April 11-25, 2014

Well, God had me hit the ground running when I got back to AR.  I usually try to get all the ‘work’ done and all the shopping taken care of and then visit with friends, but God allowed me to sprinkle work and shopping amongst the visiting. 

I have been on the go constantly, but it has been very enjoyable and I’ve loved every minute!  Every day I get to visit with 2 or more people.  One day I had 3 meal dates and 2 in-between visits.  That was a busy day!

God has provided so that I can get some things ordered over the internet to have items here to pack to take back.  I’m excited to take stuff for the house and for the Bible Studies especially.  I always stress about packing, so that won’t be any different, but I’m so blessed to have so much donated to the ministry.

By the time I return to Nica, I will have had the opportunity to speak to 5 Adult Life Groups about the ministry.  From April 11-25, I have had the opportunity to speak to 25 different people about Living Grace.  I still have many people scheduled for the next few weeks.  God is opening doors and preparing the way to have many prayer supporters and financial partners for the ministry.  I’m loving getting to tell people about it.

I’ve had a few dr appointments to get checkups.  I’ve been blessed to get new glasses, thanks to a special donor and money earned from selling Nica coffee.  Another friend gifted me with the chance to get some essential oils to better my health.  I’ll also be able to upgrade my phone on this trip.  Someone made it possible for me to get a computer to use for the ministry house.  Such blessings!!!

My niece finally found out that she is having a baby girl in August!  It’s the only girl grandbaby on both sides of the family!  Woohoo!!  I’m so excited!

I didn’t get the chance to go to IN to see family this trip, but will go there for Christmas in December.  It’s hard to be gone from Nica for very long.  So therefore, it’s hard to get everywhere I’d like to when I’m in the states.  Maybe I can sneak a quick week to IN sometime during the summer.  We’ll have to see if God provides a plane ticket.  J

I can’t wait to get back to Nica with all the new Bible Study materials.  And it will be so fun to get the sewing/workshop organized and working.  I love my job!  Thank You Lord!!

April 1-10, 2014

It’s April!  Time is marching on!  This is the hottest month of the year for Nica.  It’s no wonder that myself and 3 of my missionary friends are headed to the states for a visit!  Lol

Work continues on the house.   More mess, more surprises, more challenges and more blessings! 

I’ve been so blessed by visits from friends.  I just love having my own place where people feel free to stop by.  A much welcome change from the past couple of years.  People stop by for different reasons.  Some to just chat and catch up, some for prayer over specific needs, some to talk about working on the house, some to offer help with the ministry.  It’s all fun!  I love how God is bringing all the details of the ministry together!

I met some more missionaries this week.  I love getting to meet more people here working in the areas that God has prepared and called them to.  It’s a great network of missionaries to prayer over each other, encourage each other, study together and serve together.  I am blessed!

The main painting is done.  About 30 gallons of paint has been bought!  Light fixtures are being installed (a total of 19).  Electrical outlets are being added to 3 rooms.  3 ceiling fans have been added (making a total of 4).  It’s all moving along very well.  Ceramic tiles have been bought for the kitchen and that work will be done after I return from the states in mid-May.  Sofia’s uncle is going to do that installation and Memo is going to do the rest of the work in the kitchen.  By the end of May, it should all be done.  I’m so excited!

We’ve had a few earthquakes which make the floors shake.  I was awakened twice in one night by the bed moving.  We also had some problems with electricity and water availability.  Not fun when it’s the hottest month of the year! But it’s all good.

My friend Gayle donated money toward a ceiling fan for my bedroom.  After we put it up, I woke up the next morning with a large grasshopper in my bed.  I guess he liked the breeze, too.  I have been so blessed by friends and supporters.  God is good!

I got to have lunch and dinner with a lot of friends before leaving for the states.  The last few days were a whirlwind and my brain was so tired of thinking about things.  I wasn’t really in the mood to leave, since the house still had work to be done and I could start organizing the sewing workshop and stuff.  But I was looking forward to visit friends in AR and sharing about the ministry. 

I was so tired when I got up at 2:30am on Thursday to leave for the airport.  I got a little carsick on the way to the airport and had to lay the seat back for half of the way there.  I did get to nap on both planes, which helped some.  I have to say I was very happy to get to Deanna’s and fall into bed.  I’m thankful for safe and uneventful travel.  I was blessed to have time at the Atlanta airport for read some good Christian books on my Kindle while waiting on my plane.  It was all good.

The main thing about travel day was that earthquakes started hitting around Managua and got kind of scary over the next few days.  People in the states kept telling me that I was lucky to leave when I did.  But my heart kept telling me that I should be in Nica with everyone.   But God is sovereign and He had a reason for me to be in the states during that time.  He is faithful!

March 24-31, 2014

Life is going by fast.  So much going on at the house.  Working hard to get everything done before I leave for the states on April 10.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done all over the house.  Repairs, replacing broken or rotten stuff, prep for painting, etc.  But it is all getting done.  It’s hard sometimes to keep our sanity when the house is in endless shambles.  But it’s progress and it will all be good.

Lots of errands and visitors.  Tamara and family left for the states for a 6 week visit.  Maritza comes and goes for short trips.  Jasmina stayed for a few weeks while working as a translator in León.  Friends stop by.  We’re still having English Bible Study classes, even though we never know which room we will be able to meet in.  Some of the students have trouble coming on a designated class time, so I’ve been doing some individual classes.  I don’t mind at all.  I love getting one on one and small group time with everyone. 

The charger cord for my laptop quit working.  I can’t find a replacement in Nica.  So, I had to start using my phone and Kindle for internet usage.  Needless to say, I only sent brief messages and posts, since I had to type with one finger.  With the challenge of not being able to use the computer much at all, I found that I had more time to plan and think and pray and do things the old fashioned way by making notes and writing things out.  It was funny that the day I got internet back, I lost the ability to charge the computer.  But it was still all good.  God keeps everything going along on His schedule in His way.

I had a few interesting conversations with the workers.  If you want challenges, do a little light construction and remodeling in a third world country.  But every day and every conversation is an opportunity to share Jesus.  Sometimes, it’s hard to keep the human-ness out of the exchanges. 

Leticia, our neighbor and mother of the landlord, passed away at the end of the month.  The custom in Nica is to have a wake at the house and then have a funeral and burial the next day.  Maritza and I went next door to visit Danelia.  I know that it will be difficult for her without her mother. 

I’ve been sewing curtains, curtains and more curtains!  Lots of big windows in the house.  My friend Sandy is helping me.  I’m so thankful that I could get the fabric for $1 per yard, since I had to buy 95 yards.  I will have some left over to make some table cloths, so that will be fun.

My niece was supposed to find out if her third child is a girl or boy this week, but the ultrasound was inconclusive.  Arg!!!

All in all, it’s been an action packed month and lots more to come.  God is so faithful to bring into the ministry all that He has planned.  My job is to be attentive, open and ready to be obedient.  I love the life He is giving me to live.  He’s the best!