I’m so glad to be back at home after a wonderful month in the States visiting my family and friends. The first half of this year has been so hectic. Thankfully we are now getting into a slower time of year. It has been wonderful having more time to connect with my beautiful families and kids here. It’s also been a time of creating healthier balance in my own life. I am thankful for this slower season and for being surrounded by so many people that I love.
This month we had the joy to celebrate Barbie’s 66th birthday. We had so much fun celebrating together with our New Song family and friends. It was a weekend filled with beach time, delicious Cuban food, laughter and friends. I am thankful for our ever-growing community here.
This month we welcomed a new intern to our sponsorship program, McCall Stiles. Cadence and I are thrilled to have her here working with us for the next two months. McCall is such a joy to be around! She has done a great job so far jumping in to tutoring our first graders, helping with office hours and building relationships in the community. We are excited to get her started more practicing worship and working with youth. I believe it’s going to be a great couple of months.
The schools in Chichigalpa started their annual marches to celebrate Central American and Nicaraguan Independence. The last couple weeks of August the first schools began their marches through Chichigalpa. We love to get out and support all of our top students. They are so precious!
Tutoring groups is always one of my favorite parts of ministry here. I love the opportunity to be a teacher again. This month my adorable second graders (pictured above) have been learning how to multiply. I love to see them grasping new concepts! I am so proud of all of our kids and how much they are growing in their studies.
I love our crazy teenagers! They make my life fun. I love building relationships with these youth and walking with them through all the changes that they are going through. They are constantly hanging out in our office and we get to joke with them and learn so much about their schools and lives. I’m thankful for the opportunity to pour into these incredible teenagers and I long to see them give their lives fully to the Lord and live in the abundance and joy that He offers them.
This month I finally ventured to the top of the cathedral in Leon with Cadence and McCall. We had so much fun being tourists and taking in the gorgeous views of the city. I’m thankful to call this nation my home.
Please continue to pray for us in Nicaragua and specifically to pray for rain. We should be in the middle of our 6-month rainy season, but we have had almost no rain. We desperately need rain to end our drought and begin to bring food prices back down. This time of year is always difficult in our community because it is the end of the unemployment season when families have been without income for months and nearly everyone is in need of food. When you combine that with drought and increasing food prices, you find a majority of families struggling to survive. Please join us in praying for much-needed rain.
It was wonderful to visit with you while you were stateside; however, you absolutely belong where you are! Your happiness shows even through these pictures. God loves you, Lisa, & so do I!!!
This is such a great representation of where you spend your time! I love it! 🙂 thank you to you and cadence for welcoming me in to your mission here so fully. I already feel like part of the team and I am excited to continue learning about all that you guys accomplish each month!
Spending time with family is much needed. Praying for rain.