In Costa Rica!

I arrived in Costa Rica yesterday afternoon and will be here 10 days. Here are just a few photos from the windows of the house I'm staying at and also of Valeria (daughter of Mayra and Guillermo) and I at the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border crossing. I hope to get many more Costa Rica pictures and share them with you! :)

 

 

 

 

Bible Club at Genezaret

Much of the ministry we are involved is connected to Bible Clubs that local churches host and the Word of Life missionaries train leaders and oversee the activities. It touches lives of many youth who would normally not attend church. Discipleship is also a main pillar of Word of Life's ministry in the local church. Missionaries teach youth how to teach others. Here are some pictures from one of our most recent activities. If you want to see the pictures in a bigger format just click twice on the slideshow and it will make it bigger.

Visiting an orphanage

Yesterday we went to an orphanage with the youth from a church called Encuentro con Cristo. It's a really nice orphanage and the children were so happy to have us. We played some games, sang some songs, and shared with them about the salvation and forgiveness that we have in Jesus. You can also view the album under my album links on the side. :)

Some pictures!

Well, I have uploaded some new photos. If you want to see them just go to "Photo Albums" on the right and click on "First Days in Nicaragua." It will take you to a picasa sight and then click on slideshow to see them as a slideshow. I'm sure there's a better way to do this but it's what I've got for now! If there's a better way please reply and let me know. I think you can embed slideshows. Actually, I'm going to try that right now and see how it goes!

First days in Nicaragua

I hope it comes out okay! Hope you enjoy!

I'm in Nicaragua!

It feels really good to be in Nicaragua! This is my 5th trip here and it feels very familiar. I don't feel like a stranger in a foreign land anymore. It's a place I love to be and I want to take in all of it and enjoy it to the fullest.

I arrived mid afternoon yesterday and I'm staying at Mayra and Guillermo's house. They are the ministry coordinators for Word of Life Nicaragua. Their family, Mayra's parents who are in town visiting from Costa Rica, Jader, and I all had traditional Nicaraguan food at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, they dropped Jader and I off to help with a Bible Club at a church called "Encuentro con Cristo." I believe Bible Clubs will be the main focus of my ministry time here. Here's how it works, from what I understand...There are missionaries (Jader, Guillermo's family, and I'm helping out too), the missionaries partner with local churches who are interested in doing Bible Clubs. The churches then pick 2-8 young adult leaders, or they volunteer and these leaders are trained/discipled by the missionaries to put on the club at their church. The young adult leaders then publicize about the Bible Club program and invite lots of friends to come to the weekly Bible Club.

The young adult leaders are in charge of the program and they teach Bible lessons, organize ice breakers, play games and sing worship songs. Also, a major component is daily Bible reading and scripture memorization. Those who participate in the Bible Club have a journal with scripture to read daily and a verse to memorize each week. The leaders serve as accountability for the youth to help them grow in spiritual disciplines. Missionaries disciple leaders and club leaders disciple those who attend the Bible Club.

There is so much more to Word of Life ministry than Bible Clubs but his is what I know the most about right now. They also do outreach activities. I believe this week we will go with youth from Encuentro con Cristo and visit an orphanage. I know these outreaches are a major component to Word of Life as well. There's a lot for me to learn and that's why I'm here to get to know this ministry and discern if it's what I'm called to do full time.

I didn't take any pictures last night at the Bible Club but I'll try and take some next time I got to one so you all can see what it's like.

So, that's about all I've got for now! I'll be keeping you posted!

Beautiful verses:

"I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:7-8

The Land of Milk and Honey

I like to refer to my parents house as the land of milk and honey. It's a neat place of refuge and refreshing. As you can see, they have a beautiful pool that is surrounded by nature. We live in the Woodlands so there are trees everywhere. Also, when I come home we get take-out from restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, Carabbas, PF Changs, you name it! My previous Living Hope roomies can attest that I live on a diet of rice and beans, which I actually love! To me beans are almost as good as chocolate! Anyways, a little take-out Italian or Chinese cuisine is a great treat. :) I didn't grow up in the Woodlands. My parents moved here after I went off to college. It's really begun to grow on me. I've enjoyed having these days to relax and reflect as I transition from the busy life of a teacher to being a missionary in Nicaragua. God is good and I'm so thankful for the sweet blessings!

 

 

 

Nicaragua Videos from last summer

I found this video that Adam Williams had made from our summer trip last year. Here's the short version: (3 minutes)



And here's the long version: (7 minutes)



On my upcoming trip to Nicaragua I will be working with an organization called Word of Life so I'll be doing a different type of ministry than what I did last summer. This time I'll be working primarily in the capital city of Managua. I'm excited to share my experiences with you! I'll be leaving one week from tomorrow!

Cute Seth!

Well, I have been spending lots of time with family lately. I'm trying to make the most of the time I have here before heading out to Nicaragua. My mom and I went to Austin and stayed with my sister, her husband, and my new nephew Seth. Here are some pictures of Seth and a link to a Kodak album with more pictures.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=defiv9p.8a42ewol&Uy=-6fv70x&Ux=0&UV=234635600245_193691155605