October Highlights (Photo Blog)

     To find out more about this time of need, read my blog “Feeding the Hungry” 

   Also at the beginning of October I was able to celebrate with my friend Andres for his 16th birthday. I really love this kid like he’s my little brother!! His birthday is particularly special to me because he is one of the kids I was closest to on my very first trip to Candelaria (read my blog from that trip: Raising Up Powerful Men) and I was also able to celebrate with him last year when I was here with my family (read: Reaching Past the Facades). I love getting to celebrate who he is and that I have been able to walk along side him and see what the Lord has done in his life over the past three years.

    Tommy has been in the States most of this month speaking at churches, fundraising for the mission, and visiting family. With Tommy out of the country, Linda has been staying in Candelaria much more often. We’ve definitely missed having Tommy here, but I have really enjoyed having so much extra time with Linda. We’ve had a great time hanging out, doing yoga, praying together, and talking about everything. She’s such an amazing woman of God and has really been pouring into my life in so many incredible ways. So thankful that the Lord has given me such a wonderful mentor and friend here in Nicaragua!

    I’ve loved seeing the pastors coming around the ex-gang members from Marvin and continuing to disciple them. With Tommy in the States, I didn’t know if they would continue coming to the church but they have been here every week (even riding their bikes to the church when Linda wasn’t able to pick them up in the truck) and the local pastors have continued to go to Marvin every Wednesday to disciple these young men.

   We have also been continuing several building projects here on the land. We are building an extra room on our house so that we will have a dorm room for guys as well as girls. We have also been finishing the tile on our church’s stage, and beginning construction on our bakery. We have more projects planned for next month. Continue to pray for all the new things the Lord is beginning here.

   I have loved seeing the youth really to give back in the community. All of the university students who are receiving sponsorship for school are required to do at least 10 hours of service in the church or community. It’s been amazing to see as these teenagers use the passions and giftings to serve the church. Jose has been using his teacher training to teach adult literacy classes in Candelaria and Santa Matilda. Jovanny and Kenia have been teaching dance classes to the young boys and girls in Candelaria. Others have helped with cleaning, volunteered in the clinic, provided tutoring for elementary school students, and helped planning events for the women’s service. Most of the youth have been going above and beyond what is asked of them doing between 25-30 hours of service. I love watching them use their gifts to serve the church and the community!

    This month I have been able to spend a lot of time with the absolutely precious children in Candelaria. One afternoon all six of these little ones (pictured left) came running to me screaming “LISA!” as I came out of the house and all wrapped their arms around me. We spent all afternoon running around the church, laughing, playing and giving each other huge hugs. They started telling me that I now have six children. Love my time with the children!!

    The Lord has been purifying my heart in a lot of really beautiful and much-needed ways this month. He has been exposing a lot of my selfishness and teaching me to love more. I love this picture because it really captures so much of my life! The Lord is teaching me to continue loving with the same consistency when my kids are mad at me and when they aren’t talking to me. I’m starting to see the youth trust my love for them more and see them beginning to communicate their feelings more openly. The Lord is teaching me to love in ways that are difficult. Honestly, there are days that I don’t want to love when it’s hard. There are days that I want to take the easy way out and just ignore those who aren’t talking to me, but as I love the Lord keeps pouring more and more of His love into my life. It’s something that I can only do when I’m abiding in His love and the Holy Spirit is loving others through me. Read more about God’s work in my heart in this blog My Journey: Walking in the Way of the Cross

    We took a New Song trip to the mountains of Matagalpa (pictured left). It was my favorite days off of the month! Linda, Diego, Kenia and I had an amazing time exploring Selva Negra, spending time in my favorite coffee shop drinking delicious cappuccinos (pictured right), worshipping and praying together, and just enjoyed being together. I love getting a chance to travel with our New Song staff and to really be refreshed and recharged together. Seriously, I felt like this entire weekend was moment after moment of Jesus showing me how much He loves me! There were so many small gifts to my heart including hot showers, time with Jesus in my favorite coffee shop, the beauty of the Nicaraguan mountains and rainforests, and even seeing a tree on the way home with three bright red leaves just like it was changing colors for fall. My Jesus really loves me!!  To read another amazing moment of God’s faithful provision from this weekend read Mountains, Mishaps & Mechanics: A Story of God’s Faithfulness.