25 Years & 18 Months

Greetings to all…I hope your summer is going as great as ours is here in Candelaria. On July 2, I turned 25 years old, and July 10 marked 18 months from the day I first placed foot in Nicaragua. This summer has been a blast so far! Since May 17th we have had nearly 40 Americans visiting, ministering, and living on the land. Thanks to everyone who as a part of contributing to get our youth house/dorm livable to host all these groups. The house has 5 beds, 2 showers, and 2 flush toilets, and lots of room for others to sleep in tents and sleeping bags in empty rooms.

Many of these American youth have helped us in projects around the land including:

• The youth house and kitchen are coming along, and very busy
• We have a goat house under construction for our 17 goats and pregnant cow living on the land.
• One of our church walls has a mural of Psalms 40 painted on it, and 2 more walls will have mission statements and art work painted on them by the end of July.
• The garden and lower field are full of corn and other vegetables ready for harvest later this month
• The women had a beauty day last Saturday with a focus on outer beauty during the day and a service focused on inner beauty for the night. They are planning another for next Saturday

But, where we have seen God moving the most using these groups is spiritually:

• Our Wednesday night youth discipleship that Tommy is leading has around 20 Nicaraguans and 20 Americans each week, and everyone is paying attention, hungry to learn biblical foundations of Christianity.
• Every Friday night we are doing different youth activities to keep the young people from getting bored. Between 20-30 people are around each week for different activities including: concerts, worship & prayer services, birthday parties, and game/movie nights
• The group here did a day of prayer and fasting yesterday and it was so powerful for them, and people watching that we are doing it again Sunday with any of the Candelarians that want to join.

We have also had some days touring the country: visiting volcanoes, lagoons, waterfalls, and the beaches. I know for me personally having the American youth here has been a breath of fresh air. Every day we are having worship and devotions, and throughout each day our group is enjoying community and friendships.

I haven’t had time to get many of my own pictures or make videos, but the groups have there’s on their World Race and Adventures in Missions Websites. I will continue to add their links onto my blog at: http://makemsmile.blogspot.com

I will be coming to the states from August 5-August 17. I will be traveling only to North Carolina this trip as my brother is getting married August 8th in Banner Elk, and then we are taking a family vacation to the outer banks for my mom’s birthday August 14th. I hope to see as many of you as possible during this trip, and my schedule is open Aug. 9-Aug. 13 to speak to churches and youth groups.

Please visit my blog and the New Song Website to follow links to pictures, videos, and blogs to see all that is going on here with the American youth groups here building community and friendships with our Candelarian youth.

May God bless each and every one of you the rest of the summer, and if possible I would love to see you in August. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers, financial support, and interest in my mission work here over the past year and a half.

In Christ,
James Robert “Jim Bob / Diego” Norman
Make ‘em Smile
New Song Mission Nicaragua
John 15:13