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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
NSMN July 2011
The following update can be read with pictures and html formatting by clicking here
Greetings and blessings to all of our faithful followers and supporters:
We would like to share with you about the amazing things the Lord is doing here in NW Nicaragua and with New Song Mission. We also want to present the needs of our general fund.
As all of our churches and ministries grow, our mission needs are also growing. We have noticed that in the last 3 months our general fund needs have well exceeded what our general fund gets in a month. General fund is what most people call the boring fund. It is what people least give to in a church or ministry of any size. It is the fund that covers overhead and basic operations, but it is also the fund that everything we do depends on. Without our general fund we have no mission. We are unable to have pastors on salary to keep them leading and teaching the churches. We have no way to: help children continue in school, see people 6 days a week in our medical dental clinic, or be legally represented before the Nicaragua government. We do not have a place for youth and adults to visit and share ministries with a lost nation.
God has blessed us in the past 2 weeks to get our general fund almost back to even with some large and much appreciated contributions. We are trusting Him to have us balanced by the end of July. We are presenting the opportunity for some one-time gifts toward our general fund, and hoping each of you will prayerfully consider donating. No gift is too little, rather it be 1-time or a monthly commitment. We are encouraging donors to commit to and send towards general mission needs each month: as power bills, cell phone bills, truck gas, pastor and staff salaries are not something we pay only in July, but each month.
Please make checks payable to:
New Song Mission Nicaragua
c/o Atlanta City Church
3355 Old Jonesboro Rd.
Fairburn, GA 30213
Give Online:
http://newsongmissionnicaragua.com/donate
Another, more exciting way to support our general fund, is by entering a chance to win a 1996 Firebird for $10! Evan Dixon has the event on facebook here: 1996 Firebird for $10. Contestants can enter to win as many times as they please. Each ticket is $10 and the raffle will be held at a New Song Mission Nicaragua Golf Tournament (details to follow). For full details on the car raffle please click here.
Please read below to hear about what God is doing here and what ways the general fund can continue to support all of the life and excitement that is building His kingdom in NW Nicaragua.
The rainy season has begun and it is a time that we are seeing new life, and changes. Speaking of new life and changes; most (if not all) of you probably know, one of our youth: 16 year old Anthony Cadena passed away April 19, 2011. The grieving process for this in our staff, youth, church, and partners is still in effect, but so many positive things have begun and are starting in our community, both young and old.
To read more into the lives being changed in a chapter of “Life after Death” visit the links below:
Barbara Coupe: Anthony’s Story: Death and Life
Aftermath: Anthony’s Legacy
Lisa Smith: closure.
Remembering Anthony: Stories
Ripples of FREEDOM
grateful.
Clara Copley: Forever My Friend
Whitney Foreman: I Will Fight for your Dreams
We are also in a season of growth and change with our mission staff. Currently our long term missionaries (listed in order of full-time service in Nicaragua) are:
Jim Bob “Diego” Norman: serving since Feb 2008: Make ‘em Smile
Lisa Smith: serving since Feb 2010: Bringing the Kingdom, Walking in Love
Barb Coupe: serving since Nov 2010: Barbara Coupe in Nicaragua
Whitney Foreman: serving since May 2011: Creo en ti
We have a local staff of nearly 20 Nicaraguans, as this update is written. God is stretching us to depend more on Him, and through trusting Him a new confidence is built in all of us. We have enjoyed seeing God take us to new places, and walking beside locals here growing in their responsibilities and love for the Lord.
Please take time to read more into the growth of our community, pastors, churches here:
Barbara Coupe: What is the Abundant Life Anyways?
Rainy Season Update: I Have a Moat
Lisa Smith: The Difference a Dad Makes
Jesus my Firm Foundatio
From Death to Life
Summer is always a time that we lots of teams and individuals making short and long term mission trips to help in a variety of ways. This summer has been no different. We have enjoyed seeing so many high school and college students give time from their summer break to serve others and feel God’s presence with us and the people of Candelaria, La Isla, Santa Matilde, and Nuevo Amanecer. World Race and Front Runner continue to work alongside us, and later in July we will have 2 more churches bringing a variety of ages and ministries to our churches and villages.
To see some pictures and hear stories from individuals and teams that have been with us this summer:
WR: I Love Nicaragua, Reflections, Lots of Pictures
Front Runner: Pics 1, Pics 3,
Calvary Boca: Pics
Jamie: Pics
Thanks for all of your continued prayer, interest, and support. We love all of you very much. Please email us at info@newsongnica.org with an interest in donating or making a trip down to see us. God is really pouring out his blessings with each afternoon shower, and we are all humbled to be playing a part.
New Song Mission Nicaragua
Sunday, April 3, 2011
NSMN New Hyundai Truck
Hello to all,
The following update is about our new mission truck! Thanks to all of you who partner with us here at New Song Mission Nicaragua.
The report can be read here in the email or to see the report with pictures click here to open a web browser.
New Song's New Hyundai Truck
Truck Fund Raiser and Purchase
As many of you know, our mission started raising awareness about the need for another vehicle in June 2010. God answered those prayers through many of you, and we want to thank you as we had enough funds in January of 2011 to start shopping. During the six months that we were raising funds, we had ideas of what kind of truck we wanted, but until we had the money in hand, we couldn’t guarantee someone would take us as a serious buyer.
After a lot of prayer, research, and searching we found a truck in Leon that we felt would best serve the mission during this season. We would like to extend a big thank you and much gratitude to Larry Sellers and Alex Marin who found the truck that would later become our mission vehicle.
Upon finding the truck and taking interest in it, Larry and some locals got to test drive and have our mechanic give it a full check-up. Everything turned out to be in good shape, and the price was unbeatable. Larry presented the board with the details, and we made an offer. On Friday, March 4, 2010 New Song Mission Nicaragua bought a large flatbed truck for $5,900.00. The mission’s newest vehicle is a 1999 Hyundai, blue, 5-speed, diesel, single-cab truck with a large flat bed. A month later, after a few trips and trials, we present this report with much joy and thanks.
Change of plans to fit Mission Needs
The original plan was to get a second vehicle for the mission’s growth, and outreach to our satellite churches. The Mazda truck was commonly getting caught up with so many projects in Candelaria, and was giving trouble on any trips long distance. We had plans of getting a 2004-2006 Toyota Hilux around $13,500.00, that would work well visiting the outreaches and do well for traveling longer distances where the Mazda had problems.
More growth in our close churches has put a need on the mission to haul more people to services, funerals, and events. We have also had God bless our mission with many short term teams and interns from the United States. A pick-up would limit the space for hauling people and meeting the needs of the season the mission was facing. We contacted the largest donors towards the truck project, and they felt very good about a large-bed truck, including one supporter, that made a trip here to search with us.
Getting the truck at a lower price than expected, has also given us funds to add on and maintain this vehicle and the Mazda truck. These decisions were also agreed on by supporters. There is a day, the Mazda will need to be replaced, or we could trade it in and use the extra funds towards a newer pick-up truck. Having both styles is very helpful to the various needs the mission presents each day.
Lots of use in 1 month
In the past month, we have added a large rack to the truck that allows people a safe place to sit or stand while traveling. We will get a custom tarp for the rack during the rainy season. We have racked the spare tires on the rack of the cab; complete with chain and lock, and put a chassis and lock on the battery. The cab has a small cargo space behind the seats, with wrenches, a jack, and liquids. The truck and its accessories are stocked and secure.
In a month’s time the truck has helped us bring people from La Isla and Nuevo Amanacer to church services. It made a 3 hour trip last weekend to take 23 youth on an amazing retreat in the mountains around Matagalpa, and carried some pastors and leaders to the beach last Monday for some rest and recovery. It has run errands with American groups, and taken people to funerals and to visit the sick. It has been a blessing in this first month, and we expect it to be a great help to our mission efforts for years to come. We have hired a professional driver, Evert, who is Bismark’s brother-in-law. For the past 3 weeks he has been very reliable, punctual, and safe, God blessed us with him as well.
Thanks again, and see you soon!
In closing, we want to thank you for your interest in this project and everything our mission is working to accomplish. For those who have helped make this possible through prayers, awareness, and giving we truly thank you. If you are interested in more pictures or updates on the truck or other projects, please let us know. If you are wanting to go for a ride: please make a mission trip down and let this truck, that you helped provide the mission, provide you transportation around Nicaragua and New Song’s churches.
The following update is about our new mission truck! Thanks to all of you who partner with us here at New Song Mission Nicaragua.
The report can be read here in the email or to see the report with pictures click here to open a web browser.
New Song's New Hyundai Truck
Truck Fund Raiser and Purchase
As many of you know, our mission started raising awareness about the need for another vehicle in June 2010. God answered those prayers through many of you, and we want to thank you as we had enough funds in January of 2011 to start shopping. During the six months that we were raising funds, we had ideas of what kind of truck we wanted, but until we had the money in hand, we couldn’t guarantee someone would take us as a serious buyer.
After a lot of prayer, research, and searching we found a truck in Leon that we felt would best serve the mission during this season. We would like to extend a big thank you and much gratitude to Larry Sellers and Alex Marin who found the truck that would later become our mission vehicle.
Upon finding the truck and taking interest in it, Larry and some locals got to test drive and have our mechanic give it a full check-up. Everything turned out to be in good shape, and the price was unbeatable. Larry presented the board with the details, and we made an offer. On Friday, March 4, 2010 New Song Mission Nicaragua bought a large flatbed truck for $5,900.00. The mission’s newest vehicle is a 1999 Hyundai, blue, 5-speed, diesel, single-cab truck with a large flat bed. A month later, after a few trips and trials, we present this report with much joy and thanks.
Change of plans to fit Mission Needs
The original plan was to get a second vehicle for the mission’s growth, and outreach to our satellite churches. The Mazda truck was commonly getting caught up with so many projects in Candelaria, and was giving trouble on any trips long distance. We had plans of getting a 2004-2006 Toyota Hilux around $13,500.00, that would work well visiting the outreaches and do well for traveling longer distances where the Mazda had problems.
More growth in our close churches has put a need on the mission to haul more people to services, funerals, and events. We have also had God bless our mission with many short term teams and interns from the United States. A pick-up would limit the space for hauling people and meeting the needs of the season the mission was facing. We contacted the largest donors towards the truck project, and they felt very good about a large-bed truck, including one supporter, that made a trip here to search with us.
Getting the truck at a lower price than expected, has also given us funds to add on and maintain this vehicle and the Mazda truck. These decisions were also agreed on by supporters. There is a day, the Mazda will need to be replaced, or we could trade it in and use the extra funds towards a newer pick-up truck. Having both styles is very helpful to the various needs the mission presents each day.
Lots of use in 1 month
In the past month, we have added a large rack to the truck that allows people a safe place to sit or stand while traveling. We will get a custom tarp for the rack during the rainy season. We have racked the spare tires on the rack of the cab; complete with chain and lock, and put a chassis and lock on the battery. The cab has a small cargo space behind the seats, with wrenches, a jack, and liquids. The truck and its accessories are stocked and secure.
In a month’s time the truck has helped us bring people from La Isla and Nuevo Amanacer to church services. It made a 3 hour trip last weekend to take 23 youth on an amazing retreat in the mountains around Matagalpa, and carried some pastors and leaders to the beach last Monday for some rest and recovery. It has run errands with American groups, and taken people to funerals and to visit the sick. It has been a blessing in this first month, and we expect it to be a great help to our mission efforts for years to come. We have hired a professional driver, Evert, who is Bismark’s brother-in-law. For the past 3 weeks he has been very reliable, punctual, and safe, God blessed us with him as well.
Thanks again, and see you soon!
In closing, we want to thank you for your interest in this project and everything our mission is working to accomplish. For those who have helped make this possible through prayers, awareness, and giving we truly thank you. If you are interested in more pictures or updates on the truck or other projects, please let us know. If you are wanting to go for a ride: please make a mission trip down and let this truck, that you helped provide the mission, provide you transportation around Nicaragua and New Song’s churches.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
NSMN Food Project Report
Feed the Hungry and Food Staple Store
Our cry for help
Around the middle of October 2010, we informed many people through emails and blogs about the food crisis our community was hit with, and the response was unbelievable. You can see the video here: We were able to help people of our community for six weeks, donating food staples until the workers were able to re-enter the San Antonio Sugar Cane Plantation. Your generous donations were able to feed families for that final month of winter, until they had work again to provide for themselves, and we thank each of you for that.
The answer
God answered the call through many of you, and over $3,500.00 came in to support our “Food for the Hungry Project.” We want to also let you know how this project has grown and become a real blessing to our community and our mission. We told the Nicaraguans that we would be helping them in this desperate time of need with free food, but we also told them that when the first paychecks started in late November, we would no longer be offering free food, as to keep from hurting people with our help in a welfare system. We told them we would still stock provision that they could buy for cheap.
The stats
By the first week of December, we had provided $1,800.00 worth of provision: rice, beans, oil, sugar, and salt. Based on a help of $10.00 per family per week, your donations provided 30 families food for 6 weeks! Now we wanted to continue blessing the community, with a project that would last, and not see what was raised for the project be gone in just a 2 month time. We bought some big plastic barrels and built some shelves in our church bodega to create more space. Then we bought 200 pounds of rice and 200 pounds of beans, along with (3) 5-gallon buckets of vegetable oil.
Our daytime guard, Julio Rodriguez, said he was fine to weigh and receive payment for people coming to purchase from the pulperia, and when the supply was low he would let the mission know, so that a new supply could be bought with the money that was made in sales. We buy in bulk to get the best price we can on rice, beans, and oil of mid quality; we then offer it on our property for the same price we bought it at in small quantities only adding transportation to the cost. This allows the community to receive products at an affordable price, but the project itself doesn’t lose money. Julio receives rice, beans, and oil weekly for running the store, and other widows and families in real need are still blessed from time to time.
It took people a little while to begin shopping with us, we were stocking 3 times a month in December and January, but now in February and March we are stocking 6 times a month. In other words, we have around 200 pounds of rice, 200 pounds of beans, and 15 gallons of oil come in and out every 5 days!
How the community is still able to provide
For those of you thinking this sounds like nothing more than a Wal-Mart that came to town and offers the lowest prices, and the small corner stores in the area are now without sales, allow us to elaborate. Our mission knows about times when helping is actually hurting, and we have learned from our mistakes and others’ mistakes. Locals started asking us when would start offering ketchup and other sauces in our store; others wanted to know when we would sale soap, shampoo, and other hygiene products. If things are working well with rice, beans, and oil why not add more. We want to provide the essentials and nothing more. Our little store is a ministry and in it you can buy the food staples. We do not want to expand. We also will not allow any buying on credit. The other little stores offer credit, and then high interest, we will not do it! If someone cannot buy from us, they are able to go buy on credit and help the other little stores around us. If they want a higher grade rice, bean, or oil they can also go to the other local stores. For their needs more than rice, beans, and oil we also encourage them to shop with their neighbors because we not want to take in all the business. We want to offer the best price there is through buying in bulk and charging no gain more than the transportation.
What’s even better?
The first 2000 pounds of rice was grown by the garden workers on our property in Candelaria, and the next 4000 pounds of rice (which we are currently selling) is from the other 2 church properties within our mission in Santa Matilde and La Isla. So those workers are selling their products to the local community, through our mission.
What’s even more?
The sales are out of the bodega attached to our church building, on our mission’s largest piece of property. So every person that comes to buy is seeing our dance team, baseball team, softball team, clinic, and other life happening all around them as they place and receive their food order.
The project is very simple, and we hope to keep it that way. We are humbled by the donations you all made to the project, and overjoyed seeing people come on to our property and having their needs met, through food and spirit. The project has run the last four weeks, turning the same sales into another bulk buy and resale; thanks for your interest and answering the call. Stay alert for the update of our new mission truck coming soon!
Our cry for help
Around the middle of October 2010, we informed many people through emails and blogs about the food crisis our community was hit with, and the response was unbelievable. You can see the video here: We were able to help people of our community for six weeks, donating food staples until the workers were able to re-enter the San Antonio Sugar Cane Plantation. Your generous donations were able to feed families for that final month of winter, until they had work again to provide for themselves, and we thank each of you for that.
The answer
God answered the call through many of you, and over $3,500.00 came in to support our “Food for the Hungry Project.” We want to also let you know how this project has grown and become a real blessing to our community and our mission. We told the Nicaraguans that we would be helping them in this desperate time of need with free food, but we also told them that when the first paychecks started in late November, we would no longer be offering free food, as to keep from hurting people with our help in a welfare system. We told them we would still stock provision that they could buy for cheap.
The stats
By the first week of December, we had provided $1,800.00 worth of provision: rice, beans, oil, sugar, and salt. Based on a help of $10.00 per family per week, your donations provided 30 families food for 6 weeks! Now we wanted to continue blessing the community, with a project that would last, and not see what was raised for the project be gone in just a 2 month time. We bought some big plastic barrels and built some shelves in our church bodega to create more space. Then we bought 200 pounds of rice and 200 pounds of beans, along with (3) 5-gallon buckets of vegetable oil.
Our daytime guard, Julio Rodriguez, said he was fine to weigh and receive payment for people coming to purchase from the pulperia, and when the supply was low he would let the mission know, so that a new supply could be bought with the money that was made in sales. We buy in bulk to get the best price we can on rice, beans, and oil of mid quality; we then offer it on our property for the same price we bought it at in small quantities only adding transportation to the cost. This allows the community to receive products at an affordable price, but the project itself doesn’t lose money. Julio receives rice, beans, and oil weekly for running the store, and other widows and families in real need are still blessed from time to time.
It took people a little while to begin shopping with us, we were stocking 3 times a month in December and January, but now in February and March we are stocking 6 times a month. In other words, we have around 200 pounds of rice, 200 pounds of beans, and 15 gallons of oil come in and out every 5 days!
How the community is still able to provide
For those of you thinking this sounds like nothing more than a Wal-Mart that came to town and offers the lowest prices, and the small corner stores in the area are now without sales, allow us to elaborate. Our mission knows about times when helping is actually hurting, and we have learned from our mistakes and others’ mistakes. Locals started asking us when would start offering ketchup and other sauces in our store; others wanted to know when we would sale soap, shampoo, and other hygiene products. If things are working well with rice, beans, and oil why not add more. We want to provide the essentials and nothing more. Our little store is a ministry and in it you can buy the food staples. We do not want to expand. We also will not allow any buying on credit. The other little stores offer credit, and then high interest, we will not do it! If someone cannot buy from us, they are able to go buy on credit and help the other little stores around us. If they want a higher grade rice, bean, or oil they can also go to the other local stores. For their needs more than rice, beans, and oil we also encourage them to shop with their neighbors because we not want to take in all the business. We want to offer the best price there is through buying in bulk and charging no gain more than the transportation.
What’s even better?
The first 2000 pounds of rice was grown by the garden workers on our property in Candelaria, and the next 4000 pounds of rice (which we are currently selling) is from the other 2 church properties within our mission in Santa Matilde and La Isla. So those workers are selling their products to the local community, through our mission.
What’s even more?
The sales are out of the bodega attached to our church building, on our mission’s largest piece of property. So every person that comes to buy is seeing our dance team, baseball team, softball team, clinic, and other life happening all around them as they place and receive their food order.
The project is very simple, and we hope to keep it that way. We are humbled by the donations you all made to the project, and overjoyed seeing people come on to our property and having their needs met, through food and spirit. The project has run the last four weeks, turning the same sales into another bulk buy and resale; thanks for your interest and answering the call. Stay alert for the update of our new mission truck coming soon!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Links
i want to share a few links with you all, as I have taken on other mission responsibilities, and as you can easily see have not had the time to update this blog in the past year...I am truly sorry to those of you who have been following, and have not seen any updates...I am praying for a time to open up to get this blog and my personal website more regularly updated.
Lisa Smith and Barbara Coupe are full time missionaries with us, and are both very talented writers...They share pictures and stories often
Lisa Smith: http://lisasmith.myadventures.org/
Barbara Coupe: http://newsongmissionnicaragua.com/barbcoupe
They have some pictures on facebook, that are public, and others that show to their facebook friends...so please follow them their as well:
Lisa Pics: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=686055203&sk=photos
Barbara Pics: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=563297447&sk=photos
NewSong Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/newsongnica
Newsong website (getting updated now): http://www.newsongnica.org
I am sorry that some of these updates will not be in my own words, and i am honored to know that people still follow me here...Please enjoy these places to follow New Song Mission Nicaragua and all God is doing here!!!
email me personally whenever you want a specific update or just to stay in touch, i love hearing from all of you back home, and pray God is blessing you and your families in these difficult times
In Christ,
Jim Bob "Diego" Norman
Lisa Smith and Barbara Coupe are full time missionaries with us, and are both very talented writers...They share pictures and stories often
Lisa Smith: http://lisasmith.myadventures.org/
Barbara Coupe: http://newsongmissionnicaragua.com/barbcoupe
They have some pictures on facebook, that are public, and others that show to their facebook friends...so please follow them their as well:
Lisa Pics: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=686055203&sk=photos
Barbara Pics: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=563297447&sk=photos
NewSong Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/newsongnica
Newsong website (getting updated now): http://www.newsongnica.org
I am sorry that some of these updates will not be in my own words, and i am honored to know that people still follow me here...Please enjoy these places to follow New Song Mission Nicaragua and all God is doing here!!!
email me personally whenever you want a specific update or just to stay in touch, i love hearing from all of you back home, and pray God is blessing you and your families in these difficult times
In Christ,
Jim Bob "Diego" Norman
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