Wow! I can't believe it's been 5 months since I've written on here! Sorry, faithful readers for not keeping you up to date! But you may have heard things have changed a lot since I last wrote, and it's been a little crazy!
So the last time I wrote I might have mentioned that I decided to quit my job teaching at the University. I felt like it was too much for me at the time, and I really felt like it was God telling me to leave. Well, it just so happened that around that same time is when I got pregnant. Of course, I didn't plan it. Luis and I wanted to wait till we had been married for three years, not just a month! However, God had better plans. About a year ago, I learned that I had cysts on my ovaries and endometriosis, but God has cleaned me of that and put a baby girl in there! I know that God gave her to me to bring me healing and joy and to bless my life in many ways.
At the end of May and part of June, I had the opportunity to translate for some mission groups that came down. I was still teaching English twice a week to kids at another ministry, El Ayudante, and going out to El Paraiso three times a week. Nevertheless, I had to take a break from all of that the end of June when morning sickness hit me hard. They really shouldn't call it morning sickness; it was more like all day sickness! And with the heat and different smells here in Nicaragua, it was hard to stay hydrated and keep food down. Thankfully, I made through it, and it all stopped at the beginning of the fourth month! But there was a couple of months that I couldn't hardly do anything.
The timing probably couldn't have been better for me to go to the US the end of July and most of August. Since I couldn't really do much in my condition, it was good to take a break from Nicaragua for a month. Fortunately, Luis was granted a 10 year tourist visa, and he went with me to the US for the first time!!! We had a wonderful time in Tennessee, and a day in Miami, visiting my family and friends. Luis loved Tennessee so much that he didn't want to leave! He loved the beauty of the mountains and that people didn't throw their trash in the streets like they do here! We also had an opportunity to share at my home church, FBC Clinton, and my grandfather's church, Middlecreek Baptist, about what God has been doing in El Paraiso, It was such a blessing to us to share and get the response in prayers and support as we did!
So we came back to Nicaragua end of August, and it has been a whirlwind! Thankfully, I was able to go back to work teaching at El Ayudante and helping in El Paraiso. Luis started teaching guitar classes to youth at our church on Saturdays, and I decided a few weeks later that I would teach how to read music! It's been a lot of fun and so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they understand and can clap out a rhythm!
Everything keeps growing in El Paraiso. We are still going out Sundays to do children's church and regular service. Our little congregation has grown thanks to what God is doing and the efforts of our pastor Juan Pablo Pineda! On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we still go out to teach sewing classes, but cosmetology and carpentry classes have been added. After the classes, we have a devotional or the pastor teaches a discipleship class. It's been really neat to see how God is working and growing! I am hoping we get more opportunities to reach out to these people and disciple them in the word.
Luis and I have made some changes. We were fortunate to find another house that is a lot bigger (4 bedrooms and 2 baths!), a lot cooler and quieter, closer to his family and our church, and not too much more than what we were paying! This past Monday we moved in and have been getting adjusted. I really like it a lot better than our little house, and I am excited about the opportunities that we will have to minister to others in this house. We are thinking about having small groups or other Bible studies; I'll keep you posted on what happens!
God has been so good to us, and I am so thankful to Him. Sometimes, it's hard to not let the voice of the world get in the way that tells me that I'm not doing enough, that we don't have enough, that we need to get normal jobs or move back to the US so we can get by. But God has been so good to remind me that He is in the one in control, that He is at work and preparing us for something bigger. He has placed godly people in our lives that keep telling us that God has a big ministry for us and to not get discouraged. We are learning to trust Him with our every step, which is a hard lesson, but the best one anyone could ever learn.
Luis and I are planning to go back to the United States November 20-December 5. It will probably be the last time I get to visit until months after the baby comes (she's coming around February 17). I hope to get to see and visit as many people as I can during this time, and hopefully, there will be baby showers! (Keeping my fingers crossed!) Contact me if you want to see us! Until then, I will try to keep this blog up to date!
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26
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