Now so much has happened that I don't know where to start. If I try to catch up with it all, you will be asleep before reading to the end. So just a quick summary, then I really will try harder to keep up to date!
Over the past five months Casa Shekinah has welcomed 14 children into the safety and comfort of the home. Surprisingly, many of them have been teens, staying between 6 weeks and 24 hours. Sometimes they just need a safe place to rest for the night and escape the awful things that are happening in their lives. However long their stay, they always love to stay up half the night talking about their trials and experiences. Just when I think I have heard it all, there's more. I try to hide the shock as they sit before me sharing the horror stories of their lives. Children should never have to experience these things. But they do. And Casa Shekinah is always open to welcome them as the Ministry of Family and/or the Police bring them in.
Prevention is better than cure, so in August, partnering with MIFAM, we started teaching parenting classes in the poorer barios where most of the problems seem to occur. Each class is for four weeks - 2 hours per session. Our goal is to teach in one neighborhood a month. At the end of the year we will host a big graduation party for the participants and they will each get a diploma to show they completed the class. We want to show them a better way to care for their children, how to implement healthy discipline strategies and ways to avoid violence in the home. If we can stop the situation getting to crisis point, we can prevent children like Deyton from being abused, neglected and abandoned. The classes have been extremely successful so far and the ladies look forward to coming to class.
Casa Shekinah also hosts a ladies Bible Study once a week. We are currently studying The Book of Esther using a Beth Moore curriculum. And a more personal escape is on Wednesdays when I go to Managua to attend a ladies Bible Study Group. Our time together is rich and precious, we are doing an inductive study on 1 Peter. It is my time of refreshment as we dig deep into The Word of God together.
********************************************************
July: *I had my first and hopefully last attack of vertigo. Praise God, it now seems to be under control.
*Prayed with Ministry of Family Employee for physical healing and God answered with a miracle within days of asking. Praise GOD for such a powerful testimony!!
August: *Started parenting classes.
* Two princess warriors of God, from Servants of Christ Church, Gainesville, FL came to visit.
* Started Ladies Bible Study in Managua.
September: *Casa Shekinah organized and sponsored First Aid/CPR Training with the Red Cross for the new daycare community center in Ciudad Sandino.
* Started ladies Bible Study at Casa Shekinah.
* Celebrated Nicaragua's Independence Day.
October: *My home church here: ELEVATE, celebrated it's 7th Anniversary.
* Started making plans to start two new feeding programs.
* Oct 14th Twin earthquakes 7.3/REALLY felt those!!! Schools were closed for several days.
Casa Shekinah is very involved and active in the local community. We frequently do outreaches at orphanages, clinics, hospitals and wherever God directs. The goal is to share the love of Christ Jesus with as many people as possible and through Salvation witness transformation of lives.
Let's see what November brings :)
Thank you for your continued support with love, encouragement, visits, donations of clothes and toys, and finances. I know I have said it before, but TRULY, verily verily I say unto you: none of this would be possible without YOUR HELP. THANK YOU! Mil Gracias!! You are precious! God says so!!! and as Beth Moore says: "You have Royal blood flowing through you. The crimson bloodline of Christ flows through your veins." Let's share our grand inheritance, there is more than enough for everyone.
 |
| Each of the ladies shared what they enjoyed most about the parenting classes. |
 |
| I was thrilled to see one of the dad's attend a parenting class!!!! Usually it's all women. |
 |
| First Aid/CPR Training with Red Cross |
 |
| Deyton celebrating Nicaraguan Independence Day |
 |
| Celebrating Independence Day at Elevate Church with two of my children. |
 |
| Two princess warrior women of God came to visit us :) Thank you for all your help! |
 |
| Reaching out to the community. We brought a crib, bed linen, clothes, food and HOPE through the love of of Christ to this single mother of twins. |
with love in Christ,
andrea @ Casa Shekinah
