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Newsletters
Jun 2010 |
Newsletters - May 2004Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua Dear Friends, Some of these letters come rolling right off the computer without hardly a hitch – that’s when I know God is doing the writing and my fingers are just the tools. Other times I struggle. How do I write an encouraging and uplifting letter when I feel neither encouraged or uplifted? It’s just one of those times when the “stuff” of life can overwhelm the reality. So, in a defensive move against the attack of discouragement we’d like to focus this letter on our purpose in ministry – Evangelism Through Relationships. That’s our bi-line and we want to share some of our relationships with you not only so that you might join us in prayer for these relationships but also that we would be reminded to overlook some of the “stuff” and focus on the people. Ministry Center Relationships
Lately it seems there’s been a little bit of tension in the relationship. We really don’t know what it is about and asking just gets a shrug of the shoulders and a slight smile. We are guessing that there might be some jealousy going on as the feeding program has become a little more independent and Kathy has developed a network of helpers to assist with preschool and the feeding program. Juana and her daughters have continued to cook for us each Tuesday while other neighborhood moms cook on the other days. This has allowed the other mothers, whose children have been receiving lunch from us for over a year now, to give back to this ministry and not to just receive a hand-out. We think it is great and is just how we think this ministry should evolve but we’re afraid there are some hurt feelings along the way. Please pray that our relationship with Juana, her 87 year old father (our ministry center grounds helper), and her daughters will continue to be open and honest and positive. We have really grown to love them so much that we don’t want any misunderstandings or rumors to cause a riff in our relationship. The Sports Center El Salero – The Salt Shaker
Work at the sports center is not for gringos only however. We were recently blessed by a group of young folks from a church here in Nicaragua who came out for a day of hard work clearing the soccer field of nasty, spiny plants, weeds and small trees. We enjoyed fellowship with them over a delicious lunch and they spent a little time in the afternoon playing soccer at the baseball field. It was a little foretaste of the relationships that will come about in the future over the shared interest in sports. Please pray for those future relationships – God knows just who He is preparing for us to meet – and for the fruit that may result. Thank you so much for your prayer support. As we write these requests we can visualize some of you whom we know pray for us in a serious way. We know these requests and those that only God knows are lifted up by the prayer warriors among you and we lift up our prayers of thanks for you all as well. Other Ministry and Financial Needs Sports center property Sports center development Serving Together, Thank you for supporting our ministry in Nicaragua. Eastside Development |
Jesenia is a dear friend. We’ve written about her before. She is Kathy’s assistant at the preschool and a wonderful liaison in the Cedro Galan neighborhood. Please pray for Kathy’s relationship with her as they work together day to day. Jesenia is full of energy and ideas but it seems that it is getting easier and easier for her to ask for things which puts a strain on the friendship. With such a close knit neighborhood it could result in many problems if we were to help out or give Jesenia things that we wouldn’t normally give to everyone. It puts us in an uncomfortable position. Please lift this situation up in your prayers. 
For over a year now the feeding program has been going strong and so much of the thanks for our success goes to Juana and her daughters. They were the mainstay of the program when we started as they cooked out of their own kitchen while we served the children seated in their porch area. Juana was a help and encouragement as Kathy learned about the different meal options and how to shop for each meal. Their willingness to serve their community in this way was what allowed us to pursue our ministry endeavors and ultimately build the ministry center in their neighborhood. 
The development of the sports center is turning out to be a project rich in relationship building opportunities. In these beginning stages of development it seems that most of the relationships are with other Americans who are giving their time, money and talents to come down and invest some sweat equity in El Salero. We have enjoyed meeting with the founding members of Manna Project International, post grads who are anxious to make a difference in their own lives by making a difference in the lives of some Nicaraguans. They will be moving down this way in September and some of them will likely be involved in the sports center in one way or another. Please pray for these relationships, and for the other groups and individuals that are scheduled to spend time with us, that our focus remains outward as we work and play and grow together for the glory of the Lord and that we don’t get focused on ourselves and the trivial difficulties that “group living” can sometimes cause.