Newsletters - Feb 2007
Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua
Evangelism Through Relationships
Halle and Kathy August, Missionaries
amen@ibw.com.ni
www.alongsideministries.org
Feb 2007
(See Pictures attached)
Dear Friends,
Yea!!!! I’m writing this from an almost dust-free room in our home. Why is it almost dust-free and why is that such a big deal? Evidently you’ve never visited us in January, February, March, April or May. If you had you’d know that those months are the heart of the dry season and the dry season down here means beautiful blue skies studded by whispy clouds, an almost constant stiff breeze and . . . DUST!!! We live in a rather small home that has rather large windows and when we moved in we didn’t install glass windows – just screens. That’s just fine for 7 months out of the year but in the dry season everything, and I mean everything, is coated with dust all the time. However, just recently, in memory of his suffering through several seasons of dust, our son, Brookes, took it upon himself to go before our home church and request their help to purchase windows for our home. Not surprising, they responded with an outpouring of love, and cash, and provided us with what was needed for windows plus a little extra which helped with some very costly car repairs. Thank you so much Woodinville Community United Methodist Church. I’ll think of you every time I sit in a chair and not have to wipe it off first or am able to leave the dishes to dry in the sink without having to wash them again before putting them away or can leave papers out on the desk without having them finely coated with dust… thank you!!!
What’s Happening at El Farito Ministry Center
Just last week we started back into the routine of preschool and feeding program. With these programs back in full swing the ministry center is a busy place. All together a dozen different classes or programs are offered for the community at El Farito. These include classes for adults such as beginning, intermediate and advanced English classes, women’s exercise class, and a business class. For children we offer a boy’s Bible study and classes in reading, math, drama, art, library and preschool with the feeding program still drawing a crowd of 60-70 children each Tuesday and Thursday. Besides preschool and feeding program these classes are provided by the young folks that are involved with Manna Project International. (www.mannaproject.org) They provide the energy and manpower that it takes to help spread the light of El Farito (The Little Lighthouse) to the community of Cedro Galan.
We are continually looking to improve our programs and facilities and it is with great thanks to the money raised from our Nica Night event in December and an additional gift from a St. Paul team member that we were able to install a water tank and finish off our counter tops with tile before this year got started. The water tank means we will nearly always have water for drinking, washing hands, cooking, washing dishes and brushing teeth. We’ve also received a donation of a washing machine that we’re planning to install to wash towels and to use with the community as well. The tile on the countertops means cleaner and more sanitary cooking conditions. Our cooks do a great job preparing lunches and now they can do an even better job of cleaning up. Thanks again to our supporters!
What’s Happening with the El Farito Scholarship Program
Recently one of our little scholarship recipients, Laurita, a first grader this year, was talking with her mom about her aspirations for the future. She told her mom that she was going to get a good job and that she wanted to work with computers. She hoped she would get a job that would pay really well and she said she would give some of her money to help her parents. She went on for several minutes with her thoughts and ideas for her future. She paused for a moment obviously in thought. Then she asked, “The president gets paid a lot of money, doesn’t he?”
We believe the future of Nicaragua is in the children and youth. We are privileged to work with them. We want to give them a hope for a better and brighter future that includes Jesus Christ! Who knows… one of them just may become president some day!!
Our seven scholarship recipients are well settled in school and seem to love it. I want to say thank you so much to two additional supporters that have chosen to sponsor two more of our students. With their support I know we’ve got the funds to see us through the year! Thank you!
The first day of school was a delight. What a treat it was to share in all the joys of starting school. The children were pure enthusiasm. They were all cleaned up and looked so sharp in their new uniforms, shoes and backpacks. They are no different that our children in the states – the first day of school is a big deal. I hope you can see some of the joy and exuberance in their faces.
What’s Happening at El Salero Community/Sports Center
The St. Paul United Methodist Church team recently ran a 3-day sports camp for the community children and it was a great success. The children drilled and practiced various skills in basketball, baseball and soccer and were able to participate in a small tourney of games. Throughout the camp you could hear team cheers such as “For Him!” and “Glory to God!” as the theme that was taught was that all is for the glory of God – even sports! It was great fun!
The new library is nearing completion with the roof now installed and the window security bars and metal gate being fabricated. This will be a lending library and many of our neighbors are looking forward to being able to check out a book and take it home with them. Our first library quickly became overcrowded after the installation of the donated eight desktop computers and all the kids that wanted to learn on them. When this new library is finished, we’ll have two buildings, one for the computers and one for the library. We are very grateful for the extra room!
Thanks to many helpful hands, we’ve also dug another long ditch in dry, hard packed soil for another water line. This has helped quite a bit in increasing our water pressure for our watering needs. Though we can’t possibly water the soccer field and baseball field, we can keep some smaller areas somewhat green, keep some plants from withering away in the dry heat and also keep the dust down just a bit.
Though not really part of the sports center, we are excited just the same about some other construction just behind the sports center land. That is the nearly completed home of our dear friends Amanda and Thomas, who work closely with us. It will be wonderful to have them living so close to us.
A Backward Glance at January
Last month we enjoyed hosting a team from the St. Paul United Methodist church in State College, Pennsylvania. These folks started visiting Nicaragua several years ago when Amanda was still working with Christ for the City ministries. When Amanda joined us here at the sports center the St. Paul team followed and has now been working with us for the past 3 years. They brought with them lots of energy and lots of love. They ran a 3-day sports camp in the afternoons after working around the sports center in the mornings. A couple of the ladies were quilters and brought down a sewing machine and materials for making quilts. They just needed a willing student. Well they found one in our maid, Laura. Each morning for an hour and a half or so Laura, Lisa and Barb would work together, teaching and learning despite the language barrier, and by the end of the week Laura had completed her quilt. She took it home on Friday to finish tying it and then Lisa and Barb and several others from the team went to visit Laura at her home on Saturday to see the finished product. It was beautiful. Laura was all smiles as she proudly showed what she had accomplished. Her smiling eyes quickly filled with tears of joy and amazement when Lisa and Barb gave her the sewing machine that she had been using during the week. Laura couldn’t believe it. That is a huge gift that has great money-making potential for Laura. Earlier in the year Laura had told me about a sewing machine that she had wanted to buy but when she went to purchase it it had already been sold. Now look what a blessing God has brought her way! Since the team has left Laura has received a couple orders for quilts and has made some shorts for her daughter. It will be fun to watch as her skill and confidence grows and that perhaps a small business will grow, too.
Please Pray…
- for Friday night youth group – this month pray for Alvaro – one of the teens in the group.
- for our friend Jessenia and her family. She just had her fourth baby and doesn’t live in very easy conditions.
- for the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue Family team due to arrive on Feb. 16th..
- for Kathy’s health. At the sending of this letter she’s been sick for 3 days.
Please Praise…
- for the additional scholarship donations.
- for a smooth start to preschool and feeding program.
- for the funds to buy windows for our home!
- for each and everyone of you that are a part of this ministry
Serving Together,
Halle and Kathy August
AMEN
Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua
Thank you for supporting our ministry in Nicaragua.
Your gifts, sent to Eastside Development (formally The NEO Foundation),
will be used for our general ministry activities or wherever you designate.
Eastside Development
PO Box 301471
Portland, OR 97294 |