Nicaragua Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all...sorry this is a day late, I have been busy getting things ready for my move to the village...I had planned to move as soon as I got back but not everything was ready at the house...it is really coming along now and will be ready very soon...I am moving out of Leon Sunday and will start Dec 1 being on the land full time.

I hope each of you are having a great time with your family this holiday weekend, and have plenty to be thankful for.

Things I am thankful for happening here this holiday season are:

Thursday 27: Jose Ramon Rodriguez, one of the leaders in my youth group, had his high school graduation yesterday, he invited Tommy, Linda, Julia, and I to be there with him and his mom and then to the graduating class after graudation celebration.

Friday 28: We are heading out at 2 with Carlos Zapato, a 19 -year old from Leon, who has been helping me with the youth the past 2 weeks...He leads drama, dance, and enjoys the time with the youth. He has a heart to serve by ourside in our youth ministry totally volunteer. He is my most recent blessing, and I thank God for him.

Saturday 29: I am using youth funds to bring 35-40 of our 14-22 year olds in for a Alex Campos and Remini2 concert at the baseball stadium in Leon. Both artists are well known Spanish Contemporary/Reggaeton Christian groups, they wil spend the night in Leon and head back Sunday morning for Sunday school. Pray that this event will touch our youth in a special way and that the Holy Spirit will get them on fire for our new weekly youth service beginning next Friday!

Sunday 30: I will be packing everything and moving out of the place I have stayed 9 months, to be with my youth group full time. I am thankful for the place I have had in Leon, and also for the great opportunity ahead being an influence and friend living with the people I have been sent here to serve.

Happy Thanksgiving, I love you, May God bless your family and give you safe travel this weekend.

Thanks for all your love, prayers, and support.
Jim Bob "Diego" Norman
John 15:13

Summer Break Begins

Summer break has begun for the kids and the past week has been fun, but tiring. The bible study Tuesday and Thursday mornings numbers are up, with no one missing for morning classes. Lots of people are around the land helping with our projects. We are hoping to have the youth house complete and the clinic completely finished by the end of the year. The men are working everyday on the clinic, and the boys on the youth house.

Tommy finished his mini-series on Forgiveness Sunday night and started a new series on Faith & Trust this past Wednesday. His longtime newlywed, friend, Ben Hunter, came in this past Saturday with his wife Jennifer. Ben, Mincho here, has been an awesome part of God's work here. He is the main reason we have a church shelter in Candelaria, and helped us with our last youth retreat. They have enjoyed visiting with some of the youth he met and has kept up with since his first trip here 6 years ago.

Susan Hall and Jessalyn Moore are also with us this week from Atlanta City Church in Georgia. Jessalyn came with the group of 6 doing dramas this past summer and has adopted Marylaysi Vega. She came to see her and help her family with her preschool gradution coming up next Friday. Susan does our accounting work from ACC and is here to serve and visit in the community as well as help explain PowerChurch software better to Oscar and myself. We have taken time this week to work on finances with her, and will practice more as the week continues. The kids absolutely love playing with both of these young ladies.

We are also staying busy with graduations this week. There are graduations for children after preschool, 6th grade, and 5th year high school. Carlos is having dance and drama practice twice a week, as we are getting ready to start a weekly youth service Friday nights with more of a church service feeling.

Yo te Extranare

here is the video I made and showed at Sunday service to honor Eddy's family


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below are the lyrics to the song used for the video
Tercer Cielo-Yo Te Extranare

I will miss you, take it as insurance
They were beautiful, so many people and the moments that I lived with you
The details, the small ones, things that seemed not so important for you
They are those who invade my mind the most when I remember you

I hope he could return for some time
To meet again
To give you a hug
And to never come undone

I understand that your time has come
That God has called you, to be next to you
This is the way he wanted it, but I never thought
That it would hurt so much

Do not cry for me
I am in a place full of light
Where peace exists, where there is no wickedness
Where I can rest

Do not cry for me
It is beautiful here like I never imagined
I want you to be happy, and know that you are fine
And when it is time for you to divide, I hope to see you here

I will miss you, take it as insurance
Now knowing that the life can end in a second
That life is as dust; it can scatter in a moment
Nothing can be brought here only what exists inside yourself.

I hope he could return the time
To meet again
To give you a hug
And to never come undone

More I understand that your time comes
That god has called you, to be next to you
This way he wanted it, but I never thought
That was hurting so much

Do not cry already for me
I am in a place full of light
Where peace exists, where there is no nastiness
Where I can rest

Do not cry for me
They are beautiful here never imagine
I want that you are happy, that you are fine
And when I had you to divide, I hope to see you here

I WILL MISS YOU TAKE IT AS INSURANCE...

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.

Youth House/Bakery Coming Along

Before leaving for the states, I left behind some donated money to get some of the youth house work done while I was gone. I was hoping to move into it as soon as it had electricity and secure windows, and doors the weekend that I got back from the states. I will actually be moving in sometime before Dec 1.

This week I have been out 4 days to see the progress they are making, and got some pictures in daylight. The secure windows are in place and 2 of the 5 door frames are complete. The walls have been built up and every room is secure with seperate/private entrances to each. All of the electric work is complete with the exception of faces on the light switches and power receptacles. This will be done as soon as all the walls are smoothed. About half of the walls are smoothed now, so I see myself moving in by November 30. I have packed my room in Leon and am ready to get out there as soon as possible.

Sergio has been overseeing the whole project, and has some of the church men and youth aged boys helping a friend of his from Leon lay the block and mix cement. The bakery is being built off the back of the house using what was the kitchen of the pastor's house to connect the youth house and the new structure that goes all the way to the border of the property. The walls of the bakery are about 16 feet tall and within the next week the metal purlinies should be in place to start attaching the roof.

Welcome Back Diego

So Tommy, Julia, and the 3 youth girls all wanted to hang around Leon because they didn't have school with elections yesterday: then parades, celebrations, and riots on Monday. They said they would rather just sit around and hangout at Tommy's house than go back to the village early in the afternoon. So we finally left around 5, and asked me to go with them to see how much of the electric work, doors, windows, finished walls had been done to the youth house and bakery in my 2.5 weeks out of Candelaria.

The girls had a cake that they said was going with us to thank Sergio for all his work on the house, and said a few of the guys would meet us down there since I hadn't seen them in 2.5 weeks. When we got to the church all the lights were out and I assumed power was off so I couldn't see house progress or anyone, but then they flipped the lights on and the whole church had been decorated as a welcome back party youth service for me. They had to delay me in Leon to give the other youth time to decorate and plan activites.



Julia and Itzel MCed and other youth shared special songs and dances. They let me speak about being back and tell some of the things I did on my trip. We had a limbo contest, high jump contest, and other activites. It was very fun to be together and see about 40 people and I didn't expect anything so the youth were very happy. The cake of course turned out to be for me, and as I went to blow out the candles, Itzel smashed it in my face, all the kids ate it afterwards anyways and I got to see some of the house progress in the dark.

GREAT TO BE BACK

I was so happy to get back home on Friday, November 7. I got into Leon between 5-6 and unpacked some things in my room. From here I went to find Tommy, Scarleth, Oscar, and Sergio of the NSMN staff. Tommy had also gone to pickup 3 of our youth to spend a weekend together in the city earlier in the afternoon. All of us went to eat at Hollywood Pizza and then walked around Leon. It was election weekend so there was a big crowd and live music at the central square.

Saturday we took a trip to Granada and Managua to bless Itzel, Cony, and Kenia from our youth group and bible study. We spent the afternoon at the lake and on top of Mombacho Volcano. In the evening we walked around the newest mall in Managua and the girls all got new dresses. We planned to watch a movie together at the nice theater, but the girls said they were to tired so we came back into Leon for the night.

With mayor elections Sunday, we couldn’t have church service, and schools were out Monday so we had more time getting to know the girls and building relationships. Sunday morning we had a bible study in Pastor Tommy’s living room, and asked the girls about there favorite parts of the weekend, what else they wanted to do with a day and a half left. We went to a swimming pool at a hotel in Leon for the afternoon, got dinner, and then watched a movie with popcorn at Tommy’s.

On Monday we hung around and had a lazy day until we went out for a “look at what they have done to the house, drop the girls off night” that turned out to be a welcome back Diego party.

IN THE STATES week 2

My parents and I made a road trip Saturday to visit with my dad’s parents in Lincolnton, GA. We got there in time to suffer through the Bulldogs horrible game against the Gators and then watched an awesome Texas Tech win over Texas.

Sunday morning we went to Goshen Baptist Church and my grandmother led Sunday school. I shared about my mission work in the service, and then we all had a big lunch back home. My parents left to return to North Carolina and I rode with my grandparents down to see my cousins in Apopka, FL. Some friends came over from Orlando and took me into the city for the night.

Monday and Tuesday I enjoyed time with my Orlando friends in the day and enjoyed the Steelers game on MNF, but then sat bored through the election Tuesday night.

Brittany and I traveled to Miami mid morning Wednesday and hung out at the beach and pool for the afternoon. We visited with other Miami friends Wednesday night, and all day Thursday.

Friday I flew out of Miami and got to Managua, Nicaragua around 2. All my stuff made it fine, and I bussed into Leon for the night.

For those of you that I missed seeing, and for all that I got to pass time with, during the 2 weeks I was in the states I hope our paths cross again soon. I have no plans of coming back into the states until September 2009, and unless something changes it will just be another short visit. If you get a chance to come down for a visit or short term mission trip, I would love to see you down here in Nicaragua.

IN THE STATES week 1

FIRST WEEKEND:
I flew back to the states for the first time since February 14, 2008 on Thursday, October 23. I flew into Raleigh and stayed the night with my sister. I came to Boone on Friday and spent time with the rest of my immediate family. I also had time to see my old roommates and stayed the night where I lived for the past 3 years before moving to Nicaragua.

I saw a lot of old teammates, college friends, my grandad, aunt and uncle at the ASU football game last Saturday, and we beat Furman! On Sunday, I spoke to the youth Sunday school class at FBC Boone, and shared for about 10 minutes in the morning service. It was great to see everyone from my home church, and know that they are always praying for NSMN and me. Sunday afternoon I got to spend time with my oldest sister, brother-in-law and nephew, while watching some NFL games.

FIRST WEEK:
On Monday, I met up with friends and got to play some pickup basketball; we took time catch-up on the past year as well. Tuesday morning, I spoke with Mrs. Shirley who will be putting an article in this years Journey magazine, coming out in the high country between mid Nov-mid Dec. I also had time Tuesday night to meet up with more friends.

Mom and I started some traveling on Wednesday. We went to Canten, NC in the afternoon to meet up with Heath, Big O, the Sellers family, and Pinnacles youth group at the Hub. I had a great time introducing my mom to all of my Pinnacle friends and then sharing somethings from my past 9 months with the youth. They are hoping to make a trip down this summer. We went on to Morganton, NC to spend the night with my mom's parents.

Thursday morning, I had some time to share with my grandparents, and some of Big Dad's friends. Mom and I left around noon for Greensboro to meet up with the rest of the family for my younger brother's last home soccer game. We got to meet up with Preston and Sandra Barnum for lunch in Winston-Salem, and enjoyed talking about future trips to Nicaragua this winter! I saw my dad's parents, and got more time with the family at the game and post game BBQ. We came back to Boone and I got to see a friend who came up from Charlotte.

Today, I will be packing as much as I can before more friends come into town from Asheville, and Charlotte for the ASU Wofford Halloween game tonight on ESPN2. I plan to have a great last day in North Carolina seeing as many more friends and family as possible, and hopefully a big ASU win!!!

COMING UP:
I'll finish packing tomorrow morning and ride with my parents to Lincolnton, GA where my dad's parents live. I'm speaking at their church Sunday morning and then riding down to Orlando, FL. I'll visit with friends in Orlando and Miami, until next Friday when I'll fly back home to Nicaragua!

By next weekend, I'll post "IN THE STATES week 2" for all that I have seen, thanks so much, it has been a blessing and for any I have missed I am truly sorry. I love you all and plan to be back sometime in September 2009. If you want to see me before that PLEASE come visit, I would love to see you, and the kids would too, but be careful IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!

God Bless,
Jim Bob / Diego