But a Samaritan...had compassion

Nearly a year ago Lisa, Nathan and I traveled to Managua, Nicaragua (this was before Elias).  You can see pics of our first visit here.  We went there with a great friend and supporter from Ft. Lauderdale, Mike Jefferies.  We went for a number of reasons, but mostly we went to discern.  We were in the midst of another transition in what had become a season of transitions.  We weren't quite sure where God was pointing us.  And our friend asked us to consider Nicaragua and there were many things that appealed to us about the possibility.  But we wanted to visit first.  

That visit was one of the very bright spots of 2008.  We shared several days with Carolyn and Nour Sirker, two medical professionals (Carolyn is a nurse from Long Island and Nour is a surgeon and ER specialist) who, after successful medical careers in the US felt God's compulsion back to Nour's native Nicaragua in an effort to provide medical care to the poor and the Gospel to the lost.  One of the vehicles they use is the foundation they started, Fundacion El Samaritano (the Samaritan Foundation).

Lisa and I love to be around people like Carolyn and Nour.  Ordinary Radicals as our friend Shane calls them.  Folks who engage in what the world might describe as downward mobility; folks who intertwine their lives with the lives of the poor and vulnerable and do so in such a way that those around are attracted to the faith that serves as such a great motivation.  

Ultimately we sensed God leading us to Memphis and to Living Hope, but we also sensed that God was going to continue to weave our story with that of Samaritano and the Sirkers.  

Two weeks ago, the weaving continued as I traveled back to Managua, nearly a year later to rejoin Carolyn, Nour and the Mother Teresa like staff at the Samaritano clinic and schools.  I traveled with David Lewis, the worship arts pastor at Living Hope and videographer Mike Skilleter of Flashlight Productions.  We went to get caught up on the work of Samaritano, get a glimpse of what God is doing and find creative ways for Living Hope to partner in the work.  Somewhere between the outpatient clinic, the surgical ward, the two schools for disadvantaged children, the physical therapy ministry for children with mental & physical disabilities, the sports camps and the men's ministries there's a veritable buffet of opportunity.  

But there's another, far more subtle reason why I returned to Samaritano.  Like I mentioned earlier, I want to be like the Sirkers and others who, because of their faith, believe that Jesus can still change the world and that God still uses ordinary people.  You see, I want to be like that.  But I need encouragement.  And sometimes, I need to see it.  Sometimes, several times.  And the thing is, I think that I am at a church with people that are, in a lot of ways, like me.  They want to be world changers too.  They want to do great things...or small things with great love.  But they need encouragement.  They need to see it.  Sometimes, several times.  And at Fundacion El Samaritano, located on the outskirts of Managua...they will see it.  Several times.