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.