May you have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year. Feliz Navidad y feliz año nuevo! (Not sure what happened, maybe I blinked, but 2015 is almost over.)
FUND RAISING: 2015 YEAR-IN-REVIEW
Gave 6 Church Presentations
Called/Emailed/Spoke with many families, individuals, and pastors
Currently at 47.7%
-1 church (monthly giving)
-12 supporting individuals/families (monthly giving)
-17 one-time givers (including gifts from 4 other churches)
To clarify, all the money that comes in goes directly into a “holding tank” account set up by my mission agency. None of this money will be released until I’m actually ready to leave for Nicaragua. So every $ given is saved for the work in Nicaragua. None of it is being used while I’m here in the US (except a small fee each month the agency uses to cover its costs of processing the payments coming in).
Looking forward to God providing through people the remaining 52.3% so I can leave for Nicaragua!!! As soon as I reach 100% I’ll get clearance to go! My time is in His Hands and He will accomplish it!
NICARAGUA NEWS:
This weekend will be a busy weekend in San Juan del Sur. Tonight the church group is holding a Christmas Banquet. Pray that people in the community will come and God will be glorified
A special Christmas service will be held Sunday morning with music and a drama. In the afternoon 4 people are getting baptized outside on the new property (in that renovated freezer I mentioned last time). These 4 individuals want the whole community to know that they have decided to follow Jesus. Pray that this event would touch people’s hearts and be a good way to connect further with the community.
JESSICA NEWS:
Don’t know about you but this mild autumn/winter we are experiencing in CT is wonderful! After a very hot summer in Central America, I’ve come to like warm weather and put on a sweater when the temps drop below 60 (WHAT!!! Yes, I’ve become Nicaraguan-ized ;-)
“Let’s just pick-up and go” you say? Sure why not! The first weekend of December I was able to do a whirl-wind trip to Raleigh, NC for a quick visit with 4 of the missionaries to Nicaragua (They are with the same agency; I met them on my first trip to Nicaragua in 2014). What a great time it was talking with them and hearing the latest news about what is happening back there. They had many helpful tips and suggestions for now and for when I arrive. For example: “Like going to camp: Bring your own sheets & towels.” “Don’t worry about kitchen stuff, you can get it all there.” Loved singing Christmas songs with this bunch. So special!
CHRISTMAS:
A poem/song I heard recently stated:
If you want to love someone
Search their soul for where it's broken
Find the cracks and pour your heart in
If you want to love someone . . .
Somehow You had a way of seeing
Just how deep my wound could go
Oh but You were never scared
To run and meet me there
And that's how I know (~Andy Gullahorn & Jason Gray, 2015)
Yes that is part of Christmas, that Jesus came because He loved us and so He could heal the brokenness in our lives caused by sin (our own & other people’s sin). And He calls us to follow Him and reaching out to share this good news with others who are broken. When I used to volunteer with YoungLife, the group leader liked to say “Wow, at Christmas, Jesus put skin on and moved into our neighborhood!”
Recently God opened a few unique opportunities (even downright weird) to share about Jesus with people at my gym and at my work. Pray that they would keep thinking about what we talked about.
Thankful for all 176 of you that receive these updates and pray for me and Nicaragua. God bless you abundantly and guide you through the coming year. Viva 2016!
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor & glory forever and ever. Amen.” I Timothy 1:17