March Highlights (Photo Blog)

   One of the biggest events in March was New Song Mission’s 9 year Anniversary celebration. We had a service with people from Candelaria, Santa Matilde, La Isla, and Nuevo Amanecer. It was a wonderful time to celebrate together all that the Lord has done here in Nicaragua! It was a night filled with dancing, worship, dedications, baptism, and celebration. I even got to dance a reggatone dance with the youth (it was so difficult to learn in only 3 days, but I love dancing with them!) I am so thankful to be a part of the Lord’s work here in Candelaria!

   As part of our anniversary celebration, Dennis came forward to be baptized. Dennis lives in Nuevo Amanecer. He comes from a gang background and is the first of the guys that are being discipled in Nuevo Amanecer to really get on firm footing with the Lord (To read the beginnings of this ministry, read Riots, Gangs, the Church, & Redemption). It was so special to be able to be there for his baptism and to pray over his walk with the Lord. Dennis has become an active part of our youth, is so hungry for the Lord, has such a humble spirit, and desires to serve the Lord with all of his heart. He has seen what his life is like without the Lord and now knows that true life can only be found in Jesus. The day after his baptism, Dennis was so happy that he couldn’t stop singing. When I asked him why he was so happy he said, “Li it’s like the pastor said when he was baptizing me that they were burying the old Dennis and raising up the new Dennis. I’m a new person and I’m excited about it!”

   As a part of my work with our Adopt-a-Student program, I have started offering tutoring sessions and English classes to several of our young children. I want to do everything I can to see these children complete school and have hope for a better future. I realized even with the help of the Adopt-a-Student sponsors, many of our kids are still struggling in their classes. I knew that I could put my education to use to help meet this need. So, I have starting tutoring four different kids (2 in math and 2 in English). I am enjoying feeling like a teacher again and getting to offer classes to these precious kiddos (like Israel- pictured right)! I’m still looking for about 90 more sponsors for my kids here. If you would like to become a sponsor, please email me at [email protected] and I will get you set up with a child who needs your help.

   Barbara was preparing to make her first trip back to the States after 4 1/2 months here in Nicaragua. Dennis said that he wanted to be able to celebrate with her before she left so we made plans to go to the park just the three of us on her last night in the village. We had such a good time laughing and talking, eating icecream and burgers in the park, and getting to hear a little more of his story and desire to serve the Lord.

  My favorite weekend getaway was spending a weekend at the lagoon near Granada with the New Song team (plus Ashley and Jake Willingham). We had the best time lounging in the water around the lagoon, planning for our upcoming youth retreat, having girl time, grilling out, relaxing, and talking about life and the Lord. I also love to go a visit the lagoon. It’s such a place of beauty and peace! It was a wonderful place to spend time together as a group and to be able to plan for the retreat. The next morning we had breakfast together before taking Barb to the airport for her trip home. Then the rest of us spent the afternoon hanging out in Managua eating at my favorite cafe (pictured left), having more girl time as Ashley and I took Kenia to have her first pedicure, and then went out for a movie and pizza together as a group. Oh, how I love days off with my New Song community!

   One of my biggest personal blessings has been to have Ashley and Jake Willingham visiting us for two weeks. Ashley and Jake worked with us for 5 months last year (January-May 2010). I don’t know if I can even explain how excited I am to have the two of them back in Candelaria for awhile. I was so close to them when they were here last year and have missed them so much! They were amazing community and support for me while they were here and have continued to be via skype and internet. It has been such a blessing to sit and have coffee with them each morning (only missing you Lindsay for a complete french press club reunion), to minister alongside them, and to have tons of time just talking with Ashley about what has been going on in our hearts and lives (Ashley and I pictured right). I love Ashley’s hugs, hearing Jake pray, coffee chats with both of them, seeing their love for the Lord and for our youth!
 
   We finished out the month of March with a youth retreat in Matagalpa. We took 23 of our youth to the mountains for a time of worship, adventure, and learning to walk in purity. We taught on healthy relationships, waiting on the Lord, and walking in purity before Him. We saw these teenagers receive inner healing in the Lord’s presence and fall more and more in love with Him. We saw teenagers dancing and weeping before the Lord and ministering to one another in prayer. I was completely blown away by the way the Lord showed up and moved among our youth!
   To read more specific stories about our retreat, check out my other blog posts:

1. Youth Retreat Recap
2. Anointed
3. Transformation is Underway
 

Bonus Photos (Food Treats)
   Many people know that berries are my most-missed food here in Nicaragua. They are nearly impossible to find here (and if you can find them they are outrageously expensive and usually not very good). One afternoon, Barb made a trip to Chinandega to run some errands. She returned with a pack of strawberries for me. They were delicious! Her gift made me feel so loved!