Nica News

Today started off beautiful in Nicaragua. The guys went to the village of Pascuala this morning to finish a house, while the women cut vegetables for the stew. After the vegetables were cut up the women went to a school in town. There were a lot of kids there today. Patti delivered a wonderful message about Paul and gave out crafts to the kids. Patti does a great job arranging crafts and sharing with the kids.

In the evening, we went to the village of Pascuala. The house is complete now and looks amazing. The doctor went to the village with us to see the little children. We painted nails, face painted, and threw water balloons at the little children. A pot of stew was cooked and served to the starving people once again of Nicaragua. On the way out the village, we threw out oranges, packs of rice, candy, and things from the throw bag. Kids and adults were lined up on the side of the road waiting and running after the truck, hoping to get things. It’s always a wonderful feeling to see the happy faces when they receive gifts.

We started the day off with radio ministry. Rose and Pattie gave their testimony and Richard sang two songs including I am redeemed. Donald delivered an inspirational message that was concluded with the GOSPEL. The men worked on windows and doors for a house in Pascuala. .Mike got to use his welding skills. In the afternoon we went to the village of Cayanlipe the rain held off until we cooked stew, played soccer, face painted, did nail polish entertaining the children while the doctor saw many sick babies. We delivered the word in small groups knowing God’s word never returns void. God is good and he is blessing us every day as we walk the scripture as stated in Acts1:8. Looking forward to what God has in store tomorrow. We are blessed.

Today we visited the Village of Esperanza and the Special Needs School. Lots of tears and emotion have been poured out today. Our hearts were full with sadness, humbleness, and laughter. In the Special Needs School we performed a skit called Mrs. Happy and Mrs. Sad. It explains how Mrs. Happy became happy through the love of Christ in which she shares this love with Mrs. Sad and they become sisters in Christ and both VERY happy! After singing "He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands" and "Father Abraham" in English and Spanish we got down on our hands and knees and created a craft that explained how God has each and every one of His children in His hands. Then much to the teachers’ dismay, we passed out recorders (flutes) and had a concert making a JOYFUL NOISE unto to the Lord! While we were laughing and serenading the men where building a new casa in the village of Pasqualla. The men have truly enjoyed working among the local men and watching the rarity of the community coming together to build this home for their brothers and sisters. Then everyone returned to Casa De Shelly for a team favorite of Mamma Maria’s famous Chimichanga’s for lunch. We love Mamma Maria!

Later in Esperanza we started out the afternoon with a fun hearted water balloon fight with the children. Most of our team, local pastors, and much of the village walked down to the river to witness 8 locals and 1 self proclaimed "Guapo Gringo" (Missionary Trey) be baptized. All nine were fully submerged into the river as they publicly acknowledged their commitment to the Lord. It was a very moving experience and an honor to share. Our visit was interrupted by a torrential down pour but no missionaries were lost or melted! Praise God! However, the local people still received their hot meal, BWCM Chicken Stew.

As we close this issue of Nica News and our day here in Nicaragua, we ask that you keep a very special set of twins who celebrate their birthday October 5th in your prayers. Thank you to those of you who keep us in your prayers and are with us in heart! May God bless and keep you always!

Another amazing day of experiencing God’s blessing here in Somotillo! We started early today and DJ (a fine 19 year old young man) led us in morning devotions – Corinthians 15: 57-58. As we are winding down the week (and honestly as it begins to wear us down as well), his choice hit many of us where we are and encouraged us, just as Paul meant to encourage the church in Corinth. “Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (v 58).

After breakfast half of the group went to Radio Pracipe de Paz (Prince of Peace), where 5 of us shared our testimony over the radio. This was broadcast into three countries. We are prayerful that someone was touched and made the first or next step towards Christ through this broadcast. We then returned, picked up the rest of the team and went to the special needs school, where we sang songs for and with them, colored and just spent some time interacting, and encouraging them as they prepare to compete in the Special Olympics in ten days.

We then stopped at the Somotillo Hospital to pray with Marta, a young woman from Pasquala who we learned earlier in the week needed an emergency appendicitis and didn’t have the money to afford it. Within a few hours God made a way for Marta to get that money and we are praying for her successful surgery later this week.

This afternoon, we drove out to the village of San Francisco to engage with the people there and cook and feed them a meal. Like every other village, the people are so friendly and the children are eager to just play and have fun. With a storm rolling in, we wrapped up quickly and headed back to Casa de Shelly. This was our last village visit of the week, and looking around the truck there was a similar look on many faces. It was a somber and contemplative look. We have seen and shared so much here this week. Amongst the lows of seeing abject poverty, suffering and many people spiritually lost, we have had joyful moments with the Nicaraguans we interacted with here, as well as our mission team. We’ve laughed, cried and done everything in-between as we have grown closer as a Christian family – working together to be the hand and feet of Jesus. There is so much to do and so many people in need that it seems overwhelming at times. Which brings me back to the devotion this morning and the comforting knowledge that if we are being obedient to God, our work for him is not in vain.

Day 4 – Today was a terrific day!! God continues to amaze and bless us as a team. We traveled 1900 plus miles from Virginia to Nicaragua ……only to see one of our own team members make a profession of faith!! One of our teenaged team members accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

That was a great way to start the day and it only got better from there. We returned to Pascuala, where we were the day before digging in the muddy, clumping soil to dig footers for a house. We returned today to pour the concrete in the footers. The men went and shoveled the sand onto the truck and then headed to the construction site where we were greeted by the men and women of the village. The men worked on the concrete along with us and the women carried water from a nearby stream for the concrete mixer. We worked well together and rapidly completed our task.

After lunch we headed to a remote boarder village called El Ojoche. We entered the church and participated in a baby dedication service led by Pastor Donald. Our team was able to present the babie’s mom with a Children’s Picture Bible in Spanish. What an amazing difference we could see in El Ojoche and some of the other villages from the days before. The people were not swarming the truck, but patiently awaited the food as we served they were going amongst themselves making sure everyone had eaten before we began to dispense seconds. The difference was LEADERSHIP. This village had a leader, a Pastor who loved his people and leads them well. Many of the team purchased pottery from the village’s co-op pottery sculptors. This is just one of the evidences that building leaders and planting churches with qualified leaders has a positive effect on the entire village.

Overwhelmed with HIS Goodness

Today was a very enlightening day of ministry. For our Brother Don, it was doing what he does best, becoming all things to all men so that he could be as Paul in I Corinthians 10:22, "to win some." For our team, it was learning to get out of our comfort zone to learn to love literally where the people were as we visited in Pascuala. The rain had poured the night before we arrived in the village where the men would be digging footers and tying rebar to build a home. As we arrived, many men were already digging in the torrentially rain soaked mud. They set the pace and the example for the team. Curious eyes came to watch in swarms. Children with dirty hands and feet eagerly took the coloring books and crayons to color beautiful pictures. The priceless gifts to them was a torn out page that soon was colored with whatever color they happen to get. The chickens had taken cover for the night in their homes. I asked a mom if she got wet when it rained. "Oh, yes, she said." While men trampled in mud, digging trenches for concrete, our job was to entertain the kids. Thoughts of, "How do I relate to a people who have nothing?" I can feed them for a day, but they need Jesus. One young teen stood with her mom and watched the children as they gathered around the others for their coloring treat. Her mother said that her husband was in the military and only came home every 2 -3 months. I asked her how she had food for her 3 children. She said she washed clothes for someone. Robyn and the interpreter asked her if they eat every day. She said, "Yes, sometimes we can eat 3 times a day." Then we asked about today. She shared that a neighbor had given them some milk this morning. We had just left the ministry compound with our bellies full. Why would we get to eat and not her? We shared with this girl and her mom about Jesus. The mother was interested in if we could give her medicine, but she listened. The young girl was very interested in what we said, but then said she already knew Jesus. I guess we are not too good at assessing hearts. I was impressed by this young girl. She was only 16, but her maturity had come by trying to learn to survive. A church was across from her home. Perhaps she knew Christ from someone else sharing. The men worked hard, but as our time came to a close, they left the men who were there in the beginning working hard to finish the job THEY had started.

Before we embarked on our next adventure that would begin after lunch, Don graciously gave us a tour of what God had led him to do. Don realized that he could feed people, but they needed to learn to feed themselves. Never having been a farmer, Don became what God wanted him to do to reach the Nicaraguan people. He became a farmer. He raises chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep. He also raises fruits and vegetables. He then trains others to become self-sustaining. Don realizes that everything cannot be free. The people must be willing to work for a living. He helps those who are willing to learn. Don saw the medical needs of the people, so he is opening a clinic. This is when we saw Don as an example of Paul, becoming all things to all men so he might reach some for Christ. Whatever the need, Don is ready.

Loading up our truck with oranges, candy, and soccer balls, we threw them to the children who heard we were coming to their village. Children lined the roads hoping to be the one to get a special treat. When we arrived at the village, mothers, children, and a few fathers were filling the area. While Kelli, Beamer, Gabi, and many of the crew placed stickers on the children, Steve, Tina and others gave out tie-dyed t-shirts, pillowcase dresses, flip flops, bubbles, and cross necklaces. These people were from the village of La Perla/Puma. The women gathered near the houses and they were told the Gospel message. Did anyone really get it? That is up to the Lord. Meanwhile, Brother Don was cooking a pot of stew that would hopefully feed the whole village. Many had no bowels. They had come a long ways to see the "Gringos". They knew we were coming. They did not realize we would be feeding them. We did bring some bowels, but not enough for everyone. Mothers were asked to line up to receive the food. Mothers would not let their children do without. They would make sure their family was fed. The wisdom of Don was great as he showed us what to do when there seemed to not be enough. One young boy had a bowl, but no food. I felt so sad, and slid him a piece of candy for his pocket. Don told me not to worry, he would get food. I turned around and there stood his mom with a pot full that she shared with him.

The exciting thing about today was that the Gospel was shared. Dan and Roger shared with the men; Brenda and Robyn spoke to the women. We both had interpreters and many heard the Gospel message. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus as we learn more in the coming days to be what God has called us to be.

Isaiah 58:10

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.

It’s very hard to believe but it is "Manna Fest" season once more. For all of those that are new to Because We Care, during the Christmas Season we purchase bags of food to distribute. Each bag will feed a family of six for about a week. Please see attached photo’s. These bags are purchased from a local vendor and will be distributed in the Somotillo area. We will be collecting funds through Sept. and Oct. Prayerfully consider what God would have you do. In His Service, Donald and Pamela

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Early last week I introduced you to an elder lady that was in desperate need of help. I found out late last week that she was living in the house because she had no where else to go.
Late last week BWCM provided the money to order trusses for the much needed roof repair. The trussed have been ordered and will be delivered in 2 weeks. I asked Mike at Building Integrity to schedule volunteers to help get the roof done as soon as the trusses are delivered.
Our need is for SKILLED LABOR and funding to finish the roof and protect the house before cold weather. Would you please buy a sheet of plywood, a bundle of shingles, a roll of felt paper or a pound of nails. Together in CHRIST

John 15:12 – "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Last week I stood on the porch at Casa De Shelly in Somotillo Nicaragua and listened to 4 schools teachers that were asking for help in building their houses. My response was very simple, I can only respond to the things that GOD has commanded me to do. We have built many houses in Nicaragua over the past several years and if God provides the funds then we will build them houses one at a time.
Pam and I returned home on Saturday and I was praying as we traveled about what God would have us to do over the next three weeks while home. It didn’t take long to get an answer. There is a lady here in Roanoke (Ginny Owens) that had a huge tree fall on her house back in June and it turns out that she doesn’t have any insurance and is suffering from MS. Friends of ours from Building Integrity covered the house and dried it out after the tree was removed. Now it is ready for repairs and there is NO material and NO money.
I’m reaching out to our BWCM family for money and help. Mike Patrouch, owner of Building Integrity estimates the cost of material to repair the house will be around $20,000.00. Mike is also helping to coordinate teams if you or your church family would like to volunteer. If you would like to contribute please send funds to our PO Box and we will apply 100% towards these repairs. If you would like to volunteer just e-mail Mike at mike@buildingintegrityllc.com.

A life surrendered to Jesus is a life of SERVICE and SACRIFICE

In His Love Donald