A year & half.....

Greetings from Nicaragua. I realized that I missed an update for September, oops!! 

Some exciting things happened in August, Caleb and I were able to go to the States for a short visit, surprised a lot of family and friends. There was a couple people that generously paid for us to come back, we're so grateful for that, it was an amazing time of just spending time with family and friends, people we didn't think we'd be able to see we saw. My whole family, all 27 of us (minus one) went up north to Houghton Lake *camping*. We stayed in a really big cabin, had lots of fun, made lots of memories, caught up with a lot of my cousins on their lives, it was amazing. Ate a lot of YUMMY food (maybe to much). We also got to spend some time with Caleb's side of the family a couple days, they camped at Potato Creek the following week and that was a lot of fun too. We surprised Caleb's brother Andrew and his wife Charlene, priceless!!!! 

We left Chicago around noon on a Thursday, well we were suppose to leave Chicago around noon, buut we wound up being almost 3 hours late to Miami, needless to say, a lot of people missed their connecting flight (including us) so they put a lot of people up in Hotels and we got a free dinner & breakfast, it was nice to just be able to spend time together and relax before arriving in Nicaragua again, God knew we needed that time together =) He's cool like that. So the next morning we arrived at the airport and everything was on time and we landed in Nicaragua around 12ish Friday. 

Back to reality again we go. Caleb's been super busy with projects, he just finished a pool project, painted the whole thing plus some, it looks really nice now. Building different things for staff members, making sure vehicles are up to date on everything, lots of odd & end things.

I have been trying to keep myself busy, when I don't have anything going, my mind wonders and I think a lot about home and how much I miss it, God reminds me that this is *home* for right now and He's called me here to serve. Doesn't make it easier, but I know this is where God wants us and being in His Will is the best place to be, doesn't mean it's an easy place to be, but it's all good =) I have a few projects that I'll be working on these next couple weeks, so I know that will keep me pretty busy. I started going to the different ministry sites this week as well, taking pictures of our semester students. It's been fun getting to know them, they are each so different and it's so fun watching them interact with the people in the communities. Please pray that God would do amazing things in their hearts, I know it's a life changing experience when we go on short term mission trips for one or two weeks, these girls are here for 4 months, it's definitely going to change their lives. One of them is actually sick right now, so please pray for healing for her and a quick recovery, it's one thing to be sick but being sick in another Country, you have the language barrier, and it's HOT. 

Another prayer request, a young missionary couple, Bart & Ellie, they arrived in May, she's due tomorrow and she's have no signs of labor, her mother arrived yesterday and everyone is eager to meet little Barty. So just pray that God would give her peace during this period of waiting, and strength during labor. 

Caleb and I are super excited about coming back in 65 days for a visit. Hoping to see a lot more people and have lots of fun =) 

Last Friday Ellie and I went to Jocote for Mirna's baby shower. She's due in two weeks and so ready to have this baby, here's a few pictures from our time there...

Play a fun game of guessing how big her belly is with some string.

It was a fun baby shower, the rain ruined some of the deco, but it was still pretty.

Giving Mirna a baby blanket that Angela Lawrence from my church made her. She was working on a piece during her time at Micro Fiance, and Mirna was just loving it, so Angela decided to make a baby blanket and I was able to get it to her at her baby shower :) she loved it. 

 

 

 

My family at Houghton Lake

I waited 8 months for this hug. <3

Jagger is such a sweet kid. While up at Houghton Lake him and I were hanging out and building sand castles, we were just talking and I glanced over and noticed that he was thinking about something, he looked at me and asked me why I was gone and so far away. I told him that Jesus called Caleb and I to Nicaragua to be missionaries, he asked some questions about what a missionary is and different things, he was so interested and wanted to know about everything. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up, I said maybe a policeman, fireman, farmer, ect.....He said "Whatever Jesus wants me to be". I told him that it was super important that we do what Jesus says and some other things, I know that he understands, he's so smart and such a good kid. A couple weeks later, my grandma texted me and told me that I left an impression on Jagger because she overheard him asking his older brother what he wanted to be when he grew up, his brother just kinda ignored him because he was busy with something, and Jagger said that he was going to be whatever Jesus wanted him to be, he asked his brother if he was going to be what Jesus wanted him to be and his brother said "yeah, probably". My prayer is that Jagger would grow up to be a man of God and have a heart to share the Gospel with so many people. I am so grateful for our relationship, he's always been so dear to my heart and I love him so much. 

Caleb with his younger siblings at Potato Creek Campground.

Miss Emily and I. She's 18 now and thinks she's the boss =) She's got a mind of her own and she isn't afraid to let ya know that. She's great!!

We just want to say thank you for all your prayers, support, financial support, we appreciate it so much and are forever grateful for each and every one of you. Please continue to pray us, that God would use us for His glory. 


                                                     God Bless
                                                   Caleb & Krista