Living Grace Update Jan-June 2014

Newsletter for June 2014

This is a recap of the first 6 months of Living Grace Ministry.  It’s hard to believe that it has been 6 months already.  God has been so busy putting this ministry together and orchestrating His plan.  We have done our best to be obedient and follow Him, as well as, try not to get in His way!  All Glory and Honor goes to Him for Who He is and for furthering His Kingdom!

January:            God revealed the plan for an actual ministry born out of the classes and mentoring opportunities that He had begun here in León over the past few years.  This new journey was officially named Living Grace Ministry. 

                        A house was made available for the Ministry to work from.  A lot of prayer was said over the landlord and negotiations, and God moved in a mighty way for the perfect place and His perfect choice in a leasing situation.  This all took place within weeks, not months like was anticipated. (Watch for the update for Living Grace House, coming soon.)

                        God provided the volunteer services of a ‘consultant’ (whom He placed in the right place at the right time) to get the vision on paper in an appropriate way to communicate the purpose of the mission.  Introductory documents were sent to key people for prayer and support.

February:            Vickie and Sofia (teenage, part-time housekeeper) moved into ‘Living Grace House’ on Feb 17^th!  We started addressing the beginning of a mountain of details to prepare the house for ministry.  (EVERYTHING needed to be touched in one way or another.)

                        Support to transform the ministry house began to pour in.  Material items began to be available.  (Even a sewing machine was delivered from the states!)  Furniture and appliances (some new and some used) for the house were starting to be purchased.

                        English Bible Study Group officially began weekly classes and carried on throughout all of the renovations.  (We had been meeting for devotions and prayer time until we moved into the house.)  Classes were held 3 times per week.

                        Many friends and acquaintances stopped by to welcome us here, learn about the ministry, give encouragement, to receive prayer and share about Jesus.

March:            Laborers began work on the house.  All walls (and most ceilings) inside and outside needed repair and prep for painting.  Plumbing issues were addressed and electrical work was begun. 

                        A missionary friend moved in for a couple of months.  We met many more of our neighbors.  The mother of our landlord passed away.

                        English classes were added twice a week.  And we had many visitors come by to learn more about the Ministry and to ask for prayer.

                        One of the rooms was prepared for a sweet translator friend who lives in Estelí and travels often to work in León throughout the year, and will be able to take advantage of God’s hospitality here at Living Grace House.

April:            Renovation work on the house continued daily for the most part of the month.  (quite a challenge in a third world country)

                        Vickie visited the States for 4 weeks to share the vision of Living Grace Ministry.  During that time, there were many earthquakes in this part of Nicaragua.  It was a difficult time for everyone.  Many businesses suffered, schools were closed for up to 6 weeks, and people were very frightened.  The government declared the cities on the Westside of the country to be in emergency status for weeks.  It was a difficult time to be away from the Ministry.

May:            Vickie returned to Nica on May 8^th.  A trip to PriceSmart (like Sam’s Club) helped to stock up on things needed at the house for the next few months.

The kitchen was renovated!  (What an undertaking!!!)  A used stove and used refrigerator were installed.  The smaller details of work throughout the house were completed.

                        A group of Pastors used the Ministry House for classes taught by a Korean missionary from Costa Rica.  (how’s that for international ministry!!)

                        Bible Study classes continued three times a week, English classes continued twice a week.  People continued to stop in for talks and prayer.

June:            The last day of the renovation was June 7^th!  Halleluah!  (In all, there were 8 different workmen, approx 800 man hours, 70 gallons of paint/ primer/ varnish, 140+ yards of fabric, 4 ceiling fans and 25 light fixtures, 2 kitchen sinks and 84sf of ceramic countertops were installed.  God had provided all we needed to get the house into as good of shape as possible.

Sewing Classes were started on June 10^th.   The Workroom is a wonderful blessing to the house!

Another missionary friend, Jalisa, moved in to one of the guest rooms for a season.

We welcomed a new part-time housekeeper, Regina, to take Sofia’s place.

It has been a very busy 6 months!  God has been so faithful in His direction and provision.  There have been many ups and downs, tears and joy, challenges and blessings.  Through it all we see His hand at work and want more than anything to remain obedient. 

All of the above details are just part of our Praise list.  Here are a few more Praises:

v Redeeming relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

v Opportunities to serve and minister here in León

v Provision of the ministry house and all material blessings to make it work

v Teachers and Students interested and called to the classes

v Prayer partners and Support partners to lift up the ministry

v Network of ministries and missionaries in León to work with and encourage

Here are a few Prayer Requests to keep in mind for us:

v Protection from earthquakes, floods and mosquitoes (it’s the rainy season)

v Discernment in adding classes and scheduling the use of the ministry house

v Health and safety for all staff, volunteers, students and guests

v Continued financial provision to keep running month to month

v Resources for the sewing classes and Sources for marketing the goods

v Response of all who are called by God to be a part, in everyway, with the ministry

v Health and safety for Celina Undernehr, 2 week intern from FBCR serving in July

v Smart decisions for all regarding time management, health (spiritual & physical)

v Always watchful for opportunities to share the Gospel in anyway possible

v Blessings over the many ‘team members’ who support us in prayer and finances

If you would like more information about the ministry, please contact Vickie at vickiejocline@yahoo.com.  You can also follow us on Vickie’s blog:  vickiemir.blogspot.com

Donations may be made:

Ø  by mail or in person at FBC Rogers Church, 3364 W Pleasant Grove Rd, Rogers AR 72758 

Ø  on-line at fbcrogers.org. 

Be sure to note the donation is for Vickie Cline at Living Grace Ministry. 

(You will receive a tax report at the end of the year)

Be sure to watch for the update on Living Grace House, coming soon!  There will be lots of pictures to share!

¡Dios le Bendiga!

Vickie

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  1 Peter 4:10

June 16 - July 13, 2014

As usual, time has gotten away from me.  I’m trying to keep Sunday afternoons my day for communication catch-up, but that doesn’t always happen.

Since the last post, Regina has started working and is doing a great job getting the house ready each morning for classes.  There is not as much work for her as most households ask (I don’t ask her to do laundry, ironing, cooking, etc.), so she gets done way before noon.  With the new classes starting on Saturdays, I’ll be asking her to come by on Saturday morning to do the dusting and floors before classes.  But that should only take an hour or so.  She’s still getting a good wage for the amount of work she is asked to do.  She’s been a blessing.

Looking back over my planner/journal, I see so many visits with people mixed amongst the scheduled class times.  It’s never a dull moment around here and I feel blessed to get to interact with so many wonderful people.

The classes are going well.  English Bible Study Group has pretty much concentrated on Fridays, morning and evening.  We’ll reserve the Monday evening slot for a new study starting in August.  We have about 10-15 students weekly in the Friday English Bible Study class.  It’s been very good.  I love having lots of discussion.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are sewing days.  We have had 2 ladies coming in the mornings.  We will add a new lady to the class this week.  Regina is staying after her work is finished to work on some things, too.  I have had a couple of other requests for sewing times.  Keeping Tuesdays and Thursdays slotted for sewing helps keep the week more organized.  It also keeps me from feeling guilty if I sew (and craft) all day on those days.  I love it. 

Currently, we are making lots of aprons and tote bags to be taken back to the states at the end of July.  These items will be part of a display at a friend’s shop and also will serve as inventory for future sales.  Enia is such a professional!  She has only been using an electric machine for about 5 weeks and she is very detailed oriented and she doesn’t skip a step, even pressing the seams.  (I skip many steps because I get in a hurry)  All of her aprons look so perfect!  I can’t wait to see them and give her the money!  She is going to save some of it to buy her very own machine!  Woohoo!  Zenelia is doing well with her style of aprons.  She is doing somewhat easier styles.  They are just as pretty.  Pilar will start class this week.  She knows how to sew on a machine, but doesn’t really know how to use a pattern and how to make changes and such.  It will be fun to work with her, too!

English classes are going well.  You never know who will be showing up at each class.  Everyone is hungry to learn, but schedules get in the way sometimes.  We adapt the lessons to whoever is here for the day.  Jacqueline and David are the teachers (David will be starting this week and will concentrate on more of the very beginning students.)  They will cover for each other when one cannot be here, and I will fill in when they both are absent.  We have a lot of fun with the English students.  It’s a great experience to get to work with people who are dedicated to learn.

We have a teenage intern named Celina coming this week.  She will stay for 2 weeks.  She will get to do a variety of things and get to see first hand what it is like to live here in Nica and be a fulltime missionary on a daily basis.  The house will be filled with girls (Jalisa, Sofia, Celina and me), so there will be lots of fun.  Jasmina could not be with us this week because of sickness.  She will be missed and I’m praying for her speedy recovery.  I hate that she will be missing a whole week of work.  Her jobs are seasonal and the season of teams coming from the US is almost over.

The fridge was repaired (the problem was not under the so-called warranty, of course).  Now it seems to run all of the time.  It freezes the stuff in the back and the front is not as cold.  I priced new fridges and they are so high here.  Oh well…  we’ll see what God has in store for us.  I hate to see the next electric bill!  But God has it under control and I’ll trust Him and look for His plan.

We haven’t had a lot of rain yet.  It is not good for the crops.  Even though rains cause problems with flooding the streets and leaks in the houses and such, we need rain.  I wish we could get some days of slow steady rain to soak up in the ground. 

Right now it is harvest time and the peanut fields are being harvested.  It creates so much dust in the air.  You can see huge dust clouds and the sky looks tan.  Soot and dust gets on EVERYTHING.  Since our houses are open to the outdoors, it’s impossible to keep them clean.  We clean the floors sometimes twice a day and that still is not enough.  Everything here is kept in plastic containers if possible.  It’s much easier to clean the lid of a plastic container than to wash fabrics, books, clothes, etc all of the time. 

I thank God every time I get to use the washing machine and I love being able to hang up clothes on the back patio since Wil poured the concrete floor.  What a blessing that is!  One of Celina’s jobs (along with the sons of a missionary friend) is to paint the walls surrounding the back patio.  Then I’ll have a friend paint a mural on the back wall.  I will enjoy seeing Jesus on the wall every time I’m doing laundry. 

I’m trying to behave myself with what I eat and getting exercise.  As always, it is easier to fit all that in on some days than others.  But I’m making a little progress.  We are not making as many heavy meals as before.  Sometimes we just snack.  There are veggies and fruits available.  They are expensive, but usually available.  I’ve been cooking meat in the crockpot and it is delicious and chewable! 

Well, I think that covers the last few weeks.  Each week seems the same (classes, prep for classes, visiting with people), but each week is different.  I love getting to live here and serve in this way.  It gets hard sometimes and I grow weary often, but my God is everything to me and I get my strength from Him.    I’m a lucky girl!

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!!!

May 10-29, 2014

I hit the ground running after my 4 weeks in the states.  I started running errands first thing on Saturday (including seeing my favorite cambista, Luis, to exchange dollars for córdabas), pricing a washing machine, getting groceries, etc.  Jalisa and Sandy came over for a chat and we had a sweet time of prayer together.

It was good to be back in church and I always love the freedom of worshiping and the tangible sense of the Holy Spirit.  Sundays are usually filled with church, lunch out, a trip to the grocery store, then home for a nap and emails and phone calls. 

Since I was able to buy a used washing machine from my neighbors Jason and Issa, I used the difference in my budgeted amount to buy an exercise bike.  I’m so excited and love it.  I don’t always have time to walk first thing in the morning before it gets hot, so getting to ride the bike whenever I have time is great.  Sofia is joining in, too.

I bought more fabric to make the curtains for the living room window and some lightweight covers for the beds.  Still more projects to do, but I love doing them.

There has still be work going on for the house, so I spend most of my time at home.  I have lots of visitors and do a lot of emails and phone calls.  We are having English Bible Study Group 3 times a week, for a small group each time.  This works out better for the students’ schedules and so that they can have more individual time for speaking English.  It’s easy for me, because I’m already here!

Jasmina spent one night here as she was preparing to work in Managua for a week with VOH.  She’ll be back in June for about a month while working.  She is such a sweetie pie.  Sofia and I love having her here in the house with us. 

We had some changes in workers on the house.  I even had to fire someone, but it all turned out okay.  I’m trying to spread the work around so that many can benefit from the employment.  But I will be very glad when everything is done!

My friend Grethel (sister to Estefanie) had a stroke.  She is only 19 years old and has a one month old baby.  It was very scary, but she is recovering at a good rate.  I pray many blessings over her.  I can’t wait to get to see baby Fernando. 

Franklin and his wife Glenda and baby Franky came for a visit.  I just love getting to see everyone’s kids.

My sweet friend Erika surprised me with a visit with her sweet baby Ashly.  I just held that precious thing for hours!  I couldn’t keep from kissing her sweet head!

I love seeing baby Ilia, the daughter of my neighbors, Jason and Issa.  So many precious babies around here!

I found a new smoothie place that I adore!  I will be frequenting that place a lot!  I don’t get out too much right now, with the workers in the house, but soon I will be free as a bird!  In between classes, that is. 

Some friends have come over at various times to visit and to ask for prayer.  I am so thankful that this ministry is here to meet those needs.  How humbling it is to be a part of it.

My friend and fellow missionary, Jalisa, is staying with us now.  It is fun to have another girl in the house.  We all just come and go and do our own thing.  It’s another way that God is using this house for His ministry to others. 

We have started having some English classes that just kind of came about.  It’s been great and I am enjoying them very much.  Some of students are teaching each other.  So many people are hungry to learn.  It’s awesome.  I bought a 4’x5’ dry erase board for the dinningroom/classroom.  My friend James carried it all the way from the Librería (about 10 blocks!)  It’s the perfect finishing touch on that classroom. 

The kitchen was completed and the new work station was delivered.  Now I just need to sew the curtains and then I can take some ‘after’ pics of it!  The decorative stripes are painted on the walls, so those rooms are ready for some ‘after’ pics, too.

I’m ready to start cleaning and organizing the sewing/skills workshop.  (It’s been a catch-all room while the others have been renovated.)  Sewing classes should be starting in about a week.  I’m so excited!!!

Sofia and I are both enjoying the washing machine!  And clothes dry very quickly in the sun and heat.  It’s a dream to do laundry now!  We both love cooking in the new kitchen.  The old counter tiles were broken and nasty.  Now we have new ones and they are very pretty.  A bigger, used fridge and cutting the counter to fit in the used stove has made the kitchen wonderful!  I see many days of happy cooking and fellowships here in the ministry house! 

God is sooo Good!

May 8-9, 2014 Travel Day

Got up early, feeling refreshed!  It’s always sad to say goodbye to Deanna.  I will miss her so much!

It was a crazy morning of last minute errands.  I ended up going to my accountant’s office twice, the bank once, the post office once and a quick stop at McDonalds for a last egg mcmuffin!  After a nice chat with the neighbor and saying goodbye to Deanna, I was ready to go.  Cathy picked me up about 8:45am for the ride to the airport.  I left her with a shopping bag filled with items and notes attached telling what needed to be done with each.  She is such a good friend to take care of these things for me!

Once at the airport, Cathy dropped me off and went to park.  She was ready to take anything overweight back to Deanna’s for packing in the next trunk.  By the time she came to the curb again, a nice guy who does the curbside check ins had insisted on weighing my stuff, even though I couldn’t check in there for an international flight.  I was ½ pound over on the suitcase and 10 light on the trunk.  I usually obsess over getting every square inch and every ounce allowed.  But I was quite happy.  Cathy didn’t need to take anything back.  But we both forgot that she had some baby items for me to bring to Erika.  Great minds…

I got checked in easy and had a nice leisurely visit at one of the restaurants.  OJ and facebook.  Then I spent time just walking the corridors.  Since I spend so much time sitting on the planes, I like to be mobile as much as possible at the airports.  I made some phone calls to family while waiting, too.  My first flight was okay, with the exception of the guy in the seat next to me not only hogged the armrest, his elbow was in about ¼ of my airspace!    I had to lean to the right the whole way, but we made it.  He didn’t even apologize.  Humph.

I love layovers in Atlanta, because I always eat at TGIFridays.   They let me sit there as long as I want, so I prop my feet up and relax.  Then I walk the corridors a lot.  I didn’t get to nap on the flight to Nica, because of a very boisterous toddler.  She yelled when she was happy and she yelled when she was mad.  But it wasn’t too bad. 

I arrived in Managua and got right through immigration and baggage claim.  I had reserved a room at the Best Western hotel across from the airport, so they had a representative there at baggage claim to get me.  He helped with my luggage and getting out of the door.  The shuttle driver took me across the highway and I got settled into my room.  My friend Jalisa was arriving on a flight about 1 hour after mine.  We were going to share my room.  The hotel clerk said I could ride over to the airport to meet her.  She didn’t know the shuttle was coming, so she arranged for a friend to meet her to help get her suitcases across the highway.  Wil surprised me at the airport waiting area.  I had hired him and his van to pick us up the next morning from the hotel and I was afraid that he had the info mixed up.  But it was all cool and he had great fun surprising me.  I did know that I was back in Nica by the immediate sweating!!  Oh yeah, home!

Jalisa and I enjoyed our room.  It was very comfortable.  A/C, TV (which we didn’t watch), comfy beds, one last hot shower…  We had a wonderful time catching up about our trips to visit family and friends.  We had some good prayer time, too.  We got up at our leisure and had the wonderful free breakfast.  Wil picked us up at 11am and we went to PriceSmart for some stocking up on food items and other stuff for my house.  We then stopped on the way to León for lunch.  Breaking up the trip really helped with my motion sickness problem.  It was such an enjoyable day and the best trip I have ever made from Managua to León. 

Sofia was so glad to see me.  It was good to be home!  I loved the work on the house that got done while I was gone.  It was soooo good to be HOME.  I slept like a baby in my Nica bed after a nice cool shower. 

What a wonderful 4 weeks in the states.  What a great time of sharing about Living Grace Ministry and what all God is doing and revealing here in Nica.  What sweet blessings I received from loved ones.  What renewal and refreshment I feel from that trip.  God is Good.  I am not worthy.  But I am so humbled, blessed and thankful.  To Him be all Glory!

April 26-May 7, 2014

Many more days of visiting with friends and networking for the ministry.   On Saturday, I got to have lunch with a friend from El Dorado AR, to discuss details about the jewelry making classes and just how wonderful God is in general.  It was fun to get together.  On Sunday, I spoke to 3 more Life Groups at FBCR. 

Many, many more errands during the weeks.  So thankful to have the use of the car from Vickie and Michael Brown.  They are my angels!  Among more visits (and meals) with friends, I also got to get my haircut by my dear friend Carolyn. 

I spent another day with Nana Ruth while she underwent some medical tests.  I like being able to visit with her in the waiting areas.  Too bad she has to go through the discomfort and expense of the procedures just so we can have some quality visiting time!  Lol 

I get months of meds at a time when I visit the states and sometimes that carries over into the time for checkups to refill meds.  I got a call from the Pharmacy saying that my Drs office wanted an appointment.  Thankfully, they got me in the very next afternoon.  And God worked it out that the appointment was just before a meeting that I had scheduled for the same town.  Yay God! 

When I was at the doctor’s office, they asked about my drivers’ license, since the one of file expired the month before!  Oops!  So, the next day I went to renew my license.  I also registered to vote, since I hadn’t done that since before I moved to NYC.  I got to visit some friends having a yard sale to send their kids to Nica.  I stopped by a couple of times over the weekend.  It was fun to visit with them.

I had an especially sweet visit with my friend Lisa, who owns a cupcake shop!  Besides getting to eat a yummy cupcake and some unsellable cookies, we had a wonderful conversation.  She has quite the ministry going on in that place.  I’m very proud of her and wish her many blessings!

My routine blood tests revealed the usual stuff… high cholesterol, high triglycerides, etc.  This time my fasting sugar count was edging up and my calcium was high.  Dr. Bob said it was time to take serious my annual claim to ‘get healthy this year’.  So I guess I’ll apply myself a little more. 

I had some more wonderful meetings with people working on various parts of the ministry.  How blessed I am to have these angels coming along side me in God’s ministry in Nica.  The website is being worked on and I also got to meet with someone who is my guru for the sewing/skills classes and ministry.  Awesome!

Debbie’s Pharmacy has always been so good to work with me on getting multiple month’s worth of meds to take to Nica.  They really worked hard this time, as I needed to bring 8 months worth with me.  I appreciate them so much!

I had lots of mailing and shipping to do… Thank yous, Mother’s day gifts to family, Nica goodies to friends from a special Skype Bible study in different states and a 40 lb suitcase of books to some fellow Missionaries.  I finally got all of the shipping done the day before I left the states!  Lol

The last day was filled with last minute errands, like another routine doctor’s appointment, bank, PO Box check for the last time, drop keys off to my mailbox-sitter, upgrading my phone (and then getting help from a friend because I couldn’t figure it out), making phone calls, etc. 

I didn’t start packing my trunk and suitcase until late Wednesday evening for the Thursday flight.  Besides packing what I take with me, I needed to pack away most of my stuff in Deann’s guest room (where I live in the states) so that people can use the room in my absence.  I was sooooooo tired and I have to admit a little stressed.  I always have way more than I can carry down on each trip, so I partially packed 2 more trunks to be carried down in July by a young friend who is going to come and work with me.  Once I was done packing, I didn’t allow myself to second guess anything. 

I was going to spend some quality time with Deanna that evening, but she was out and about with friends from church and came home at bedtime.  But we did have some great quality time throughout the 4 weeks that I was there.  I’m so thankful for her!

I had a great night’s sleep and felt very content with all that God had allowed me to experience in those crazy 4 weeks.  He is faithful!!!