I've added a few more pictures...enjoy! Things are going well here, and I'm getting REALLY excited to come home in 2 1/2 weeks...can't wait to see many of you over my 3 1/2 week trip to the States!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
My Big Top Adventure
I've added a few more pictures...enjoy! Things are going well here, and I'm getting REALLY excited to come home in 2 1/2 weeks...can't wait to see many of you over my 3 1/2 week trip to the States!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
November...WHAT?!?!?!?!?!
Hello friends and family~
I hope this finds you all well!
I've been terrible at keeping everyone up to date...life has been busy!
Not a whole lot new to report, things at NCA are going well...I've been getting more involved with the counseling department and that has been fun for me, since this is where my passion is. Great kiddos I'm working with in a lot of tough home situations. When I talk with them, I'm SO thankful for the home and community that I grew up in. It makes a WORLD of difference. I'm still teaching English to my boys, I think they're stuck with me :-) The other girl who was supposed to do it kind of backed out, so I am still teaching English every day. It's good for me, I really love the boys and was very sad to think of not working with them anymore. I always wonder if what I'm doing is helpful with them, I just don't feel adequate. God knows...this week I had 3 teachers tell me how much they have improved in English, so I must be doing something right :-)
I had the opportunity to go to an orphanage in El Crucero last weekend and work with 5 babies who were rescued from the Atantic Coast...and I FELL IN LOVE!!! I am going back today (Saturday) and just want to go live there. The stories of their little lives are heartbreaking, I just pray that God would provide all their needs. I told my mom I might have 5 little mouths to feed at Christmas...I just want to take them home :-) It's been a GREAT experience and one that I'm so thankful to have had, it really is an eye opening experience.
In the social aspect of things...I've been going to lots of movies and attempting to go to baseball games (that's a whole other story) and hanging out with friends. It's good for me to be busy. I'm hoping to get to the beach at least one more time before I come home at Christmas :-) THings are going well, and I'm so thankful that I've found a few really good friends here to help me keep my sanity :-)
My mom flies in on Wednesday and I am so excited! She stays for only a few days, but I'm planning to keep her very busy :-) It's so nice to have people come visit, it helps fight the homesickness aspect of it all. I've been struggling with that, but I realize that I'm not the only one and we all just know when we need a night out do distract ourselves from thinking about it :-) I love visitors and if you're reading this, consider it your official invitation to come to Nicaragua, I promise you would enjoy it :-) The time with my sisters are great, we were pretty lazy (can you believe it?!??) and didn't do much of anything besides just catch up. We went to San Juan Del Sur which is about 5 miles from Costa Rica and stayed at a great bed and breakfast there. Their time here was all too short, but I appreciated them coming, it was a fun time!
I have lots of preyer requests this time!
~Update on the legal situation: Liam just informed us that nothing new has happened with the case. Like everything else in this country, it's taking a long time. Continue to pray that the right actions will be taken and for a hedge of protection around all the staff and students at NCA. Sounds like it could still get ugly...
~My principal, Slyvia, had a miscarraige yesterday. She has a son who is 17 and has been trying to have another baby since he was born. She was SO excited to be having another baby, so this is devestating news. Pray for her and her family as well as us at the school so that we can support her in the best ways we can.
~I've been working on my Spanish and it's going pretty well. Pray that I continue to pick up the language and for patience for my tutor as he tries to teach me. A lot of times he laughs at me and says "Do you know what you just said?"
~Financial support is a huge need for my work at NCA. Thanks to God (and many of you) I was able to surpass my fundraising goal for this past semster. However, since I decdied to come back next semester I need to raise $9000. Pray for God's provision in the financial aspect so that I can continue my work at NCA. I feel so blessed to be here because I know this is where God has called me to be.
~I've really been wanting a car and I ask that you pray for God to show me the right way in this situation. It's been very frustrating to share a car with 3 other people and I at times feel very trapped and unable to really get invovled with other ministries that I would like to be involved with because I have no transportation. I just pray that God will provide a car and that it will be a good car (those can be hard to find here.)
~Pray for Frankie, Yulka, Ophelia, Leo, and Emily...the 5 kiddos at Que Mas Vencedores (More Than Conquers), the orphanage up in El Crucero. Pray that God would provide all their needs and that he would open the hearts of their forever families so that they may find a home.
~Praise God for the safety and protection he's given us as we travel out and about. It's amazing how many times in the car we've felt God's hand of protection. People aren't great drivers here, so it's great to know we're in good hands!
~Pray for safe travel for my mama as she comes on Wednesday. She has long days in the airports, so hopefully all flights are on time, safe and good for her. She'll be sleeping before the wheels are up...
~I slept though my first earthquake yesterday morning...yea, I slept though it. Pray that God would not send anything like that to this country and that he would keep us all safe. We were talking about it last night and feeling very at risk for a bigger earthquake here and feeling more vulnerable, but ultimately decided that God's plan prevails no matter where we live and what event He puts in our lives, it still just feels a bit more scary after there was an actual earthquake yesterday.
If you have a second, I encourage you to check out the pictures, there are some fun ones of the babies at the orphanage. One look and you'll see why I'm in love :-)
Thanks for all your prayers and support...it's epic! I love getting e-mails and notes from all of you, so keep them coming!
Blessings~
Angie
I hope this finds you all well!
I've been terrible at keeping everyone up to date...life has been busy!
Not a whole lot new to report, things at NCA are going well...I've been getting more involved with the counseling department and that has been fun for me, since this is where my passion is. Great kiddos I'm working with in a lot of tough home situations. When I talk with them, I'm SO thankful for the home and community that I grew up in. It makes a WORLD of difference. I'm still teaching English to my boys, I think they're stuck with me :-) The other girl who was supposed to do it kind of backed out, so I am still teaching English every day. It's good for me, I really love the boys and was very sad to think of not working with them anymore. I always wonder if what I'm doing is helpful with them, I just don't feel adequate. God knows...this week I had 3 teachers tell me how much they have improved in English, so I must be doing something right :-)
I had the opportunity to go to an orphanage in El Crucero last weekend and work with 5 babies who were rescued from the Atantic Coast...and I FELL IN LOVE!!! I am going back today (Saturday) and just want to go live there. The stories of their little lives are heartbreaking, I just pray that God would provide all their needs. I told my mom I might have 5 little mouths to feed at Christmas...I just want to take them home :-) It's been a GREAT experience and one that I'm so thankful to have had, it really is an eye opening experience.
In the social aspect of things...I've been going to lots of movies and attempting to go to baseball games (that's a whole other story) and hanging out with friends. It's good for me to be busy. I'm hoping to get to the beach at least one more time before I come home at Christmas :-) THings are going well, and I'm so thankful that I've found a few really good friends here to help me keep my sanity :-)
My mom flies in on Wednesday and I am so excited! She stays for only a few days, but I'm planning to keep her very busy :-) It's so nice to have people come visit, it helps fight the homesickness aspect of it all. I've been struggling with that, but I realize that I'm not the only one and we all just know when we need a night out do distract ourselves from thinking about it :-) I love visitors and if you're reading this, consider it your official invitation to come to Nicaragua, I promise you would enjoy it :-) The time with my sisters are great, we were pretty lazy (can you believe it?!??) and didn't do much of anything besides just catch up. We went to San Juan Del Sur which is about 5 miles from Costa Rica and stayed at a great bed and breakfast there. Their time here was all too short, but I appreciated them coming, it was a fun time!
I have lots of preyer requests this time!
~Update on the legal situation: Liam just informed us that nothing new has happened with the case. Like everything else in this country, it's taking a long time. Continue to pray that the right actions will be taken and for a hedge of protection around all the staff and students at NCA. Sounds like it could still get ugly...
~My principal, Slyvia, had a miscarraige yesterday. She has a son who is 17 and has been trying to have another baby since he was born. She was SO excited to be having another baby, so this is devestating news. Pray for her and her family as well as us at the school so that we can support her in the best ways we can.
~I've been working on my Spanish and it's going pretty well. Pray that I continue to pick up the language and for patience for my tutor as he tries to teach me. A lot of times he laughs at me and says "Do you know what you just said?"
~Financial support is a huge need for my work at NCA. Thanks to God (and many of you) I was able to surpass my fundraising goal for this past semster. However, since I decdied to come back next semester I need to raise $9000. Pray for God's provision in the financial aspect so that I can continue my work at NCA. I feel so blessed to be here because I know this is where God has called me to be.
~I've really been wanting a car and I ask that you pray for God to show me the right way in this situation. It's been very frustrating to share a car with 3 other people and I at times feel very trapped and unable to really get invovled with other ministries that I would like to be involved with because I have no transportation. I just pray that God will provide a car and that it will be a good car (those can be hard to find here.)
~Pray for Frankie, Yulka, Ophelia, Leo, and Emily...the 5 kiddos at Que Mas Vencedores (More Than Conquers), the orphanage up in El Crucero. Pray that God would provide all their needs and that he would open the hearts of their forever families so that they may find a home.
~Praise God for the safety and protection he's given us as we travel out and about. It's amazing how many times in the car we've felt God's hand of protection. People aren't great drivers here, so it's great to know we're in good hands!
~Pray for safe travel for my mama as she comes on Wednesday. She has long days in the airports, so hopefully all flights are on time, safe and good for her. She'll be sleeping before the wheels are up...
~I slept though my first earthquake yesterday morning...yea, I slept though it. Pray that God would not send anything like that to this country and that he would keep us all safe. We were talking about it last night and feeling very at risk for a bigger earthquake here and feeling more vulnerable, but ultimately decided that God's plan prevails no matter where we live and what event He puts in our lives, it still just feels a bit more scary after there was an actual earthquake yesterday.
If you have a second, I encourage you to check out the pictures, there are some fun ones of the babies at the orphanage. One look and you'll see why I'm in love :-)
Thanks for all your prayers and support...it's epic! I love getting e-mails and notes from all of you, so keep them coming!
Blessings~
Angie
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Happy Monday...again!!
Hello all~
Hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather...unfortunatly, we don't have that!!! It's been REALLY hot and humid these past few days, but no rain, so that's a huge blessing! I believe for the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to SNOW when I come home in 2 months!!
I don't have a lot of news here, but I just wanted to share with you all that today I have officially decided to stay at NCA through the end of the year! So, that means I'll come home for Christmas on December 16 and need to be back in Nicaragua on January 5. I'm VERY CONTENT with my decision, and I know that I am doing the right thing! Most of the people at the school are very excited to hear this too! I've been SO blessed with great friends here, and I just couldn't imagine leaving in 9 weeks and not coming back!
I'm not sure what my role will be now since I will be staying, I have a feeling I will be getting much more involved with the counseling program. I am picking up 2 more kids this week and ending my ESL days with the boys. I'm excited about picking up the counseling kids, and sad to end my time with the boys. As tough as it has been, I have grown to love them very much and appreciate their personalities and differences. Samuel has been very serious in his work and to get a laugh out of him can be tough, but Miaco has a very spunky personality and it is fun to see their differences. They were both very sad to hear that I would not be working with them anymore, Maico had tears and I admit, I got sad too. BUT, I know that I can be used in different ways. PLUS, when their new teacher has to sub or can't make it, I get to fill in, so I know I will still get to hang out with them some. They are SO sweet though and I will miss working with them.
We have a student in 3rd grade who we believe has Ausburgers, so I am guessing I will be spending some time with him. He's a super sweetie and I'm looking forward to tackling this big case. It will be new for me, I have not worked much with kids with Ausburgurs, but I look forward to it!
Thanks again for all your notes and prayers! It's been kind of a rough few weeks with issues at school and just feeling very homesick, but I can feel the prayers and appreciate the encouragment from all of you! Also, I have people ask about supporting my ministry financially...there is a link on the blog to do that to. Know how much I appreciate it!!!
OH, and one more thing...I'm VERY excited to tell you that my sisters are coming on Thursday...great timing! Please pray for safety in their travels and for us as we travel on Friday to San Juan Del Sur for a relaxing weekend...I need a weekend away from "normal". They leave all too soon again next Monday morning, but it will be GREAT!!! Pray for safety and relaxation for all of us.
Blessings~
Angie
Hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather...unfortunatly, we don't have that!!! It's been REALLY hot and humid these past few days, but no rain, so that's a huge blessing! I believe for the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to SNOW when I come home in 2 months!!
I don't have a lot of news here, but I just wanted to share with you all that today I have officially decided to stay at NCA through the end of the year! So, that means I'll come home for Christmas on December 16 and need to be back in Nicaragua on January 5. I'm VERY CONTENT with my decision, and I know that I am doing the right thing! Most of the people at the school are very excited to hear this too! I've been SO blessed with great friends here, and I just couldn't imagine leaving in 9 weeks and not coming back!
I'm not sure what my role will be now since I will be staying, I have a feeling I will be getting much more involved with the counseling program. I am picking up 2 more kids this week and ending my ESL days with the boys. I'm excited about picking up the counseling kids, and sad to end my time with the boys. As tough as it has been, I have grown to love them very much and appreciate their personalities and differences. Samuel has been very serious in his work and to get a laugh out of him can be tough, but Miaco has a very spunky personality and it is fun to see their differences. They were both very sad to hear that I would not be working with them anymore, Maico had tears and I admit, I got sad too. BUT, I know that I can be used in different ways. PLUS, when their new teacher has to sub or can't make it, I get to fill in, so I know I will still get to hang out with them some. They are SO sweet though and I will miss working with them.
We have a student in 3rd grade who we believe has Ausburgers, so I am guessing I will be spending some time with him. He's a super sweetie and I'm looking forward to tackling this big case. It will be new for me, I have not worked much with kids with Ausburgurs, but I look forward to it!
Thanks again for all your notes and prayers! It's been kind of a rough few weeks with issues at school and just feeling very homesick, but I can feel the prayers and appreciate the encouragment from all of you! Also, I have people ask about supporting my ministry financially...there is a link on the blog to do that to. Know how much I appreciate it!!!
OH, and one more thing...I'm VERY excited to tell you that my sisters are coming on Thursday...great timing! Please pray for safety in their travels and for us as we travel on Friday to San Juan Del Sur for a relaxing weekend...I need a weekend away from "normal". They leave all too soon again next Monday morning, but it will be GREAT!!! Pray for safety and relaxation for all of us.
Blessings~
Angie
Monday, October 4, 2010
Happy Monday!
I just had to share this funny...
So, a lot of the kiddos in first grade don't quite have the writing skills down, as you can read from the letter below from my buddy Oscar. One of the biggest problems is kids using b for d, and d for b. So, today that assignment was to write about what kind of animal they would like to see if they went to the zoo or on a safari. I'll just leave you with the first sentence of little Miss Alyssa's journal entry.
I love beer.
I could not stop laughing...
Enjoy today!
So, a lot of the kiddos in first grade don't quite have the writing skills down, as you can read from the letter below from my buddy Oscar. One of the biggest problems is kids using b for d, and d for b. So, today that assignment was to write about what kind of animal they would like to see if they went to the zoo or on a safari. I'll just leave you with the first sentence of little Miss Alyssa's journal entry.
I love beer.
I could not stop laughing...
Enjoy today!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
My Big Top Adventure
OK, I think this may have worked...click on the picture and it should take you to my album. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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
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
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