To my dear Vineyard family: April 1st 2013
It seems like the age of face book has taken over newsletters and even blogs these days. Some people wonder if there is something wrong with you if you don't have a fb account. Few missionaries send out monthly newsletters in print as in days gone by. Sad but true. I want to apologize to all of you who have not heard from me for some time, because all of my updates have been on fb. My blog is sadly in arrears.
You are on my heart more than you know.
The question in church here yesterday, Resurrection Sunday was: What is it in your life that needs resurrecting? Relationships, dreams, goals, visions, finances..... The LORD spoke volumes to me through this message in different areas of my life. One of the things it prompted me to do was to make the time to sit down and write this letter to you. My heart wants to restore the connections with you!
Backing up to Nov/Dec 2012: the Vineyard sent a team out to spend a few days with me and see what God is doing here in Nicaragua. Kit Schuman headed up the team, along with Clifford and Susan Whitman, Carmine Agostino, and Janice Mackenzie. Above all, I was so encouraged by their visit. I know how much it cost them financially, spiritually, physically and emotionally to be here. Yet they paid the price, they were obedient to The LORD's calling and faithful to His plan for this time. It was a grueling schedule as we went from one outreach to another, barely stopping for a break along the way. Yet the fruits of that visit were apparent. Lives were changed, for both the members of the team and those they came into contact with. I could write a book on that week alone, but it may be a better idea for you to contact one of the team to get some firsthand experiences, or write to me individually if you have questions or want more information.
One of the fruits was that a feeding program was started in Los Cedros. A dear friend of mine who had worked with me in the orphanage shared with us her dream of feeding the hungry children in her neighborhood. With no personal resources, she presented a plan to us: for as little as $60 per month she could provide one meal a week for at least 25 children. 5 team members plus me equals 6, so we all agreed to donate $10 each per month for the program to begin. We kicked it off with a big fiesta at Christmas with a piñata and gift bags for all. So, program Gods Jewels started, right there in the Angela’s back yard with a dream and a union of Faith. And Our God is a faithful God; we have witnessed His miracles through this program. As we watch our $15 per week supply enough food for more than 40 children, we know it is only by His multiplication and we thank Him for still being in the business of miracles in this day and age. Gods Jewels has touched many lives, as we share not only food for the body, but also food for the Spirit, and the knowledge of God’s unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness. We Praise you LORD and give you all the Glory.
January 2013: As most of you know, since I left the orphanage 3 years ago, I have been house-sitting. With no permanent home of my own, due to lack of financial resources, I have moved over 22 times in 3 years. God always amazed me at how He would connect the dots to provide each consecutive home at just the right time. I thank God for His perfect provision during this time; He has certainly taken good care of me. My dream for 2013 however, was to find a home of my own. Although I was always grateful for God's provision, I was getting physically tired of moving so often, and felt limited in how I could respond to requests to help children in need. I was not free to receive them in someone else’s home, so I asked The LORD for a place of my own. I had no idea how He was going to make it happen, which was truly a miracle. Again, let me know if you want more details! The LORD heard my prayer and on Jan 22nd I moved my things onto a sweet little house right next to the school where I work. While it is by no means a mansion or luxury house, it is more than I could ever have asked or imagined. And it is my own private space, Hallelujah, and, I don't have to move out in a few weeks!!! I have a bed and a fridge, so that's all I need for the time being. I love it here!
February 2013: This is my 3rd year as teacher’s assistant at NCA. Well, God worked another miracle in my life and gave me the opportunity to be lead teacher in pre k 2. I had never thought this would be possible since the schools’ ACSI certification requires all teachers to have a 4 year degree, which I do not have. But with God all things are possible! Along with the increased responsibilities came an increase in living allowance, thus making paying the rent a lot less stress. I had wondered what I was going to do, but God had it all worked out from the beginning!
March 2013: Teaching at NCA during the week and doing the feeding program in Los Cedros on Saturdays keeps me busy! Our church now has 2 services on Sundays, one at 9 am in English, and another at 11 am in Spanish. I have been on the leadership team for 3 years and director of children’s ministry for the past 2 years. So Sundays are pretty booked up too. As a church body we just took about 45 members of our congregation on a mission’s trip to a town called Muy Muy. It was about 5 hours drive away, with very rustic conditions. We had a wonderful time and I think someone has posted over 800 photos on fb to prove it! Check it out if you have time, (I don’t, I haven’t seen them all yet!) I enjoyed the whole trip, challenges and all: there was only one bathroom for us all to share! Haha
The children were so ready to be loved on, one of them William Gabriel, even ran back out to the bus as we were leaving for one last hug. His lip was quivering as we said goodbye and I knew right then that we have to go back! This was just the beginning!!
So today is April 1st. This has been my short version of the past few months. There is so much more to share. I wish I could see you in person, to hear your news too. I care about you all and thank you for your continued support with love, prayers, encouragement and finances. I thank you for your understanding when communications are minimal. I often plan time to sit and write, but there are so many variables here. We are often without internet, or it is too slow to work with, or we have no electric, or sometimes it is just too hot to sit in an office and be on a pc.
We are currently in our dry season with March and April being the hottest months. I sometimes get so hot I cannot think, let alone string words together to make a comprehensible newsletter. I am not trying to make excuses; I sincerely apologize to those of you without fb who have not heard from me in a while. Please write back and let me know how you are, I want to know how I can best pray for you.
Theresa has been great about keeping me posted regarding what is happening in general at The Vineyard, and you are constantly in my prayers as my church home and family.
Prayer Requests:
For God's perfect will to be done in and through me and that my every step is directed by Him.
1. Healing for a bad cough I have had since February. I have tried many different meds and finally went to a doctor last week. Many people suffer from respiratory problems here in the dry season. The dusts, pollens, ashes from trash being burned etc, all get hurled into the air by the fierce winds that are also common during this season. So it is considered normal for people to be coughing and have problems breathing. However, I have never had a day sick in my life, even being here since 2007, so it is not normal for me, and I ask that you join me in thanking God for healing, soon.
2. For direction regarding the feeding program:”God's Jewels.” We do not plan to financially support this program indefinitely, and know that God will provide a way to continue it without them being becoming dependant on outside aid.
3. For my next step regarding work. At NCA , every January we have to reconsider our commitment to the school and decide if we want to renew our contract for another school year. On Jan 7th I had to give an answer, and truly felt that I was not to sign up for another year. I met with the director and we prayed together for God’s will to be done. There is a situation at NCA that has come up with one of my students whom I love dearly. I have been approached to help him on a full time, personal basis. I would love to say yes to this request, but want to make sure I stay within God's plan for my time here in Nicaragua.
I remember the words spoken over me before I came: To be a Mother to the Motherless. My dream was to open a home for children in critical need. Not a big institutional place, just a small-scale safe place where these children can be received in love and get the urgent care they need. Last Wed I received a call from the director of a local orphanage here that I have worked with in the past. They had an emergency situation. A 3 year old girl was in hospital with no one to look after her. (The hospitals here are noting like USA, I tried to take pictures but my camera wasn't working. ) So I went and looked after her until they could find a nanny to come and take over. She and her sister had been abused and abandoned by their mother. They need a home where they can be taken care of and restored to health. Then there is Luvianna from El Crucero who is almost completely blind who needs a home in Managua so she can attend a school for the blind here in town. I want to do so much more. I have no doubt that I have been right where God has wanted me up to this point, but am seriously praying about refocusing on the passion of my heart, and the very thing that brought me here to Nicaragua in the first place: to be a Mother to the Motherless.To love God with everything I have, and to love others with that same love, more specifically, those children who have been thrown out, neglected, abused, abandoned.
As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Our LORD , I ask you to join me in prayer about the resurrection of my dream. A home for the homeless, love for the unloved, provision for the lost and poor.
As Beth Moore says:”God is practical. He doesn't ask us to do what doesn't matter. What seems to be a drop in the bucket to you could be the wellspring of life to someone about to thirst to their death. “ True religion is all hands on deck and heads out of the sand, as spoken by James in James 1v27. Thank you to all of you who have been anything from a drop of water, to a fountain of well being. EVERYTHING HELPS!!!! To quote Beth Moore again: You don’t live this kind of life accidentally. You make up your mind who you want to be and daily die to the rest. You surrender yourself to living in the tension where you will always be stretched and often broken. Pure and undefiled religion is grit without the grime. You accept that there are easier ways to live, but you were born for nothing less. And when we sniff ourselves and smell the world, we can run to the One who can wash us clean.” He will refresh us and give us what we need to carry on His work in us and through us.
Amen and HAPPY EASTERTIME!!! I love you!
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