Where Did 2008 Go?

I cannot believe a whole year has passed since I finished college, and almost a full year has passed since my first trip here.

Andres, Anthony, and I are hanging in Leon until Sergio gets done working with Oscar. We will head out to take these guys back and check on everything at the house and bakery soon.

Larry, Oscar, and Sergio are going to get dinner and pass some time for New Years in Leon, but I have plans to hang with the youth and stay the night in Candelaria. I think we will go to the park then maybe come back and hang together as midnight passes. Not sure how many will actually make it til midnight including myself, but we will see.

Hope each of you has a great time, and safe time, tonight bringing in 2009. I'll hope to update again when I get back to Leon next week, and hopefully soon I'll be online in the village.

In Christ,
Jim Bob / Diego
John 15:13

Working to Finish Out the Year

Scarleth, Oscar, Sergio, and I got together at the Gables house this morning with the money changers and got payroll ready as soon as possible. Every year they like to get people paid before the 31st, because New Years is a time to have a special time at the park or with family.

We got things done and everyone paid in the afternoon, only a few hours after we said we would be there, but at least it was taken care of. Larry stayed behind in Leon and spent time with Marcela. As Oscar got everyone paid and signed off, Sergio and I had meetings with some of the pastors and leadership in the clinic waiting room.

We came back into Leon in the afternoon, and I brought Andres and Anthony along for a video/chat Skype date with the World Race girls in London. They enjoyed that and then we had dinner and visited Sergio and Scarleth's houses.

We had hoped to play video games, but the PlayStation I think because of dust, is not reading discs...we watched Liar Liar and played on the internet instead.

Manauga Errands & Larry Sellers

Sergio, Scarleth, and I spent Monday morning getting things done in the village and came back to Leon early afternoon. Sergio and I went on to Managua to run errands in the afternoon before Larry Sellers flight came in at 8:30.

We went to Claro to see about a new USB hookup that has come out for a good price to maybe get internet at the church at Candelaria, but it is was sold out. We went to 3 other stores and they are sold out too, but we did enough research on the modem to think it will work for me to have internet from the village, so I am hoping to buy one in the first week of the new year once more stores have them in stock.

We also went to compare prices and sizes of freezers for the bakery that is going to be opening when school starts back in February. The Gables air conditioner has been acting up for the last couple weeks, and they dont have the fix for it in Leon, so we took the control part of it to a guy Sergio knows in Managua that can hopefully get it fixed soon.

I also went and talked with the international phone company, about the Barnums phone ringing busy or having no dial tone in and out for the past couple weeks.

To pass our last couple hours we spent time walking around the mall and visiting a couple more Claro stores. We ate at the food court, and I had Quizno's for the first time I think in 2008. It was the highlight of my holidays. Larry made it in on time and got all of his luggage through. We all got back to Leon around 11:00 ready for bed.

Cooking Buñuelos

We had a full crowd for Sunday school, and the new chairs that Julia bought are being put to good use. We have 3 new Sunday school teachers from the youth group. Kenia and Jessica are helping with the girls ages 6-8, and Bianca is helping Rigoberto with the boys ages 3-8.

In the afternoon, I learned to cook buñuelos with Katherine, Itzel, and their mom. Buñuelos are fritters of a mainly Spanish origin. They are a popular snack in man Latin American countries, and are made differently across the world. In Nicaragua, they are made by deep frying yucca and cheese, then covered in honey/syrup.

I bought yucca from the garden and got cheese, oil, and cheese from a little store just up the street from their house. For a couple hours in the afternoon we prepared and cooked them, spending time joking and playing. We made way more than the four of us could "healthily" eat so we shared them with some neighbors and Consuelo's family.

Pastrana led evening service and Pastor Walter preached from 2 Timothy. Daniel and Rigoberto led worship on keyboard and drums. Yorlene and 2 of the older church members each sang a special. There was a baby dedication to close the service. We had all 100 chairs out of the bodega and a few benches in the back of the church setup for service, and almost all were filled with kids, youth, and adults.

Ana's Food Distribution

Saturday morning Ana Saravia, and the Leon team came out to distribute the food that she and her friends in Miami donated. 133 familes from 6 different communities received a bag of rice, beans, oil, and salt. It was done very orderly with the pastors calling the names of each person from their community that were put on lists earlier in the week. Each person dropped their ticket with the pastors as their name was called and crossed off. We had a table across the clinic entrance with 3 people working inside and 3 more outside. Walter opened the event with a prayer and Ana had some closing words. It was great to see the pastors and leadership put together such an orderly way for distributing.

In the evening service, Pastrana led church and Erick preached. Church attendance was around 40 people, with half of the congregation age 20 or under, which is normal numbers for about all non-Sunday services. Kervin led worship, as Daniel had a night off, after being in the village almost every day this week.

3rd Youth Service

We got out to Candelaria in the afternoon and I had a meeting with the youth leaders before starting our third night of Friday services. We all agreed that we are enjoying the small number, with interested and involved young people. Every week a few are sharing music, drama, or bible veres and we are rotating who shares the message.

We started with around 30, but dropped to around 20 once we got to worship and the message, which has been normal since changing to a more serious service. Daniel led worship with Kenia singing. Kervin, and 2 of his friends from Chichigalpa shared 3 Chrisitan rap specials.

Itzel shared a message on God as our father. With emphasis on how many of our young people have been abandoned by their fathers, and some by both parents , but once they accept God as their father he will be with them forever. She shared verses from Psalms and Romans. She also had a music video with scenes from Passion of the Christ, that was very moving. Yahaira closed the service with prayer.

Nicaraguan Christmas

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I spent time in Leon hanging out with Ana, Scarleth, Leo, Oscar, Sergio, and Francis. I have called a lot of friends and family and also done a lot of cath-up work here that I can't do from the village without internet.

I spent Christmas Eve with Sergio's family and we had dinner at his uncles house. It was a large family gathering and it felt great passing time with a family, even though mine is far away.

On Christmas day, we spent a full day at the beach. Sergio, and a lot of his cousins, Francis - Oscar, Jennifer, and Yairo - Scarleth, Leo, and 2 of their friends - and myself all packed a lunch and went to Poneloya. We stayed all afternoon and enjoyed a lot of time in the water. It wasn't very crowded and the weather was great.

Tomorrow I'll be back in the village for the first time in 5 days, it has been a good break, but I can't wait to get back. I hope each of you had a great Christmas as well.

God Bless and enjoy the last few days of 2008 with your families.
Jim Bob / Diego
John 15:13

Children's Christmas Party

On Sunday morning, the youth and I finished getting things setup for the childrens Christmas party joint Sunday school activity. Quitanka and Nuevo Amanecer came with almost 300 kids and then 250 or so were there from Candelaria.

Yahaira, Saul, Rigoberto, and Daniel led the activity with games, contests, and singing. The other youth helped us trying to keep kids back and organized. There was a Little Miss Christmas Pagent with each Sunday school teacher having 1 student in the contest. This made for a field of about 10, with the top 3 receiving teddy bears and shampoo, soap products.

After these games and contests all the kids got a flavored milk, either chocolate or strawberry and then we had 4 pinatas. The first pinata was for children under 5 and the 2nd for children 6-8. The 9-10 year olds had their own pinata, and the last one was for kids 11-13. We had all the youth trying to make sure only the righrt age groups participated in each pinata and entertained the others when it wasn't their turn. We also did our best to keep people from getting hurt when the rush for the candy took place. I saw as many youth getting knocked over and run over, as kids.

Afterwards we delivered 2 pinatas to La Isla for their afternoon party and headed back to Leon. I was excited to get back and see the Steelers game and Panthers game in hopes they could each win and clinch first place and homefield. They both let me down, but I was glad to see the games.

Saturday Preparations

Water is still out here, and Rigoberto and Alfredo had plans to visit in Quitanka, so I spent sometime this morning biking water to Consuelo’s house. Then I took time for myself in the clinic and got some things done on the computer.

In the afternoon, Scarleth and Sergio brought out the things we needed for the Sunday school Christmas party and we had soup at Consuelo’s house. We visited with their family for a while and then Scarleth and Sergio went to run some errands in Chinadega.

I spent some time at Itzel’s house and talked with her about how she feels with our smaller numbers in Friday night youth service. She said that she had heard some people thinking it was boring, or more like a church service so that’s why they had not come. She and Jose both agreed that it is more like a service, how we want it to be, and for the ones that are serious it is not boring. They loved the worship and the drama, dance, rap specials we have. We are thinking that it is moving in a positive direction with small numbers and it is the start to something.

Jairo preached in the night service, and afterwards about six of the youth helped decorate the church with curtains and balloons for tomorrow’s Christmas party. They are planning to lead different games and contests and then keep order in the piñatas. We are expecting around 500 kids from age 2-13, with anyone over 13 helping keep order and leading the activity.

Friday Thoughts & Youth Night

I spent Friday morning visiting with Itzel, Katherine, Jose, Kenia, and Jessica about the jealousy problems in our youth group. Some issues from the past, and then again last night at service, have caused our youth group to have little clichés of friendships that do not and will not talk with each other or even be near each other in service. The people here think of friends as possessions and then when you put time into other people they get their feelings hurt. Other girls, and sometimes the boys, specifically say that when they want to talk or hangout with Sergio, Tommy, Daniel, or I people in other groups of friends tell them they are only their friends, or they don’t like you like they do us, etc. etc. The problem is usually between one person and another person, but they get their whole group involved so that it becomes 10 people that won’t associate with anyone from the other 10 people. Please pray for us, as they try and tell us it is our own fault for doing things with someone to bless them, or being closer with someone means that you don’t love anyone else. This all goes back to the kids coming from such broken homes and never being loved, so they cannot understand real love and friendships. They are so quick to get their feelings hurt and show bad attitudes toward us and even more towards each other.

Sergio and I met with the leadership in the afternoon and they seem to be doing pretty well. They are also dealing with some jealousy issues not between each other, but by other church members who all have their own opinions about the leadership. We let them know what things Tommy and Linda passed on to Sergio to share with them, and our schedule for the upcoming week.

We had our second youth service Friday night and only around twenty people were there. At first, we all felt kind of down by how empty things looked, but as the service continued we found out what a blessing it was to have a service with 20 people who really care about worshipping and listening to the word, with prayer and interactive discussion. Everyone was well behaved and you could feel God’s presence throughout the service. I think that this smaller number with 15 serious and interested youth out of the total 20 is where we can really get stronger and grow, compared to having 40 there with 25 being distractions.

Yucca & Quitanka Service

Thursday morning I led bible study, challenging the youth to really start reading their bibles other than just when in Bible study and church services. I want them to spend time reading, thinking about what they read, and then in time applying it to their lives. We are trying to concentrate right now on Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” At their ages, they are so easy to just make quick decisions for their own wants, and not taking time to pray about them or think how a decision today can affect them next week, or the rest of their life.

In the afternoon, I got some more things sold of the clothes in the clinic and spent time visiting with the garden workers. I made this video of the yucca harvest, and the workers have really pleased Scarleth and Linda by keeping records of all their sales.


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Pastrana planned a joint service for the evening in Quitanka, the community he serves behind Candelaria. They trucked in around forty people from Candelaria and another twenty from Nuevo Amanecer. The service went from 6:00-10:30 with a lot of music and drama participation by young people from each village. Pastor Walter preached from 2 Peter, and Daniel shared testimony on having faith in God, when his daughter almost drowned. There were five new decisions for Christ including 3 people under 20 years old.

Seeing Gables Off

In the morning, we went to Viky’s and got breakfast and did a few other errands in Leon. Kenia and Itzel went with Sergio and I to get the food for Consuelo’s for the week while Oscar, Tommy, and Linda met at the office.

In the afternoon, we had our staff meeting to make sure that we are clear on everything to take care of while the Gables are in the states. We also discussed things for how we hope to better the mission in 2009. The girls had some time to hangout with Tommy, Linda and Julia for their last day here.

Julia, Yahaira, and the other girls rode out with Sergio and I around 5:00 PM. Julia said bye for the last time, and they headed back to Leon. Pastrana led the Wednesday night service with Daniel and Rigoberto leading music. Erick, who teaches the youth Sunday school class and has been attending Tommy’s leadership, preached for the first time.

Tuesday Trip to Leon

Yahaira led bible study and then went with Julia and I for lunch at Consuelo’s. Kenia and Itzel wanted to see Tommy and Linda again before their trip to the States and Tommy said they could come in for the night in Leon so they bussed back with me in the afternoon. When we got to Leon, they walked around with me to pay all the bills for the Barnum’s house and enjoyed ice cream.

In the afternoon we were able to skype with the girls from world race in London. They had a webcam so we could see and hear them, they could only hear us, but Itzel and Kenia loved it, for about two hours. They also took naps, so I got to do some internet work while waiting and Tommy and Linda to get back from Granada and be with the girls. We went with Sergio and Francis to eat at Solera, and the girls enjoyed the live music.

Monday Drama & Rest

Water is out here so the land is packed with people coming down to use the public well. All morning people have been getting what they need for their morning and afternoon cooking, bathing, and washing needs.

Carlos, Julia, and Yahaira came out for the afternoon and Carlos led drama and dance. They have a new dance and drama they’re getting ready for this coming Friday night. During the time they were practicing I spent some time lying in my hammock and actually feel asleep for a little while. It has been a great addition to my room in the clinic.

Julia stayed out for the night with plans to do bible study with Yahaira in the morning. She made brownies for the guys that stay at the church and a few of the other youth that were hanging out. Itzel and Kenia stayed with Julia in the clinic for the night.

Hammock and God's Must be Crazy

I grabbed breakfast and spent some time visiting with Consuelo and her family, as I usually do after meals, but think I failed to mention until now. She is one of our church servants, and the grandmother of Eddy Garcia, who passed away 3 weeks ago. She cooks for the boys that stay and guard the church every night, and once I moved out here, I have been eating 3 meals a day with them and her family. She is a great cook, and I love spending time with her kids and grandkids whom are always around.

I went back to the church property and Sunday School had started, so I slipped into the clinic to have some time alone, use the computer, and organize the room some more. I hung my hammock up diagonally across the room so I’ll have a place to rest some afternoons. I plan to still sleep under the church with the guys, but it will be a nice place to sit or lay and rest when I need some me time.

I went to Itzel’s house in the afternoon and spent time with her and her mom. The God’s Must Be Crazy was on TV so we enjoyed that. I even got an hour nap in the guest room of their house before going back down for evening service.

Tommy preached on being Godly and not religious with scriptures in Luke chapters 11 & 12, and Matthew chapter 6. It will be his last message of 2008, as they get ready for a month in the States. We took communion and had a time for prayer and goodbyes for the Gables to close the service.

Clothes Sale & Leadership

Saturday morning we got all the clothes organized in different rooms of the clinic and started a clothing sale at 9:00 AM. We started by blessing each of our church servants and workers with an outfit and then sold clothes for very cheap to the church community. In the final hours we opened the sale to everyone else. It ran for a little over 4 hours and we raised a little under $100.00. For the rest of the week we are selling everything else for 50 cents in hope to clean out our trunks and get more space in the clinic bodega. All of the money will be used next Sunday, December 21 for a church Christmas party where we will decorate, bust piñatas, and serve refreshments. We want to bless our church body especially the children this holiday season.

Because we missed pastors’ class and leadership training Thursday, Tommy and Linda held a meeting this afternoon for our Candelaria leadership and outreach pastors. We are hoping that everything will run as smooth as possible during the Gables time away with friends and family. Tommy let the men know their roles as leaders and had each of them come up front in the night service.

Tommy shared the importance of male leadership in the home and church with scripture from Acts 20. He let the church know his heart for really outreaching out and building up strong men in our church starting when he gets back in January 2009. Rosa Lara prayed over the leadership Tommy is training and the church seemed to receive the message in a good way. Please pray for all of these men, Sergio, and myself as we work to make this church and community stick together and grow while the Gables are in the States.

Youth Service

I spent Friday getting things ready for our youth service. Itzel and Jose met with me in the clinic to go over the schedule and assign people to different verses. They also helped me get the clinic clean and ready for tomorrow’s clothing sale.

I spent the afternoon preparing my message and putting together some videos and pictures of some previous youth trips, graduations, and candid photos. Sergio and Tommy had a meeting with some of the Candelaria men that Tommy needs to help serve as leaders in his absence. Carlos and the drama team warmed up and got their final practice in as well.

At 6:30 PM Jose and Itzel welcomed everyone and Yahaira opened in prayer. Julia shared Proverbs 3:4-5 and I challenged everyone to memorize and start living those verses. We had a drama, faith test activity, and praise music led by Daniel, Kervin and Rigoberto. The drama team then shared a dance, followed by videos and more praise and worship.

At 8:00 PM the drama team shared a very touching drama about putting trust in Jesus and Yahaira shared its message, before I preached. I had about 10 of the youth divide up reading the book of Jonah with me sharing after each chapter. I taught on putting all of our trust in God, no matter how crazy we think his request is. We are hoping to see more people reached in Candelaria, even though we see people every day that we don’t think will ever be a part of the church. In May, about 15 of the 30 young people involved in our church were those exact same persons. They have shared in Bible Study’s that they cannot believe some of their friends that are now a part of the church, including themselves. I let them know how different I am from a year ago today and Rigoberto closed us with in powerful prayer. For next week, I am hoping to have others come up front and share their own testimonies in times they made their own choices with results. Then share times they put their trust in God and how he has taken care of them.

Chinadega Teacher Training

This morning a truck bed full of teachers and leaders were taken to Chinadega for classes and training by Samaritan’s Purse. For the youth that did not go, we had an open discussion Bible Study about making good decisions from Tuesday and Tommy’s Wednesday night message of keeping secrets and hiding from God and each other. I also used this time to get 6 youth that will help Scarleth and I with a clothing sale on Saturday.

Most of Tommy’s pastors and key men were in Chinadega so we did not have class this morning. In the afternoon, the Gables, Julia, and I visited in Santa Matilde. I think it has been almost 3 months since I was last there, and without Friday night youth I haven’t seen any of the kids in a long time either. We visited with Carmen, Griselda, and Margarita for most of the time and then walked around seeing some other friends.

Kervin and Andres lost their grandmother this morning. The wake was at their aunt’s house and started at 7:00 PM. Pastrana and Eduardo led the service with Daniel, Rigoberto, and Kervin sharing music. It was very well attended and I was happy to see all of our youth their supporting Andres and Kervin. The funeral will be tomorrow.

Wednesday Meetings in Leon

I woke up refreshed and ran a few errands in Leon before heading to the Gables house. I spent some time talking with Tommy and Linda just the 3 of us before staff meeting began. We have been facing some trust issues with some of our leaders and needed some time to share different things we have seen and heard this past week. We really want to get things cleared up before next Wednesday when the Gables will be gone to the states for a month.

We had an extended Bible Study discussing our mission needs and priorities. We got things clear for the time we will be here without the Gables, and began looking into our focus for 2009. Tommy shared a lot of his vision and goals with open discussion for the Leon staff and our Candelaria staff. Linda then shared our schedule for closing out 2008. We are asking everyone to pray with us to get our finances up and even to close out this year. America’s economy has really affected giving towards all missions, including NewSong. For the last 2 months payrolls have been cut short, and some projects put on hold. We are trusting God to provide what is needed to end out this calendar year.

We all went out for Wednesday night service, with Tommy speaking on living in the light. He is challenging us to not hide things from God or each other in the darkness. For two weeks church attendance has been down, when Tommy has had very important messages. Please pray for the people here to have a heart to learn the scriptures and be a part of a loving Christian community.

Tuesday

Tuesday morning Yahaira and Julia led a great Bible Study on making good decisions. They talked about the process of making decisions, and how to ask God’s help when we need to do the right things. The youth really listened and interacted for some good discussion and examples.

Carlos came out in the afternoon to lead dance and drama practice. They have a dance and 2 dramas planned for this coming Friday night. Sergio was in Candelaria most of the day seeing over the house construction and clinic progress. Sergio, Julia, and myself all rode back to Leon with Carlos for the night.

I got some emails caught up and had time to talk to my mom on the phone, before falling asleep. I can’t remember the last time I was that tired by 8:00 at night.

Swimming & Friendly Dinner

Following December 7, Monday is a work-free holiday nationwide so only a few people were even around the church today. A few garden workers came and worked a couple hours, and some of the grounds people showed up in the morning. The girls went home and brought down breakfast, while we sat guard at the property. In the afternoon we planned to go swimming, about 20 of the youth, but people kept changing their mind until it was late afternoon when no one wanted to go. Itzel, Jose, Rigoberto, and I went anyways.

Making a decision here takes forever, and then people change their mind based on what their best friend or cousin wants, so they sit the fence and wait for you to beg them to join. Instead of wasting more time with this, I am working to just inviting everyone and whoever wants to do something joins in.

We had a youth dinner together at Cony and Jessica’s house. The two of them and Daniel planned for about 10 of us to pitch in some money and have a meal together. We had grilled chicken, salad, and tortillas then had a napkin fight, and played some games.

Some of us left early to meet some policemen at the church to talk more about catching the stealing problem that continues at the land. With all the construction going on, more people are at the land and ladders, tools, and cement are tempting people to make some money stealing and reselling the churches things. We are afraid some of the same people hired, being fed and paid are assisting friends in this. We had an extension cord, 2 bags of cement, and an expensive electric saw stolen last week. We are trying to teach responsibility to the people who lock-up the bodegas, and also end the stealing problems here.

Sunday: day of rest

I slept the best I have slept in a long time last night and after breakfast, while the kids were busy with Sunday school I escaped into the clinic for a very productive morning. I got things unpacked and setup more of a room atmosphere in the back room of the clinic, where I’ll be staying until the house is complete.

I ran some errands in the early afternoon, for some last second shopping for our youth Secret Santa, gift trade planned for 4:00 PM. We had about 20 youth plus our Leon team playing in a gift exchange. I got Gloria a dress shirt and some candy, and Kenia got me some new, much needed, flip flops. We had cake and soft drinks to close out the afternoon.

December 7, is a holiday in Nicaragua for the Virgin Mary that is probably bigger than Christmas, due to the number of Catholics here. There are parades and lots of partying all night, so we didn’t have service. I slept under the church building with Kervin, Rigoberto, and Alfredo. Julia had a sleep over in the clinic with Itzel, Kenia, and Mauren.

Saturday Graduations

Some of the youth and I spent Saturday morning getting things ready, and decorated, for a big church event. In the afternoon we had graduations and a time to honor our church servants. 11 women graduated from their 2nd year of sewing school, and 4 other women completed bakery school. The sewing ladies were all dressed in brand new clothing they had made for themselves, and also had time to model their outfit, and 1 other outfit they had made for a child or friend. Esther had Itzel model her dress. The teacher shared some brief words and then gave each woman a diploma.

Linda preached on all of the great things God has done here in 5 years. How the land used to just be weeds and how far our faith, trust, and prayers have allowed Him to help us here. She challenged more people to get involved here, and see how much more God can bless us in the future.

Then 5 women were recognized and received diplomas for finishing bakery school. Their teacher shared some words, and let everyone know that these women will be qualified and ready to take over the bakery that is going to be done in the next month, and open for the 2009 school year. These women each made cakes and other sweet breads and treats to share with the congregation once they received their diplomas.

Linda closed the service by calling forward all of our current church servants. She honored each pastor, prayer warrior, Sunday school teacher, and grounds worker. She brought forward every garden worker and volunteer along with everyone who has been helping in the construction. We honored everyone that takes care of a goat or other small animal, and every member of the Leon team. These people stood upfront together, received applause, and got to be first in line for the refreshments.

In the afternoon we went to 5-year old, Marilaysi Vegas, preschool graduation party. She had music, a piñata, and a snack dinner. It has been a lot of fun, but really busy the past 10 days in and out of many gradations of all ages. About 6-7 of the youth came to the church shelter and spent time talking and hanging out before bedtime. They had some jump rope, pushup, situp and other silly competitions to pass time. I got my computer setup in the clinic and updated some blogs before falling asleep.

Friday

Friday morning in Leon, I got our fund raising DVD put onto Vimeo divided into chapters. We are hoping they will be on the NewSong website soon. I worked more on emails and ran some errands in Leon before our staff meeting at 10:00 AM. We talked about our upcoming week schedule and divided our work for who sees over each project when the Gables are gone to the states from mid December – mid January.

Sergio, Tommy, and I went out to Candelaria for the afternoon. I packed the entire truck bed with the rest of my stuff and put it all into 1 room of the clinic. We had planned to start Friday night youth services today, being the first Friday in December, but some of the youth thought it’d be better for us to have a pre-start back meeting to share their hearts with each other and get any problems they have had between each other settled.

Tommy and I shared our vision for a new, more impacting Friday Night Youth Service, not just babysitting, then Darling and Itzel led the meeting representing their groups. Carlos shared with them about his drama and dance goals. Two of the young men got in an argument and left the church building to fight, but we got settled down and Carlos helped our group understand that we must get along. He led a time of us praying for each other as a group and individually to close out the meeting.

Friday night I visited with Nubia and Kenia. We did not have any plans, just shared stories and talked. It was a good time to be relational and talk about serious things and also just joke around and laugh with each other, enjoying friendship. I laid a mattress on the floor of the clinic and slept in the back room.

Thursday

Thursday morning I led Youth Bible Study in the waiting room of the clinic. It was decently attended nad we shared more on having faith in God no matter what. We are also talking about bringing information forward when people know about the stealing problem we have here, and having fear of knowing something and not sharing it, compared to fear of being a tattletale.

Tommy led Pastors class continuing in Philippians for the second week, and also shared verses and conversation on keeping order in the church. We did some other errands in the village and Chichigalpa before heading back to Leon for the night.

I used internet and the international phone to catch-up some emails and contact with family. I have also been working to add some more videos online, that I hope will soon be on the NewSong website. I stayed the night in Leon, with our Leon Bible Study and staff meeting the following morning.

Wednesday

Wednesday I spent time doing the finances with Linda's laptop in the morning. I found a halfway quiet place in the clinic and got a couple of hours of work in before lunch. The men were putting in all of the drop ceiling and cabinets. Next week they will add lights. In the afternoon, I spent time visiting with Eddy's family, his little sister turned 9 today. I also spent some time with Kenia in the afternoon before getting back to the church and setting up for evening service.
Tommy, Linda, and the Hunters met a family of 4 from Washington state during their trip to Matagalpa that also came out for service. Tommy shared on having faith in Jesus, sharing the stories of Jesus taking the disciples on boat rides in Matthew and Luke. The two teenage boys kept the kids in the clinic with Rigoberto and Nubia translated. They sang songs, shared some bible stories, made balloon animals, and painted faces.

Tuesday

Tuesday morning we had our Youth Bible Study, and Itzel brought soft drinks and bread. She said she just wanted to bless the group, and it really made me happy. I wish so badly others of the youth could see her example and follow it, rather than be jealous of her when she gets blessed for walking out her Christianity. In the afternoon about 20 of us biked 20-30 minutes back behind the church property and Quitanka to a place called La Presa. It is a river with a dam that allows for about a 30-foot deep swimming hole. We swam for about 2 hours in very cold water, which helped us beat the afternoon heat. We came back and I helped Bismark, Wilmor, and Ernesto finish digging the septic tank for the house and future public/church bathrooms. I spent time Tuesday night visiting with Cony and Jessica and watched Jurassic Park at their house. I got a mattress on the floor of one of the clinic rooms to sleep without mosquitoes now.

Monday

Jessalyn and Susan left this morning before the rest of us woke. Tommy, Linda, and Ben and Jennifer Hunter left this morning for a 2.5 day trip to the mountains in Matagalpa. Carlos and I bussed out with as much of my belongings the two of us could carry in the afternoon. I put away clothes and other personal, items into the clinic bodega, while Carlos started drama/dance practice. I biked to La Isla/Guanacastal to Rosa’s house and visited with her 4 youth aged kids. I talked with Maria about her college classes, and plans for next year. Yasmina and Glenda will both graduate from high school on Friday, and we talked about their future education plans. Monday night I spent time visiting with Franklin, Katherine, and Itzel in their house and then went back to sleep at the church with the 6 boys.

Moving Out, Moving In

Sunday morning after taking the kids to the bus stop at 7 AM and still half asleep from only getting 3 hours of sleep I went back to my place and began finished packing up my room. I let Dona Lutrecia that I would be out on Dec. 1 to move to Candelaria to keep from paying rent for December, and with Sunday night service this was my only time. I really wanted to sleep, but instead I got everything I've collected in 10 months of living there into 4 trunks, 3 moving boxes, and 3 suitcases. Sergio used the mission truck and helped me load the bed and back seat of it completely full and drive my stuff 2 blocks to the Barnum's house.

Tommy shared from Hebrews about faith in God in Sunday night service, and Jennifer Hunter sang How Great Thou Art acapella dueting with Ben on the refrain. We closed the service with Susan and Jessalyn saying their goodbyes and Jessalyn praying over the youth group. It was a well attended service and Daniel shared some new worship songs too.

We came back and had dinner together and said our goodbyes to Susan and Jessalyn with them leaving at 5:00 AM Monday morning for the airport. It was great to see the friendships and fun they brought to the village and the software training for our NewSong staff.

The Gables left Monday morning with the Hunters for a 3 day vacation/trip to the mountains, so without the truck I only took as much as Carlos and I could get in the taxi and bus of my stuff to Candelaria. Carlos will went back to Leon at 6:00 after drama/dance practice and I will be staying out here until Thursday evening. The house is not done, but I can lockup my belongings in the bodega and shower in the clinic.

Article from The Tico Times

Sugarcane Worker Illness Investigated
Blake Schmidt - November 07 2008

CHICHIGALPA – One of thousands of sugarcane workers whose kidneys have stopped working in what has become a health epidemic in this agricultural region of Chinandega, Necdaly Peña lies on a rusty bed frame with no mattress, a sheet barely hiding his frail body and twiggy limbs. “You give your life to the sugar mill,” he said, referring to San Antonio, a sugar mill owned by sugar export giant Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, a holding of the powerful Grupo Pellas. After working 14 years in the cane fields, Peña was let go in 2000 when the company’s annual blood exam showed he had signs of chronic renal disease. The company, one of Central America’s leading sugar producers with 11,000 hectares of sugarcane fields, hires workers for six-month terms and contract renewal is contingent upon test results for creatinine – a waste product in the urine that indicates kidney disease. The company doesn’t renew contracts for workers whose levels exceed 1.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), according to a complaint cane workers filed with the World Bank, which recently gave the company a $55 million loan to invest in alternative energy. Normal creatinine levels are between 0.6 and 1.2 mg/dl. Peña’s father worked for San Antonio Mill his whole life and died of the same disease that Peña suffers from today. Like many of the sick workers who developed the occupational illness while working for the San Antonio Mill, Peña, whose creatinine level is 3.8, no longer receives compensation from the company, and survives from the modest widow’s pension the company pays his mother.
“Tell the company to help me. I need to buy things but I can’t move,” he said, avoiding eye contact and glowing with sweat because the electricity that powers his fan had been cut. Over the past eight years, his kidneys have been slowly giving up on him. The five-stage disease begins with an increase in creatinine and a few other symptoms. Treatment can slow the deterioration of kidney malfunction, but over time, the kidneys – the body’s filters of toxins – begin to lose function, leading to myriad other diseases that range from malaise to anemia. In the fifth and final stage of the disease, patients must be hooked up to a dialysis machine or receive a kidney transplant to stay alive. “Life is hard,” Peña said, “I need help to survive.”
Chronic renal syndrome has become a defining fact of life in Chichigalpa and the surrounding communities, where the 118-year-old San Antonio Sugar Mill is the main employer. Widows of sugarcane workers dominate entire communities. Yet young boys continue to head out into the cane fields each season, despite the grim odds against them – as many as 3,500 cane workers have died of kidney disease here in the past decade, according to local cane worker unions. “A cycle of death is happening,” said Jason Glaser, a New York resident who is filming a documentary on cane worker deaths and is helping to support their families through a non-governmental organization in León. Chronic kidney disease is the seventh leading cause of death in Nicaragua. A 2005 Pan American Health Organization report on the growing kidney-disease “epidemic” in Nicaragua estimated there were as many as 1,000 sugarcane workers with the disease in Chinandega, concentrated in neighborhoods of sugarcane worker families. Between 1990 and 2003, mortality rates among those with the disease increased by 2.5 percent, mainly among male farmers between 35 and 49 in León, Chinandega, Granada and Rivas, with the highest death rates in Chinandega. The report estimates that 100,000 farmers exposed to occupational and environmental hazards have the disease. Even younger cane workers stoically accept bad results from the sugar mill’s seasonal blood exams as an announced visit from the grim reaper.
“I’m waiting for death” said 25-year-old Nelson Martínez, whose creatinine level is at 6.0, well above the 1.4 mg/dl limit. A mix of heavy farming chemical use, extreme poverty and extreme weather conditions are the main culprits of the disease, with some studies suggesting the presence of heavy metals in rural drinking wells. Contamination associated with aerial fumigation and irrigation runoff from manually-sprayed crops are widely suspected, according to Kristen Genovese, staff attorney of the U.S.-based Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Chinandega is also one of the driest parts of the country, and dehydration can also be a cause of chronic renal syndrome. Over the past three decades, Chinandega has become increasingly dry due to climate change, according to climatologist Jose Milan, with rainfall decreasing by 10 percent across the region. And it’s doesn’t seem to be getting any better (see separate story, N3). The way things are going, rain will continue to decrease, and temperatures here could increase by up to 5 degrees Celsius by 2090, according to climate experts. “Temperatures in Chinandega could reach 45 degrees, like the desert of Arizona,” Milan predicts. Yet the health epidemic may not be limited exclusively to cane workers, as was once thought. Epidemiologists at the National Autonomous University in León have found high prevalence of the disease in a Chinandega mining community as well. But in a country where there is no government-certified water testing lab, the cause of the epidemic has largely remained a mystery. Cane workers allege the company’s environmental impact studies have been kept a secret from the larger public. “You see a lot of ex-sugarcane workers who are sick. You start to ask the question: what is in the sugar cane?” said Genovese, one of several U.S. activists who have converged on Nicaragua in recent years to help cane workers seek solutions to the epidemic.
Deaf Ears
Part of what makes the sugarcane worker struggle in Nicaragua a unique endeavor is the convergence of an array of U.S. activists who have gotten behind their cause over the past few years, from Yale University forestry students to sister city project volunteers to film producers. In March of this year, Genovese’s CIEL and a Yale forestry student Olivia Kaplan helped a group of Chichigalpa cane workers file a complaint with the Ombudsman’s office of the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the financial arm of the World Bank that in 2006 approved a $55 million loan to increase Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL) sugarcane production and fund construction of an ethanol plant. The workers filed a complaint after a lack of results in dealing with local authorities. “All the institutions act like they’re deaf,” said ex-cane worker Juan Salgado. In the IFC complaint, cane workers allege the sugar company is not in compliance with Nicaraguan law, and that the IFC has failed to meet its own environmental and social standards in its relationship with the company.
The 29-page complaint alleges that Nicaraguan Sugar Estates workers and community members who live next to its sugar fields are experiencing an epidemic of chronic kidney failure. The complaint alleges the company has interfered in the creation of independent cane-worker unions; pesticides have impacted indigenous lands; residents living near sugar cane fields suffer from respiratory illnesses related to burning practices at the harvest; company irrigation practices have depleted ground water; pesticides and runoff waters have contaminated local drinking water supplies; and former employees and community members who complain against the company have been harassed, persecuted and even jailed. Over the course of a month, The Nica Times tried unsuccessfully to coordinate a visit to the Sugar Mill’s clinic with company spokesman Ariel Granera. “Some people presented a complaint that the World Bank is contemplating within the framework that exists between the IFC and companies with which it works. Any time there’s a complaint – well-founded or not by people that represent the community or not – they follow up on it and come meet with us,” Granera told The Nica Times.
Amar Inamdar, of the IFC ombudsman’s office said that the World Bank entity is “currently assessing these issues with the cooperation of all parties.” The complaint says that as the company has grown, it “involuntarily” resettled workers living on its property to the community of La Candelaria, allegedly because the worker’s drinking water source on the property had been contaminated.
In the complaint, workers demand that Nicaraguan Sugar Estate Limited pay adequate pensions to ex-employees who suffer from occupational illnesses. Despite the long list of health and social concerns at the mill, the sugar company failed to make public its social and environmental assessment that the IFC required for its ethanol plant production to begin, according to the complaint. Genovese said the company has responded positively to the complaint and is cooperating with IFC compliance officers.
“It’s a pretty good case. I just can’t say with any certainty what’s going to come of it. It’s not a perfect process. We don’t have a lot of power to force them to do anything really. There’s a huge power imbalance here and the (ombudsman’s) office is meant to somewhat balance that. I really hope we can get some remedies for the victims and the families affected by the operations in the mill,” she said.
The Sandinista government is also promising to help cane workers at the country’s largest mills, including San Antonio. Nicaragua’s Ombudsman’s office announced last month it will sit down with cane worker leaders to negotiate pay that they are owed from when the government of President Violeta Chamorro (1990-1996) agreed to pay cane workers 25 percent of their assets after privatizing cane fields and mills that the Sandinista government had nationalized in the 1980s.
“Those sugar mills were state-owned in the ’80s. When Violeta won, we were stripped of that,” said Marco Sandino, head of the San Antonio Sugar Mill cane worker union. It’s not yet clear where the Sandinista government will find the money to compensate the workers.
Life in the Cane Fields
In the community of La Isla, which borders sugarcane fields and a stream that is potentially contaminated, Ursula Aguilar, 42, sits rocking in her chair in a dirt yard shared with a pig. “Once they turn up sick, they’re treated like a piece of scrap,” she says of cane workers such as her late husband. Aguilar is one of some 80 widows of cane workers in this tiny community. Her husband died of chronic renal disease after cutting cane for 17 years. “Doctors gave him two months to live, but he lasted eight,” she recalls with pride. As a mother of eight, the San Antonio mill paid her a widow’s pension of about $80 a month after her husband died. Because two of her kids dropped out of school to cut cane, the pension was cut in half. She now makes tortillas, raises pigs and washes clothes to get by. “We’re just surviving, sort of,” says Aguilar, as seemingly endless rows of sugarcane tremble in the breeze across the stream behind her. She fears all her kids will end up working in the cane fields because “that’s all there is.” Two of her sons who worked in sugarcane now suffer from the disease that took her husband and her grandmother. She is aware solutions exist for chronic renal disease victims, but they’re beyond her income level. “Dialysis costs $200 a day. We can’t afford it, so instead we’re waiting for the will of God. Out here we’re dying due to a lack of money,” she says.
________________________________________
The Tico Times is Central America’s Leading English-Language Newspaper, covering news, business, tourism and cultural developments in Costa Rica and Central America.The award-winning weekly has been reporting on the region from San Jose, Costa Rica, since 1971 and became a member of the Inter-American Press Association in 1989.TT’s Online Edition provides a brief capsule of stories appearing every Friday in our PRINT EDITION. And in response to reader demands, we now offer a complete DATABASE of back issues and online CLASSIFIEDS. Call us at 258-1558 inside Costa Rica or from the U.S. 011 (506) 258-1558 or fax us at 233-6378 inside Costa Rica or from the U.S. 011 (506) 233-6378, email: info@ticotimes.net

Concert in Leon

Last night Scarleth and I brought 30 of of youth into Leon and kept them overnight. We went to a Christian concert at the baseball stadium in Leon. Oscar and his wife, Scarleth's sister and son, Sergio and Francis, Tommy and Linda, and Susan and Jessalyn were all with us, so we filled up a decent section of the stadium.

Redimi2 (red-e-me-dos), a hip-hop/reggaeton Christian rapper opened for Alex Campos. Both artists were very different but our youth group and the packed baseball field and stadium loved both parts of the evening. We got there just after 7:00 PM to hear Redimi2's first song and stayed through Alex Campos encore. We got out of the stadium at 11:00 PM and walked a 6-8 blocks to the places we had to sleep. Scarleth kept the 18 girls, and Daniel and I were with the 12 boys.

The kids would not go to sleep, even though we made it very clear we were leaving at 7:00 AM Sunday morning. I think the boys finally feel asleep about 3:00 AM, but were awake at 5:30, and I heard the girls did about the same.

The concert was a great blessing, and all the kids enjoyed their time there. Scarleth and I did have to deal with some attitudes and younger kids not listening, so please pray for our youth to grow up. I love doing things with them outside of the village, but it is hard to stay patient with them all the time. Pray for these kids to grow up, and also for Scarleth and I to practice patience with each of them.

Nicaragua Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all...sorry this is a day late, I have been busy getting things ready for my move to the village...I had planned to move as soon as I got back but not everything was ready at the house...it is really coming along now and will be ready very soon...I am moving out of Leon Sunday and will start Dec 1 being on the land full time.

I hope each of you are having a great time with your family this holiday weekend, and have plenty to be thankful for.

Things I am thankful for happening here this holiday season are:

Thursday 27: Jose Ramon Rodriguez, one of the leaders in my youth group, had his high school graduation yesterday, he invited Tommy, Linda, Julia, and I to be there with him and his mom and then to the graduating class after graudation celebration.

Friday 28: We are heading out at 2 with Carlos Zapato, a 19 -year old from Leon, who has been helping me with the youth the past 2 weeks...He leads drama, dance, and enjoys the time with the youth. He has a heart to serve by ourside in our youth ministry totally volunteer. He is my most recent blessing, and I thank God for him.

Saturday 29: I am using youth funds to bring 35-40 of our 14-22 year olds in for a Alex Campos and Remini2 concert at the baseball stadium in Leon. Both artists are well known Spanish Contemporary/Reggaeton Christian groups, they wil spend the night in Leon and head back Sunday morning for Sunday school. Pray that this event will touch our youth in a special way and that the Holy Spirit will get them on fire for our new weekly youth service beginning next Friday!

Sunday 30: I will be packing everything and moving out of the place I have stayed 9 months, to be with my youth group full time. I am thankful for the place I have had in Leon, and also for the great opportunity ahead being an influence and friend living with the people I have been sent here to serve.

Happy Thanksgiving, I love you, May God bless your family and give you safe travel this weekend.

Thanks for all your love, prayers, and support.
Jim Bob "Diego" Norman
John 15:13

Summer Break Begins

Summer break has begun for the kids and the past week has been fun, but tiring. The bible study Tuesday and Thursday mornings numbers are up, with no one missing for morning classes. Lots of people are around the land helping with our projects. We are hoping to have the youth house complete and the clinic completely finished by the end of the year. The men are working everyday on the clinic, and the boys on the youth house.

Tommy finished his mini-series on Forgiveness Sunday night and started a new series on Faith & Trust this past Wednesday. His longtime newlywed, friend, Ben Hunter, came in this past Saturday with his wife Jennifer. Ben, Mincho here, has been an awesome part of God's work here. He is the main reason we have a church shelter in Candelaria, and helped us with our last youth retreat. They have enjoyed visiting with some of the youth he met and has kept up with since his first trip here 6 years ago.

Susan Hall and Jessalyn Moore are also with us this week from Atlanta City Church in Georgia. Jessalyn came with the group of 6 doing dramas this past summer and has adopted Marylaysi Vega. She came to see her and help her family with her preschool gradution coming up next Friday. Susan does our accounting work from ACC and is here to serve and visit in the community as well as help explain PowerChurch software better to Oscar and myself. We have taken time this week to work on finances with her, and will practice more as the week continues. The kids absolutely love playing with both of these young ladies.

We are also staying busy with graduations this week. There are graduations for children after preschool, 6th grade, and 5th year high school. Carlos is having dance and drama practice twice a week, as we are getting ready to start a weekly youth service Friday nights with more of a church service feeling.

Yo te Extranare

here is the video I made and showed at Sunday service to honor Eddy's family


double click the video to view in full screen
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below are the lyrics to the song used for the video
Tercer Cielo-Yo Te Extranare

I will miss you, take it as insurance
They were beautiful, so many people and the moments that I lived with you
The details, the small ones, things that seemed not so important for you
They are those who invade my mind the most when I remember you

I hope he could return for some time
To meet again
To give you a hug
And to never come undone

I understand that your time has come
That God has called you, to be next to you
This is the way he wanted it, but I never thought
That it would hurt so much

Do not cry for me
I am in a place full of light
Where peace exists, where there is no wickedness
Where I can rest

Do not cry for me
It is beautiful here like I never imagined
I want you to be happy, and know that you are fine
And when it is time for you to divide, I hope to see you here

I will miss you, take it as insurance
Now knowing that the life can end in a second
That life is as dust; it can scatter in a moment
Nothing can be brought here only what exists inside yourself.

I hope he could return the time
To meet again
To give you a hug
And to never come undone

More I understand that your time comes
That god has called you, to be next to you
This way he wanted it, but I never thought
That was hurting so much

Do not cry already for me
I am in a place full of light
Where peace exists, where there is no nastiness
Where I can rest

Do not cry for me
They are beautiful here never imagine
I want that you are happy, that you are fine
And when I had you to divide, I hope to see you here

I WILL MISS YOU TAKE IT AS INSURANCE...

Linda Returns & Weekend Plans

Tommy and Joanna Sellers left late Thursday night after the funeral to go and get Linda at the aiport. They are spending a few days in Granada over the weekend, and then picking up their friend Ben Hunter, and his wife from the airport Saturday. They got to Granada very early Friday morning and Linda emailled me that she is happy to be back and will see the rest of us Sunday.

Yesterday afternoon, Julia, Carlos, and I went out on the bus to be with the youth. Julia is a Davidson graduate that has been down here since October 1st helping us with the mission and enjoying her time visiting the country. She will be leaving December 17. I can't remember if I had mentioned her in earlier posts. Carlos is a 20 year old from Leon that is going to be helping us with the youth. He knows Oscar's brother and others that have helped with drama. He wants to teach dance and drama and see our Friday night activities have a stronger impact when we start them back up in December.

All of the high school aged students finished their school year these past 3 days, and the preschool-6th grade students will be out by next Friday. We went out for the afternoon and had a meeting with our future youth event planning team, and Carlos shared a dance and drama with them that we think we will use in our first activity. Daniel and Yahaira also came over from Bethel, as they will be helping me in the youth ministry.

I brought Marvin Vega back with us to stay the night and Saturday in Leon, because when i got my hair braided just before leaving for the states I promised him I'd take him to have his braided the next time I went. When we got into Leon, 2 other youth aged boys that help in the garden were here. Angel and Ceaser had been with the agricultural engineer at a large farm and decided to stay the night with Marvin and I. We went and got our hair done then played some video games. Today we walked around Leon because none of them have ever visted the city.

Yahaira, Julia, the boys, and I will all be leaving aorund 2 in the afternoon for the village. We will pass time with more of the youth and then have evening service. Julia is going to to spend her first night in the village with plans to sleep at Itzel's house. We will come back to Leon in the morning to see Tommy and Linda, and meet Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hunter. Then our whole team will be going out for Tommy to finish preaching his third night on the mini-series of forgiveness.

Hope you all have a great weekend and special Thanksgiving next week. For my family members, sorry I will miss you Thursday but know that I love each of you and I'm very thankful for all of your support and love for my mission here!

In Christ,
Jim Bob / Diego
John 15:13

Eddy Garcia's Funeral

Church numbers were down during Wednesday night service, with most people at the Garcia house. Daniel led worship and Tommy preached, then we all went to see Eddy. He passed away around 8 pm Wednesday, November 19. Over a hundred people from his family, church, and community attended the wake. The guys that I sleep with at the church and I left around midnight, but some people stayed until 4 and 5 the next morning.

I went along with some of the working boys and key men of the church to the cemetary a few hundred yards behind the church property at 8 am to help dig his grave and lay the block for the casket. Tommy. Scarleth, and Sergio helped get a casket from Leon and run other errands for the family.


Tommy led a funeral service at 3 in the afternoon that was very much attended. Our need for more plastic chairs was very evident. Friends and family alike shared there thoughts of Eddy and grief for his younger sisters and family. It was sad to see him go at such a young age, but I think everyone feels that it was time, and are happy to know that he will no longer be suffering here.

His neighbor, and one of our prayer leaders in the chuch, Jairo Salvari, shared some scripture and words at the grave side service. We love him and will surely miss him. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they cope with this loss.

Cony's 15th Birthday

This is the photostory I shared during Cony's Birthday Celebration and below you can see pictures and read about the event.

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I used some youth group money I had saved since we have held off on our Friday night activites to host a great celebration for Cony Vasquez last night, Tuesday, November 18. In Latin American culture, a girl's 15th birthday, or quinceanera, is recognized as the day she becomes a woman, and is a bigger celebration than weddings, or almost any other life milestone.

Over the weekend, I spoke with her family and friends to see if they had any plans, and they said they hadn't planned anything, and didn't think they could do anything financially. They helped give me some ideas, and together we put together an activity that we feeled honored Cony.

Her family rented the pink dress, common for a quinceanera, and her friends helped us decorate the church. We had curtains, balloons, and crepe paper attached to the perlinies. Tommy picked her family up in the truck and brought them down where all the friends were waiting. Tommy, Daniel, and I all danced with her, and then invited others to join in. Friends shared special words and songs with Cony, and I showed a video of pictures and video clips gathered of Cony.

We had a pinata, cake, soft drinks, and cookies at the church before loading the truck and heading into Chichigalpa. Cony had told us even if she wasn't having a party she just wanted to spend the evening in the parkl with her friends. So a group of a little over 20 went to Parque Ruben Dario and enjoyed ice cream and the new double decker Eskimo, and time together.

It was a fun night for Cony, her family, friends, and all of us from Leon. Please continue to keep the Garcia family in your prayers. Eddy is still in bed, with many friends around praying for him and supporting his family.

Pics of Cony's party coming soon!

Prayer Request

PLEASE pray for Eddy Garcia, a 14 year old boy in our youth group who has been very sick for years. He has Aplastic Anemia, a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. It has kept him between hospitals in Managua, and the village for the past few years. It has been a real struggle for his grandmother, who takes care of him, his younger sister, and cousin. The transportation costs and medical bills are a constant struggle for his family, and he often cannot leave home.

A year ago he died in the hospital and came back to life. This past weekend he has been in a hospital in Managua and they sent him home to Candelaria after the doctors said there is nothing more they can do. His family, friends, and church are all praying for him and his family as it appears he will be going to be with the Lord soon.

Please join with us in praying for the Garcia family, and Eddy specifically.

Youth House/Bakery Coming Along

Before leaving for the states, I left behind some donated money to get some of the youth house work done while I was gone. I was hoping to move into it as soon as it had electricity and secure windows, and doors the weekend that I got back from the states. I will actually be moving in sometime before Dec 1.

This week I have been out 4 days to see the progress they are making, and got some pictures in daylight. The secure windows are in place and 2 of the 5 door frames are complete. The walls have been built up and every room is secure with seperate/private entrances to each. All of the electric work is complete with the exception of faces on the light switches and power receptacles. This will be done as soon as all the walls are smoothed. About half of the walls are smoothed now, so I see myself moving in by November 30. I have packed my room in Leon and am ready to get out there as soon as possible.

Sergio has been overseeing the whole project, and has some of the church men and youth aged boys helping a friend of his from Leon lay the block and mix cement. The bakery is being built off the back of the house using what was the kitchen of the pastor's house to connect the youth house and the new structure that goes all the way to the border of the property. The walls of the bakery are about 16 feet tall and within the next week the metal purlinies should be in place to start attaching the roof.

Welcome Back Diego

So Tommy, Julia, and the 3 youth girls all wanted to hang around Leon because they didn't have school with elections yesterday: then parades, celebrations, and riots on Monday. They said they would rather just sit around and hangout at Tommy's house than go back to the village early in the afternoon. So we finally left around 5, and asked me to go with them to see how much of the electric work, doors, windows, finished walls had been done to the youth house and bakery in my 2.5 weeks out of Candelaria.

The girls had a cake that they said was going with us to thank Sergio for all his work on the house, and said a few of the guys would meet us down there since I hadn't seen them in 2.5 weeks. When we got to the church all the lights were out and I assumed power was off so I couldn't see house progress or anyone, but then they flipped the lights on and the whole church had been decorated as a welcome back party youth service for me. They had to delay me in Leon to give the other youth time to decorate and plan activites.



Julia and Itzel MCed and other youth shared special songs and dances. They let me speak about being back and tell some of the things I did on my trip. We had a limbo contest, high jump contest, and other activites. It was very fun to be together and see about 40 people and I didn't expect anything so the youth were very happy. The cake of course turned out to be for me, and as I went to blow out the candles, Itzel smashed it in my face, all the kids ate it afterwards anyways and I got to see some of the house progress in the dark.

GREAT TO BE BACK

I was so happy to get back home on Friday, November 7. I got into Leon between 5-6 and unpacked some things in my room. From here I went to find Tommy, Scarleth, Oscar, and Sergio of the NSMN staff. Tommy had also gone to pickup 3 of our youth to spend a weekend together in the city earlier in the afternoon. All of us went to eat at Hollywood Pizza and then walked around Leon. It was election weekend so there was a big crowd and live music at the central square.

Saturday we took a trip to Granada and Managua to bless Itzel, Cony, and Kenia from our youth group and bible study. We spent the afternoon at the lake and on top of Mombacho Volcano. In the evening we walked around the newest mall in Managua and the girls all got new dresses. We planned to watch a movie together at the nice theater, but the girls said they were to tired so we came back into Leon for the night.

With mayor elections Sunday, we couldn’t have church service, and schools were out Monday so we had more time getting to know the girls and building relationships. Sunday morning we had a bible study in Pastor Tommy’s living room, and asked the girls about there favorite parts of the weekend, what else they wanted to do with a day and a half left. We went to a swimming pool at a hotel in Leon for the afternoon, got dinner, and then watched a movie with popcorn at Tommy’s.

On Monday we hung around and had a lazy day until we went out for a “look at what they have done to the house, drop the girls off night” that turned out to be a welcome back Diego party.

IN THE STATES week 2

My parents and I made a road trip Saturday to visit with my dad’s parents in Lincolnton, GA. We got there in time to suffer through the Bulldogs horrible game against the Gators and then watched an awesome Texas Tech win over Texas.

Sunday morning we went to Goshen Baptist Church and my grandmother led Sunday school. I shared about my mission work in the service, and then we all had a big lunch back home. My parents left to return to North Carolina and I rode with my grandparents down to see my cousins in Apopka, FL. Some friends came over from Orlando and took me into the city for the night.

Monday and Tuesday I enjoyed time with my Orlando friends in the day and enjoyed the Steelers game on MNF, but then sat bored through the election Tuesday night.

Brittany and I traveled to Miami mid morning Wednesday and hung out at the beach and pool for the afternoon. We visited with other Miami friends Wednesday night, and all day Thursday.

Friday I flew out of Miami and got to Managua, Nicaragua around 2. All my stuff made it fine, and I bussed into Leon for the night.

For those of you that I missed seeing, and for all that I got to pass time with, during the 2 weeks I was in the states I hope our paths cross again soon. I have no plans of coming back into the states until September 2009, and unless something changes it will just be another short visit. If you get a chance to come down for a visit or short term mission trip, I would love to see you down here in Nicaragua.

IN THE STATES week 1

FIRST WEEKEND:
I flew back to the states for the first time since February 14, 2008 on Thursday, October 23. I flew into Raleigh and stayed the night with my sister. I came to Boone on Friday and spent time with the rest of my immediate family. I also had time to see my old roommates and stayed the night where I lived for the past 3 years before moving to Nicaragua.

I saw a lot of old teammates, college friends, my grandad, aunt and uncle at the ASU football game last Saturday, and we beat Furman! On Sunday, I spoke to the youth Sunday school class at FBC Boone, and shared for about 10 minutes in the morning service. It was great to see everyone from my home church, and know that they are always praying for NSMN and me. Sunday afternoon I got to spend time with my oldest sister, brother-in-law and nephew, while watching some NFL games.

FIRST WEEK:
On Monday, I met up with friends and got to play some pickup basketball; we took time catch-up on the past year as well. Tuesday morning, I spoke with Mrs. Shirley who will be putting an article in this years Journey magazine, coming out in the high country between mid Nov-mid Dec. I also had time Tuesday night to meet up with more friends.

Mom and I started some traveling on Wednesday. We went to Canten, NC in the afternoon to meet up with Heath, Big O, the Sellers family, and Pinnacles youth group at the Hub. I had a great time introducing my mom to all of my Pinnacle friends and then sharing somethings from my past 9 months with the youth. They are hoping to make a trip down this summer. We went on to Morganton, NC to spend the night with my mom's parents.

Thursday morning, I had some time to share with my grandparents, and some of Big Dad's friends. Mom and I left around noon for Greensboro to meet up with the rest of the family for my younger brother's last home soccer game. We got to meet up with Preston and Sandra Barnum for lunch in Winston-Salem, and enjoyed talking about future trips to Nicaragua this winter! I saw my dad's parents, and got more time with the family at the game and post game BBQ. We came back to Boone and I got to see a friend who came up from Charlotte.

Today, I will be packing as much as I can before more friends come into town from Asheville, and Charlotte for the ASU Wofford Halloween game tonight on ESPN2. I plan to have a great last day in North Carolina seeing as many more friends and family as possible, and hopefully a big ASU win!!!

COMING UP:
I'll finish packing tomorrow morning and ride with my parents to Lincolnton, GA where my dad's parents live. I'm speaking at their church Sunday morning and then riding down to Orlando, FL. I'll visit with friends in Orlando and Miami, until next Friday when I'll fly back home to Nicaragua!

By next weekend, I'll post "IN THE STATES week 2" for all that I have seen, thanks so much, it has been a blessing and for any I have missed I am truly sorry. I love you all and plan to be back sometime in September 2009. If you want to see me before that PLEASE come visit, I would love to see you, and the kids would too, but be careful IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!

God Bless,
Jim Bob / Diego