Is it really almost October?!?!?!?!

Hi friends and family-

I hope this finds you all well! I should apologize for not being a very "updative" person...it's been a busy week! THANKS for those of you who check in with me over e-mail and Facebook...you're so sweet to send notes of encouragement and prayers on my behalf. They are SO appreciated and I am truly grateful!

I'm not sure when I even last updated, so I'll start where I think I left off.

September has been a busy month, including a super fun surprise visit to the States :-) We had time of for Nicaragua Independance Day (September 15) and the Battle of San Juancito day (September 14) so I came home. I think I got every one pretty good! I flew in to Chicago on September 11 where Amy picked me up and took me to Rock Island, Illinois to surprise my family. The only thoughts I really have on that is that is worked! I think everyone was pretty surprised. If you want the best version of the story, ask Don DeWaard :-) It was AMAZING to be home for a week and to see so many familiar faces. I would say that I have learned how very true the statement is about not knowing what you've got until it's gone. I miss everyone so much...it's tough some days. But I know I'm in the right place and it makes it just that much more sweet to come home!

So, after a week in the States, I flew back to Nicaragua on September 18 to the HOTNESS and rain once again. This week has been good, but it's been adjusting back in to my new life. Most of the kids were pretty excited when I was back at school on Monday morning, and I have to admit, it was great to see them too...

This week has been good, but brought lots of prayer requests:

Samuel (one of my ESL boys) was playing futbol on the playground and he fell. He ended up being taken to the hospital in the ambulance with an incomplete fracture to his collar bone. He was one scared little boy, so pray for quick and complete healing for him. Pray also that the boys pick up on the language and that what I am teaching them is helpful. So many days I feel inadequate to be teaching them, and I just pray that what I teach them will be used to help them.

We had a special meeting on Thursday morning at school. There is a family who has pulled their children from NCA because they believe that a situation dealing with the discipline of their child was inappropriate and they have taken legal action against the school. It has been on the Nicaragua news, and the lawyer working with this family is relentless. God's hand has been seen in SO many ways over the past few days, but PLEASE pray for God's protection over the school, the students, and all of us teachers. People go all out here in Nicaragua, and Liam told us basically not to talk to anyone that we don't know...he's unsure of what this lawyer will all do to get our name run through the mud. So, this is a big concern for all of us now. As of now, nothing has happened but I just ask that you pray that continues.

Safety...we are sandwiched between 2 hurricanes right now and we just CAN NOT handle the rain right now. So much flooding and destruction that is just not helpful in this country. Hurricane Matthew was supposed to be very unkind to us on Friday and Saturday, and PRAISE GOD we did not see much rain. However, there is apparently another one coming. So, please pray that these hurricanes change their paths, or better yet, dissolve.

I have been able to get back in to a work out routine and run around my complex. However, my hip has been really bothering me and I just ask that you would pray that my hip pain would go away and that I would be able to continue getting active again :-) Some mornings it's tough to walk for about a half hour, so it's not so much fun, but it has been feeling somewhat better, so for that I'm thankful.

It is time for me to decide what to do next semester. Just be in prayer for me to make the best decision for me. My desires and the Lord's may be different, just pray that we get in sync and that His will is carried out in my life! I know what I want to do, but I want to be sure that it's the right thing...

THANKS to God for the cooler weather, I've been wearing sweaters. One good thing about these hurricanes is that it really cools things off. I am so glad that I did bring a fleece blanket and some sweaters, they've been useful.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support, it's awesome!

I have tried unsucessfully several times to get picutres on here, as soon as I can find someone who knows what they are doing...I'll add them here :-)

Blessings~

Angie