Newsletters - Sep 2010
Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua
Evangelism Through Relationships
Halle and Kathy August, Missionaries
amen@alongsideministries.org
(Please note: Our email address has changed.)
www.alongsideministries.org
September 2010
Dear Friends,
This time of year typically calms down a bit for us as the attentions of teams up in the states are focused on the start of a new school year and the holiday season close on its heels. For us that means a time to focus our attention on the maintenance and nitty gritty needs of the ministry - doing those things that get put off but are so important to keeping El Salero, El Farito and the ministry programs running smoothly. Halle keeps busy maintaining the sports center and hosting a growing number of groups that use El Salero for meetings, mini-retreats and recreation. Just keeping the grass mowed between uses is a trick in itself. We are so thankful for our maintenance assistant/gardener/guard, Jairo, who has become a great asset in keeping El Salero running smoothly and looking good.
As you all are saying goodbye to those warm summer days and transitioning into fall we’re still in the middle of our rainy season, and what a rainy season it has been. It is by far the rainiest season we’ve experienced in our 8 years down here and if you ask anyone around it is the rainiest season they can ever remember. Sadly, the rain has some quite devastating effects – both immediate and long term. There have been a record number of deaths related to the rain and flooding, landslides that have destroyed homes and communities, our dirt roads have become impassable in some areas and the highways are already showing signs of water damage with growing potholes and erosion. Another hard felt effect of the rain is the damage to the crops – particularly the frijoles, one of the staples of the diet, which are suffering and not producing well right now. Historically October is the rainiest month of the season but the thought of it getting worse is hard to imagine. We’ve had a little damage to one of our walls/fences here at El Salero but that is nothing compared to some of the retaining walls that are collapsing in some of the neighboring communities. We may be focusing some of our ministry funds and efforts to helping to restore walls and roads where it is needed most. The difficulty is not only deciding where to start helping but also where to stop as our funds and work force are so limited in comparison to the need. Please be in prayer for this situation – that the rains will subside, that lives will be safe, that the damage will be minimal and for our decisions regarding where to focus our ministry efforts.
Despite the rain we still see a daily crowd here at El Salero. The library and computer lab continue to be busy places that attract children and youth every day. Our new library addition, though not quite complete with bookshelves and furnishings, is being used every week for English classes taught by Manna Project volunteers. As we get new shelving units built, an accordion wall installed, and a few more tables and chairs purchased we’ll be able to ease the cramped quarters in the existing library and serve even more of the community who are interested in using this facility.
While our team season (May through August) was a little sparser than we hoped the teams that came down to minister with and to us were awesome! The last team we hosted in August was from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California. This was a special team not only because they represented Amanda Gutierrez’s home church but they also represented a renewal of our relationship with them through visiting teams. This team was smaller than originally planned and they came close to cancelling but we know, and I think they will agree, that the team that ended up coming was made up of exactly the people God wanted involved with us at this time. While they were here they hosted a wonderful youth night, using their creativity to overcome the communication gap with great skits and sign testimonials that were very effective. The female half of this team joined us for the first ever “Community Girl’s Night” and it, too, was a great success. For a while, now, God has been encouraging Amanda to reach out to some of the girls of the community and she has tried a few different ideas but nothing has really clicked until now. We were encouraged with the first, girl’s night – even though there were only a dozen or so in attendance, that this type of meeting was desired and met with enthusiasm. We have hosted a second monthly meeting with another on the calendar for October and it seems to be a good format for our abilities and schedules. Please pray for these young gals (some of them mothers already) that we would be able to meet their emotional and spiritual needs through our friendship and message of salvation.
Speaking of teams, we are excited about those who are making plans to bring a team down here in 2011. We have 5 teams scheduled (some tentatively) at this time but wouldn’t mind seeing that number double. Please be praying for those who are making plans to bring a team down – that they would be seeking God’s exact plan regarding who will be joining their team and how they will be involved in ministry. Pray also for those who are being nudged by the Holy Spirit to lead or join a team – that they would respond to God’s will with obedience.
As always, we want to thank you for your continuing support through your friendship, prayers and finances. You are very important to us – your prayers and email correspondences are encouraging. They remind us that while our lives are in many ways so far apart we are also very closely connected because of our common and shared faith. We will continue to hold you all in our prayers as you do the same for us.
Prayer Reminders
The rain in Nicaragua: the rains will subside, that lives will be safe, that the damage will be minimal and for our decisions regarding where to focus our ministry efforts.
Youth Night for both the guys and gals here at the sport center: that we would be able to meet their emotional and spiritual needs through our friendship and message of salvation.
Short term mission team plans for 2011: that they would be seeking God’s exact plan regarding who will be joining their team and how they will be involved in ministry; that they would respond to God’s will with obedience.
The guidance and work of the Holy Spirit in and through us as we continually seek His will in ministry: that we would keep walking the path laid out before us that is His will and His plan and not one of our own making.
Healing of Halle’s shoulder: he aggravated his shoulder making a strange shot in basketball and then went on to dig out mud, pick up and move 120+ lb stones, prune trees and haul branches. It is painful and restricting. Please pray that it would heal without any need for medical assistance.
God Bless.
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 |