October ’15 Highlights (Photo Blog)

   Thankfully this month we FINALLY started to get some good rains. It still hasn’t been nearly enough to make up for the lack of rain the last several months, but it has been wonderful to finally see some rains. This is a huge answer to prayer. (Our street pictured above after one of our afternoon rains). 

 

    One of my favorite moments from this month was working at the Abide land with some of my incredible youth (pictured above). These teens had been to see my land with Cadence and when they saw that the grass needed to be cut. They asked me if we could go up there on Saturday at 7 a.m. and cut the grass. I don’t know many teenagers who will VOLUNTEER to go work early on a Saturday morning, but these kids have pretty incredible hearts! I’m really blessed to work with such kind-hearted teenagers. And to just make community life even more sweet, one of my soon-to-be neighbors came over and helped as well teaching the kids how to better wield a machete and ended up cutting about half the yard himself. 

 

    As we have started into the last grading period of the school year, it has been exciting to see how many of our faithful tutoring students have grown this past year. We are so proud of these beautiful kids and all of their hard work! 

 

    At the end of this month, sweet Katalin Adaya celebrated her fourth birthday (pictured above on her birthday). This little girl has such a special place in my heart. Four years ago her mom gave me the honor of naming her little girl. Katalin Adaya means pure treasure of God. Katalin is such a treasure! This month I really loved having so much time with this beautiful little love visiting her for her birthday, playing with her, and sitting on the corner laughing and cuddling with her. I love this girl so much! I just keep praying for more and more opportunities to love her and to pour into her life. 

 

    This month, Marlon showed up in Candelaria after a four year stint in prison. The Lord has been pursuing this kid for YEARS. I first met him when he was 13 years old in 2008. My World Race team had such a crazy relationship with him. We met him when he robbed our home for the month, then became friends, threw him his first birthday party ever, and watched the Lord calling out to him. For years, I have been praying for Marlon to choose the freedom and abundant life that Jesus offers him. For years I have watched him walk farther and farther from the Lord. While in prison, Marlon attempted to take his own life, but the Lord rescued him. I know that the Lord has a powerful destiny for Marlon. The Lord has once again been moving on Marlon’s heart. He seems ready to give his heart completely to Jesus. I am praying that he will really choose to give himself to the Lord and to walk in complete freedom and healing. It was beautiful to see Dimas, a new member of our church who gave his life to Jesus and was radically transformed and set free from addiction, reaching out to Marlon. He shared truth with him, opened his home to Marlon, and prayed over him. I love to watch transformation and love pour forth from hearts overflowing with the Holy Spirit. 

 

   This month our staff spent a few days in the mountains of Matagalpa (pictured above) having prayer and planning for the next year of ministry. We started every morning with worship, set goals and planned for this next year of ministry, closed each session by praying over a member of our staff, and then spent the evenings hanging out together and even going salsa dancing one night. I love being a part of a family here that seeks the Lord, laughs, and plays together. I am forever thankful to be a part of this community here. 

 

    We were so blessed to have Don Don come and visit with us again. We always love the opportunity to have Don here helping with water, visiting with his sponsored kids, and just being such a blessing to our staff. Don, Marty, Lisa, and Dan spent a week working with us in Nicaragua. We loved visiting and traveling with them. They were also such a blessing to the kids they sponsor and their families. 

 

    At the end of the month, we said goodbye to McCall after her two month internship with us. McCall is such a joy and we loved having her here these last two months. She helped tutor our elementary school kids, built relationships with the teenager girls, and loved on her sweet Santa Matilde girls (pictured above).