Newsletters - Jul 2004
Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua
Evangelism Through Relationships
Halle and Kathy August, Missionaries
amen@ibw.com.ni
www.alongsideministries.org
Jul 2004
Dear Friends,
It has been a couple of months since we last wrote. Our lives down here continue to be like the greatest roller coaster ride you can imagine – filled with anticipation, excitement, anxiety, fear, relief, laughter and fun.
Anxiety, Fear, and Relief . . .
Remember that rear end accident we were involved in last March? Just a quick reminder – we were rear ended when a car hit another car which had stopped behind us on the highway. At the time Halle was deemed responsible and threatened with an overnight stay in jail. It didn’t come to that at the time but it wasn’t until just about 3 weeks ago that we finally heard a final judgment on this accident. Halle was absolved of any guilt and the driver of the 3rd car was found guilty, fined C $100 (about $7) and sentenced to a year in prison. Needless to say we were very relieved not only to have this exiting chapter come to a close but to also be free from the fearful anxiety of wondering if justice would prevail here in Nicaragua where it often seems that justice is illusive.
Kathy has a new assistant/teacher who has come alongside of her at the preschool. Margarita, a member of Manto de Gracia – the Nicaraguan church that we attend on Sunday evenings, has agreed to help out in this ministry and will be doing some of the teaching for the remainder of the school year. She is an answer to Kathy’s prayers in many ways. She brings to this program, along with her gentle, quiet spirit, an understanding of preschool education and an ability to provide the children with the skills they will need for entering 1st grade. In addition her presence at the preschool will allow Kathy some freedom to be involved in some other teaching opportunities and to begin planning for the possibility of a second preschool in another nearby neighborhood. This is a good time to thank those of you who have donated school supplies, toys and books for the children down here. Because of the on-going donations we are able to think about supporting a second preschool. Please be in prayer with us that we would discern God’s will and purpose for us in this area and that God would bring the right people alongside of Kathy to carry some of the responsibility of teaching while she steps into more of a director/facilitator type of position.
Anticipation…
For several months we have been anticipating these summer months with visiting teams. We’ve been praying, planning and preparing - - -
Our first visitors landed in Nicaragua on Wednesday, June 16th. Brian, Tim and Daniel Beldner along with their friend John – all from Missouri are here to work and support us in a variety of ways. We’ve been looking forward to and preparing for their visit for a long time. The dorm was just about complete and waiting for them when they arrived. We’re still working through a few plumbing glitches and have a little interior painting yet to finish but it is still livable and comfortable.
These guests are just the first of several groups that will be coming and going this summer and God has been so good to provide us with the funds necessary to put them all to work. We anticipate that we will be able to complete the soccer field, a perimeter fence and possibly start on a basketball court before the summer is over. El Salero Sports Center is beginning to take shape. We pray that God will continue to bless this endeavor with supporters – both financial and physical, so that it can be used for His glory – to develop relationships with the youth in and around this area and to share joy of living for Him.
Excitement, Laughter, Fun…
Definitely one of the most fun parts of our life down here is the enjoyment we receive working with the people God has brought our way. While we miss Brandon and Britton, our two oldest sons who live in Washington, God has filled our lives with young adults to ease some of our yearning for a complete family. In addition to the 3 Beldner brothers and their friends we will also be hosting Brian DeHaan (baseball player who visited last summer) and one of his high school students, a team of 4 high school graduates visiting both Costa Rica and Nicaragua through Christ for the City International ministries, a team of 9 from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and, a recent last minute addition, Brianna Durham, a home church friend and recent college graduate. Our days are filled with hard work but, as any of you know who have worked on or with teams, they are also filled with fun and laughter. We enjoy our serious and silly conversations around the dinner table and the crazy card games in the evenings.
All in all we have about 25 young adults coming and going in the next 4 weeks – that includes, somewhere in there, saying goodbye to Brookes as he heads to the northwest for a short vacation. We want to say thank you again to those of you who were able to help out with Brookes’ camp and airfare costs for this summer. He is very excited to travel alone for the first time (Yikes!), to see and spend time with his brothers and to attend 2nd Wind Camp with the youth group from our home church. We’ll have him share his stories when he returns .
All Aboard . . .
So, have you been waiting in line for the roller coaster ride long enough? Tired of that serpentine line that keeps you meeting up with the same people over and over while what you really want is to get on the ride and feel the anticipation of chugging up the first hill and the exhilaration of that first big plunge? Please continue to join us through your prayers and support but also give some thought to joining us here as part of a team or on an individual or family basis. Our doors are open to you!
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 |