue in Español.

The boys, with their adoring fans...

Every bit of thanks to Elaine, from Davis Christian Assembly. This woman was NOTHING SHORT of phenomenal. She organised the public school events, offered us her home, organised for us to meet the director of Acquire the Fire, and nearly matched the Church’s love offering! She knew we needed the help (and we did – thank you Elaine!).

And so, after the performances, Elaine hosted our boys at her house. They were blessed by being able to sit in a spa for two hours, and desperately needed it due to our mounting injury tally – by now we’d been on the road for three and a half weeks, and the boys were getting sore and injured, mostly because they didn’t warm up or cool down properly – there’s only a certain amount that caring benefactors can say/do. At some stage, the boys needed to take ownership of their own bodies! Bah, the youth of today… ha ha

Thank you Elaine for the spa... Relaxed bodies ALL around!

In the evening the Church facilitated a time of openness and brokenness with both the Spanish and English speaking Pastors. It was something else. They prayed for every one of our boys and even Lorenzy. Their words of prophecy were completely SPOT on!

Pastor Jonathan prayed that Lorenzy would be able to maintain her innocence. You have no idea how difficult it is as parents of teenage girls, to welcome teenage boys into your home. We do it, because we believe that God wants us to do this work for him.

However, pastor after pastor questioned us on this. “First God, then your family, then your ministry.” They all say the same thing. It’s not Biblical. It fits in with our selfish Western lives, but it isn’t Biblical. How would that philosophy have worked for Jesus? For Moses? For Abraham? No, serving the Lord is an honour, and we do it together. Our work is not a burden, it’s a privilege.

With God first, everything else will fall into the correct order. But, we do need to be wise. And this is where Elizabeth and I have fallen short, because we’re human – yet, that’s not an acceptable excuse, either. And therefore, it was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME to hear Pastor Jonathan pray over Lorenzy, speaking words of truth and encouragement into her heart. She’s a changed girl! And for the better…

Lorenzy LOVES to dance - and she does it with ALL of her heart

They prayed that Stivey would realise how precious he is to God. Stivey has about a hundred brothers. He is loved by his family, but he’s not special to anyone. He’s special to us, but he doesn’t know that. We try to show him and tell him, but he doesn’t hear us. He’s so used to not being special, that he’s sort of immuned to words or actions of specialness towards him. Stivey was touched, really touched.

Stivey, the special one... (of many)

They prayed that Rene would find his strength in God. Rene was sold by his parents. He’s ALWAYS had to fend for himself and fight in order to get ahead. Rene doesn’t trust anyone and is in a sense, “self-made.” This word was 100% spot-on.

They prayed that Yordy and Jonny would know that they are loved.

Yordy’s Dad left him at the moment he was born. He came back with a stack-load of presents when Yordy was eight years old – all the dads in Nicaragua do this. “I love you, I’m sorry…” They all say the same thing, like they’ve read it from the same script. Yordy started smoking Marijuana at this time – the hole in his heart just too great a magnitude...

Yordy’s mum, we believe, is a prostitute. She has lived with him for a total of 3 months in his entire life. She currently resides in Costa Rica.

Yordy’s first job, before he was ten years old, was to kill cows and cut off their heads.

We consider Yordy to be our son. Just a couple of weeks ago, Yordy cut himself. It all comes back to love. “Don’t you care that I have blood all over me?” he wrote to Liz, desperate for a display of affection from her.

Yordy has attempted suicide countless times. I have spoken thousands of words of love, have shown him fatherly physical love, have doted on him. It’s almost worthless. He needs to know his Heavenly Father’s love for him. Praise God for Pastor Jon’s words…

Jose, Elizabeth and Yordy

Jonny’s family lived in a seriously rough neighbourhood, dominated by gangs. His father was an alcoholic and ruled with an iron fist. Jonny has never touched any drugs or alcohol for fear of his father’s wrath.

When I first met Jonny’s father, I made him laugh, but even I could tell that his face nearly cracked. “Gosh” said Jonny when he got in the car, “I’ve never seen my dad smile before.” Jonny has a parent, but he lacks a father. Jonny’s father is now busy with another woman and a new adorable little bub – and so the cycle of poverty continues. Jonny doesn’t know love.

Sezni & Jonny performing

They prayed that Yader would keep chasing God. This was cool, because he’d been deeply impacted when the pastor’s of a Baptist Church in El Salvador had taken off our shoes and washed our feet. They’d prophesied over us. They gave Yader their own, very well used, Bible.

Yet, since arriving in the USA, we’d also somehow arrived in attitude city. We’d had several run-ins with Yader, he’s terribly proud and never admits fault – that’s quite an obstacle for a missionary. Breakthrough time for Yader!

Yader

They prayed that Beycker would know that he is not the answer to people’s problems. Beycker’s Dad is a terrible man. He is a lawyer and attends Nicaragua’s biggest church – an Assemblies of God Church. My very own denomination! However, Beycker’s Dad has two different sets of children, from who knows how many women (it’s not just 2 as previously though). He has a girlfriend, and brags to his son that his girlfriend is younger than Beycker! He visits prostitutes regularly.

Beycker’s Dad, as I write this, is trying to evict Beycker’s mother, the mother of his children, from her house. Beycker’s father charges his mother rent. I cannot, as a Christian fellow, tell you how cross Beycker’s Dad makes me.

Please pray for Liz, at the moment Beycker’s Dad is furious with us. Many reasons there, but the main thing is that we support his mother, and have gone to lengths to make sure that she is safe and cared for. Her, a mere woman, the garbage of Nicaraguan society…

Woops, lost the point of my story. Beycker is the go-between for everyone in his family and their problems with each other. Poor lad, he cannot shake the shackle.

I’m telling you, the Pastors of Davis Christian Assembly were SPOT ON with EVERY WORD that came out of their mouths. Lizzie and I sat there and just watched and laughed. INCREDIBLE! They were specific, without a word wasted. Usually I “oh yeah, sure” these types of moments. But as I knew, for a fact, that they had no idea about these lads, I could do nothing but sit there in stunned amazement. God, using Davis Christian Assembly, to affect the lives of nothing-people, who were somehow going places (and fast).

Then the food… Of course, the food… I thought I’d died and gone straight to Guadalajara… The Mexicans cooked up YET ANOTHER storm and the youth, intercessors and pastors just kept pouring into our boys, filling them up with food, prayers, wisdom, love, etc. It was INCREIBLE! I’m telling you, Davis Christian Assembly – remember that name. It mightn’t be in this life, but you’ll DEFINITELY be hearing about them again….

Please watch the following clip of a Davis Christian Assembly super-star. This kid was encouraged by our dance troupe and is going to do GREAT things for his Jesus. Just watch and see...

If you would like to learn more about our ministry, please watch our latest update,CLICK HERE

If you would like to learn more about who our Nica-Youths are, or to support them, please visit their page, SUPPORT Nica-Talent

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTING something significant?

To learn more about Davis Christian Assembly, please CLICK HERE

POST by YORDY: Paying for Parking

Yordy, in SAN DIEGO!!!

Hoy fue una experiencia muy linda tuvimos un tiempo de diversion con nuestros amigos de california vinieron a la casa donde estamos ahorita, fue una experiencia muy linda jugamos futbol, comimos hot dogs, nos reimos, la pase muy genial con mis amigos. tambien un dia fuimos a san diego el pastor nos llevo a visitar estaban muchos edificios que bellos eran y muy grandes, tambien logre ver unos barcos creo que eran de guerra. es muy diferente a Nicaragua por que en mi pais no tienes que pagar por estacionar, pero aqui si pagas yo estube raro cuando vi que tenian que pagar para eso pero es muy divertido y bello me gustaria poder conocer mas de esta cultura tan bella. en la iglesia acababamos de terminar nuestra presentacion y despues tuvimos que decir nuestros nombres con el microfono enfrente como de 30 o 40 personas no se cuantas eran mi mente se puso nublada, le tocaba a mi amigo stiven a hablar y decir su nombre y yo estaba muy nervioso, mi amigo jonny me dijo en ese momento vamos tu puedes y yo le dije nunca he hablado con un microfono enfrente de tantas personas pero me decidi y no tuve mas pena y lo hise les dije mi nombre, despues les dije cuantos a;os tenia y ellos estaban riendo mucho yo tambien, pero no entiendo el causante de sus risas pero bueno paso mi turno terminamos y todos estaban orando por nosotros que lindo esas personas son muy humildes tiene el amor para dar a los demas me senti muy amado ese dia que linda experiencia y al final del dia estaba muy cansado, hacia un calor que nunca jamas en Nicaragua lo senti, nada mas cerre la ventana y dormi despertando con mucha alegria, gracias a estas personas que nos dan donde dormir ellos estan sacrificando muchas cosas con nosotros yo pienso que dios tiene un lugar especial para ellos en el cielo

Yordi, from Nicaragua (Capital on the Edge)

Today was a very nice experience. We had a fun time with our new friends from California. They came to the house where we are right now. It was a very nice experience. We played soccer, ate hot dogs, we laughed. It was great spending time with my friends. 

Nica-Talent with Youth from Vista Assembly, near San Diego (California)

Also, yesterday we went to San Diego. The pastor took us sightseeing and we visited many buildings that were beautiful and very big. I also managed to see some warships. 

Beycker, Yordi & Stivey, with San Diego in the background

 

Nicaragua is very different from the USA. We do not have to pay for parking. When I saw them paying for parking, I thought it was weird. But California is fun and beautiful, and I would love to know more about this gorgeous culture.

In San Diego (we drove over the bridge in the background...)

When we had finished our presentation, in the Church, we had to say our names with the microphone in front of about 30 or 40 people. My mind was cloudy. It was up to my friend Stiven to speak and say his name. I was very nervous. My friend, Jonny, told me it was my turn and I said “I have never spoken with a microphone in front of so many people!” But I decided to do it and it wasn’t so bad. I told them my name name, how old I am and then they started laughing a lot and I did too, but I do not understand why they were laughing.

Presenting for Vista Assembly of God, near San Diego (California)

Everyone prayed for us. These Church people are so nice and very humble. They have love to give to others and I felt very loved that day. By the end of that nice experience and at the end of the day I was very tired.

I slept awakening with great joy, thanks to these people who give us a place to sleep. They are sacrificing many things for us. I think God has a special place for them in heaven.

Yordy, in SAN DIEGO!!!