SEPTEMBER

i am so sorry to those of you who have checked throughout the month hoping to get updates here...we are in a huge transition time and i just havent taken time to update those of you who arent in my bulk email list:

September has been a wild month and we are hoping it is all for the good! After the baptisms at the pool, the following weekend I baptized 4 youth at the ocean on the last day of the world race girls time in Nicaragua!

They were so awesome in really bringing our youth group along spiritually. They lived in the unfinished clinic and poured out love in a Bible study twice a week and thoughout each day. They helped bring out the most serious youth from our big Friday Night services and those are the ones who have most recently been baptized.

Since they left Tommy, Linda, Yaihaira, and I are continuing the Bible Study Tuesday and Thursday mornings and focusing all of our discipling into these interested baby Christians.

We are no longer doing the Friday Nights with 100-120 youth which seems to be just games for 100 nonChristians and headaches for all of us from NewSong. We have done an 18 person 3 day beach youth retreat, and a night out in Chichigalpa with our serious group the past 2 weeks. Tommy's Sunday sermons are more focused towards this group as well.

The Gables and I are taking Spanish classes 4 times a week with our newest NewSong employee, Sergio...he has been awesome in his first month helping us as an interpreter, disciple, teacher, and so much more!

Pastor Jose is retiring and his family and he will be moving to Bethel the last week of October. Tommy is praying and working towards who to put in as the Candelaria pastor in the future, but knows right now no one is ready to take that on. Daniel, Walter, and Eduardo will take on some of the load rotating we think to help in this transition.

I will be returing to the States for the first time since February 14th October 23. I will visit family and friends in North Carolina for 8-9 days. And then seeing some friends and family in Florida a couple days before returning to Nicaragua by November 7.

Upon return, Tommy and NewSong will be putting me in as Youth Pastor of Candelaria. I will be moving into the Pastor's house and living on the land 7 days a week. I am very excited for my time to visit in the states, but even more so moving to Candelaria to be with the youth as much as possible.

Sorry as always that I'm falling behind on updating here, but I am hoping to get internet in Candelaria in November and keep in touch with everyone from there.

Love and Miss you all!
DIEGO
john 15:13