My Decision to Return Feb 14

During my family's drive home the next day I told them about some things I had brainstormed to get some money up and head back and make a difference in the villages. I told them if I went to Hawaii and then got a job all I would think is what I'm not doing in Nicaragaua. At this point, I knew Hawaii was not calling for me like Candelaria, so my focus turned to getting back there as soon as possible.

I decided I would be self funded and start a non-profit organization to raise money for bikes, school supplies, and any other needs. Brainstorming other areas that people might want to help. I contacted Tommy and Linda, and they had no problem with me moving there as soon as I could and stay indefinitely. They also offered for me to help with their website and some promotional videos to invite more people to adopt families or plan a week long mission trip. I also wanted to, as a future plan, begin a computer lab and teach the people to use computers to benefit their education and for entertainment.

Since returning to Boone, I have been visiting with friends, saying goodbyes, and taking care of doctors appointments. I have been doing odd job computer work and setting up websites that I will continue to manage from Nicaragua. This work will help me stay funded for the first month or two. I have also been in touch with Linda via email and phone often making arrangements to live as cheap as possible once I return.

I have been brainstorming more and have created this blog to start spreading the word. I will be leaving in 2 weeks and have had many people offer clothes and some funding to get started.

I want to thank my parents and the rest of my family, the Gables, and First Baptist Church of Boone for all of the support and advice over the past 2 weeks and know they will continue it until I depart and even more when I am back in Nicaragua.

I hope that YOU will let me know if there is anyway YOU can help me before I leave-rather it be: prayer, computer work, website hosting and management, or any type of donation.

Feel free to contact me at jimbobnorman@gmail.com
or on cell at 828.964.2031
I will have internet access and email there, but no phone.

Thanks for looking and God Bless You!

My Family Mission Trip Jan 10-Jan 17

I graduated from ASU in December 2007 and before finding work i had planned to return to Hawaii to do a 3 month mission trip that I did for 10 days in summer 2005. My mom, Teresa Norman, setup a mission trip for herself, my dad, Dan Norman, her father, John Greene, and myself. Tommy and Linda Gable spoke at FBC Boone, and right away my mom said we were going.

I was excitied about going there but considered it just a week long graduation present slash mission trip in warm weather away from January in Boone. I was more excited about my return trip to Hawaii planned for February 1st, but was going to make the best of my family time and trip to southern Central America.

The first few days went well, and I was enjoying the trip. The semester of Spanish I took in my last semester got me by, but luckily we had interpreters as well. I feel in love with all four interpreters as well as Tommy and Linda after only 3 days. Each day was becoming more fun, and the kids were growing on me too.

Near weeks end I was not ready to leave, and knew that I would miss everyone there. My parents had already said we would plan to come back next January and I was all for it. On our last day, my parents as well as myself chose a family a piece to adopt and send monthly money for school uniforms and supplies.

We said our goodbyes in a Wednesday night evening service, and let them all know how much we will miss each and everyone of them. When I spoke, my emotions got the best of me, and I was weeping in front of the entire congregation. The youth boys, whom i worked with mostly, came to comfort me while Pastor Jose prayed for me.

I was in tears for a while on our trip from the villages back to the city our hotel was in, and felt a calling to come back in a year or sooner if the funds were right. We flew out the next morning, and I could still feel the tug. During the night flight from Miami to Raleigh, I just looked out the window and
did all I could to hold back the tears. I began brainstorming how I could possibly make it back earlier than a year.



Click here to see our family blog for the Mission Trip or visit any of the other links in the right hand navigation. All 23 links listed under the photo albums are from our trip. If you have any questions feel free to comment here or send me an email at: jimbobnorman@gmail.com.

The Start of New Song "Mission Nicaragua"

Nicaragua is a poverty stricken country plagued by a history of war and natural disasters. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated the lives of the people who live near the city of Leon. One million refugees were left homeless and virtually unemployed. Since that time, much relief work has been done, but many people, especially those in the rural villages and inner cities remain destitute materially.

In January of 2002, Pastor Tom Gable of New Song Church of Asheville, visited this area in Nicaragua with a local mission group. His heart was touched and charmed by the faith, friendliness, and joy of the Nicaraguan people. A native pastor, Jose Matamoris, asked Tom for help in starting a new church in the village of Candelaria. Tom, his wife Linda and some friends eagerly took on this exciting project and began sending teams to help with the many needs of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd Church.

Thus, "Mission Nicaragua" was born!

God called this mission forth and He sustains it. No one set out to start a mission in Nicaragua; each one who has responded to God's call started out with the idea of making one short term mission trip! All of us are weak and inexperienced vessels, broken and poured out for the people of Nicaragua. God is leading and providing and doing the work, because in ourselves we are nothing and have nothing to offer. We are constantly amazed at how God sends funds by touching the hearts of individual people and churches to partner with us financially. We give all the credit to Him.