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.