Back Home

After a great week in Santa Maria, Nicaragua, we arrived home safely very early on Sunday morning (1 AM).  Thankfully, we all made it back healthy and with great joy in being able to serve the Lord for the past 7 or so days.  We truly can not measure the success or impact of our work, but we trust that God used us in His service.  Therefore, we give thanks!

I am very grateful for the team and their tireless efforts day after day.  From the early risers to the last moments awake, Verbo Church was a hub of activity.  Mornings were full of VBS preparations, visiting with friends, and constructing a new building to protect the church water pump.  Afternoons, mostly interrupted with rain this year,  we focused on the Vacation Bible School for the kids.  This year's camp brought about 100 kids daily.  This was a good number of kids allowing us to have more impact with them during the teaching portion of the camp.  We also had both men's and women's Bible studies, which were well attended, and had the most engagement of any previous years.  It was a great blessing to see so many folks listening, learning and responding.

Evenings were dinner, some team meeting time and fellowship with the team and our hosts.  All in all, another great week in Santa Maria.  We are now settling back into our normal USA routines, however, we miss our friends and family in Nicaragua.  May the Lord continue to bless and protect them, and may He continue to grow his kingdom in Nicaragua.

Texas!

We arrived safely at the Manuagua airport and are waiting for our flight out. Houston at 4:30 Central Time.

Poolside

Greetings all!  Thanks Sue for keeping this updated.  I am finally back to a computer here in the Hilton in Managua.  It was a great week, some of which was captured in the entries posted earlier today and earlier this week.  We are thrilled that you have been a part of this ministry with us!  What continues to be so striking to me is how the people of the community, in the midst of such poverty, keep on going.  Not only that, they are so incredibly welcoming to us.  Smiles on faces, hugs, tearful goodbyes, phone calls after we left just to say hi, are just some of what we are blessed with in return.  As always, to God be the glory!  We look forward to sharing more with you once we get back home.

A few thoughts from Mark

After talking with Chris for the update, Mark then shared some of his impressions. While I will attempt to get some of his thoughts down, I know that hearing them from him will give everyone a fuller picture.
1. He did not have a full appreciation for all the work and planning that goes into making the week successful until spending this time there in Santa Maria.
2. He was impressed with the maturity and unity that the team showed as they worked together. (Way to go team!)
3. He was unaware as to how entwined St John's is in the culture of Santa Maria - in fact he doesn't think that the team even knows how entwined.
4. He appreciates the chance to see people from St John's in ways that would not happen in the states: sleepy, sweaty, simply not caring how they look, etc

There is more, but I will save the rest for him to share.

Safe travels team - we are praying you home!!!!

Rest time in Managua

As I write this, the team has been poolside at the Hilton in Managua. The best part about being in the pool is that the chlorine is the catalyst for cleaning out the dirty toenails after a week in Santa Maria. What a blessing that everyone made it through the week without illness.

The last day in Santa Maria was another good one. VBS had to begin a little late due to the rain storm, and the lesson was a hit. Ann Smullen creatively taught the story of Jesus resurrection using an egg carton with items in each section representing Jesus life. The last section was empty representing the resurrection. The kids really seemed to get it. Of course, the last day involved the very important water balloon fight.

Men's bible study seemed more like a youth group meeting as many of the attendees were young, the youngest being 14. And the most unlikely thing happened - the men actually participated in the conversation. This is a very different scenario from years past. Part of the differnce may have been due to Butch's teaching methods and part may have been because Pastor Jose gave the following advise: Look them in the eye as if you expect an answer when you ask a question, then they will respond.

Fair well time is always a hard time. Thursday night the team was invited to share a few words and many did. There is usually a time of hugging and crying. This morning, there were many to see the crew off around 8:30. For the team it is a time of conflicting feelings as they don't want to leave, but they are anxious to return to their families. (And take a hot showere and sleep in their own beds. :)

Today is our last morning in Santa Maria. Mixed emotions as we are happy to come home to family and the comforts of home, but sad to leave our family here. God blessed our week!

All is still well

Chris texted that all is still well. There were about 110 kids in VBS yesterday. The rain pattern is different this year because it is coming before VBS rather than after. The project is going well and the food has been good.

This message came from Debbie through Sandy. Everyone is still feeling fine (thanks be to God). Yesterday there were 100 (could you guys on the team get your numbers correct? :) kids at VBS with more expected today. Erich the translator fell through his cot due to dry rot – time for some new ones I’m afraid. Mark is having a ball and in his glory watching his parishioners actively engaging in missions firsthand.

Tuesday - 95 kids at VBS

The word is that everyone is still fine. Great progess is being made on the work project. They hope to have the roof completed today.

95 children came to the VBS while it rained. As a result of the rain song-time and skit time were held in-doors. After the rain stopped, they could go back outside for games and crafts. As always, everyone enjoyed doing the crafts. Lazarus is the next lesson they are preparing for and it sounds as if the skit will be a real hoot as Mark acts out a dying Lazarus.

The cloud cover is helping to keep the hot sun at bay. And each night they are enjoying compline.

Monday

Everyone is healthy. Yesterday the power went out (so what else is new), and then at night they had a huge thunderstorm. A lot of people from Verbo church were still there waiting out the storm, but the team were tired and hot and besides, the lights were out, so they all went to bed.

The men started the project on the well out in the fields. VBS is ready to go; all the crafts are finished for the first two days. There is a new wrinkle: another organization has provided money to Verbo church to fund providing lunches to the school children. The ladies of the church come out to cook during the mornings, and they get a meal too. They serve 90 children. The first group was to come at 1 today, and then there’s a second group of children to attend in the afternoon (or vice versa, not clear on this). So VBS won’t get started until 2 at least.

Lauren speaks fluent Spanish and is being a great help. The kids love her.

The organization who donated the lunch money also donated a freezer! The team took along Spatini spaghetti sauce mix, so yesterday they had spaghetti and sauce for lunch. It was a wonderful treat for the team; several of the Nicas liked it a lot, but Pastor Jose wouldn’t eat it – said it would not agree with his digestive system :). They made so much pasta that for dinner they had spaghetti and rice.

It's HOT today!!!! Service this am good - lots of kids. Lunch today spaghetti - a new treat for the team. All is well. Rest of day will be Bible camp preparation.

The Team Arrived

The team has safely made it to Santa Maria and besides being hot everyone is doing well. Their first meal consisted of Fried Chicken, French Fries, Rice, Pico de Gallo, and drinks - pretty much an American meal. I guess the beans will come tomorrow. Tonight they are winding down with a team meeting and looking forward to heading for bed. We all hope that the roosters don't keep everyone up all night. Have a good night team!

Morning in Granada

An early morning wake-up here today in Casa San Francisco in Granada.  So far the team's fights are showing up on time, so we expect them to be at the airport around 11 AM.  We will be leaving Granada around 10 AM to meet them, as well as one of our translators, Erick.  Erick has been working with our team now for 5 years and we are glad to have him helping out this year.  This morning we will have breakfast here at the small hotel, then visit town for a few minutes, then head out.  Thanks for your continued prayers!  We have seen God working already for us here in Nicaragua.  Pray for our trip back to the village today, and for our time in Santa Maria.

Arrival in Granada

Cliff and I have arrived this AM in Granada for our overnight here.  Cliff plans to meet up with some of his friends from his time in language school here last summer.  We are looking forward to a relaxing evening here in Granada.  The ride in was fine, except for one little issue to ask Cliff about.  It was about a 3 hour drive from Santa Maria.  Just about time for a quick swim in the pool here, then some time to walk around town.  We are looking forward to the team's arrival tomorrow and are happy that all is prepared for them.  There are a few surprises in store or the team when they arrive!  Good ones!  Greetings to all from Nicaragua.

There is still electricity and life is good

On this first day in Santa Maria, the morning was filled with all the mundane things of getting ready for the team to come like making menus, purchasing building supplies and water, and meeting the US ambassador to Nicaragu. Yep, the ambassador just happened to be at the restaurant in Corinto having lunch. Chris and Cliff got to meet both him and his wife. The normal afternoon rain storm came through and everyone was happy that the electricity was still working. Enthusiasm is high as they continue to get ready for the team and reconnect with our friends in Santa Maria

Our first morning in Santa Maria. Its nice to hear the roosters again! As always the bus picking up workers in the community honks its horn at 4 AM. Breakfast is being prepared. Today we head to the markets for supplies, set up the cots, and plan the week. We thank God for our safe travels and arrival.

Chris and Cliff Arrive Safely in Santa Maria

At 7 pm tonight (Wednesday), Chris texted that he and Cliff had arrived at Verbo Church in Santa Maria. We give thanks for a safe journey!

Arrived in Houston and met up with Cliff. We are on our way!

Pre-trip Team Dinner

Just a couple of days now until our team departs for Nicaragua.  Cliff and I depart Wednesday to get everything ready for the team arrival on Saturday.  The team met one last time for dinner last night.  As is custom, we brought all the Bible Camp supplies to the dinner so we can separate them out for people to take in their luggage (getting things to Nicaragua is all by hand).  We were once again fortunate to have the members of our church help us out Sunday after the service with preparing craft kits for some of the crafts.  They graciously cut and cut and cut....  Many thanks and we welcome your engagement in the ministry.

It sure seems as if this trip has approached more rapidly this year.  With God's help, we will have been able to prepare everything down to the smallest detail.  To all our prayer partners and members of the church, please keep us in your prayers as we travel and as we serve our Lord in Nicaragua.  It is very easy for us to forget that we need God's protection and blessing in this ministry as we begin our 6th visit to Santa Maria.

Psalm 121

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

2 Weeks and Couting

Final preparations are underway for the team as we are now two weeks away from the advance team deaprture.  A lot of things still need to be completed, and we are working hard to get them done.  Please continue to pray for the last minute wokr that needs to get done.

Unfortunately, we are down one member on our team, as Bruce Buckley will not be joining us this year as he is waiting some test results as a kidney doner.  Please keep him in your prayers during this process.  We will miss Mr. Bruce!

Thanks again for your prayers and support.  Looking forward to providing more updates as we draw closer to our mission trip.