Bienvenidos a Nicaragua
It was two years ago that I sat on a quiet bench in the cool of the morning. Tim was by my side, coffee in hand. The mission camp was sleeping, save for the birds calling loudly to one another somewhere above us in the tropical trees. The sun was not high enough for us to hide our vulnerable skin.
Those around us had been preparing to return home, talking amongst themselves their readiness to leave. I said it quietly, as if a secret, "Am I the only one who isn't ready to go?" He smiled warmly in his thoughtfulness before he shared, "If it wasn't for our girls waiting for us at home, I could stay here."
And to place it before you simply, we did.
The past two weeks have felt like the sum of short lived days, traveling by in a blur. We wake with the sun, and lie down when it slumbers. And in all the moments between we live a life that we have never known before.
God's grace is present in all of this living. Right next door reside Tim and Chris Bagwell, our wonderful friends and ministry partners. They have welcomed us, sheltered us, fed us, taught us, laughed with us, and loved us. I can't imagine trying to put a life together here without them, and they do it freely.
Our children are adjusting far better than I could have hoped for. They have all met sweet friends living nearby, and enjoyed the company and experience of visiting mission teams. In less than two weeks they will head off to school, while Tim and I begin lessons with a Spanish tutor and continue to grow our knowledge of New Life Nicaragua's ministry.
We have felt your prayers surrounding us. In the small moments, in the stressful moments, in the exhausting moments, in the fearful moments, and in the wonderfully beautiful moments, God is there reminding us that we are not alone. He uses his people. He is using the body of Christ to express his great love for us. We are grateful for your kindness and generosity, for your words of concern and encouragement, for your friendships and for your prayers. We are humbled. And we thank you.
Those around us had been preparing to return home, talking amongst themselves their readiness to leave. I said it quietly, as if a secret, "Am I the only one who isn't ready to go?" He smiled warmly in his thoughtfulness before he shared, "If it wasn't for our girls waiting for us at home, I could stay here."
And to place it before you simply, we did.
The past two weeks have felt like the sum of short lived days, traveling by in a blur. We wake with the sun, and lie down when it slumbers. And in all the moments between we live a life that we have never known before.
God's grace is present in all of this living. Right next door reside Tim and Chris Bagwell, our wonderful friends and ministry partners. They have welcomed us, sheltered us, fed us, taught us, laughed with us, and loved us. I can't imagine trying to put a life together here without them, and they do it freely.
Our children are adjusting far better than I could have hoped for. They have all met sweet friends living nearby, and enjoyed the company and experience of visiting mission teams. In less than two weeks they will head off to school, while Tim and I begin lessons with a Spanish tutor and continue to grow our knowledge of New Life Nicaragua's ministry.
We have felt your prayers surrounding us. In the small moments, in the stressful moments, in the exhausting moments, in the fearful moments, and in the wonderfully beautiful moments, God is there reminding us that we are not alone. He uses his people. He is using the body of Christ to express his great love for us. We are grateful for your kindness and generosity, for your words of concern and encouragement, for your friendships and for your prayers. We are humbled. And we thank you.
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