Quick Update of First Month

Hello dear friends.  I apologize for not updating my blog over the past few weeks.  I had been busy with the mission groups for the first 2 weeks or so, and I am just now getting time to myself to update.

July 5-12, Beech Park Baptist brought a group of about 22 down to do street evangelism, Bible school, and a dental clinic provided by Dr. Steve Smith.  I forget the exact number, but I believe over 200 came to Christ that week.

July 16-22 was a group of about 40 that did medical clinics, Bible school, and street evangelism.  We went to several different areas including a community near a dump in Chinandega, which is about a half hour from here.  The group also handed out some clothes to the children in some communities. 

Last Saturday, the last day the group was here, we went to the nursing home here in Leon.  The people there are so precious and so appreciative to have visitors.  One man, Carlos, we had remembered from last year.  He's 101 years old and deeply in love with the Lord.  He is so precious and was singing the praise songs out loud.  He even got up and spoke when one of the women was giving a message, saying how Jesus was his good shepherd and how blessed he had been and how happy he was that we were there.  It touched me to see someone with such a sweet spirit and love for God and others.

That night, we went to Luis's church, Belen (translated Bethlehem).  We had an amazing worship service because they had prepared to sing songs that we were familiar with so that even though they were singing in Spanish, we could sing in Spanish.  I had to translate most of the time, but I thank God that He helped me because I was so nervous!  My friend, Nikki Baker, gave her beautiful testimony about how she came to Christ and how He has been with her in her life, and I think a lot of people were moved and touched by what she had to say.  Before we collected the offering, the worship leader shared with us that they are in the process of building two Sunday school classes and that the offering was mostly going towards the construction.  When Mark, the president of Jesus Centered Ministries, heard the news, he agreed to match whatever was taken up for the offering to give to the church.  So the church took up $306 dollars but received $612 total to go towards their new building!  I was so excited for them!  Mark, with the translation of Pastor Ed from El Salvador, brought a powerful presentation of the gospel that moved the majority of the people there.  At the end of the service, most of the church came forward for prayer and some to receive Christ.  It was truly a great night! 

Since the group left Sunday, this past week I have been just trying to take it easy and gradually settle myself.  Sunday, I went to Raquel's cousin's wedding.  It was more of a civil ceremony than an actually wedding, but I enjoyed the experience of something different.  That night, I went to church at Casa de Jehova (House of Jehovah) in the center of Leon.  It's probably one of my favorite churches here in Leon because they meet in an old movie theater and the pastor is one of the best preachers I have heard here.  Raquel joined me a little later and my new friend Lissette came as well.

I met Lissette last week when I was working with the group.  She knew Cheryl somehow and wanted to work with the group so she could practice her English.  Last Thursday, Pastor Ed from El Salvador talked with her and shared the gospel, and she excepted Christ! Her and I started talking more Friday, and I invited her to join Raquel and me in a Bible study.  Lissette has a geniune thirst for the word and to live for the Lord!

Monday, Luis and I went to Managua to celebrate my friend Yahaira's birthday.  We got to go to PriceSmart with her, which is like a Costco or Sam's Club.  I felt like I was back in the US at that store!  We spent most of the day at her house visiting with her and her friends, but we had to leave the party early to get back to Leon.  At least we got to take a piece of birthday cake with us!  It was made right there in their bakery and was delicious!

I started getting sick on Tuesday so I rested mostly that day.  My body's had a hard time adjusting to diet and climate changes.  The dust I think has irritated my throat and respiratory a little bit.  However, I am still able to go up and about, and it's nothing to worry about, so don't worry! It just takes time to get used to a different lifestyle.  Luis has been taking good care of me, too!

Wednesday, Luis and I celebrated our one year anniversary of being "together" (even though we were in different countries for the most part).  We didn't doing anything in particular other than spend the day together.  We did go to a new cafe in Leon and drink coffee and eat cheesecake!  That night, we went to his house and hung out with his family, which is one of my favorite things to do.

Luis and I have had a good first year even though we've had many challenges with distance and cultural differences.  The good thing is that we have been able to work out our differences quickly and sometimes laugh about it later.  He's been so good to me since I've been here.  He's been teaching me how to cook or sometimes cooking for me (like he came over and made breakfast for me today).  He takes me around places I need to go and helps me get stuff done like coordinating with churches for the group last week.  When I start to feel a little down, he always encourages me and speaks truth to me.  One time, I got a little upset with him over something silly, and he came into my room with a guitar and started singing to me!  I am so blessed to have someone that loves me so much!

I have also been blessed by building relationships with others here in Nicaragua.  Thursday, Lissette and I started reading the Bible together.  Patzy, who works at Tamara's, joined us to for a little bit.  I really enjoyed reading and praying with them and to see their hearts for the Lord.

Raquel and I have been hanging out quite a bit as well.  She shows up at my house every once and a while and we'll spend most of the day together.  Yesterday, we spent all day together, and I got to go with her to her university, UNAN, which is one of the largest in Nicaragua.  She didn't have class, but she had to get her grades and copies.  It was interesting to see the buildings and set up and see the similarities and differences there.  Like I am pretty sure all college students act and dress the same.  The buildings at the university were a lot older and worn down than the ones back home but still have the campus feeling.  It was really neat.  That afternoon, she and I did the Bible study that I did with Lissette and Patzy, since she couldn't join us Thursday.  Raquel still has had a hard time with her mom's passing, and we talked about what heaven would be like and what her mom might look like now.

Well, I have written a lot so I am going to wrap things up:
Jonah, Tamara's son, has gotten to the top 5 in a Mello Yello One Track Find contest (seen on Facebook).  He gets to go to Atlanta on August 4 and record a professional music video with his original song!  He has been teaching English on Saturdays for a couple of hours so he has asked me to substitute for him for the next month.  So I am going to be teaching English to a group of 14-26 year old students on Saturdays!

Tomorrow, Sunday, I am going to El Paraiso with Tamara's husbands and sons and Luis.  Tamara went back to the US this week to work out some things for Mila's adoption and other stuff, so I will be filling in for her and teaching Sunday School at El Paraiso.

Monday, I plan to do the Bible study with the girls again.  I am hoping next week I will have more of a routine and maybe start helping Tamara's boys with Spanish and some other people with English.

I need to start getting ready now for church (they're having a singing competition tonight!), so please be praying for the mentioned things above.  Please pray for me that I will be strong in health, mind, and spirit.  Thanks for your prayers and for reading.  I love you all.