Day 5

This is Kenny Robin, my kid from the school.  Kenny is very quiet, shy and reserved, but has a great smile and demeanor.  He and I played tic-tac-toe for quite a while.  :-)

- VBS in the school

- prayer walk and pictures

- Club Esperanza

- in the park again

Yesterday was a day of true connections.  I feel like it may have been a turning point in our trip and we were all quite different after yesterday.

We went back to the Imagine ministries school for another VBS with the kids, but this time it was quite different.  We couldn't find our skit papers or prop, we had already sung the songs about 4 or 5 times with them aleady and we were looking for other things to do with them as crafts or fun as well.  Well, isnt that just about when God shows up? :-)  I think so, and yes, He did.  We decided to take a shot at doing the skit as more of an improv and from memory. It went better than we could have imagined and the Gospel was preached afterwards.  Makenzie Baldwin even brought one of the kids to me to tell me that he had prayed the prayer at the end after the gospel message!  He was so young and sweet - please pray that his heart grows in Christ through this ministry here!

One of the projects that Terry Brandon planned for us was to bring photos of many of the kids from last year, make multiple copies and give them out so that we have a copy, the kids have a copy and the school has a copy.  This was a wonderful idea!  These families have little no money and therefore have no real opportunity to get photos of themselves or their families.  The kids LOVED seeing themselves and many of the families looked at their pictures quite intently when the children went home later.

Ater the pictures were passed out we spit all the kids up into gruops with some of our team and a translator.  We then walked to the house of the kids (about 4 houses per team), introduced ourselves, dropped the kids off and prayed with each family.  This was a huge stretching moment for many of the kids.  Some of them had never really prayed in public, some hadn't worked with a translator before and some of the teams were even invited inside the houses of the families.  It was a very personal and deep connection time with the groups. I have to brag because my son was one of the first kids to pray at a house.  He had no example to follow and I'm not certain he had used a translator before, but he prayed with them he said it was 'really cool'.  :-)

Coburn also took us to Club Esperanza.  This is a full-fledged school (also under Open Hearts Ministries like Imagine Ministries)  built for the local area in Managua where many people were dislocated when the government shut down the dump in town.  It serves abotu 275 children in a school with a 2-meal-a-day feeding program through Orphan Network as well.  Each child can be fed for a month for about $9 (check it out online!)  This school and ministry is the absolute perfect example of something that was started as a ministry, trained to be run by Nicaraguans and now is fully in the hands of Godly Nicaraguans and is going strong.  Pray for their ministry, their funding and daily strength!

Of course we went to the park again. :-)  What is better than playing with the dis we know every day?  Soccer, chalk drawing, see-saw, swings, or just hanging out in the shade.  It's one of the best ways to get to know the kids more all the time.

So, it wasn't a hard labor day like the others, but it's mid-week and many of are starting to wear down a bit.Staying focused just to love any kid that comes by can be wearing.  We appreciate and feel your prayers.  Please continue to pray that:

- M'Cheyne fully heals (he is feeling about 50% better and can move a lot more now)

- We can keep moving, helping and loving even as we get tired

- We can find the "right" things to do each day and do them well

- That God would prepare all of our hearts for Ruby's House (our prayer day together on Friday)

Que Dios les bendiga con la vida abundante!  Que Dios les dan oraciones fuertes para nuestro grupoy por sus familias.  Y que la Palabra de Dios se queda adentro de tus corazones y mentes.

Day 4

- 2 more VBS

- paving stones, gardens and dirt, oh my!

- weeding and getting it done!

- with the pastor

- to the park

I can't tell you how great it is to see how our team has come together.  The skits get better, the songs get louder, the hugs get stronger.  It's wonderful.

Today was VBS day again.  We were able to do two VBS sessions, one with the kids from the new church again and one with the afternoon group of kids that attend Imagine Ministres school.  It is so adorable to see the group of little preschoolers.  They are so precious.  It's hard to think that these clean, nicely dressed, well-groomed kids are living in a dusty, dirty, poverty-racked town.  I appreiate the care, time and effort that someone took to make them look so nice.  It obviously shows that many of these parents are grateful for this opportunity for their children and support the education.

It was a BIG work day today too.  There were  few teams of kids and adults that especially stuck out today too.  My son, Matthew and Noah worked harder than I've ever seen them work, for hours, putting in paving stones into the new sod as a walkway.  Just FYI, each paver is about 50-60 pounds, large and round.  This was hard, dirty work and they never complained once.  On the other side of the school was the garden.  Connor and Lexi never stopped until what was at first a gravel and dirt patch was, at the end, a beautiful garden with a red brick border, nice dirt, brand new pants and even a cute caterpillar decoration.  I'll take a picture of all this today.

I have to also mention about weeding.  One of the things that can be frustrating here is when a project gets started, but cant be finished in the time we are here.  Well, Laura, with the help of some others as well, finished the weeding!!  The back garden looks so good!  And, it is so satisfying to see something completed.  Yea!

The pastor of the new church also came by for our VBS time in the afternoon. The thing that stuck out to me was his voice.  It had power in it.  When he spoke the children listened. His smile lit up the room.  His heart for the Word was there.  It was great to feel like we really were "coming alongside" the work the he is doing here.

We also went back to the park for a bit.  Some guitar playing, chalk drawing and fun with the kids.  I have to be honest and say this is why I think the kids remember us.  We spend a lot of time with them.  We know their names and they know our names.  We have watche them grow over the past three years.  We love them, pray for them and care for them.  We've shed tears for them.  Our hearts are truly with them.

Things are going well.  But, we always need your prayers:

- M'Cheyne still hurts very badly.  He can still hardly move.  Very frustrating for him.

- a couple kids got worn ut in the heat yesterday.  Prayers for continued energy.

- this is usually the point in the trip where we start to wear down, the first excitement is gone and things get 'real'.  Pray that we would love 10x as strong for the rest of the week

- some of our BEP kids are getting to the age of working out their own salvation.  Pray that this trip would allow them to do so and that God would speak to them

Hasta manyana.  Nuestros corazones estan con ustedes y no pudemos esperar cuentar les todo lo que ha pasado aqui esta semana!

Ciao!

Day 3

- Heat sickness

- muscle problems

- renovations

- at the new church

- back in the park

- throwing clay

Well, you may have noiced a delay in posting yesterday.  That would be for two reasons.  One, we were having internet issues here at the compound in the morning and I was unable to upload everything.  Two - I got heat exhaustion and was in bed most of the time when we got back from Los Brasiles.  Yeah  :-(

So, the bummer is that I got mild heat sickness.  Totally drained in energy, headache, mild chills, etc.  It wasn't pleasant.  The pain in the neck was that I didn't feel like I had done anything to warrant it.  And, of course, it kept me from helping out with the physical work today.  I ended up laying on cement doing nothing for about 4 hours.  There were some cool things that came out of it though.  I was able to just lay on the ground and hang with Tito, Victor and some other kids.  Since I was immobile they could just come find me, sit on me and hang out.  That was kind of fun.  The second thing is that toward the end of the day the group decided to go back to the park, do a mini VBS, sing and play with the kids for about two hours.  Terry asked me if I was able to do it, I said I doubt it.  But, I hopped in the truck and prayed on the way, Lord, I need 30 more minutes of energy to get me through today.".  And yes, He gave it to me.  We had a wonderful time.

The other issue we have had was M'Cheyne woke up with a horrible muscle "crick" in his neck and shoulder.  It got progressively worse throughout the day to the point that he could hardly move.  Numerous people worked on him to try and help (ask Maddie about rubbins).  He and I were both on the concrete yesterday.  He still hurts pretty bad today.  Please pray that it would loosen up so that he doesnt have to spend another day on the side lines.  It's miserable watching other people work and not being able to help.

Renovations at Imagine ministry happened today too.  Coburn is putting in some sod and pavers fo walking in the back of the club. This meant clearing weeds, dirt, rocks, leveling it, edging it, dumping top soil and gettign it ready.  The whole team worked really hard.  No complaining, no grumbling.  It was tough work, but everyone got it done.  And yes, there is more work to be done today.

There is a new church in Los Brasiles.  The pastor that came has set up a brand new structure in town.  It has about 8 benches and a raised platform and small podium.  He is running a feeding program out of this church as well and I think he is feeding lunch to abut 80 kids 3 times a week.  Now THAT is how you meet a need.  It was great to go to the church, do a VBS with 30-40 kids in a 12x20 space, love on them and be a part of this new minstry that is happening.

SO many of the kids are being pulled out of their shells this week.  It might be by doing skits or having to interact more with others or play with kids that don't speak their language, but they are growing.  It happens every time and it is so wonderful to see.

Like I mentioned earlier, toward the end of our work day we went back to the park. (This is teh park where we started building the cement soccer court)  It's still there, freshly painted wih metal goal structures and everything.  Kids were playing on it all the time.)  We had another VBS, Luis played with bubbles, Hope helped translate (one of the Buzbee daughters). It can be tough to get people excited and animated in the heat of the day, but we had a lot of fun with them.

Lastly, we got to see Katie's new pottery room.  She has a small throwing wheel and sink installed now and should have the kiln next week.  She is so excited to get this 5 year ministry and plan off the ground.  The idea is to train, in 3-5 years a handful of Nicaragun women to do pottery for sale here and in the U.S.  Katie is very talented and has a huge heart to help build sustainable income for families.  Helping women here learn skills can be a backbone to rebuilding broken families and helping them move forward instead of being stuck in the same frsutrating poverty forever.  Please pray that God would help Katie (and her soon to be husband) in this ministry!

Well, that'sabout it for today (yesterday).  Just FYI, it's morning the net day and I feel a lot better.  I think I'll be good as long as I'm careful in the sun. So, please pray for:

- continued energy and health for everyone

- for M'Cheyne and his hurting neck and shoulder

- for our patience and flexibility as we figure out what we are going to be doing each day

- for the full-time missionaries and summer interns that are here long-term doing this work every day

- that our VBS at the school today with about 80 kids would be fun, exciting and loving with the whole team

Thanks to everyone who has suported all of us this week financially, in prayers, or both.  You are with us in all of this!!

Day 2

- Feeling the passion and energy of other Christians worshipping God 

- Frying my own brain translating Spanish

- yummy food

- Tito, Victor, the kids and our friends

- VBS preparation

- the team gets closer

- great team time in music and sharing

Going to church down here is one of the best things that hapens all week.  For some it's a reminder of their own times of worship in tha past.  For others it's new and exciting.  But, for everyone, it's an amazing reminder that we all serve the same God and that we can worship in many, many styles and still be in front of the same God.I think it's always a little eye opening for many team members to see such passion during church and it's great for many to see emotion so boldly.  The sermon was about making choices and taking responsibility.  They used a translator which was wonderful and the whole team was able to follow along.  My own brain was fried though because I tried hard to stay wth the Spanish and I would short circuit any time he said I word I didn't know.  Even still, it was great.

The food here is great.  Seriously, Maria, the compound cook, has a tip jar she is so good.Chicken and rice, nachos, eggs racheros, it's all good.  A fe of the kids are going back for plate after plate of the food.  :-)  It may be a small thing, but having good food and not having to worry about being offered something that you might not like, but still have to eat is a blessing.

OK, this may be the best part of the trip for me.  If not, I can't WAIT to see what God is going to do.  We went to Los Brasiles today!  It was so wonderful to be in the town again.  see the familiar streets and buildings.  To drive in, knowing that we were going to be with many of the kids and adults that we have come to love so far.  We get to a new section of town that we will be working in and walk through.  Terry and I notice some beautiful flowers growing in teh yard of one of the residents.  We walk over, introduce ourselves and have a nice chat about them.  She is so proud of the flowers and seems to know a lot about most of them.  It's amazing to see the poverty that this woman is living in and yet see how great pride and care she gives to these beautful flowers.  It feels like a shaking of fists against the circumstances and an iron will to see love and beauty in the midst of a hard place.  So beautiful.  We finally make it over to the building for Imagine Ministries.  It's freshly painted, new wall around back, GRASS in the back yard, and renovated rooms in the main building.  There is no need to ask if God is still doing His work here or blessing this ministry.  It continues to grow meet needs, help children eat and be fed physically, emotionally and spiritually.

OK - so.....

I am sitting on a makeshift workbench beside one of the walls talking with one of the interns about everything when I hear someone say, "Hey, there's Tito and Victor.".  Now, you have to understand, it's been a year since I've been here and I've only been here three times so far.  I turn to see them coming, about 15 yards away.  I hop up and open my arms to see if anything wil happen.

Tito cocks his head as if thinking.  I figure he kind of recognizes me and might come give me a hug or high five.

Something clicks and loud enough to be heard outside the walls Tito yells Mateooooooooo!!!!  (my Spanish name), runs and jumps into my arms.  Victor is two steps behind and jumps up as well.  I am now hugging my two precious little boys again.  They won't let go.  I am being hugged so tight - the way I want to hug everyone I come in contact with.  God is so good to give me this moment.  I pray these times down here will be more than just fun.  I pray the love that Tito an Victor feel will propel them forward.  They ARE in school (public).  This is huge because Tito and Victor have been in and out of Imagine Ministries school numerous times because they just stop working.  Please pray that they stay in school.  An education will make ALL the difference for them here.  And, if they really are staying in school, that may mean that little Tito (11) and Victor (7) are truly growing and maturing.  I can't imagine it is anything less than the input of hundreds of people into their lives.

The skits and Bible verses for VBS came together today.  It was funy and funny.  Kids acting out the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son.Awkward, embarrasing moments, messed up translations, giggling all around.  The kids will LOVE it!

It always happens.  Sometimes early in the trip, sometimes later.  This year it 'seems' to be happening early.  Our group, as a whole, is starting to gel together. I pray this continues because I always feel that this is where others can see our love for each other.  What we say down here is hear far less than what we do.  Telling the story of the prodigal son may be interesting of funny and may even make sense to some of the kids, but seeing a bunch of the team laughing together, hugging, playing and loving each other - yeah - thats something desirable that we can really talk about.

Every night we have a time of music and sharing.  I loved that everyone wanted to do more songs last night.  You could probably have heard us singing for half a mile from up here on top of the building (where we meet at night).  Interestingly enough, the unplanned theme of the music seemed to be around God's love.  Go figure.  I love how God orchestrates things to work in specific ways for specific people. The singsing was great.  The sharing was open and wonderful. M'Cheyne alsways asks "What good things did you see today", "How were you stretched outside of your own comfort zone today?" and "How did you see God work today?" I think the whole group shared in one way or another.  Everyone is engaged. How could good things NOT happen when everyone is engage and wants to share and be a part of what is happening??

There may be more stuff, but breakfast is coming and I'm hungry.  :-)  Please pray for:

- M'Cheyne.  He tweaked his neck sleeping last night and is pretty bad pain this morning.

- our kids.  Day two or three is where they get tired and today is our first work day.

- our own hearts.  That we would stay engaged beyond just "doing the work" and look for how God is moving today.

- eventually someone on the team is going to rub someone else the wrong way.  Pray it gets resolved quickly, lovingly and has a good impact at the end.

- the kids and adults of Los Brasiles.  We are here to build relationships and help out along the way.  We want to come back with names, stories and prayers for everyone we meet.

Day 1

- the kids were exhausted

- Moises is running a coffee shop here on the compound

- The national day of revolution party is tomorrow here in Managua

- We had the biggest rainstorm I've seen down here yet - thunder, lightning, awesome

- George is still an angry monkey ;-)

We're here!  Everyone couldn't be more excited!  99.9% of the travel went off without a hitch.  Pam's bag didn't make it, but it came on the next flight, so everyone is good.  It's so good to be back here again.  The upper room for worship, the huge rancho for games and meals, the Buzbee's.It felt like coming back to a second home.  I haven't seen Mike yet or heard the shofar, but I assume it's coming.  ;-)  He blows it every morning like a war trumpet!  Very cool.

Just FYI, I write each morning for the day we just had, so there is always a lag in info.

Yesterday was "get settled" day. Everyone had a great time around the compound.  During our nightly debrief time there were a few stories about the travel, being tired, meeting a few people and enjoying the rain.  I think everyone is excited to jump in and do stuff.

Today is Sunday and we will go to the local church.  I CANNOT WAIT.  I love getting my Spanish back in gear, singing in Spanish and listening in Spanish to see how much of the sermon I can understand.  It's such a great church, wonderful worship and wonderful preaching.  After that I think we are going to go out to Los Brasiles (the town where we will be working). We will get the lay of th land and see people we know - a few of us ARE VERY EXCITED.

So, I will try and kee you all up to date as we go.  Please pray with us and for us for the following:

- pray that the world of these kids would get BIGGER as they spend their time down here

- pray that we all see the needs tht are here and jup in to help anytime, anywhere

- some of us are still getting over being sick.  Please pray for health

- many of us didn't sleep great, please pray fr good rest and energy

- pray that we will be bold enough to talk to people we don't know and make new friends

- pray that the word of God would be strong and effective today in church

We leave tomorrow!!

So, we leave tomorrow.  I'm hoping to do daily updates to the blog as usual.

Please pray:
- for health and safety for the team
- that we would build strong relationships with everyone we meet
- that God would use us however He wants while we are there
- that we could bless imagine ministries with our service to them this week

We have a wonderful team and are all very excited to go.  Thank you all for your prayers and support!!!

Matt