Crossing the Jordan & Entering the Land

            Everything that has happened in the last few months, began with a simple scripture.

“Blessed is she who has believed that everything the Lord
has spoken to her will be accomplished!”

~ Luke 1:45

            My heart
cried out, “Yes Lord! I believe it!” And, as a result, He has begun to move…

            Almost five
years ago,  the Lord planted a dream in my heart to become family for children
who haven’t known the love of a family (To understand this dream’s beginning, read
My Kind of Family). In the last couple of months, the Lord has begun to move in this
dream. He has begun to open doors and has been speaking to my heart through Deuteronomy telling me to take possession of the land and to cross the Jordan and enter into His promises (To see how the Lord has already been moving, read My Journey: First Fruits of Spring).

     Since the Lord told me to move forward, I have met with anyone who can offer me wisdom. I have spent
countless hours praying into every aspect of this dream. I have been collecting information, looking into different options and figuring out what steps I need to take in order to make this dream a reality. My initial steps have been planned:

1.     1. Obtain Nicaraguan residency.

2.     2. Register with Mi Familia to become a foster care
home.

3.     3. Buy land.

  4. Build a home.

I have been making arrangements to
get all of the necessary paperwork for residency when I am in the States in
July. I should be able to file for residency in August or, at latest, September. Once I have my paperwork ready to file (which is no small undertaking I assure you), I will go ahead a schedule a meeting with my regional Mi Familia office in Chinandega. I have been told that they are able to help push my residency through more quickly if I have met with them and they would like to accept me as a foster care provider.

I have also found land that I would like to buy! Some friends of mine from our church here in Candelaria told me about land for sale that they thought might fit my needs (standing at the entrance to the new land development-pictured left). I began praying that the Lord would speak to me and confirm whether this is the land that He wants as the site of my home. After a few days in prayer, I rode my bike out to see the land…

It’s perfect!! (The empty plot of land I hope to buy- pictured above.) This land is in a perfect location; it is in the middle of everything that is a regular part of my life. It’s closer to town, but only a 7-8 minute bike ride from the New Song base. Far enough away for me to be able to set some healthy boundaries in order to make my children my first priority, but close enough to continue my relationships in Candelaria and my work with New Song (although I am empowering locals to take on many of my current responsibilities). It’s in a quieter neighborhood. On clear days, there is a beautiful view of San Cristobal  from the front of my house (the view from the front of the property; you can see the volcano just peeking through the clouds). There are parks only three blocks away both to the north and the south. My kids could walk to school in five minutes. The price is reasonable. I absolutely love it!! I felt such peace as I walked around the land. I really believe that this is the land that the Lord has for me.

However, I need YOUR help! The land is being sold in rectangular plots that measure 8 meters by 20 meters. I would like to buy two plots side-by-side so that I can build a home large enough for the children that the Lord is going to send me. It will cost $3000 to buy two plots of land.  I need to move without delay before the land is sold or the prices are raised. Land is selling quickly in this area so I am hoping to purchase the land before the end of May.

If you would like to help me purchase land for my future children’s home, I am asking that all donations be sent to my parents’ house. I know that this is less convenient than being able to pay online, but it’s the only way that I will be able to receive a large sum of cash here in Nicaragua immediately. You can make checks payable to Lisa Smith and you can mail all donations to:

Rick & Margie Smith

128 Peters Drive

Beckley, WV 25801

OR

You can pay online through paypal. The email address for the account is: [email protected] (It will say given to DivisionChair Smith).

Please consider partnering with me in this dream and enabling me to become a mother to the motherless. My heart’s cry is for the orphaned, abandoned, neglected and abused children. I long for them to know that they are loved and delighted in. I want to build a home where they can be safe, loved, and become exactly who the Lord has created them to be. This is my passion and my dream, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help. Will you please consider partnering with me in this new adventure?