The ladies left for the airport at 3am. I got up to say goodbye and give hugs. It’s bittersweet to see them go. I know they are anxious to get back to their real world and I know that they were touched and changed by all they did and saw this week. I also know that many Nica women were touched by them. God worked through this team in many ways. It’s been so special. After the ladies left through the gate, I was back in bed and probably asleep before they left León. I was happy to have them here and also happy to be staying here myself in my ‘home’.
Once we all got up for the morning, Mary, Sue and I took turns getting our laundry done. I worked on the computer a bit. We sorted through the ministry stuff left. I got a nap.
The Husley’s came over and Sherry got some very much missed pool time. Manuel kept us entertained. We had left-overs for lunch and dinner. It was a nice quiet day.
Sunday:
We got up and went to church at Monte Horeb. Pastor Eddy let Manuel help lead the worship music. We had forgotten Manuel’s tambourine and had to make a quick u-turn to go back and get it. Manuel has great rhythm and he does a good job helping Pastor Eddy. I enjoy hearing Eddy because he speaks clearly and somewhat slowly. Sue said she could understand him, too. We don’t get every word, but most of it. We had a few funny moments at church with dogs and kids. It was a nice service and I loved being there.
We ate lunch at Tip Top Chicken and stopped in at La Unión grocery store. Then we headed to the team house. Manuel swam and then played the drums while Sue sang with him. He’s enjoying having a new audience! I grabbed a quick nap and worked on the computer.
It’s been a nice quiet day and we are ready to hit the salt mine tomorrow.
I’m counting my many blessings and I’m so thankful to my God.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
October 26, 2012
Fun Day!!!
Normally, we take a new team to Masaya, the zip line, Granada and such for their fun day. It’s a very long day (longer than a work day, usually) and more fun for youth. We thought that the ladies would appreciate their Fun Day being spent here in León, shopping, lunch in town, etc. And we were right. Everyone enjoyed the day.
We had breakfast and then left for the market at Estación, shopped at Plaza del Carmen and then had lunch at El Callejon (a small restaurant that we love). Then we did more souvenir shopping downtown, walked around a small park with a mural as Estefanie told about the history, looked at the cathedral (which was closed due to construction and upkeep), walked through more shops and then went to the La Unión grocery store (for great coffee to take back home).
We went back to the team house for rest, packing and swimming. Then we took everyone out to Suyapa restaurant at Las Peñitas beach. The ladies got to walk along the beach and take some pics and enjoy themselves. Dinner was very tasty, as always.
After dinner, Sherry drove us over to their house so the ladies could see where they live. (Mike couldn’t go with us for dinner.) The yellow van and all of us needed to go back to the team house. Sherry and Mike needed to end up at their house. Instead of having them drive both of their vans across town (and keep Manuel up past his bedtime), I volunteered to drive the yellow bus home. Now, I can drive a standard vehicle and I can drive a big van and I can drive in Nica. I just have not wanted to do all three of those things at the same time. But it was night time and I knew there would be less traffic. So I volunteered. It was very funny when I took off the parking break and couldn’t find the gas pedal (which was way over to the right – it felt like it was under the radio!). We backwards a little bit and I’m famous for backing into a tree here. But that was the only scary part. Mary said Mike’s face was so funny to look at. I bet he was very scared! But the yellow bus is not hard to drive and we made it home fine. Mary was my co-pilot and I knew if she wasn’t screaming that I was doing okay. ☺
We got back to the team house for the last night in Nica. We had share time and Devotion.
Then the ladies got their stuff ready for departure and went to bed for a couple hours sleep before getting on the van at 3am the next morning.
I was sorry to think about them leaving, but I was so blessed to have them here this past week. Mary and I enjoyed them very much! Sue, who is from a different church, fit right in. We all had a blast and laughed and cried together throughout the week.
I truly was blessed by this week of Women Blessing Women. I can’t wait for the 2 different teams coming next October. I hope we have many more teams like these. There is much discipleship to be done here in Nica. These women have a special place in my heart and it thrills me to have women from the states come and love on them. I’m beyond words to explain how I feel.
God is so good!
Normally, we take a new team to Masaya, the zip line, Granada and such for their fun day. It’s a very long day (longer than a work day, usually) and more fun for youth. We thought that the ladies would appreciate their Fun Day being spent here in León, shopping, lunch in town, etc. And we were right. Everyone enjoyed the day.
We had breakfast and then left for the market at Estación, shopped at Plaza del Carmen and then had lunch at El Callejon (a small restaurant that we love). Then we did more souvenir shopping downtown, walked around a small park with a mural as Estefanie told about the history, looked at the cathedral (which was closed due to construction and upkeep), walked through more shops and then went to the La Unión grocery store (for great coffee to take back home).
We went back to the team house for rest, packing and swimming. Then we took everyone out to Suyapa restaurant at Las Peñitas beach. The ladies got to walk along the beach and take some pics and enjoy themselves. Dinner was very tasty, as always.
After dinner, Sherry drove us over to their house so the ladies could see where they live. (Mike couldn’t go with us for dinner.) The yellow van and all of us needed to go back to the team house. Sherry and Mike needed to end up at their house. Instead of having them drive both of their vans across town (and keep Manuel up past his bedtime), I volunteered to drive the yellow bus home. Now, I can drive a standard vehicle and I can drive a big van and I can drive in Nica. I just have not wanted to do all three of those things at the same time. But it was night time and I knew there would be less traffic. So I volunteered. It was very funny when I took off the parking break and couldn’t find the gas pedal (which was way over to the right – it felt like it was under the radio!). We backwards a little bit and I’m famous for backing into a tree here. But that was the only scary part. Mary said Mike’s face was so funny to look at. I bet he was very scared! But the yellow bus is not hard to drive and we made it home fine. Mary was my co-pilot and I knew if she wasn’t screaming that I was doing okay. ☺
We got back to the team house for the last night in Nica. We had share time and Devotion.
Then the ladies got their stuff ready for departure and went to bed for a couple hours sleep before getting on the van at 3am the next morning.
I was sorry to think about them leaving, but I was so blessed to have them here this past week. Mary and I enjoyed them very much! Sue, who is from a different church, fit right in. We all had a blast and laughed and cried together throughout the week.
I truly was blessed by this week of Women Blessing Women. I can’t wait for the 2 different teams coming next October. I hope we have many more teams like these. There is much discipleship to be done here in Nica. These women have a special place in my heart and it thrills me to have women from the states come and love on them. I’m beyond words to explain how I feel.
God is so good!
October 24-25, 2012
Ministry Week!
Wednesday & Thursday:
The Women’s Conferences were held at Monte Horeb church and Noah’s Ark church. The same rotation as before worked for these, also, for the 2 days. The ladies also stayed a little bit after to see the Feeding Centers at each church.
Everyone met back at the team house for lunch. The ladies are loving the food. It has been pretty yummy!
After lunch on Wednesday, Mike and Sherry and Manuel joined us to teach everyone how to do a Fiesta, especially the Sinbox Sally Drama. We all went to a neighborhood called Carlos Nuñez and held a Fiesta. Everyone did a great job with their parts. There were over 50 salvations! The ladies liked doing the Fiesta. We’ll have to plan lots more of them when they come back next year!
After the Fiesta, we took everyone to a new neighborhood that has requested that VOH consider them for a church plant and feeding center. It’s by the little local airport (mostly crop-dusting type planes), not far from the team house. The two community leaders (both ladies) met with us. It was a neat time together. We all prayed over the land and asked God to direct us with HIS plans. I can’t wait to see what He will do!
Thursday, after lunch, we held a Fiesta at the Old Dump neighborhood. We drove in on a road that took us up above the neighborhood (by an old fort) so that the team could look down on all the land and also get a glimpse of parts of León and the surrounding volcanoes. The Fiesta was a big hit. We all had so much fun! There were 66 salvations!
We then stopped for ice cream and then went to the team house for a light dinner of chicken salad and tuna salad. Quite the combo with the ice cream, but it was good!
We then went to Todopoderoso church for our last night of worship. Church was fantastic. It’s the Youth service and there is always very lively music. I was brought to tears (as usual) by the song “Precioso Jesús”. I love it! We had 5 testimonies and I spoke a little bit, too. It was very impactful to hear the ladies sharing details about their lives to these teens and young adults. We loved being there.
The ladies said goodbye to the translators with promises of staying in touch on facebook. It was a very sweet week working with them all.
We got back to the team house and had share time and Devotion. It was very relaxing to know that breakfast would be at 8am instead of 7am, and that we were going to have a more quiet day for our Fun Day in León. We had a total 193 salvations for the week. That was wonderful since we only had 2 Fiestas and 2 chances at street witnessing. Most of the ladies at the conferences and church services were Christians. I think hundreds of people have been blessed this week. God is good and faithful!
Wednesday & Thursday:
The Women’s Conferences were held at Monte Horeb church and Noah’s Ark church. The same rotation as before worked for these, also, for the 2 days. The ladies also stayed a little bit after to see the Feeding Centers at each church.
Everyone met back at the team house for lunch. The ladies are loving the food. It has been pretty yummy!
After lunch on Wednesday, Mike and Sherry and Manuel joined us to teach everyone how to do a Fiesta, especially the Sinbox Sally Drama. We all went to a neighborhood called Carlos Nuñez and held a Fiesta. Everyone did a great job with their parts. There were over 50 salvations! The ladies liked doing the Fiesta. We’ll have to plan lots more of them when they come back next year!
After the Fiesta, we took everyone to a new neighborhood that has requested that VOH consider them for a church plant and feeding center. It’s by the little local airport (mostly crop-dusting type planes), not far from the team house. The two community leaders (both ladies) met with us. It was a neat time together. We all prayed over the land and asked God to direct us with HIS plans. I can’t wait to see what He will do!
Thursday, after lunch, we held a Fiesta at the Old Dump neighborhood. We drove in on a road that took us up above the neighborhood (by an old fort) so that the team could look down on all the land and also get a glimpse of parts of León and the surrounding volcanoes. The Fiesta was a big hit. We all had so much fun! There were 66 salvations!
We then stopped for ice cream and then went to the team house for a light dinner of chicken salad and tuna salad. Quite the combo with the ice cream, but it was good!
We then went to Todopoderoso church for our last night of worship. Church was fantastic. It’s the Youth service and there is always very lively music. I was brought to tears (as usual) by the song “Precioso Jesús”. I love it! We had 5 testimonies and I spoke a little bit, too. It was very impactful to hear the ladies sharing details about their lives to these teens and young adults. We loved being there.
The ladies said goodbye to the translators with promises of staying in touch on facebook. It was a very sweet week working with them all.
We got back to the team house and had share time and Devotion. It was very relaxing to know that breakfast would be at 8am instead of 7am, and that we were going to have a more quiet day for our Fun Day in León. We had a total 193 salvations for the week. That was wonderful since we only had 2 Fiestas and 2 chances at street witnessing. Most of the ladies at the conferences and church services were Christians. I think hundreds of people have been blessed this week. God is good and faithful!
October 22-23, 2012
Ministry Week!
Monday and Tuesday:
We started the Women’s Conferences at the first 2 churches. Team A went to San Jacinto church and Team B went to La Quimera church on Monday and then they switched churches on Tuesday.
4 ladies on each team spoke about their part of the Armor of God. We had games to start with and snacks to end the 2 hour conferences. Each lady was given a notebook, pen and bookmark which had the Armor of God attributes in Spanish.
Each group also stayed afterward to see the Feeding Centers in action. Since the kids kind of come in shifts to the centers, it’s not a huge gathering all at once, but the ladies got to meet the cooks and visit with some of the kids. The ladies also fell in loved Pastor Brian and Pastor Yader.
We all arrived back to the team house for lunch. It rained Monday afternoon, so our side trip to see a possible new church plant site at Posoltega was cancelled. We stayed at the house and rested, had dinner and enjoyed Devotion time.
Tuesday after lunch, the whole group went to the Tomas Borge neighborhood (aka the Old Dump) to do some prayer walking and street evangelism. It’s the sight of our newest Feeding Center and church plant. The ladies enjoyed seeing the neighborhood and talking with the people. We only had about an hour to spend there and then we came back to the team house to get ready for church.
One van went to San Jacinto church and the other to La Quimera church. It started storming on the way out there. The service at La Quimera was rained out and the team returned home.
It had quit raining at San Jacinto, which is farther east. We met together in a small area outside the tiny church building. We couldn’t all fit in the church and there was no light. The bigger outdoor area, where we held the conferences was too muddy. We ended up having a wonderful time of worship, even in the dark. The Pastor’s son led some kids in 2 ‘dramas’ which were songs with motions. They were wonderful. We shared testimonies with the congregation. We were all moved by the service and there were 5 salvations. God is good!
When we got back to the team house, Pastor Brian and his wife, Marcela, were there with a lady from the church. They had heard that it was Stacy’s birthday and had made a cake. They drove to the team house to deliver it to her. How sweet!
We prepared for Fiestas, had dinner and Devotion time. What a sweet day!
Monday and Tuesday:
We started the Women’s Conferences at the first 2 churches. Team A went to San Jacinto church and Team B went to La Quimera church on Monday and then they switched churches on Tuesday.
4 ladies on each team spoke about their part of the Armor of God. We had games to start with and snacks to end the 2 hour conferences. Each lady was given a notebook, pen and bookmark which had the Armor of God attributes in Spanish.
Each group also stayed afterward to see the Feeding Centers in action. Since the kids kind of come in shifts to the centers, it’s not a huge gathering all at once, but the ladies got to meet the cooks and visit with some of the kids. The ladies also fell in loved Pastor Brian and Pastor Yader.
We all arrived back to the team house for lunch. It rained Monday afternoon, so our side trip to see a possible new church plant site at Posoltega was cancelled. We stayed at the house and rested, had dinner and enjoyed Devotion time.
Tuesday after lunch, the whole group went to the Tomas Borge neighborhood (aka the Old Dump) to do some prayer walking and street evangelism. It’s the sight of our newest Feeding Center and church plant. The ladies enjoyed seeing the neighborhood and talking with the people. We only had about an hour to spend there and then we came back to the team house to get ready for church.
One van went to San Jacinto church and the other to La Quimera church. It started storming on the way out there. The service at La Quimera was rained out and the team returned home.
It had quit raining at San Jacinto, which is farther east. We met together in a small area outside the tiny church building. We couldn’t all fit in the church and there was no light. The bigger outdoor area, where we held the conferences was too muddy. We ended up having a wonderful time of worship, even in the dark. The Pastor’s son led some kids in 2 ‘dramas’ which were songs with motions. They were wonderful. We shared testimonies with the congregation. We were all moved by the service and there were 5 salvations. God is good!
When we got back to the team house, Pastor Brian and his wife, Marcela, were there with a lady from the church. They had heard that it was Stacy’s birthday and had made a cake. They drove to the team house to deliver it to her. How sweet!
We prepared for Fiestas, had dinner and Devotion time. What a sweet day!
October 21, 2012
Ministry Week!!!
Sunday:
We woke up and everyone loved seeing the surroundings in daylight. They loved the trees and the team house. We had a nice breakfast and then headed off to church.
One van went to Oscar’s church and another to Jaasiel’s church. These are two of our translators and we love visiting their churches. A special friend and translator, who could only work one day with us, Katty, came and played guitar and sang in the service I was in. It was wonderful. 2 ladies in each group gave their testimonies. The translators helped with the message by the Pastors. I was blessed to be asked to pray over the children in the church that I attended. It was a beautiful morning.
We had lunch and then orientation for the ladies. We put all of the dinning tables together and made an assembly-line to put the gift bags for the Women’s Conferences (200+ bags) and new mama gift bags (20+) all together for the week.
The ladies got to rest, swim and do whatever they felt like until church time. One van left for an earlier worship time and ate dinner afterward. The other van ate first and then went to a later worship time at a church near the end of our street. Our church had a drunk guy passed out inside when we arrived. The other church had some wild spiritual stuff going on. I think we all got a glimpse of ‘other worship’ experiences that night!
After getting back home, we had share time and devotion and then retired for the evening. It’s so great to have all the women here!
Sunday:
We woke up and everyone loved seeing the surroundings in daylight. They loved the trees and the team house. We had a nice breakfast and then headed off to church.
One van went to Oscar’s church and another to Jaasiel’s church. These are two of our translators and we love visiting their churches. A special friend and translator, who could only work one day with us, Katty, came and played guitar and sang in the service I was in. It was wonderful. 2 ladies in each group gave their testimonies. The translators helped with the message by the Pastors. I was blessed to be asked to pray over the children in the church that I attended. It was a beautiful morning.
We had lunch and then orientation for the ladies. We put all of the dinning tables together and made an assembly-line to put the gift bags for the Women’s Conferences (200+ bags) and new mama gift bags (20+) all together for the week.
The ladies got to rest, swim and do whatever they felt like until church time. One van left for an earlier worship time and ate dinner afterward. The other van ate first and then went to a later worship time at a church near the end of our street. Our church had a drunk guy passed out inside when we arrived. The other church had some wild spiritual stuff going on. I think we all got a glimpse of ‘other worship’ experiences that night!
After getting back home, we had share time and devotion and then retired for the evening. It’s so great to have all the women here!
October 20, 2012
It seems weird that this date is here already. It’s been a milestone in my mind for over a year. It’s the date that the Ladies’ Mission Team from FBC Rogers is coming to serve the women of Nica. Cathy Krupka and I have been praying over this and planning it for a long time. It’s finally here!!!
Mary and I did some stuff around the house and then we left for the airport about 3:30pm. In Managua, we stopped at PriceSmart and I got my own membership card. We picked up some personal grocery items and I got the snacks for the Women’s conferences.
German and Jose met Edmundo, Mary and I at the store and then we went to the Central Mall food court for dinner. I enjoyed a Quiznos roast beef sandwich and soup. Yummy! Mary got a whopper from Burger King. She opened her sandwich to center her tomato and we all laughed when we saw the size of her hamburger. It must have been a child-sized patty because it was barely larger than the little slice of tomato. She was so mad. She said next time she’s going to get a Quiznos sandwich!
We took both vans and arrived at the airport to wait for the 3 flights that were bringing the team of 9. I saw Cathy and the ladies getting their luggage and tubs and going through Customs and then to us. It was wonderful to see them all! We sent the ladies (7 of them on that flight) in the yellow van to the team house with Mary to get situated. The luggage went into the other van that German, Jose, Laura, Sue & I would ride in, once their flights got in.
I missed seeing Laura coming through the door because I was told her flight was later. We kept missing each other going inside and out. I finally found her. She was tired (she had used some frequent flyer miles and had 2 layovers), but was happy to see us. Sue came in shortly after and we all headed to the team house about an hour behind the first van.
Everyone got settled in to their rooms and we were in bed by about 11pm. It was so good to have everyone here! I couldn’t wait for the ministry week to begin!
Mary and I did some stuff around the house and then we left for the airport about 3:30pm. In Managua, we stopped at PriceSmart and I got my own membership card. We picked up some personal grocery items and I got the snacks for the Women’s conferences.
German and Jose met Edmundo, Mary and I at the store and then we went to the Central Mall food court for dinner. I enjoyed a Quiznos roast beef sandwich and soup. Yummy! Mary got a whopper from Burger King. She opened her sandwich to center her tomato and we all laughed when we saw the size of her hamburger. It must have been a child-sized patty because it was barely larger than the little slice of tomato. She was so mad. She said next time she’s going to get a Quiznos sandwich!
We took both vans and arrived at the airport to wait for the 3 flights that were bringing the team of 9. I saw Cathy and the ladies getting their luggage and tubs and going through Customs and then to us. It was wonderful to see them all! We sent the ladies (7 of them on that flight) in the yellow van to the team house with Mary to get situated. The luggage went into the other van that German, Jose, Laura, Sue & I would ride in, once their flights got in.
I missed seeing Laura coming through the door because I was told her flight was later. We kept missing each other going inside and out. I finally found her. She was tired (she had used some frequent flyer miles and had 2 layovers), but was happy to see us. Sue came in shortly after and we all headed to the team house about an hour behind the first van.
Everyone got settled in to their rooms and we were in bed by about 11pm. It was so good to have everyone here! I couldn’t wait for the ministry week to begin!
October 19, 2012
Mary and I got the chance to travel out to the newest Feeding Center for Voice of Hope. It is a neighborhood named Tomas Borge, but locals call it the Old Dump, because it’s where the dump used to be and then the garbage was covered up with dirt and leveled off and now houses (aka shacks) are being built there and hundreds of families will live there. On problem is that the water well has to be dug really deep to get past the ‘bad dirt’. Some people in the neighborhood dug 300 meters down by hand and the water is not good. An organization called Living Water is helping us with a real & deep well. It will be good to for the people living there to get descent water. Also, the Feeding Center won’t have to haul water in each day.
We had the best time going around and talking with people in the community. They are taking such pride in their new homesteads. Their lots are small and their houses are mostly tree limbs and black plastic for walls. Some have cardboard and some even have some pieces of wood. They just use whatever they can get their hands on. Some have planted some flowers and other plants and made some rock boarders. I’m so proud of these people and happy for them. It’s a new start in life for them.
We ran into many Christians as we were talking to those we ran into along the streets. They are happy to have the Feeding Center there and the promise of the new Church building. Mary and I both got a very good feeling about the neighborhood.
The Feeding Center is providing lunch 5 days a week for 206 kids a day right now. There are many more to feed and we’re praying for partners to help make this grow to reach all the kids.
We had a yummy lunch of Nica meatballs and rice and beans. Mary and I loved it!
German had a meeting with us all. The Nica team is working very well together and each person has their own area of responsibility. Everyone pitches in to help the others when needed. The ministry is growing and getting more structured all the time. God is blessing.
Jaasiel and Lesly went to La Unión to buy groceries for the team coming on Saturday. Mary and I stole a ride with them and kept Jorge and the van with us as we went to Eskimo for Mary’s birthday ice cream. We bribed Jorge in staying with us by buying his treat. We went back and got the girls and headed back to the team house.
I downloaded to Facebook the pictures of the Old Dump neighborhood and sent some emails. We just had snack type food for dinner and relaxed. It was a good day!
We had the best time going around and talking with people in the community. They are taking such pride in their new homesteads. Their lots are small and their houses are mostly tree limbs and black plastic for walls. Some have cardboard and some even have some pieces of wood. They just use whatever they can get their hands on. Some have planted some flowers and other plants and made some rock boarders. I’m so proud of these people and happy for them. It’s a new start in life for them.
We ran into many Christians as we were talking to those we ran into along the streets. They are happy to have the Feeding Center there and the promise of the new Church building. Mary and I both got a very good feeling about the neighborhood.
The Feeding Center is providing lunch 5 days a week for 206 kids a day right now. There are many more to feed and we’re praying for partners to help make this grow to reach all the kids.
We had a yummy lunch of Nica meatballs and rice and beans. Mary and I loved it!
German had a meeting with us all. The Nica team is working very well together and each person has their own area of responsibility. Everyone pitches in to help the others when needed. The ministry is growing and getting more structured all the time. God is blessing.
Jaasiel and Lesly went to La Unión to buy groceries for the team coming on Saturday. Mary and I stole a ride with them and kept Jorge and the van with us as we went to Eskimo for Mary’s birthday ice cream. We bribed Jorge in staying with us by buying his treat. We went back and got the girls and headed back to the team house.
I downloaded to Facebook the pictures of the Old Dump neighborhood and sent some emails. We just had snack type food for dinner and relaxed. It was a good day!
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