“I’ve come realize our purpose in life isn’t one big event that we’re climbing towards. Our purpose on earth is to love God and love people while we’re here. However we can, whenever we can, wherever we can, and whatever it costs us personally. When God is the One setting the vision of our hearts, there is joy and rest and grace and peace in the midst of the chaos and struggle.” -Grace Asnip
In 2014 I was asked by a pastor to translate for a meeting with a Missionary from the States who was working with the people of Diriomo, Nicaragua. I came to the meeting just to translate as I was asked. But, when the Missionary, Naomi Heidorn and her husband Steve Heidorn starting talking about Los Rayos de Esperanza I felt a very special connection not only with them, but also with the Ministry. They talked about how God brought them to this country and the calling of God to them. What most impressed me that day was hearing Naomi, the Ministry Director, telling us about a dream God placed in her heart many years ago. Her dream was to fund a school for unprivileged children in Nicaragua; I immediately felt the calling of God to work with the Ministry. But it was not God´s timing yet.
Since I was very young I was passionate for children and had the desire to work with them. I had worked with children before but something else was missing. I worked with kids, which was my passion but a piece of my puzzle was missing. I was losing my passion because I didn´t feel completed.
One year later, I finally had the opportunity to work for Los Rayos de Esperanza as a teacher. Since then, my view of the world has changed. I appreciate every single day God let me stand and serve him and his people. I have seen many miracles while serving at Los Rayos, I have experienced God´s love and mercy through a child´s smile or through tears from a thankful mom who has been blessed by the Ministry. This has been the best experience I have ever had. I finally found the missing piece; I can feel my heart full of joy when serving the people, the children of God, and this is for real something I would never had doing my job in another place or with other people. Investing my life in the children of this place has been the best thing in my life.
The children from the school think they are blessed for coming to us every day but what they don´t know is how blessed we are for having them here.
Mathew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden”. Los Rayos de Esperanza is a light in this little community of darkness. God has put this place as refuge for many children, a home for many families, and a hand for many people. Los Rayos is a place of love, joy and hope for those who are in need. We are a town built on a hill so that God lights up many hearts through us.
