This post was an email update that was sent out during my time spent in Nicaragua from 2009 to 2011. I started posting them here when some of my friends who had not received them, wanted to see and hear about the work there. You can access an entire list here.
As
I looked at this field of sorghum waiting to be harvested, I was once again
reminded of what our dear Lord says in Luke 10:2. Each of us in our own lives
have a field before us waiting to be harvested. Are we doing our duty and
harvesting that field? Or are we sitting back and letting it perish in the
coming storm? Even if you are not on a foreign mission field, you still have
the field to harvest in your own home area. Are you harvesting it?? Just some
thoughts for you to ponder. I know I have thought of it a lot in this last
week.
Time has continued to move along and
it is hard to believe that Christmas is upon us, but it is. Our house has been
filled with Christmas music and smells of baking cookies and cakes. These last
2 weeks have full of Christmas preparations. We decided to take plates of
cookies to our neighbors when we went Christmas caroling so last Wednesday, we
spent the morning baking 4 different kinds of cookies for the plates. Last
night all the staff went Christmas caroling to our neighbors here in El
Terrero. We sang at 3 homes. For me, it was just the perfect evening for
caroling. The moon was out and the stars
were shining. As I was walking, I was just pondering how beautiful it was and I
said to Laura “Can you just imagine what it would look like with a snow-covered
ground.
Last night at church we had a special Christmas
service. Virginia has been practicing songs with her children for a while. We
had been practicing with El Terrero & La Palmerita children, but last night
only the El Terrero girls showed up. The La Palmerita children didn;t show up
till church was all but over because there was some activity in the Rancho and
people were handing out gifts. The program went well, but we were all glad to
have it over. We as staff sang 3 songs also.
On Monday morning, we headed to Leon at 7:00 to
assemble Christmas buckets. We spent the morning assembling buckets, before
heading to La Palmerita to hand them out. The guys had to run and get some more
things so we started a big kettle of Potato Soup as it was a rainy, dreary day.
After lunch we headed to La Palmerita to hand out buckets. It took a little to
get there, due to the rain we had had the night before. It was muddy and we got
stuck a few times, but we got into La Palmerita and went around delivering
buckests. It is amazing how many people try to act like they live in this house
(but the windows are broken out and you can clearly see no one lives there) or
I wasn't home when you came through with the truck. In the afternoon, they delivered buckets to
the people in Rota. But it was a great blessing to pack them and then have them
delivered to the homes, knowing you are helping a needy family this Christmas.
On the 13th, we were blessed to have
the Waslala Chorus in town and give a program at Palabra de Vida. Some of us
staff from La Palmerita went in Sunday morning to hear them. It was a blessing
to hear them. For me, it was blessing to be able to visit with people that it
has been over a year since I have seen them. It was great to catch up on each
other's lives and to spend time together. It was great to see Jacinto and
Kendra, before they headed to the States
for some time with family, before moving into Zapote Kum. Jacinto & Kendra
headed to Managua that afternoon after the program.
It is hard to believe how each of these children
have grown since I got here. Hans is attempting to walk – some days are better
than others. Little Miss Jill has got over her shyness and is leaving me hold
her and is just growing as well. Nicholas is starting to say some legible words
– English and Spanish. It is great to have these little ones around as it
reminds me of my siblings at home.
.
Johanna is a single mother and has 3 boys. She is also a lady who I got to know
last summer and have been blessed to become reacquainted. We spent today with her and her family. We
took supplies and she helped us prepare a Nicaraguan lunch. I had a great time helping
to prepare the food and to learn how to make some new dishes. It was only when
I arrived home did I realize what I looked like. When I wasn't aware what was
happening she put soot on my face. I looked horrendous. It was great to spend
Nicaragua Christmas with them.
Anyway I should once again run, before you all get
tired of my long email. Thank you for your prayers, support, encouraging
emails, and cards. God bless you abundantly.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!
Andrea
