June 8-15, 2014

Sunday morning, I was still very sick and decided to stay home from church to rest and hopefully get my body starting to heal with the antibiotics.  Sofia was under the weather and Jasmina was tired from a busy work week and needed to wash clothes.  So we opted to stay home and I made some pancakes for breakfast.  Then I was planning on going right back to bed.  Wil came over to pick up his tools.  We offered him a pancake and while we were eating, he started talking to me about the Trinity and false doctrine and lots of stuff.  He has a very limited and conservative background.  We ended up talking until 1pm and I finally got to go to bed for a nap! 

I had some new requests for info about the ministry, so I got some emails sent out.  We had new students in all classes.  Sewing class began with Enia (Wil’s wife), who is a natural and will be making all kinds of things soon to support her family.  How exciting to see her going at it!

We’ve had some adjustments to the responsibilities of the those living in the house.  I hired a new housekeeper, Regina, who will start next week.  She will come early and get all of the cleaning for the front rooms done by 9am and then finish up the back by noon.  It will be great to have it done quickly and well.  Sofia will be in charge of the gardens and patios and taking out the trash 3 times a week.  This will allow Sofia to attend some of the classes here, as well as study for her Saturday classes at school. 

Jacqueline has been doing a great job teaching the English classes, but now has a temporary job for the next 2 weeks.  So I’ll be teaching the English classes as well.  I imagine that Jacqueline will get offers for more jobs in the future, so I’m not sure what her availability will be to the ministry in the future.  She loves volunteering here and teaching and helping with the ministry.  But sometimes, responsibilities of life interfere with ministry desires.  I’ll be praying for her as she has lots of decisions to make for her future.

I’ve felt a lot better toward the end of the week.  The antibiotics finally kicked in and I actually got a little rest.  I need to make it more of a point to take care of myself.  Especially, since I will be teaching 7 classes in 5 days for each of the next 2 weeks!

We had sweet Annabelle (3 months old) over for Jalisa to babysit on Saturday morning.  Erika had brought baby Ashly (2 months old) over on Friday.  Tamara and I went to visit Fernando (6 weeks old) on Saturday morning.  And baby Ilia (3 months old) is our neighbor who visits on occasion.  Babies everywhere!!!

We have lost power off and on over the last few days.  It’s not fun to lose the fans.  But I’m thankful that they it back up and running sometime the same day.  I hope we don’t lose power on Sewing Class days!

I bought a really nice sewing book from Regina on credit.  (it’s a little business of hers to sell books on credit).  I’ll pay $7 per month.  She was very professional when she wrote up the contract.  The book covers everything about sewing and it is all in Spanish.  Woohoo!  It even has patterns and instructions for making men’s suits and women’s clothing, including wedding dresses!  It will be a good resource in our library here.

Today is Father’s Day in the states.  I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone’s posts on Facebook.  

After church today, Jalisa and I went to Charlie’s BBQ restaurant.  It was really great!  It’s owned by a Cuban guy and they call it typical Texas BBQ.  It was yummy. 

Bad news today…  the used fridge I bought is dyeing after just one month.  The person I bought it from is trying to contact the repair guy who looked it over and adjusted it before I bought it.  Supposedly his work is guaranteed.  But then again, what does that mean exactly here in Nica???  Thankfully, I had not felt God leading me to sell the little fridge yet, so we moved all the food over to it this evening.  I may be having to buy a new large fridge.  If so, I hope the used one is fixed well enough to sell it for a little money and I’ll sell the smaller fridge, too, and hope to not need a lot of extra money for the new big fridge.  God always provides, so I will wait and see how He directs. 

Well, it’s been such a wonderful week of ministry, despite sickness and other problems.  I’m so thankful and humbled to be living here and serving.  I can’t imagine my life doing anything else.  He is worthy!

May 30-June 7, 2014

Well, two of the workers finished up their careers with my house. Lol.  May 30 is Mother’s Day here in Nica, so Memo and his son Kevin worked a half day and then took off for the last time.  They have been working quite a bit on the house over the last few months.  I spent the rest of that day being from babysitting the house and went down town to the bank, grabbed a smoothie and walked through a few stores for fun, and even got a haircut, just because I could.  What freedom! 

 Bible Study classes are going strong.  Also, there have been lots of visitors and meeting new people.  I love living in the central part of town. 

Having the new-used washing machine is so wonderful.  I’ve been enjoying doing laundry like never before!

One day, a few of us girls went to Managua for the day.  I bought some items for organizing the sewing workroom and a few last light fixtures and stuff for the house.  We had a yummy lunch and then walked through some upscale stores at a mall.  We stopped at PriceSmart and I loaded up on some food and household items.  I was feeling horrible with a headcold, but did not want to pass up the trip to get these things.  It was a very productive day and I was thankful.

I started on antibiotics for the head junk and felt horrible all the rest of the week.  I still was teaching classes and organizing the sewing room and wishing that I could have a ‘sick day’ to rest and get well.  But I was thankful for all that God was allowing me to do. 

My friend Sandy brought over the curtains that she had made for the office.  They look lovely and I love being in that room now!  Can’t wait to get it more organized, too!

I finished sewing the kitchen curtains on Saturday and got them hung up.  They really made the kitchen look great.  I was celebrating the last of the curtain sewing!  Now on to making tablecloths and bedcovers!  Lol  I think all in all, I’ve purchased about 140 yards of fabric!  Lots of windows, tables and beds around here!

Wil and his son Dilan finished up their work on Saturday and I was so excited!  The back patio area is where we hang clothes to dry.  It’s about 12’x12’.  Wil poured a concrete floor.  This will not only make the surface even and safer to walk on, it will keep the dirt from washing into the drains that run underneath the house.  That’s a big deal during raining season!  There are planter areas along two of the walls.  Before covering up the dirt in the middle of the patio, Wil dug out a lot of the good dirt for the planters and filled in the hole with rocks.  It was nice not to waste the good dirt for planting.  Sofia is looking forward to planting some flowers back there.  I’m excited to get the walls painted and then have some youth paint a mural on the back wall.  I can’t wait!

English classes are gathering steam, Bible study classes are growing and the sewing classes will start next week.  It’s been an awesome 4 months of progress.  I’m so thankful to God for the opportunity and the vision and the provision and guidance for the ministry.  He is faithful!!!