Boasting in Weakness

We made it safely to Puerto Cabezas…(despite the flight attendants’ doubtful looks, and jabs about us looking like “the kind of people that will end up in the yellow room for those who don’t know what they’re doing.”) Thankfully, the traveling process was uneventful.

It was encouraging to meet with care-takers, Candy and Tia Elliot to discuss our schedule, and to hear some of their desires for the kids, which were exactly what God had already laid on our hearts.  They would love to see the older kids becoming more involved in the community; serving in the hospital, visiting the prison, and attending weekly Bible studies in church members’ homes. We are excited about getting to serve with them in these ways, as well as tutoring in the afternoons, and teaching English on Saturdays. Once we settle into our new “casita” we are looking forward to hosting the girls for Bible studies, and getting to spend more one-on-one time with them.

The kids are on vacation until February 10, so we’ve enjoyed the extra opportunities to spend time with them in a more relaxed setting. Some highlights of this past week include:

• Liesl began giving saxophone lessons to Eimar, one of the worship leaders, and Ever, one of our fondly labeled, “mariachi brothers.” Her number of students is growing as more people find out about her mad skills. =)
• Emily got to travel with a medical team to one of the local communities to help with massage therapy at the medical clinic.
• Singing and playing guitar with the kiddos at night. It’s a neat way to wrap up the day in praise, and it ministers to us as well as to them. (Thanks, Matt, for the song-books and guitar strings!!)
• Witnessing answered prayers right and left.  We are growing closer to God and to each other daily. A lot of our time this week has been in prayer, thanking God, and also praying for strength. We need His spirit every minute to catch little opportunities to show love. It’s humbling, but really incredible to get to experience the moments He brings. We are so aware that all of our efforts to show love are meaningless, unless God is softening and opening hearts to Him.

Thank you SO MUCH for praying!!!

Would you continue to pray for:

• Opportunities to go deeper with the kids; to talk about the gospel
• Language growth in Spanish and Miskitu
• That we would be an encouragement to other teams visiting, (some of whom do not know Christ.)

We love hearing from you! Please let us know how we can be praying for you as well.