Final Prep and Fruit of our Labor

The Hilo, Aguja y Biblia ladies met yesterday to prepare all of our items for sale.  We finished up a few more Christmas towels and individually packaged all of the items, including the miniature fabric trays.  The signs were printed, the change boxes were prepared and the sales scheduled was finalized. At the final count, we had 70 towels (33 Christmas and 37 Jesus Te Ama) and another 70 small fabric trays.  If we're able to sell everything, we should raise about $300.  

I was able to give them an early Christmas gift--their very own Hilo, Aguja y Biblia t-shirt.  Every lady received a shirt, even if they weren't going to be working at the sale.  

This morning we sold our wares.  Since Stephen wasn't scheduled to play the piano, he and I went to Lourdes with towels and trays, and I wore one of our new shirts.  The congregation was very supportive, and we came back with almost $45.  

I stopped by the hotel to drop off the very few towels that were left from Lourdes and added them to the "inventory" for the final service at the hotel.   

We don't have the results from the sale at the main church in Miralvalle, but between Lourdes and the hotel we raised $164!  Praise the Lord--we will use the money to clean/repair our sewing machines and cover the cost of some of our future projects.

Fall Bible study and a new friend

The ladies Bible study that I am a part of started this past Friday.  This fall we're using Beth Moore's "David--Seeking a Heart Like His," videos and book.  

Our group is fairly consistent from one study to the next.  However, this time, Alejandra's friend, Kathy, was able to join us. It was amazing to hear her tell her story and realize just how many similarities there were with our story.  Here's just a few of them:

• She and her husband, David, have been missionaries here since January, 2010--we came in June, 2010.
• Her husband was not a pastor.  
• She is a guitar player and singer.
• They are from Washington state, but have children and grandkids who live in Oregon--our daughter-in-law's family is from Oregon
• They just moved from Santa Tecla (where we used to live) to Escalon (where we live now.)  In fact, they live across the street from our building.

Those were just a few of the things we found out on Friday morning.  She even gave me a ride home after the study.  I mentioned everything to Stephen and we decided to see if they were available for dinner on Friday evening.  We met them in front of their house and walked to our favorite pizza place.  It was a great evening learning how God worked in their lives to bring them here.

We're looking forward to getting to know them better.  Just think, I may finally have a neighbor from whom I can borrow an egg or a cup of sugar if I get in a bind while baking or cooking dinner.  God is good!

   

Day 2--Apopa Schools and VBS in Lourdes

Tuesday morning we went to two schools in the Apopa area that are right next to each other.  One was for grades 1 through 9 and the other was the high school.  Stephen and I were with the group at the high school.  We had teams sharing in ten classrooms; there were several hundred professions of faith--praise God.  

VBS in Lourdes continued in the afternoon.  It was raining so instead of being outside like on Monday, we worked with the ladies in a small room at the community center.  Wow, was it hot!  There were thirty women on Tuesday (23 on Monday), so we were quite busy giving directions and passing out supplies to the newcomers.  I shared my testimony and the gospel about half-way and although there weren't any professions of faith, we did have the opportunity to have some good conversations . . . and some seeds were planted.  So glad to have lots of help from Maria Elena, Isabel, Carolina and Zuley.  

 The kids got their "Real Heroes" VBS shirts and made gospel bracelets for their craft.  The CCBC youth worked each of the five rotations, especially the games group who had to improvise because of the rain.

The other half of the CCBC group held a kid club/family festival at another location in the neighborhood and a basketball camp at a third location.  These kids were busy all the time!

One more Friendship Event

On the last day of February, we celebrated the final friendship event for the month--a women's ministry breakfast.  This active ministry holds three breakfasts and one retreat each year and we always celebrate friendship in February.

Today I worked at the registration table with two other women.  We helped check in the more than 100 women who attended.  I was really surprised at how many of the women I knew--I guess that should be expected as we are closing in on five years at Vida Nueva.  I think I was the only "gringa" in the room today, as neither Rachelle nor Tiffany were able to attend.

A few pictures:

Resting and then Staying Busy

It was nice to have a couple of days to rest when we got back from Nicaragua.  We were so tired from the trip that instead of going to the 9:00 a.m. service on Sunday, we slept in and went to the 11:30 service.  It makes for a late lunch, though, because we didn't get home until after 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday we were back in IDEM, after missing a week.  I spent Wednesday afternoon helping the 6th graders with their spelling words again.  Thursday was another day for spelling bee practice and then we had church in the evening.  

Yesterday morning was the ladies Bible study--it was the first day for the Abundant, Faithful and True study by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore.  I rushed away from the study early to go pick up pizza for the 6th graders before our last day of spelling bee practice.  We went to the service in Lourdes last night because Stephen played the piano.  

This morning there were twelve ladies at Hilo, Aguja y Biblia.  We are making potholders and basket liners to share with the mom's of preschoolers at a small school close to the church.  

Sunday through Wednesday will continue to be a busy time.  Sunday we have church, Stephen is playing the piano for the Single Mother's ministry and then we are going out to dinner with friends.  Monday we are having a dress rehearsal for the spelling bee; Tuesday is Day 1 of the spelling bee, Tuesday night at IDEM we're celebrating birthday's so we're making homemade ice cream and then Wednesday is the spelling bee finals.