September ’15 Highlights (Photo Blog)

   I can’t believe that another month has flown by! This year is passing so quickly. Here are the highlights from this past month of life and ministry: 

    In September, Nicaragua and Central America celebrate their independence. It is a month long celebration here and so many of our students participate in parades where they are honored as top students and where they celebrate their nation’s independence. I love to see how excited our kids are and to support them in the marching band and as top students. We are so proud of them!  

 

    This month we’ve started going to Saturday morning baseball games. New Song’s league will actually kick off in January, but all the teams have been doing scrimmage games this past month. I love watching all of our kids from different villages play against each other. They love baseball and it’s so fun to watch them play. Jeff is doing a great job building this new ministry from the ground up. 

 

 

    At the beginning of the month, I got to celebrate Gisselle’s quincenera. I love to celebrate alongside my girls as they reach this milestone in their lives. This beautiful young lady holds a special place in my heart. A couple years ago when her mom left for Costa Rica to work, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Gisselle and really pour into and mentor her. It was so wonderful to celebrate alongside of her.

 

  

    Our friends Ben and Sheena own an incredible ice cream shop in Matagalpa. This month they opened another shop in Leon. It was wonderful to be able to be there for the opening day and celebrate with our friends from different cities around Nicaragua and to help take care of their kids for the day. I really love building an extended community here. Plus, it’s a great treat to have the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten closer to home. 

 

 

    In the past month, Rosita has stepped into leadership in youth group alongside Sandra, Cadence, and myself. We are so proud of her! I love to see her getting out of her comfort zone and stepping into leading games and teaching youth. This girl is so anointed and there is such power in her words. I love to see her stepping up and sharing her heart and wisdom with the youth. She has the ability to speak into these youth so well because she understands their situations. She has walked with the Lord and has allowed him to speak into her and to empower and uphold her. Rosita has the power to help other youth figure out how to walk with the Lord is real ways in the midst of their situations. I am incredibly proud of her! She has a powerful destiny and I am so excited to see her walk in it. 

 

    Near the end of the month, McCall’s parents came to visit her and treated us to a weekend at a resort in Mechapa. I loved getting to visit a new place in Nicaragua, to be at this beautiful beach and enjoy a weekend away with these lovely folks. We had the best time running around the beach at night crab hunting, kayaking through the mangroves, watching an incredible storm, and playing in the waves. This weekend was such a gift to us. Thank you Stiles family!