Maybe you have heard that Maggie and I are flying to Nicaragua on August 8. We are going to visit Open Hearts Ministry, a faith based, non-profit Christian mission, whose primary ministry outreach is aimed towards helping and encouraging children through rescue homes, a local school, and various churches.

Chris Farrington graduated from seminary with me and, with his wife Krista went straight to join this ministry, founded by Krista’s family in 1997 and we have followed their work since them.

So why are we going? Ever since we received their first newsletter we have been struck by the wonderful work they are doing and thought how nice it would be to visit and see the work first hand. As New Life’s commitment to missions has (and still is!) taken shape we wondered if we might take a group at some time to play some part in the work going on there. Now seemed a good time to go and investigate in the hope that we might take a group in 2012.

Nicaragua is one of the second poorest country in the western hemisphere and for a while I have been seeking God as to how we might act in a way that reflects God’s heart for the poor. Since 2000, Open Hearts has been hosting church groups and so maybe this is one place we could make a small contribution to fighting the “pandemic of poverty.” So will you pray with us that God will make His plans clear and, if it is right for us to go, whether you might be one of those He wants to be part of the team.