Newsletters - Nov 2011
A.M.E.N.
Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua
Halle and Kathy August, Missionaries
amen@alongsideministries.org
www.alongsideministries.org
November 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
We are working to get everything finished up, closed up and organized here at Alongside Ministries so we can head north for our annual Christmas vacation with our family. This is a favorite time of year for us as we both enjoy a respite from life here in Nicaragua and especially enjoy time with our sons, daughter-in-law and those beautiful granddaughters. We’re already on the calendar to babysit for a weekend! Can’t wait!
Before we head out one of the important things on our list is to fill you in on our latest ministry activities. This fall was busier than usual with three teams in October and November. The first two teams were small teams but they still accomplished plenty and they were an encouragement to us as well. The first team from the Wenatchee/Leavenworth area of Washington state unfortunately chose the rainiest week of the year to come. I think they returned to Washington as rusty as they arrived (That’s what happens to Washingtonians, right? They rust instead of tan???) but they didn’t leave without making a difference here. They painted and did odd jobs around our ministry center, finishing up some of those tasks that just need a little more attention to be finished. They also worked and played up at another facility, House of Hope, which houses women and children coming out of a life of prostitution. They tiled the floor of a room and spent some precious time giving attention to the children who often are neglected. They found a sunny afternoon to go to the zoo and ordered in pizza one evening. Such a treat!! All in all they were blessed as they blessed the community at House of Hope. Thank you Joey, Donley and Sue!
The beginning of November brought another team of three men associated with a professional baseball ministry called Unlimited Potential in Christ. In the short time they were here these men attended local baseball games, arranged special practice sessions with some of the men’s teams and ran baseball clinics for some of the youth of our community. While baseball may be the source of their livelihood it is not the source of their life. You can’t spend five minutes with them without becoming completely convinced of the importance of Jesus Christ in their lives. They shared Jesus through their actions and activities with the Nicaraguans and also with their words. They hosted a community youth night where they each gave a powerful testimony and were also the guest speakers at Verbo, a local Nicaraguan church. One of the lines I heard from Mickey, a former professional baseball pitcher, a figure that everyone looks up to, was, “If you see anything good in me… it is Jesus Christ.” For all the “good” that we associate with someone who has really made it in the professional world – he gives all the glory to Christ. This the absolute knowledge that we all need to have along with the boldness to proclaim it whether from the pulpit or in our workplace. The good in me is Jesus!! Amen!
The last team of 2011 was from our home state of Washington. It was the first time for many of these team members from Eastlake Christian Church in Bothell. They brought a variety of giftings to share with us and the community around Alongside Ministries. They hosted a youth night and a game night, shared crafts with the preschool children as well as about 40 other children at the feeding program, and brought down a couple of sewing machines to add to our small collection and directed sewing classes where the women (and one man) made a large tote bag and a skirt. They painted in the kitchen/café at the baseball stadium and some dug out a French drain that had filled with dirt. Through it all they ended the day with smiles of satisfaction that they had faced the challenges of life in a third-world country and had survived to tell about it. We feel like we have a new group of friends in the Eastlake church body and are hoping to see them down here again sometime in the future.
While some programs and activities may change next year, the Alongside Ministries scholarship program will continue with all 33 students enrolled in grades K-6. Thank you so much to the many of you who have agreed to support a student for the 2012 school year. We have all but six students individually sponsored. It’s never too late to help send one of our preschool graduates on to Covanic, a quality Christian school in the preschool neighborhood. If you’re unable to provide a full year’s tuition ($500) any gift given and specified for the scholarship program will help us cover the cost of those remaining six students.
Are you ready for some yummy holiday treats? You can satisfy your holiday sweet tooth and support our scholarship program at the same time by attending Nica Night: A Nibble of Nicaragua and Gourmet Dessert Auction. You are invited to join us on the evening of December 10 from 6:00 – 8:00 at the Woodinville Community United Methodist Church in Woodinville, WA. We’ll serve a light supper of typical Nicaraguan food and will start the dessert auction around 7:00. Even if you can’t join us for the entire evening please stop by for a nibble and a hug. We can’t wait to see you again!
Prayer Requests
Please pray for…
…the safety of our home and property while we are in the states. We pay for added security while we’re gone and we have a young man staying in our home for part of the time but it’s the time of year when robberies escalate. Please pray that we are safe from these intrusions.
…the sports center/community center as it will continue to operate under the supervision of one of our employees.
…Kathy’s friends Jessenia and Arlen who have received a small loan and are going to try their hand at developing a small business selling food starting in December.
…a good friend, Julie, who is battling Lupis and especially the immediate problem with kidney failure, dialysis and/or kidney replacement.
Once again, Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for YOU and your friendship and support.
And in case we don’t see you, Merry Christmas!
May you revel in the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we celebrate His birth!
Always a privilege to be serving together,
Halle and Kathy August
Missionaries
Alongside Ministries in Nicaragua
All donations given to our ministry will be used for current ministry needs or will be applied to the specific ministry you designate.
please send your donations clearly marked
“For Halle and Kathy August” and “The Scholarship Program” To:
Eastside Development
PO Box 301471
Portland, Oregon 97294 |