Another month has sped by again. It’s been a full, challenging and exciting month!
Our schedule is ever-changing to meet the needs of the
people we minister to. It keeps
things exciting as we see how God is leading us month by month, week by week
and even day by day. Some call it
being flexible, some call it being fluid.
I call it being obedient and hanging on with all my might!!!
The Creative Skills Classes (aka sewing/crafts classes) are
growing and evolving and we are getting more structure down now that we see who
God is bringing into our fold.
It’s exciting to meet the new ladies and spend time each week with them
all. We’ve met some pretty
talented gals! Some of them are
already making a little money from their handcrafts. What a blessing!
We have two wonderful volunteer teachers, Enia and
Veronica. I am so blessed to get
to spend time with these two precious ladies! We all love the Lord more than anything and we love using
the skills that God blesses us with.
I praise God all the time for bringing these ladies into this ministry
with me.
We have all been busy these last 3 weeks making items for me
to bring to the States for sale.
It will be awesome to hand over the money earned to each of the
artisans! They are anxious for my
return on Nov 12! I’ve had a blast
making things myself, which will help to support the ministry and support me
personally. I thank God for the
opportunity and the skills to be able to support myself so that I can stay out
on the field serving Him. And I
have so much fun doing it!
Sofia, my unofficial adopted teen daughter, found out that
her baby is a girl and she is planning on naming her Victoria Antonela. Victoria will be arriving the end of
January (or first of February, if she follws Nica time). I can’t wait to meet her! Sofia is still cleaning a house
part-time for now, but will soon have to quit that job. She will be able to work part-time in
the little store that God has made available to us to sell the handcrafts. As she is working, she can be making
more items to sell. She will be
able to take Victoria to work with her, too. We are very thankful for this wonderful opportunity that God
is providing for now and the future!
On a personal note, I am starting the process to get my
Nicaraguan residency. (this has
nothing to do with citizenship, so I’m still North American!!) When I’m in Nica, I am here on a 90
tourist visa. I have the option to
extend this visa for 90 more days and then I have to leave the country and
return. The immigration portion of
the government is getting more strict with us who ‘live’ here and have asked
that we get our residency. It’s a
long process of documents and red tape, but it’s doable. Having my residency will give me some
benefits. I will get to stay
in-country as long as I want and will just have to renew the residency every
year. After 5 years, I will get
start getting residency status for 5 years at a time. Being a resident will allow me to open a bank account here,
as well as a few other perks to make life a little easier. As with everything in a third world
country, the process is long, uncertain, ever-changing and quite the
adventure. But it will be worth
it! Especially, since I won’t have
to fork out $800 every three-six months for plane tickets!
I’ve really enjoyed the different Bible Studies that I get
to be a part of. I’m finishing up
the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer and it is hitting the spot for the things
that God has in the works for the rest of this year and looking forward to
2015. I feel God making some big
changes for next year and I’m ready for the challenge! I’m learning to trust Him more and
more. It’s not always easy (or
fun), but it is always a blessing, because I’m growing closer to Him and
learning so much on the way. He is
faithful!
I’ll be in Rogers AR from Oct 21 to Nov 12. Those 3 weeks will be action-packed,
even though I wasn’t starting out that way. So much to do and so many people to see. God will plan the days and I will hang
on for the ride. It will
definitely feel like a ‘trip’ to the States, as I feel more and more ‘at home’
here in Nica. And that’s
okay. In fact, it’s great! I love living in God’s will!
Anyway, if you are in NWA and want to get together between
those dates, please contact me! Email
at vickiejocline@yahoo.com or
call/text at 479-270-0727. I can’t
wait to share about what God is doing here at Living Grace!!!
To HIM be all glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving!
