Sunday, October 19, 2014

October 19, 2014

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!