It began to burn on my heart to organize a 5k race for organizations that needed money and I talked to my leaders about it. This was all I really had to do-besides the most important thing, pray. Next, my new leader Seth and teammate Sarah were inspired to help and our local translator Mario was used by God for his knowledge of local businesses. Later, I learned that Young Life, which draws 80+ teenagers from the temptations of the street life into the church, was hurting financially. With Young Life, the youth in the community are able to play games, worship Jesus, act out Bible stories and attend Christian sport camps. As a result of the program I have seen many young people, through tears, commit their lives to Jesus. Through prayer the Lord led me to have the race benefit this program in Granada.
What an experience it has been following God through this vision. Everything has fallen into place, including the Great Deceiver. Money is our greatest distraction and we have fought fear of not raising enough. One issue was on the racing fee. First, we decided to charge each runner 40 cords (2$) and then it was more and later less. One night I approached God frustrated because I couldn’t believe how cheap we were making the race.
Then, God rocked me. He clearly told me to stop thinking about the money and to lay it on him. Thus, I concluded to drop the racing fee and trust God that the money will come. Last night, God put it on my heart to write you this note. I ask that you take this event with discernment, read below about Young Life and contribute in whatever way God leads. If you would like to give financially, please follow the directions below. Also, here are 3 ways you can pray for Young Life:
- That God will provide financially.
- More hearts will be drawn to Jesus.
- Leaders will rise up from the youth who spread their faith boldly.
Thank you very much for reading. I invite you to be a part of the change happening in Granada.
From a brother in Christ,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Granada welcomed Vida Joven, or Nicaragua’s Young Life, in September of last year. The program has been wildly successful, demonstrating that young people here are hungry for wholesome alternatives to drugs, alcohol and life on the streets. El Puente is bursting with kids each Thursday night, and we’ve expanded the program with additional offerings throughout the week.
However, financing the program is not easy. Joe, a member of our Awakening team, suggested we put on a 5K Fun Run in Granada to spread the word and raise support. The city has given its blessing, and we are scheduled to go on April 25th. As the first event of this sort for all of us, we are looking for ways to make this a success for the kids. AIM has opened a dedicated account in which sponsorship funds may be collected. If you would like to sponsor young people in this race, we’d like to make this account available to you as well. If you’d like to help, we suggest the following sponsorship levels:
Single Sponsorship: $5
Triple Sponsorship: $15
Quintuplets: $25
Ten Youngsters: $50
Of course, you could give more or less, as your budget allows. All funds collected will go directly to the Granada Vida Joven Club. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thanks for your consideration, and for helping these kids step out in faith.
El Puente, Granada, Nicaragua
Checks may be mailed to:
Adventures in Missions
6000 Wellspring Trail
Gainesville, GA 30506
Attention: Nicaragua Kids Camp Fun Run
or, Contributions may be made online at:
https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace
Once you are on the web page, you:
1. In the drop down menu select “Support A World Race Project”
2. In the Project box that appears, type in: Nicaragua Kids Camp Fun Run
3. Follow the donation process through.
Please Read:
One of the lives impacted by Young Life:
This morning Seth interviewed Oscar Gutiérrez. He grew up in a world of soccer, parties, and girls and his life has been changed through the ministry of Vida Joven (VJ – In English, Young Life), a ministry we have been heavily involved with here in Granada. Now soccer is a tool for him to invite kids to VJ, he is preparing to be a leader in the program, and he is continuing his education in the university that he withdrew from three years ago. This is his story…
Before VJ, before I knew anything about it, my life was completely dedicated to partying. I toyed with the emotions of girls and smoked a lot. When I started partying, I wasn’t necessarily smoking and into many vices, but the more I got into it, my life started spiraling downward. I got into marijuana a few times. This whole scene lasted about eight months, and looking back, I felt like my life had no meaning.
In September of 2008, I met a girl. When I met her, she didn’t tell me anything about Young Life. She w
as hanging out with a couple of other girls who wanted us to go to Young Life’s club, so I went with them. In the club, we watched a video about a guy named Nick, who should have been incapacitated, but functioned very well considering his circumstances. I saw in this video that nothing was impossible.
Shortly thereafter I had the opportunity to go to my first VJ sports camp. At the camp they took us to a labyrinth and taught us about listening to God’s voice. I tried it out, but it was very difficult for me to hear him. The camp was good because, while they were somewhat restrictive, but they weren’t legalistic. They made me not want to do the things I had been doing.
Following this I was invited on another VJ camp. When we were there, we had a time of worshiping God. Something moved me to tears during the singing. I was closing my eyes, and when I opened them, I looked down at the floor and I saw the face of Jesus. I sobbed uncontrollably as I felt the Lord calling me. I felt him intimately; I knew then that he cared for me. This motivated me to give my testimony about my life and what I was still doing to the others that were with me. They were people from my city that knew me or knew of me before. Before I started talking, I didn’t feel like I’d have the words to speak because I was embarrassed, but my heart compelled me. I wanted to express that yes, I can change and others can too.
VJ is very close to my heart. It introduced me to Jesus and taught me how to move forward in my life. I know that because it has done this for me, it will continue to do so with others as well, and I want to be a part of it. I love that sports can still be a part of my life and I can actually use it to reach out to other kids. Now, I am focused on other kids and it’s given me direction and meaning. I’m moving forward. I am available and want to be available for the kids at VJ. We have a vision to change their lives and facilitate an encounter with the Lord. I am really excited about VJ. I love it! I want to continue moving forward to be a great leader for them. I believe in this vision; it changed my life and it will continue to change lives.
Hey Joe,
Great news about the 5K. We will be praying for it and you and everyone April 18th – the new date of PCBC missions prayer walk. (And will pray before and after too!) Congrats on the scholarship and Praise the Lord for all that He is doing in your life. It is all about Him and how we fit into His plan (as opposed to Him fitting into our lives). Praying for you as you prepare to come home. Street ministry with John and Andrew in Burlington on the agenda?!
Blessings, the Kehoes
Joe, its been a while since i have posted something. i think its great that your doing the 5 k race and relying on god for the money situation. I wish i could go up there in nicaragwa and run the race but you probabley wouldnt want to be enbarrassed in front of your crowd cause i would smoke the pants off you. i think i might sponser someone in the race. Well i am really proud of you up there and im telling all my friends about you.
-Shepardo
“therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN with endurance the RACE that is set before us,
looking unto JESUS. Hebrews 12:1
Praying for you this morning that He directs your path and that you take time out of your busy schedule to gather strength from the source of life –
we’ll be there in 4 days!
Moms
Hey Jose,
¿Que tal, hermano? ¿Como esta yendo? Me encanta la idea de un 5k… algo que se que te va a desafiar y requererte depender mas y mas en Dios.
It is good to get a snapshot of your heart via this blog. Fundraising is such a need and challenge in Latin America… I love to see you taking it head on with your passion for running. By the way, are you going to enter the race?
If you have a chance, look up Youth for Christ in Nicaragua. It is a new ministry, and I think our new director (Alberto) has ties with Young Life. If you get to meet him, give him a bit latin hug from me!
hey jose!!
here is your fav. aunt from canada ..again ..after a long long time.But i have been thinking of you and kept you in prayer. So good to hear what graet things god is doing in your life..sounds like things are really shaking up..as you might put it..(haha!!) you gave me a few good laughs ,though that’s for sure.
i esp. seem to like that prayer house you gyus have. you know joe i have read mostly books on prayer in the last year and a half..some “controversial one ” too. have you heard about “intercessory prayer-by dug sheets!?? a bit edgi on some points , but very incouraging and motivating. it deffin. changed my prayerlife. i think any ministry , life ,missions or church that is not built or founded on prayer..can not stand or succeed.so i want to encourage you joe ….god wants an intimite relationship with us and we find it when we seek his face in his presence. his forgiveness is always available…and through it we find freedom and peace. I pray that you will bring much blessing to the people you meet, joe.
i especially pray for your race …
louis and i would like to help you with a donation and i do hope it will bring “new life ” to many young people in nicaragua. may god bless you joe. we love you.
aunt barb and oncel louis
Joe my friend….Panton is just not the same without you. I am so excited for you that your wonderful family is about to embark on that great journey to be with you.!!! The greatest blessing in life, next to knowing Jesus and his sacrifice, is to have a loving, caring family. You surely have that!!!
Everytime I spend time with your Mom, I come away strengthened, just like every time I read one of your postings I come away thrilled and my committment to Christ is renewed. I think of you as a precious grandson…along with the others that I have by birth. And so dear child, I wish you God’s best in all that you do and in your every endeavor, even as you listen to His voice. Have fun with your family and run like the wind!!!!! Thats mighty up here on my hill. Love, to you.