In the hustle of our every day, it’s easy to push aside thoughts of tomorrow and thoughts of others, especially those less fortunate. While the intention is not to disregard, we simply live in a world that doesn’t allow us to slow down long enough to look around and take in the needs of our surroundings. However, that is just an excuse, the reasoning we make in our heads to appease the guilt. The truth is that the choices we make are all intentional: where we go, who we see, what we eat, what activities we participate in. I made excuses for myself for years. I didn’t have the time, the money, or the skills. However, I have found these are all lies. There are constant opportunities to serve others every day; I simply need to intentionally choose to do so. It’s difficult, and I am certainly in no way perfect at it, but in recent years God has laid it on my heart to do more. 

One way I have truly loved to serve has been through the food packing event Servants With a Heart and Jenkins Restorations hold each December. Not only is this a fun way to join in fellowship with co-workers and others in my community, the food we pack for the families in Nicaragua makes a real difference. After several years of participating in this food packing event, I was ecstatic to get the opportunity to fly to Nicaragua and experience the other side of the event, distributing the food we packed to those in need. At first, the decision was difficult to make, with personal challenges causing me to question whether I should make the trip. In the end, I knew I was being called to go.

I set out with no expectations. Servants With a Heart had a plan in place and our group met several times to familiarize ourselves with each other and learn what we needed to know about Nicaragua. I felt anxious and excited as I boarded the plane, even more so when we landed. After a smooth exit through customs, we were there. I was there.

Our first stop was to a community dump, where families worked every day, including their small children, collecting items that could be recycled for money. That was how those families survived. It wasn’t lucrative work – it was dirty and dangerous, but to those families it was normal and how they earned a living.

When we arrived, there was already a group leading the people in songs of worship. We got off our bus and were instructed to disperse throughout the group. In those first moments, all I could do was look around and take it all in. Some were singing; some raising their hands in praise. Many were watching us as we moved throughout their group. It was surreal, but there was no time to hesitate – everyone just had to jump right in. 

We joined the group in singing and when it was finished, the local pastor called on anyone who wanted prayer to come forward. People came forward and requested prayer for everything from blessings to relief from medical pain. We then put our hands on the people and prayed over them. Once the prayers were finished, we distributed the food and toys.

As the families gathered their food and toys and headed back to their homes, I began to take a closer look around. Everywhere I turned there were mounds of trash. It was all over the ground, everywhere you stepped. Families were gathered on some of the mounds, surrounded by bags of plastic. Some had animals, all as undernourished as their owners, their skin dry and tight around their rib cages.

As I processed everything my eyes were taking in, I wondered what my purpose would be on the trip. What could I possibly have to offer? I was far removed from my comfort zone, but as I looked around, my heart softened. I watched the children, the joy they exuded, and knew I would do whatever was needed of me. I resolved to allow myself to be guided by Christ and not be afraid to do things I had never done before.

There were countless opportunities to act on my resolve. Whether it was praying over people I just met, singing songs in an unfamiliar language, or leading our team’s devotion, I intended to live out every calling God laid on me. I walked away from the experience in awe of God’s grace and wonder, how He could use me in ways I never imagined by just letting him take the lead. By being intentional in letting go and serving in any opportunity that arose, I was able to see Him work not only in the lives around me but my life as well. I learned so much from the people I met in Nicaragua. It was an experience I will never forget.

rebekah Zahory, Jenkins restorations

I am Arturo Soriano III, son of Jenkins Restorations employee Arturo Soriano. I am a 10th grader at Gonzaga College High School, an all boys Catholic school in DC that encourages service. We have opportunities to go on service trips and have a homeless shelter and food pantry on our campus called the Father McKenna Center. In December, I packed food for Servants with a Heart with my dad and other Jenkins employees, and this food typically goes both to Nicaragua and the Carolinas; however, my parents and I thought that we should bring some back and give it to the McKenna Center the next time our family served at its hypothermia program. On Thursday February 13th, we worked at the Center and donated the food for the food pantry. The Center’s pantry is open to all homeless people around the area and Gonzaga students help with the pantry during lunch periods. The hypothermia program is more limited as it involves housing people for the nights in winter. As a result, the Center’s hypothermia program is limited to only men and they must actively want to get out of homelessness. The McKenna Center funds therapy for those suffering from addiction in the program; however, if the men continue to abuse substances and themselves, then the shelter cannot house them. The center is strict and disciplined as we want to help those who want to be helped. If there are men who continue bad habits, then someone who follows good habits would not have this opportunity. The pantry is open to all men and women, regardless of whether they were turned down for the hypothermia program. We were able to share food with those in and out of the program and it was a great experience!

another field report from our partners in nicaragua, Samaritans international…

She is Mayra and she is 28 years old.

Mayra is from a community in Managua called Las Hamacas and she has 5 children. She was 15 when she had her first child, and her kids are now 1, 4, 7, 9, and 12 years old.

She is a single mother and loves to take care of her children. The day we made the delivery to this community, she was waiting anxiously for us to give her a box of Servants With a Heart food. Mayra shared with us that receiving this box of rice is a great help for her and her children. It is difficult for her to go out to work because she does not have the support of someone to take care of her children while she works, and in the community where she lives the distances between places are long and difficult.

So this blessing represents one of the main sources of food for her and her children, and she is very grateful because there is no other help for her community. She wants God to bless all the people that make it possible for this food to get here!

Here’s another update story from our partner, Samaritans international of Nicaragua

Several months ago, we had the opportunity to make a donation to the volunteer fire department of Managua. Through Samaritans International and Servants With a Heart, the Lord provided 600 boxes of food and the fire department received nearly 130,000 meals. 

The eight fire department locations around Nicaragua form the volunteer fire department federation serving these communities:  Chinandega, Leon, Carazo, Masaya, Rivas, Boaco, Estelí, and Matagalpa. The food was distributed according to need.

David Castillo, a volunteer firefighter, shared with us that on distribution day, there was a cooking demonstration to teach how to cook the food correctly. They prepared two different meals: Chinese Rice and soy meatballs. Neighbors and the volunteers from the fire department attended the demonstration and learned how to use ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, celery, and soy sauce. Once the training finished, they ate the prepared food and everything was delicious...it was a successful moment!

“I love to cook this food by myself...I prepared it with onions and tomatoes...I buy some tortillas and then it’s enough for dinner...very nutritious!” (testimony of Yodelvi Tercero about his experience with the food that has been a blessing for the fire department)

The fire department in Managua was founded on September 15th, 1936 and it is a volunteer organization. It aims to prevent fires and reduce fire risk; to save lives and property of people who are affected by different natural, accidental or intentional events; and to protect the environment. 

Its job is done without discrimination, ensuring an effective, efficient and high-quality human service based on technical and scientific knowledge. It acts with a dignified, courteous attitude and adheres to the constitution and laws of the Republic of Nicaragua.

The firefighters thank Servants With a Heart and its volunteers for their help, and hopes that god blesses them all!

Another update from our friends at Samaritans international of Nicaragua…

She is Flora Guadalupe López. She is 8 years old and lives in Catarina, city of Masaya. 

Before being blessed with Servants With a Heart (SWH) food she could not support the weight of her body and was without strength—she could not even hold her arms up. Last February, she started eating a diet based on SWH food, and by June—just 5 months—her advances were significant. Jesus performed a miracle in her life! She can support her body and take steps with her walker. Flora can sit in a chair and turn her head and she also smiles now. Her parents and little sister are very grateful to God.

We can say with confidence that the vitamin rice that God has brought to this family from SWH has been a great help with her nutrition, growth, and physical development.

In Flora we see a cheerful girl, full of light, and this is a great blessing for her family. They are very grateful first to God and then to Servants with a Heart for the food aid that has been provided and hope to continue receiving meals!

As we prepare to head to our annual Jenkins Restorations packing event and Christmas party next month, we thought it appropriate to share a post written by a Jenkins employee who traveled to Nicaragua this fall. Lyndee also writes that she has been inspired to work on learning Spanish now and has downloaded DuoLingo. She is so excited about understanding Spanish better, ”which will be fun when I go to Nicaragua again… I will be able to speak more with the people!”

I had the incredible privilege to travel to Nicaragua for a long weekend with several people from my company, Jenkins Restorations. We pack food every year in December with Servants With a Heart. This year, we got to actually see the very boxes we packed being given out to the people of Nicaragua and how this physical gift opens the door to their hearts and provides an opportunity for us to pray with them and for lives to be changed for eternity.

Back at home, I received an email from my work about an opportunity to go to Nicaragua. I very casually responded to the second email sent out thinking I might be interested. I didn't hear the voice of God saying I shouldn't go. So, hey, what the heck, let's fly to a third world country. My movement to sign up for this trip could not have felt more casual and less exciting. Instead of knowing God's voice and recognize this calling in my life, it felt like a whim that I may or may not follow through with.

Now, I contrast this casual decision to fly to Nicaragua with every decision that was made while I was in Nicaragua. When the plane touched down, it was “go time.” Suddenly, all the distractions in my life were gone. I didn't have email to check, shopping to do, cleaning, playing with my new Fitbit, going to the gym—everything from my normal life was removed. Now, the only thing on my agenda was to listen to God and do what he says. A casual whim turned into clear direction from God and his voice became distinct. When I am not distracted by the things of the world, the spiritual battle takes a front row and I remember that I am a warrior.

The first thing we did (after eating food—because that is what Americans do), was go to a dump. When we arrived, there was already a man there from our partner ministry, Samaritans International, singing worship songs with the people who lived in the dump. I could not sing along, since I don't know Spanish, but I could feel the Holy Spirit moving as I listened to the song. I was drawn to this one particular girl. She looked to be 12 or 13. She was raising her hands as she sang and I knew that she trusted in God. This girl lived her life digging through trash looking for things to sell. From a worldly view, she had nothing, but the truth is, she had the only thing that really matters. She had hope in God. My heart was filled with joy as I watched these people who had no earthly treasures raise their hands and worship God. They didn't have the distractions that I have at home. They knew that God was their only hope. They chose to rest in Him because they didn’t have anything else to rest in.

We went to several churches, a school, and into communities. We delivered a lot of food. Wherever we delivered food, we prayed for the people. We asked for specific prayer requests. We unashamedly went before the throne of God and asked Him to save their souls, heal their sicknesses, provide jobs, and bring joy. The spiritual warfare was so evident. At one church, our preacher's translator, Jackie, was physically attacked by a demon. She was pushed back and she almost tripped. It was telling her she was unworthy and that she should not be translating. The master of lies was attacking her. However, God is stronger than any devil. Jackie knew that these were lies and she kept on translating. She spoke God's truth to the people. At that very same church, as we prayed, God healed a woman's kidney pain and took it away. In Nicaragua, I remembered that we have access to the amazing power of God and when we pray in faith, we will see God do amazing things.

Now that I am back home, I am once again surrounded by many distractions. Many of these things are necessary—doing chores, checking email, going to work. These are things I am thankful I have, but I pray I will not allow them to distract me from the voice of God. I pray I will not forget the spiritual battle that is going on daily. I still have access to God's amazing power and all I need to do is pray in faith and God will do amazing things.

We have access to God's power, so let's unleash it.

Lyndee Fritzemeier, Jenkins Restorations

Mercy is just when it is rooted in hopefulness and freely given. Mercy is most empowering, liberating, and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. The people who haven’t earned it, who haven’t even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion. Bryan Stevenson

I was fortunate to meet William at Mateares dump on a trip to Nicaragua in June. William is 4 years old, has never spoken and looks as one would expect a 4 year old would look who spends his days at the dump sorting through garbage to find what he and his family can eat, use or sell. His little face and eyes, and pants that were too big, tied with a plastic cord, made an unforgettable impression on my heart. William has been going to the dump every day since he was born. He communicates with hand gestures, but he has never been to a class to learn any type of sign language.  

Servants with a Heart hosted several packing events during Love Week at Elevation Church in July. I was leading the event at the River Walk campus in Rock Hill, SC. During the service time before the packing began, I went around to all the classrooms of kids from age 3 to 5th grade. I told them about the food and how the packing they were going to be doing would make a difference for children’s lives in Nicaragua. I showed them a picture of William and told them about his life. Specifically, I shared that when he gets the food, our hope is that his mom will allow him to go to school and not have to look through trash at the dump to find food or things to sell to make money to buy food. I told them I was sure William’s mom does not want him to have to eat trash and she does want him to be able to go to school. The food packing they were about to do was going to help William have a better life.  

Annabelle (age 4) and James (age 3)  were at River Walk that morning and were moved by the story of William. They asked their mom that afternoon if William got his food yet, and they continued to ask her every day, not comprehending the distance and logistics involved to get the food to William in Nicaragua. In the meantime, Ashley, their mom, talked more to Annabelle and James about what William’s life was like. Annabelle and James decided they wanted to send William a blanket. Servants with a Heart found out more information about William, including that he has an 8 year old brother and a 10 year old sister. Ashley took Annabelle and James to pick out and buy some blankets for William and his siblings.

In September, Jeff and Suzanne Yoh, the founders of Servants with a Heart, took another group to Nicaragua. They carried the blankets to William and his siblings and were able to take some photos for Annabelle and James Needless to say, William was thrilled to have a Spiderman blanket all his own that was picked out just for him.

The pictures of William and his mom receiving the blankets showed a happy, shy little boy and a proud and appreciative mother. What I noticed is William’s face was clean the day he got to cuddle his new blanket. His mother knew there was a gift coming for her son, and I believe that someone valuing and caring about the comfort and future of her child gave her renewed hope for her little boy.  

Cynthia Hair, SWH Leadership Team

This past September, a group of 7 Jenkins employees and their families had the privilege to travel with Servants With a Heart to Managua, Nicaragua. While our mission was to serve, we quickly found ourselves being blessed by those we came to serve. It was a truly humbling experience delivering food and toys to nearby villages, dumps, and churches. Things we take for granted in our day to day lives meant so much to those receiving. At each stop, we had the opportunity to share and pray with the people. It may seem, coming from a country of plenty, that these people would be sad or depressed over their situation. On the contrary, they were joyful, thankful, and full of hope. We were always met with smiling faces and welcoming arms. The link below shows you a little of what we experienced on our trip, I hope you enjoy.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qm4skz4f8sx0lph/SWH%20Jenkins%202019.mov?dl=0

Rebekah Zahory, Jenkins Restorations

After a great few days in Nicaragua with Servants With a Heart and a team of Jenkins Restorations employees and their families, I met up with Elisabeth Munford to do branch visits in Lakeland, Florida and then Atlanta, Georgia.

One of reasons I really wanted to go to Nicaragua with Servants With a Heart and Jenkins was because I used to be in the foreign mission field. I thrived on that environment, seeing God work and feeling his presence as he made things happen. In the US, we are more insulated so I have intentionally sought out situations where I have greater dependence on God and can feel and recognize him moving and working. This trip seemed like a perfect fit.

One evening as we were sitting around after a busy day in and around Managua, Lance (another Jenkins trip participant) asked us, “When was the last time was you asked a friend to pray for him or her? When was the last time you asked a stranger?” That hit me. Now back to my experience after returning home…

I met Elisabeth in Miami and then we flew to Atlanta with only carry-on luggage, but at the gate, they asked for volunteers to check their bags on the full flight. We both offered, landed in Atlanta, and my bag landed on the carousel; however, Elisabeth’s did not. As we watched the carousel slow to a stop, we recognized the inconvenience…we had someone waiting for us in a truck outside, and we both knew the hassle of dealing with missing baggage. Elisabeth waited (just in case the carousel started up again!) and I took her claim ticket to the office of lost luggage.

It’s easy to imagine the scene: five women sitting behind the counter and a line of angry customers waiting to tear into them. When it was my turn, I handed the lady the ticket, explained the situation, and she asked me if we had looked in the oversized baggage door. I said we had not (it was a small carry-on), and she suggested I go check. As I started to walk away, she said that actually she would call to ask on our behalf. While she was calling, Elisabeth called me to say they DID turn the carousel back on and her bag arrived! The lady behind the counter making the call stood up, said something was wrong with her back, and asked her colleague to “hit her back.” That was my cue. I asked her if I could pray for her.

So right there, out loud in front of all the ladies behind the counter and all the people in line, she put her hand over the counter and held mine. After I prayed and turned to leave, the next woman in line had her mouth literally hanging open.

I am so excited to be caught up in what God was and is doing. It’s all around us but we miss it so often. I want to live my life this way so I don’t miss a single thing. That’s why the bag did not show up!

Joshua Jenkins

Jenkins Restorations

Below is another report from one of our partners, Samaritans international in pochocuape, Nicaragua

Ashly Vega is a 10-year old girl from the community of San Isidro, El Rosario, Carazo department of Nicaragua. In this municipality, people work the land to cultivate grains. There is a lot of poverty and inequality between those who have land and those who do not. Many who do not own land must work on it for others to survive.

Ashly has been part of our feeding program since January 2019. Since this time, God performed a miracle in her life. She could not walk, and now she walks and runs throughout her house with an incredible sense of awareness, although she is blind. She has gained weight and her health is much improved.

She has learned a few words which she now repeats, indicating that from the beginning of the Samaritans International Disabled Monitoring Program, her mental development has progressed. The vitamin-fortified soy-rice has helped her in her physical and intellectual growth and also has provided the nutrients she needs, which were missing due to her family's lack of financial resources. Ashly now has a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and nutrients.

Her mother and brothers are very happy and grateful to Jesus for the provision that God has sent them through Samaritans International and the Disabled Monitoring Program. Thank you Servants With a Heart volunteers, because without your support we would not be able to reach Ashly's home.

Ashly at home