Scenes from Nicaragua

Mission: Nicaragua

Becca and I are going to spend a week in Nicaragua with my dad.  We leave this Friday. This is kind of a big deal, something we have been talking about for awhile.  At first we thought we would be going to India this summer, but when my dad invited us to go with him over Spring Break, and everything just kind of came together fast.

Did you know that next to Haiti, Nicaragua is the poorest country in our hemisphere?  Very few make over $200 a month.  My dad's ministry is actively involved in encouraging and resourcing these church leaders.  His ministry even started a thriving Christian school with 150+ students and Bible Training Center.

The ways that God has provided for this trip, it has pretty much blown me away.

Once again, I am shown what an awesome God we serve.  Just to give you an idea of what we will be doing .. My dad (who has been traveling to and serving the people of  Nicaragua for over 20 years) along with another couple are going to lead a conference for Nicaraguan Pastors and their wives.  Becca and I will be there to assist in any way we can. We will be involved in some of the teaching (thanks to local interpreters), but mostly we will be available for serving the women.  We may be playing with their kids, washing dishes, serving meals, cleaning ... we are pretty much going there to do whatever they need us to.  Our goal is to be available to them, period.

Becca and I have been collecting goodies to put together bags for these thirty five women.  It has been so exciting to see this part of it come together.  Lisa Moose, a friend from church, got an idea to sew drawstring backpacks for us to give each lady attending the conference.  She, along with some other terrific women from our church, got together and sewed the bags ..  this was fun to be a part of and the bags turned out great!  Friends have donated all kinds of stuff-- toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, hair brushes, pens, mini shampoos, soaps, and more ...over 150 pounds of gifts will be traveling with us there!

If you think of it, will you pray for us this next week?  It really does make a difference. Missions trips are life changing and I am looking forward to this special time with my Dad and my Becca.  Of course, I will try to take a lot of pictures to show you when we return! :)

I {heart} fall.

Our little Birdie started Kindergarten this year.  This involves lots more homework than I remember for any of our other kids their first year of school.  Maybe it is indeed getting harder ... or maybe I am just getting old?

Of course, there is fun involved with school...

And I am super thankful for the lifegroup we are in at church.

We were able to go on a float/camping trip this fall with a couple families from our lifegroup at church plus my friend Tracy and her family (who knows everyone else who went) as well.  They missed being in the group picture, boo.  It was so much fun to get away for a few days and the weather was fantastic.

I would love to push the PAUSE button on life right as a family.  I am embracing the ages that all of our kids are at, they are so much fun to be around and they make life so sweet.  

Hello Cupcake

Being a Tourist