A New Season

We've had our first rains this past week, which means "winter" is coming.  The rains were so refreshing and actually made things a little chilly for a while, although it was hot again today.  It's so interesting how seasons work though because I guess I had just gotten used to it being hot, dry, and dusty as if it were like that everyday in Nicaragua year round.  Then, out of the blue, a dark cloud rolls over the city, the thunder rumbles, and crocodile tears of rain fall from the sky.



Las Penitas Beach, Nicaragua

I feel like my life changes along with the seasons at times.  Over the past few years, I have seen my shift from one thing to another like rain coming into a drought.  Sometimes I don't understand why and how these things happen.  I know in part a lot of things were decisions I made, but I honestly believe God lead me to those decisions like switching from one job to another or moving to another country or getting married.  What's even more understandable is to see how I have changed like a deciduous tree through every part of it.  There have been times where I have seen myself mature and blossom, other times where I have seen even a complete change in the way I think or act, and then other times where I have felt like I have lost part of myself only to find out later that God was just pruning me.

I am entering a new season now, like a Nicaraguan winter.  I have had a lot of changes over the past month.  One being about my job situation.  As I may have mentioned before, I am now teaching English two days a week at an organization called El Ayudante that helps underprivileged kids.  It's been a challenge working with kids again, but I have enjoyed it.  Since I am working there, and we have been trying to do more in El Paraiso, I decided to resign from teaching at the University language center, at least for a while.  It was a hard decision, but I felt like the Lord was leading me to make that decision.  Now, I'll be able to focus more of that time on spending the evenings with my husband, his family, my friends, or with the Lord.  Before, we weren't able to go to church as much because I had night classes and church is held here 4 times a week.  Now, Luis and I will be attending his home church at least on Thursday nights in addition to our regular Saturday nights.

I feel like my "extra time" is necessary for the next few weeks to rest and recuperate physically and spiritually before I help translate for about 5 weeks worth of teams.  I have been sick with different infections (kidney, bladder, etc.) on and off the past month and found out last week that I was the way to becoming anemic. Thankfully, I have been able to recover from most of that, and I am taking a special vitamin to give me more energy.  I think the process is just part of becoming Nicaraguan because all these kinds of sicknesses are rampant down here but people just deal with it and move forward.  Like Luis's sister.. she's 19, has a lively 3 year old little girl, works 6 days a week to make ends meet, goes to school all day on her day off, and does it all while suffering from asthma and kidney infections.  That's what I call a strong woman.  Although I wish I could be more like her, I know that I am only limited to what God allows me to do.  I know that I have to somewhat rest if I want to keep going.

I think I need to spiritual rest more than anything.  Over the past two months, I have been dealing with what I could only describe as a spiritual attack over my being and my relationships with those around me.  I won't go into details, but I believe that Satan is not happy with the things that God has been doing in my life and through me and has just been trying to destroy me.  However, I am so thankful that my Savior's grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9); that when I am weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10); and that nothing can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39).  I am thankful that He has given me a strong, godly husband that speaks truth in my life and fights for me on His knees.  I know God has a ministry for us that is bigger than we can imagine, but now, we are on His training ground.  Gradually, Luis and I together are learning how to be soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3-6) by training to put on our armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and taking captive every though to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  We are spending more time in the word, in prayer, and in church to feed and nourish our souls with the truth of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

So that's what's going on with me.  Ministry wise, here is a quick update:
1.  Our church in El Paraiso has grown to about 30 adults and 20 kids more or less! That's a big number for us! 
2.  Tamara and I have started teaching the second sewing group.  The first group still comes and helps the first group, and we have a time in the word together.
3.  Luis and I have adopted an elderly lady that always begs in front of a restaurant on our street.  She looks like she could be in her 70's or 80's, has asthma, can't hardly see, is widowed with no children, and has a sister in a wheelchair at home.  We've been trying to send a meal home with her as much as we can.  She is always so grateful and says, "God is going to bless you for this."  We're trying to figure out how else we should help her.

I could probably share a lot more, but I will save some of it when details develop more.  The bottom line is that God is working here in Nicaragua and in our lives, just like He is working everywhere in the world and in your life as well. 

You know, Luis and I went to the beach Saturday, and we saw a storm that was over the ocean but on the beach where we were.  We were in awe watching the lightning etch-a-sketch beautiful patterns that lit up the sky.  I'm sure someone caught in that storm wouldn't think it was so beautiful.  That's just like our lives.  When we are caught up in the mess of things and problems, it all seems so horrible and frightening.  But from God's perspective, He is taking control of those things and making it into something beautiful so that one day we can look back in awe at the design He has made in our lives.