#18 Class Time, cutting grass...

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: Post One of Nicaraguan Updates.

Home where we'll all be together again...home where our praise to the Lamb will never end...I'm going home, where I'll walk the streets of gold and never see a tear again...I'm going where all our dreams become reality...We'll soon be there, sitting round the tree of life, within the presence of our King...

As I was sitting here at my computer, thinking of how fast time has flown. It just seems like yesterday I had bought a ticket to fly home to visit my family. That time has come and gone and I am back in Nicaragua, spending time with those dear to my heart here. As I was thinking of the time I spent at home with my family, one of my favorite songs came to my mind. Home - talking about the heavenly home that is waiting each of us. A place where we will never say good-bye again! A place where we will not see a tear! As I listen to this song, it makes me homesick for HOME. It is my desire as I pass each day here, I might make an impact on someone's life and they might realize that HOME is also for them. Our time to go HOME is rapidly approaching. Are you...Am I ready for this day? I just want to leave this as a challenge to each of you.

              

    It has been raining quite a bit. The week before I flew home to my family we had several people from La Palmerita here to cut the grass. I forget exactly how many it took for them to cut the entire yard. Jaren & Jarell also had fun cutting the grass around the house. It gave them something to do when it was nice outside. Mike & Esther arrived June 3rd and left June 22nd. It was a blessing to have them here. With them also came Mike's sister, Melanie. It was great to get to know her. They stayed in Randy & Laura's house while Randy's were spending time in the States. While they were here, there were revivals in Leon. Philip Ebersole from Honduras was here as the evangelist. It was a blessing to be there and to be encouraged and challenged by each of his messages.

    While I was visiting my family in the States, our church here in La Palmerita had our 2nd baptism. Johanna, a young mother with 3 boys, is now a member of our congregation. She definitely does not have an easy life, but just pray for her as she desires to walk in the Lord and in His will for her. Right now her youngest son, Juancito, is not with her, as his father-Juan left to go work and took Juancito with him. I have been blessed getting to know her and she is a great inspiration as she she strives to serve the Lord in all that she does. She is the 2nd member to be added to our congregation here in La Palmerita.   

         

     It was great to get back and to teach each one of my classes. Saturday morning I had girls' class and had the largest attendance yet. Five young girls showed up, even though it had been raining several times that morning. I was blessed to have each of them here and to spend time with them, studying the Bible and also teaching them how to sew. Sunday morning, my Sunday School class was large as well. I had 8 boys and 1 girl. I wasn't sure what to expect as Virginia had said they had been pretty bad on Wednesday night. But praise the Lord, He hears and answers prayers. They were very well behaved and class went very well. They were enjoying class so much, our class went longer then the adult class!

     On Monday, Randy & Virginia took the baby pigs to Leon to try and sell them. They did rather well and sold all 6 of them to one person and were home before lunch. it seems just a little strange to only have 2 little pigs here any more. On the 5th we all went to Leon for the fasting service. When we returned, charlotte the mother pig was dead. We are not sure what exactly happened so we just have 2 small ones here any more.

    Ramon (the above picture) is the other member in our congregation. He celebrated his 21st birthday the beginning of June. He has been a member of the congregation for 2 years. He teaches reading classes in Rota 4 days a week as well as participates in church services.

    The month of July is looking pretty full. This evening we will be going to Managua to pickup the girls that are coming with SMBI's WATER program. We will also be having revival meetings in La Palmerita. Timo Schrock will be coming from Waslala as the evangelist. I just ask that you would lift him up in prayer and also pray for the community that the binds of Satan would be broken and the people would realize their need for a Saviour.

 

Blessings to you as you serve our Risen Lord, Andrea

#17 Rain, Mother's Day, Planting

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: Post One of Nicaraguan Updates.

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121)

    The other day as I was biking into La Palmerita, I looked out across the land and my eyes came to rest on Volcano Momotombo. As it lay there on the horizon, I was once again reminded of it vastness and the power that is contained within the volcano. My mind was then drawn to our Holy Father and His  attributes - the power He contains in His hand. How often do we take for granted His power? The power: to heal a life, to take a life, to destroy a city...the list could go on and on. I know too often I tend to think on His kindness and mercy and feel to remember that He is also a powerful God that could take a life at any second. Am I...are you lifting your eyes to the hills from where our help comes? Are we relying in God for our strength and guidance?

Last week, on Monday morning we went to Johanna's shortly after 6:00 to plant watermelons in her field. We had Randy, Richard, Jason, and Roger were digging the holes and I was putting the fertilizer in the holes. Johanna and Virginia then planted the seeds. However after planting several rows we decided that it was too muddy and we would wait to plant the rest until Tuesday. Tuesday morning Virginia and I went back out to help. Roger, Jason, and I dug the holes. Johanna put in the fertilizer and Virginia planted the seeds. I was amazed at how fast it went. However when it started raining the seeds either drowned or washed away :(

    This past week we received an abundance of rain. It started raining heavy Tuesday night through Friday. Saturday through Monday it rained on and off.  Wednesday and Thursday we spent most of our days in the house or in the hammocks wrapped in blankets, reading, and sipping tea and soup. Wednesday morning Nick and Hans were playing the water until Hans fell and got all wet. We didn't have church on Wednesday evening due to the rain. Jason was going to take Randy's to CAM and pick up his parents. The only way he could get here from La Palmerita was on the horse. However through most of this storm we did not lose electricity. That was a blessing!

    Friday morning Jason brought Johanna from La Palmerita and she started baking cakes for Mother's Day. As soon as they were baked they went straight to the freezer to cool down so Virginia could decorate them. However as usual the morning of Mother's Day you always seem to have people coming and saying - "I need a cake for my mother. Can't you make me one?" We ended up making 7 cakes on Mother's Day.

    On Sunday afternoon we had a church activity at Campo Medico with those from Leon. We played several rounds of Frisbee Football together. I enjoyed playing as it had been a long time since I had played Frisbee Football. Afterward we all went back to the church and had supper. A big thank you to Karen, Denise, and Andrea for the the supper. It was great. We sat around and spent time talking and having fun before going our separate ways. It was a great time of fellowship and fun.

                                          

    On Monday morning we woke up to no electricity. Jason was planning to take his parents to Leon for the morning and Virginia was going along to spend time with Karen so I decided to ride along. I didn't have that much to do, but there wasn't that much I could do with no electricity and no water. When we got to Leon, I went and visited with Yolonda (She is an older lady and school teacher. She is a member of the Leon congregation.) I had a great time with her and time passed so rapidly. From there I stopped it with Andrea and ended up staying there and helping her with her laundry. I had a great time and enjoyed my morning. From there, we headed to Rota to show the town to Jason's parents. We spent time visiting with Juan and his wife there before heading back to El Tererro #1. However we were not able to get through the road into Malpaisillo as the road was washed out so we went around through some fields. However once we got onto the flats, we ended up having to stop as we had a problem with the 4-wheel drive. We spent quite a bit of time there till they got it fixed. But praise the Lord, we got back to the house all in one piece.

    Yesterday morning we spent time at the church cleaning as the floors were all covered with dried-on mud from the storm we had. Jason & Ramon had to pull all the water up by hand as the rope was stolen from the pump once again. Johanna and I worked in the Sunday school building and the others worked on the church floor. Both required a good deal of scrubbing. Johanna kept me busy carrying buckets of water for the floor. After we were finished, it sure looked better and smelled clean.

    This afternoon we are heading to Managua to take Jason's parents to CAM and to pick up Mike & Esther and their family at the airport. It was great having Jason's parents here and I enjoyed it very much. I got to know them better. Thank you for coming to visit and stay with us. Thank you to Mike's in advance for coming and living with us for the next several weeks. God bless both of you!

    My next email is due the week I fly home so I will try and send one once I am home. Blessings to all of you as continue walking with the Lord wherever He may lead in these next weeks.

Until the next time, Andrea