August ’16 Highlights (Photo Blog)

August has flown by. This has been a crazy month of travel and tons of admin work as we wrote updates on all of our sponsored students. Although I feel like I’ve spent the majority of the month stuck behind my computer and there have been some incredibly hard things that we have faced, there have been so really fun things in ministry and relationships as well. Here are the highlights: 

    This month I was able to get out to a few of our schools to check in on our kiddos. I love seeing the kids in their classes and talking to the teachers about how they’re doing. I am so proud when I hear great reports about how well they are doing. I’m especially proud of little Jesus (pictured top left). She is now in 2nd grade and has improved so much through participation in sponsorship and weekly tutoring sessions. Her phonics and reading have improved so much in the last year. I am so proud! 

 

    I love getting to see our kids’ personalities shine forth! Estefany was just the cutest when she arrived at Sunday school with her Minnie Mouse ears. And I love to see how excited they are when they get their uniforms (even though I missed almost all of the uniform handout since I was in the States in July).  

 

   Words cannot express how proud I am of these youth! In the past couple of months they have stepped into leadership roles teaching Sunday school and are doing such a great job! I am so proud of their beautiful hearts, willingness to serve, and joy each Sunday morning. They are incredible and I’m proud of work alongside them!! 

 

 

    This month we had a team of fathers and sons come work with us. Seriously it was one of the sweetest teams that I’ve worked with. I loved to see the relationship betweens these dads and their boys and to see their boys have their eyes open to so much during their week in Nicaragua. I would love to see more parents take their kids with them on the mission field. 

 

    I was glad to have the opportunity to spend time with my wonderful friends in Leon after a month away. Spending time with the Ruizes is always so refreshing to my heart! We had dinners together, long chats to catch up on life, and dance parties in the rain at the beach with the littlest ones (pictured above). I’m so thankful for this family and their friendship! 

 

    We were beyond blessed to spend a couple of days at beautiful Montelimar for our staff retreat. It’s such a beautiful relaxing place. I loved sitting by the pool, reading, hanging out with our New Song family, eating all that we could, seeing Freedom’s first time in the pool, and dancing. We had so much fun! I loved hanging out with everyone and having a couple days just to relax. It was much-needed this month. 

 

 

    Bonus: Outside of my ministry time this month, I had the joy and the honor to travel to Charleston, SC for Lindsay and Henry’s wedding. Linds and I came to Nicaragua at the same time and she lived her my first 5 months in Candelaria. She has become one of my best friends. Linds loves people deeply, dives constantly into truth, exudes peace, and listens so well to people’s hearts. I am so thankful for our 6+ years of friendship and am so excited for her and Henry as they start their lives together. The ceremony was so joyful and Christ-centered. I loved watching them commit their lives to one another and to wholeheartedly following after Jesus. Such beautiful covenant! It was also such a joy to spend several days before the wedding with Linds and her closest friends. We found such uplifting community together in those few days. It was such a gift to my heart to be a part of this incredible week!