*States*Home*Nicaragua

We're back in Nicaragua. We just spent the past 3 weeks in the States, visiting with family & friends. It was wonderful, we seen people we hadn't seen in a while, and I seen a teacher from my school that I hadn't seen in probably 8-9 years. 

When we got off the plane in Chicago, I was ready to jump back on that plane and take it back to NICARAGUA where it's WARM. It was soooo COLD, and than we walked outside with just hoodies because we didn't bring coats to Nicaragua, cause duh, it's always HOT. Haha, my awesome mother brought our coats and we tried to stay warm. It was difficult at first, but our bodies got used to it, kinda......
We stopped at Texas Road House for supper *family favorite* and ENJOYED all the food we ate ((possibly tooo much)) but it was GOOD. Caleb said he didn't realize how much he missed eating a GOOD steak until he ate that one, it took him three times as long to eat his food than normal. It's amazing how much you ENJOY things when you go without them for so long. We enjoyed our mom's cooking again, nothing beats that. We got back on the 7th, and on the 8th, my family (yoder side) had their Christmas Party, so we ENJOYED some more yummy food. Grandpa started a tradition of having prime rib & shrimp and than whatever else grandma and the girls decided to whip up, it was delicious. Spent the next couple days with my grandpa & grandma Yoder before they headed off to Florida for the winter. We stayed in their house while they were gone, so GRATEFUL for that. 

Monday night I was able to reconnect with some of my awesome girlfriends :D That was such a BLAST. I'm so Blessed with amazing women in my life. We had another small get together with some friends that next weekend, talked to them about what God's been doing in our lives since we've been in Nicaragua, and just spent some wonderful time with them <3 

We were able to spend 4 Sunday's at our home sending church, Firm Foundation Ministries. We can't express enough how BLESSED & GRATEFUL we are to have amazing Leaders and family there. WOW!!!!! We've been blown out of the water with love, prayers, support, friendships, it's amazing. Our church is growing, and it was so fun to see familiar faces, and see new faces. The youth group led by Tim & Lynette Carpenter is growing like wild fire, we loved meeting the new kids and we're so EXCITED that some of them are coming to Nicaragua in March\April....We're excited for them to experience a little bit of what we do everyday, build forever relationships with the Nicaraguan people, and see what it's like to live in a 4th world country. We hope and pray that another time the rest of the youth group can make it...
We were Blessed to be able to share a little bit with some of them about Life in Nicaragua with the Fletchers :) Share how it's changed our lives and what God has been doing, and of course answer all their questions. They are an awesome group of kids. 

We didn't have any cross\culture shock when we got to the States. It was a good experience all around. I would catch myself doing silly things that I've adjusted to here in Nica that I'd be doing there, like throwing my tp in the trash and not the toilet, when your used to doing something, hey, you get used to it..Haha!!!!! I was totally shocked when I realized how much I didn't really miss life in America, I missed life in Nicaragua, I missed hearing Spanish, even if I didn't understand it, I missed eating Nica food, I missed my everyday good mornings and hugs from my second mom Ruth and sister Edith, I missed the freshness (Michigan ain't fresh in December) of home. I didn't really miss American food, I was surprised, I was hurting the first week or so from eating American food again, my stomach was used to Nica food. So it was interesting at times, but still good. The only thing I really miss about life in America is being able to hang out with my family & friends whenever we want, that's the hard part, so I cherished every minute while I could <3 It was wonderful spending time with my parents and little sisters, we spent Christmas Day with Caleb's side, spent two days with them, it was fun <3 
Caleb misses life in America. You'll have to ask him to tell you about his experience :)

Right now we're listening to LOTS of fireworks and LOUD music from our neighbors, getting ready to celebrate and bring in a new year. I don't think we'll be getting to bed *early* tonight, that's for sure ;) 

We're excited to see what all God has for us this coming New Year, 2014...wow, so crazy. I feel like this year just flew. We're so Blessed. We may not know what all God has planned for us at this moment, but we know we're in the CENTER of His Will and that's all that matters. Please keep us in your prayers...pray that God opens the doors that need to be opened and closes the ones that need to be closed. Pray for Peace, Strength & Understanding, Guidance is the RIGHT DIRECTION. 

A few photos from our time in Michigan & Indiana...

Got some Jagger time :)

My Best Friend from Kokomo. So Blessed to have her in my life <3

My grandma Ann. Was so happy to see her for a couple days <3

Another friendship I'm grateful for, we've become friends this past year and I'm so grateful she's in my life, she's Blessed me so much already <3

Love these people so much, Friendships that last a lifetime <3

 

THANKS for ALL your Prayers, Support, Friendships <3 We love and appreciate you all so much. Blessings to you all in 2014.....

                                                        Fletchers in Nicaragua

A really cool God Story..

Happy 8 Months!!!!! 

The time has come for us to head back to the States for our Christmas vacation time. WOW!!!! Really?!! =) We can't even begin to say how EXCITED we are so see our family & friends. Just to be able to sit and visit and be in their presence is going to be AWESOME. I've been looking forward to it for a while now. We get to see our church family the next day, so that's going to be awesome too!! =) My side of the family (all 28 of us) are getting together Sunday & Monday for Christmas, grandpa & grandma Yoder are heading to Florida for the winter, so we're glad they are waiting until we get back so we can spend time with them =) I'm really really looking forward to seeing my little  man Jagger, I talked with him on the phone yesterday, and I said 'Hey bud, guess what', he said 'what?' I said 'guess who you get to see next weekend', he was quiet for a little bit and goes 'YOOOOUUUUU'!!!!!! :D :D


My title is called 'A really cool God story'.....
A couple weeks ago, my cousin Glendon and his son Tyler were here in Nicaragua working with Compassion International with Galen Yoder and his lovely wife Mary. Glendon & Tyler wanted to see what Students International was all about, so after their time was up with Compassion, Caleb went and picked them up at their hotel in Managua, where Galen & Mary were also, the guys were finishing up their breakfast, so Caleb & Galen got to talking and if you know Caleb, he's super excited about what SI Nicaragua is doing and our one ministry site, *Appropriate Technology* aka water filters, helping people live better lives and them being able to drink *good water*. So of course that gets a fire burning in Galen, and he's interested and whats more info and wants to come see the site. 

We had a wonderful couple days with Glendon & Tyler, we were able to show them the Ministry Sites, and the Volcano, Coyotepe, take them to the Market. It was fun, just visiting with them, listening to Glendon's God stories, it was awesome!!! 

Our friend Alison came November 9th for one week, it was AWESOME having her here and just spending time together, talking about everything, she really encouraged me in a lot of different things, even if I didn't want to hear it, she spoke truth and I'm so BLESSED to have her as a friend in my life :) 

November 12th - Galen & Mary came to the base, chatted with Lastman, the leader of Appropriate Technology, and just asked questions and Nate & Caleb were there also, and we started talking about different things and come to find out, everyone knows A LOT of the same people, it was really neat. Alison & I were talking with Mary, she's a verrrry sweet lady. Well they were getting ready to head up to Jocote to see the Ministry Site and check out the filters to see how they are made. Well we all sad our good-byes and they headed out the door........Let me back up a couple weeks so I can tell you this really cool GOD STORY....

A couple weeks before, I was going through my bathroom, thinking of what Alison could bring down for me, I needed some more Bath & Body soap and I have a couple still at home, well I just decided I would wait, so I didn't have her bring any. I also seen I only had two small hand sanitizers left, so I wrote down that I needed to bring more from the States, I had given one of my favorite pens to little Natalia because she thought it was *cool* and I'm like it's a PEN, so I let her take it :) I was like, I can always get another one......November 12th in the morning I was doing my devotions and after I always try and write in my Journal, well I counted the pages and decided I should probably get another Journal because this is almost full.....So at breakfast, I told Alison that I wanted to get another one when we went back to the States.........OK.....

So when Galen & Mary were driving out the drive, she stopped and got out of the car and came walking back in with a gift bag, she said 'we were suppose to  meet someone for lunch today, but it's not going to work out, so take them for yourself'. I was like oh sweet, how nice of her to do that. WELL, they left and I started to take the tissue paper out, and was blown away.......I took everything out and almost started crying, there was BATH & BODY soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, 2 pens AAAANNNNNNDDDD a JOURNAL!!!!!!! =D 
How amazing is that :) I was just blown away at how much God LOVES us and takes care of the most tiniest details in our lives..........I am still in AWE of how God works in those ways =) 

Some photos from our time with Glendon & Tyler and Alison.....

 Such an awesome time when we have family & friends here. We have been so BLESSED by the people that have made the trip down here already!!!! We can't say THANK YOU enough!!!! We are looking forward to next year, our youth group is planning a trip down here for one week, so we're super excited for that...

Caleb's best friend Galen Miller and my sister Kelsey are coming for two weeks in February. So we have so much to look forward to next year =) GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!! 

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Got to spend it with our SI family. Maggie, Jill & I had a lot of fun preparing the food and spending time together. We had turkey, mashpotatos, corn, stuffing, salad, rolls and dessert. It was great, we got to share with our Nicaraguan staff members some history about Thanksgiving, just spending time together, and laughing, it was great!!!! So crazy to think that we had Thanksgiving in 80 degree weather!!!!!! =) 

We are looking forward to seeing a lot of you guys, pray for us this week, that we'll be able to get everything done that we need to get done before we head to the States Saturday. And for safe travels, and also for my parents & siblings that are coming and picking us up, pray for their safety as well <3 BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!!!!

THANKS for ALL your prayers & SUPPORT, we appreciate it sooooo much!!!!! <3

God Bless, Fletchers in Nicaragua.