tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9559328002639343622024-03-05T19:28:00.936-06:00Restoration of the NationsCalled by God to change the destiny of nations through vocational training, life-skill basics, and discipleship instruction; one man, one family at a time.Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-77393124105030605152019-01-30T08:08:00.001-06:002021-05-11T17:01:35.778-05:00A Pep Talk Derailed<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am writing while on a long overdue, much needed sabbatical. By the time you finish reading this story, you will definitely understand why the time out is necessary.</div>
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Last month, Wilber, our director of the Casa Restauración, called to ask me if I would come by the Casa to just spend time with the guys. 'They need a Mama', he said. I wear a lot of different hats depending on the duty that is required of me at any given time. However, Wilber insists that my greatest asset to the overall ministry and especially to the Casa is my roll as <b><i>Mama</i></b>.</div>
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I was a little surprised by his call for me to be a mama and not a teacher on that particular day. All of the current residents in the Casa were older, ranging in age from 29 to 52 years old. So, I wasn't sure why they needed a mama.</div>
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Wilber's call came just prior to me sitting down to watch one of my favorite programs - 60 minutes! This episode consisted of 3 stories and 2 of them had a common theme: men rising up from impossible circumstances to being able to fulfill dreams in their adult lives. It was after watching the program that I felt God was telling me that He wanted me to talk with the guys tomorrow about this same topic.<i> Nothing is impossible!</i></div>
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I arrived at the Casa just as some of the guys were finishing their breakfast. One thing you can always count on in Nicaragua is that no one adheres to a schedule. By my watch and the posted schedule, breakfast should have been over an hour ago. The other thing you can count on is that it is mandatory that you greet each person in the room Nicaragua style. This means all had to stop what they were doing, rise from their seats and either extend their hand and/or their cheek for a kiss. Well, I'm not much of a handshaker, so with me it's a robust hug and maybe a kiss depending on how familiar I am with the person.</div>
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All this to say, my official time with them did not begin for another 45 minutes. Ugh...…. I am not a Monday person, and yet I got my self up at my usual time but I actually dressed for the day a lot earlier than normal and then I HAD TO LEAVE my house. Another Ugh...….. So, I sucked it up and sat "patiently" waiting for everyone to finish eating. This can take awhile because another custom in Nicaragua is that there is no conversation during the first few bites or first 5 minutes while eating. As the stomach starts to feeling satisfied, the conversations begin and they can go on and on and on talking while they finish their meals. Another thing about Nicaraguans, they can make anything funny; there is always a lot of laughter during their conversations which encourages more conversation and more laughter. Remember when I said they were finishing up eating? What should have been another 5 minutes turned into 30 extra minutes to complete the last few bites.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDiyDtcnLDeJ2AbOzJtwLqN8fWURbq6apHUHtPF4LfidnNfk6VONIlALkRBTevoYExsQak6FYV7dPUS2qdCsHr5Kr5KHwSzB5df7GRZzNg2AxhTk1k1dUzG4NF_p-x2h7rl9TjYw4I3HI/s1600/20181210_091546.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDiyDtcnLDeJ2AbOzJtwLqN8fWURbq6apHUHtPF4LfidnNfk6VONIlALkRBTevoYExsQak6FYV7dPUS2qdCsHr5Kr5KHwSzB5df7GRZzNg2AxhTk1k1dUzG4NF_p-x2h7rl9TjYw4I3HI/s200/20181210_091546.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>My stories from the 60 Minutes episode were received well. One was about a young orphan, in and out of foster care, ending up in prison. Prison actually saved the young man's life and turned him on to his unbeknownst passion - Opera. This young man became a professional, BLACK opera singer when he was released from prison. The second story was about a white man who had a horrendous, abusive childhood but managed to become a billionaire by designing and building the Tesla automobile. Two entirely different men with less than perfect childhoods were able to rise above their circumstances and have a fulfilling life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvBQ3tNGf4rSv55e_-L15yJHLKRVOIrnJFPdEksp4xvt-NlKQhEXHb2Rzl-WSiAX0BZJ4k9-FGhXxyyvhIeGsRzfKp8ylbZ5Bytr6ctNrBS5RkFQzCIWJKjVRLyukE7JqQyGbHECcBYtC/s1600/20181210_091519.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvBQ3tNGf4rSv55e_-L15yJHLKRVOIrnJFPdEksp4xvt-NlKQhEXHb2Rzl-WSiAX0BZJ4k9-FGhXxyyvhIeGsRzfKp8ylbZ5Bytr6ctNrBS5RkFQzCIWJKjVRLyukE7JqQyGbHECcBYtC/s200/20181210_091519.jpg" width="150" /></a>Afterwards, there was a lot of discussion about the possibilities ahead for them. We talked about other things as well, everyday things that were important on their hearts. What I noticed however, was one person, the oldest man was very quiet and withdrawn. Another person asked questions with an edge to his voice and a combative attitude. Another person was visibly angry. As hard as I tried to draw them out, nothing worked. There was some elephant in the room and I was sure that everyone knew what it was except me.</div>
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After 2 hours, it was time to wrap up our time together. The guys did very well to sit in one place for that length of time, but the attention span does begin to wane. The entire time I was with the guys, Preston was meeting with Wilber talking about matters of the Casa and the ministry. </div>
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During our drive home, PT (Preston) asked me how the meeting went. I told him 'really well considering that some of the guys seemed to be having an off day'. He proceeded to tell me that so and so, who was the oldest of the guys in the Casa, was drinking while on an errand away from the house. <b>WHAT</b>? This man whom we came to trust, who excelled in leadership, who had been given responsibilities because of his excellence to detail, this man who had been very quiet and withdrawn had betrayed the program, betrayed me...……… At that point it wasn't anger that came out, it was borderline rage.</div>
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I managed to draw on the behavior of an adult and wait the respectful amount of time for the Casa to complete their lunch. But no way was I going to allow them to take their naps. No way! </div>
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When I arrived back at the Casa a couple hours later, those that were still up could tell by the look on my face that something was seriously amiss. I told them to get the others out of bed, I had something that I needed to say. Another thing about Nicaraguans, they may be seething inside, but they are respectful on the outside - the guys complied with my request without questions.</div>
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We have always had a rule amongst our boys and we passed it on to the Casa that there is no tattling, but if we ask point out or ask if anyone wants to talk about something, we expect people to come clean. How dare they sit with me for 2 hours talking about opportunities, about overcoming circumstances and obstacles, about pressing in and not giving up, etc, etc, etc., when all the while they were holding back on important details of another person's character or lack of. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I spoke to the guys about honesty and trust.</span></div>
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When I asked so and so as to why he didn't tell me, he replied that he was going to. 'Well, you had a great opportunity to do so when we were all together earlier'. At that point, my calm but firm demeanor crumbled and I LOST IT. I dumped all my frustrations and resentments that had been building up and I specifically targeted so and so because he has lived in the States. </div>
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I proceeded to say that since he had lived in the States he would have more of an understanding than the others of what I have had to give up and the sacrifices that I make everyday while living in Nicaragua. 'I left my home, we'd been 7 years without a car sometimes walking in oppressive heat and pouring rain, we've been robbed too many times to now count and sometimes robbed by those we have loved and tried to help, I deal with the filth everyday in and outside my house, we've gone without food, we can't sleep because of the excessive heat, we haven't seen our family in 4 years, there are great grandchildren I've never met, we endure the rudeness of the people' and I went on and on. 'You ask us for much and all we ask in return is progress in your ability to change and honesty. Without honesty and trust in one another, there is no relationship. Don't tell me how difficult your life is, I'm 72 years old and I'm living difficulty every day. I won't always be here to hold your hand so you need to quit feeling sorry for yourself and grow up'. I'd blown it! My attempt to be a mama that was understanding and loving had been derailed. </div>
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On Christmas Eve during our outreach to the people in the streets, Johny was the driver of our triciclo. We've known him for a couple of years and he is a repeater in the Casa. We love him dearly and have a close relationship with him, although during that "talk", I knew there were things he wanted to say but was holding back. Anyway, he asked me during the ride if I was angry with so and so. I told him that I'm not angry, just very disappointed. Johny said that so and so thinks that I am angry, will I speak to him.</div>
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After my display of unadult-like behavior, PT and I realized that it was time for a break. We were both running on fumes and our attitudes lately had been anything but loving and Christ-like. What kind of a witness were we to be to everyone around us if we could not deal with them in patience, kindness and love? So, we decided that we would take 2 months or more, however long it would take for us to restore ourselves, away from our everyday duties. No schedules to keep, everything that was usual for us was coming to a halt. If we wanted to spend the entire day in our pj's watching movies or reading a good book, that is what we would do. We needed to find our sanity, we needed to reconnect with each other, we needed relief from the constant challenges and pressure of dealing with a third world culture, the lack of peace because of the civil unrest in the nation was also a contributing factor to our stress levels.</div>
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For me, the month of January is always a busy month because of the year end work that needs to be done to the accounting system and the reports that need to be filed. So my real sabbatical has not really started. I've managed to slow down some, but I am really looking forward to the next month or so when I can do what I want, when I want or just not do ANYTHING. My one desire, goal, resolution, whatever I call it, is to never allow myself to get to the point of total exhaustion again.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-35277351506878283942018-12-31T12:56:00.000-06:002018-12-31T12:56:33.482-06:00Christmas Eve 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1SiALXUpPLdMVIHThxTelquatYeCZPvR-c15OLAEY9WLrlm_FfDNYeU5_KgJi5W0QKpznWMsUo6RJP2UrRgE5RsQJplOHDc3IMBQ12-lmDCAPp4fSZ9ojEGLYXDCQNo_JfppDg-HrBtS/s1600/Julio+Christmas+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1SiALXUpPLdMVIHThxTelquatYeCZPvR-c15OLAEY9WLrlm_FfDNYeU5_KgJi5W0QKpznWMsUo6RJP2UrRgE5RsQJplOHDc3IMBQ12-lmDCAPp4fSZ9ojEGLYXDCQNo_JfppDg-HrBtS/s200/Julio+Christmas+2018.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Christmas Eve night is our annual outreach to the homeless. The guys in the Casa Restauracion (Restoration House) prepare meals to give to those known or unknown who live in the streets. It's a time for the guys to reflect on how different their lives have become and the opportunity given to them to escape life in the streets. This year there were 15 of us along with 3 toddlers who ventured out on 8 triciclos to distribute meals, pray for and give encouragement to anyone we found who was alone. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVkzAvBEXcE4hjpD-VcQNbvSp3LK9RIJvkTIIsCrwXOB_ECs5KhmGz0OrB87BIZrIk942jny4aYuFXkL5Dggh27QJ3HyptvSWL7eBCQ6oHAask6ueQrWihK0IehQvyZHEMlWISwOWl91C/s1600/Triciclos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVkzAvBEXcE4hjpD-VcQNbvSp3LK9RIJvkTIIsCrwXOB_ECs5KhmGz0OrB87BIZrIk942jny4aYuFXkL5Dggh27QJ3HyptvSWL7eBCQ6oHAask6ueQrWihK0IehQvyZHEMlWISwOWl91C/s200/Triciclos.jpg" width="150" /></a>Immediately, when we began our journey we encountered difficulties. We had not gone more than 1 block from the Casa when a drunk motorist stopped, got out of his vehicle and began to berate one of the drivers of the triciclo's. It got quite heated and threats were made. When someone made a statement to call the police, the driver quickly got back into his car to leave. We went a second block only to have a horrendously loud sound scare us. Nowadays we are all anxious about sounds of guns and mortars. After searching all our triciclos for possible blown tires, we discovered that it was a tire from a vehicle that we passed had blown at the same moment. Before starting on the journey, we all had prayed for safety and the individuals that would be recipients of a meal. It was now time to offer up prayers for the triciclos and any opposition.</div>
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One of our first stops was to go to a police station to pass out meals to everyone who was working the nightshift. Wilber, the director of the Casa, is well known at the station for various reasons. In years past he was a regular detainee. Now he goes to either deal with regulatory issues or rescue others that found themselves on the wrong side of the law.</div>
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The faces on the streets and in the alleys have become familiar to us. One man in particular was still in his same spot for the last three years. We found him preparing his "bed" for the night by laying out large pieces of cardboard for him to lie on. </div>
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This boy is especially dear to me, I've known him all the years I have lived in Nicaragua. Freddy was a very young boy living on the streets when I first met him. He's grown into a young man still living on the streets, but his life is deteriorating. He's smart, knows adequate English, but doesn't seem to want any type of restoration. He use to live off the money tourists would give to him, but they no longer come. Now he chooses to inhale glue to overcome his hunger and misery. I wonder how numbered his days might be. </div>
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There was one man who was quite angry and wanted NOTHING from us. There were two young boys living in the market place inhaling their glue and became so grateful for the food and touch. There was a woman who praised us for giving her food and asked if we had any additional clothing she might have. This year there were many encounters. We passed out 165 meals this season. </div>
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Normally we pass by many houses where people are celebrating in and outside of their decorated homes. The celebrations were fewer this year. The entire atmosphere of the areas we traveled through were sad. You could feel it. We all sensed a difference in the air. There is no way of knowing how many had either lost a loved one during the massacres, or maybe they are one of the 400,000 who have lost their job.</div>
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I want to speak to you about touch. In the years past, our guys would always tell me "Honey, don't touch them, they are very dirty". (Have I ever told you that Honey is what they call me?). Well, this year I didn't hear it one time because they know I ignore the warning. So many of the people we encounter never feel a touch. For me, it is important that I connect with them in this way. I hope that when they are lonely, they remember that there was a white woman who saw past the dirt to touch and hug them. </div>
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Here's a funny..... I really was looking forward to going home to take a shower; this year I felt especially dirty, dusty and soiled. I have 2 fears in my life now, both of them have to do with the shower. The first is being in the shower during an earthquake. The second is being in the shower with no water. Well the second one happened to me. I was all lathered up when the water stopped, the community tank had run dry. I was not able to wash off the dirt and grime nor remove the suds. I have white towels for a reason, they are easier to bleach and this particular towel certainly needed it after wiping me off.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-215972169029528482018-10-27T13:46:00.000-05:002018-11-21T21:16:05.452-06:00A New Normal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwIUBLq-Ma-Y4AmrXwQI07jorjm9M4iteg2XGR767c6ZFRi25hbZX36iLuTk3VT7_OChQf9u8M7MFzVYC9IKP_1wxZivZ7P5NOLMgXDfWrHgd4QBl4xup9-Jfv7xzCkK-q25S6Z61hxtV/s1600/behind+tranques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwIUBLq-Ma-Y4AmrXwQI07jorjm9M4iteg2XGR767c6ZFRi25hbZX36iLuTk3VT7_OChQf9u8M7MFzVYC9IKP_1wxZivZ7P5NOLMgXDfWrHgd4QBl4xup9-Jfv7xzCkK-q25S6Z61hxtV/s320/behind+tranques.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been 5 months since the revolution started. Over 500 people have lost their lives and thousands injured, some of them permanently disabled. We, too, were affected by knowing someone who had died at the hands of the assassins. One boy was a 15 year old neighbor and the other was a young man who had made decisions to change his life in positive ways. One was shot in the heart, the other in the head. The last estimate is that 1500 are still unaccounted for and hundreds in jail. The police everyday barge into homes and arrest people they know have either been involved guarding the tranques, nonparticipants providing food and drink to those at the tranques or the leaders of the freedom movement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Many laws have been established that forbids many types of activities including participating in marches, to being bystanders at the marches and any form of rejection towards the existing government. Punishment for these crimes of<b><i> treason</i></b> is 15 - 20 years in prison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We have seen videos of elderly people standing in parking lots watching the parades of the Sandinista governing body, while waving the national blue and white flag, be <i><b>dragged</b></i> along the concrete by masked police to waiting trucks to take them to jail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In our city, a man who makes a living selling the national flag in his store, was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison for selling the blue and white cloth. It is now mandatory to fly the black and red flag of the Sandinista government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Those that have fled the country do not come back. The owners of our house, are in the US and said it is not safe for them to return. There are ads that promote tourism to the world stating that it is safe in Nicaragua, but tourists are not returning. Medical personnel were threatened for helping the injured and more than 40 doctors eventually lost their jobs for violating government mandated restrictions to not help anyone brought into the public hospital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An estimated 200,000 people are without jobs because of businesses closing. The economy is suffering and almost $1 billion dollars lost in revenue. The actual supply of the American dollar has dwindled and changes are being made in the banking system. Our account in Nicaragua is in dollars to maintain its value, but if we are forced to change to córdobas it will diminish our buying power each month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Students are no longer coming to carpentry class. Attendance in the public schools and universities are also down because everyone in the home is needed to help earn money for the basic essentials. More than ever, the home can NEVER be vacant because even your neighbor will try to rob from you. So, family members take turns staying at home during the day to protect their belongings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone is learning to live with restrictions. The people are more resolute than ever to not let those that gave their lives for change to be for naught. There are leaders being raised up outside of Nicaragua. They meet to discuss a plan, guidelines for change and devise a document for new governing when change finally does come to pass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Preston continues in the cabinet shop with a helper, but there is no business. We need to make a decision about it's future. Each afternoon he spends time at the Restoration House for discipleship and counseling with the guys. So much of our time is now being spent meeting the physical, emotional and mental needs of the people surrounding us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We are keeping a low profile so as to not call attention to ourselves. The government has accused non-profit organizations for funding the revolution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We are all settling in to a new normal. And yet, there is always the sense that we are on the verge of another upheaval. I'm reminded of the verse over and over "<i>Nothing is impossible with God</i>".</span></div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-84623680917097652962018-07-30T13:19:00.000-05:002018-11-21T21:16:02.800-06:00A Day to Escape the Craziness<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our life during the last 3 months has been filled with unknowing, anxiety, grief, loss of the familiar and denial. We needed a break from the oppressive conditions, a need to escape if only for a little while. And our favorite place to go to leave behind the everyday things is always the Pacific Ocean. We are blessed to live with the beach just a "stone's throw away".</div>
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July is normally a busy month for us in the terms of birthdays. I have on my calendar 6 boys with July birthdays. Usually we would celebrate them individually, but this year everything is different. We managed to gather together 3 of them for a day long celebration. But first there was some scouting to be done. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxzfpHvKYcuhPIleaHDxaIDb9oHePf4yWdYiK3ebPY1jMh4lBd5D1Mzf1MISmgVgAEFVhyphenhyphenGug7kNe9CcE8ajsYdXPVTvQZ6YiFix-gWcqprLxuU2Kwxmur8PxNVzWNoh3ExQ_EaX5w1iA/s1600/double+tranque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxzfpHvKYcuhPIleaHDxaIDb9oHePf4yWdYiK3ebPY1jMh4lBd5D1Mzf1MISmgVgAEFVhyphenhyphenGug7kNe9CcE8ajsYdXPVTvQZ6YiFix-gWcqprLxuU2Kwxmur8PxNVzWNoh3ExQ_EaX5w1iA/s200/double+tranque.jpg" width="200" /></a>As I have mentioned in previous blogs, the streets of our town as well as the entire country are not easily passable. There are tranques EVERY WHERE (blockades). So, a week before our celebration, we sent 2 boys out on a moto to discover if it was possible to get to the beach and the best route. The report was good:<i> we can get to the beach</i>, <i>the roads are open</i>. What they did not relate back to us was that maneuvering around tranques was easier on the moto, they did not take into consideration that some streets had HUGE ditches surrounding the tranques that made it almost impossible for a car. What I really needed was a Humvee! Oh my poor car! They just don't understand the love affair that we Americans have with our vehicles, especially a girl from the Motor City. </div>
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To the average Nicaraguan, a car is a tool that alleviates the need for walking and should be shared by all. That means pile as many into it as possible (remember the 60's), including sitting some in the trunk with the lid open. It doesn't matter if you're wet or muddy, that the upholstery and carpet get soaked and soiled; what's the big deal? Everything is washable according to them. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Dents covering every inch of the car and no mufflers is normal. </span></div>
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Believe me when I say that I am not the same woman that left the States so many years ago, I am mellowing. Bits and pieces of me are accepting of and tolerating things that were once deal breakers for me.</div>
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We arrived at the beach using 2 motos and a car filled with joyous people. They were in need of an escape as much as we were. Did I mention we had 2 toddlers with us? The guys are no longer 15 year old teenagers, they have grown into men who are 24 years old with families of their own.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKKc0v48fkoSv9lmDCb1qHwsoG9scpfvbgl9s6lskht88-NLLyz1gMeceYGLO6swJoImuL7Ewybg_XLFMBnmX6nmdQzKmOmURaNM7QS-Cujm6dtyFtGO9G3IzjjSkiYWMuy13m-pAeMK7/s1600/Brothers%2527+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKKc0v48fkoSv9lmDCb1qHwsoG9scpfvbgl9s6lskht88-NLLyz1gMeceYGLO6swJoImuL7Ewybg_XLFMBnmX6nmdQzKmOmURaNM7QS-Cujm6dtyFtGO9G3IzjjSkiYWMuy13m-pAeMK7/s200/Brothers%2527+love.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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When we met them years ago, they were abandoned, orphaned youths who lived in a facility. God saw fit for us to develop relationships with them and eventually they came to live with us. We put them into school even though they were years behind their peers. We had birth certificates constructed for them so they would have legal identity. And, we loved them as our own. They are now working adults.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEPqxmgPx5VaVgKCtsWne-5fBqK9uE8QIbgtGO4uV64CJ_akcZAD5MeOcLrxduSrIvyhccQeuWbexY524rehsK286C6Mh6eKv63aMb3B_VwX0YZanRRKaCvKF88CDToXN8ehyphenhyphenYlIg-mIy/s1600/Beach+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEPqxmgPx5VaVgKCtsWne-5fBqK9uE8QIbgtGO4uV64CJ_akcZAD5MeOcLrxduSrIvyhccQeuWbexY524rehsK286C6Mh6eKv63aMb3B_VwX0YZanRRKaCvKF88CDToXN8ehyphenhyphenYlIg-mIy/s200/Beach+family.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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Our day was picture perfect. We are in the middle of the rainy season but it did not rain. We went to our usual spot at the beach for casual dining, where the owners and staff know us and treat us well. We played, we rested, we caught up on the latest events in all our lives, we ate well and we just loved being together. </div>
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Except for the lack of people at the beach, that portion of our country seemed normal. The people living there have not had to put up tranques, they have not had to deal with the deadly violence. It's like Las Peñitas is in it's own protective bubble. We were truly blessed to have been able to spend a glorious day escaping from the craziness.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-91283074615740085562018-05-31T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-21T21:15:59.652-06:00Nicaragua in Crisis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdO0dSuUQ6VUB66RRv2y_fT9f1GsumzZf_vpZ2rlqn58ZPjsMP0QQ_UbK1t6P13Z5omvKbpoJSuof2SsggaG-Ga7GXw4hOd03kZCjXwwLcqyRWm4IhGpuohsX8j6MHB0S8gtxMG4kawWs/s1600/Earth+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdO0dSuUQ6VUB66RRv2y_fT9f1GsumzZf_vpZ2rlqn58ZPjsMP0QQ_UbK1t6P13Z5omvKbpoJSuof2SsggaG-Ga7GXw4hOd03kZCjXwwLcqyRWm4IhGpuohsX8j6MHB0S8gtxMG4kawWs/s1600/Earth+view.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are no words that can adequately describe what we are living through. We have watched on television political unrest, destruction of cities and death in other parts of the world, but NEVER did we fathom experiencing it first hand. This is the western hemisphere, this does not happen in our part of the world. But it is happening and it is horrific.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It all started when the young people of family members stood up against the government to say they would not tolerate the reduction of social security payments and benefits to their relatives. The majority of the people live on these benefits, it is a welfare society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then the government invaded one of the universities and took it hostage killing some students. From this incident, the revolution began. The government says that the country is staging a coup. The people are only asking that the president and vice president, who is the wife of the president, step down to allow for a fair election process to take place to choose a new president.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The people have called for national strikes that would bring attention to the seriousness of the situation. They have stood united and a great percentage of the businesses have cooperated by closing for the declared strike days. This is saying a lot because if one does not work he does not eat that day. There are no extras stored in the house, they buy their groceries daily. They are willing to depriving themselves the ability to provide sufficient food for their families. That is sacrifice, that is a belief in a cause for a greater good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT64-KkZkaOb9V2hIVbPALan67GvoJie9YbgcQssGgikHVV5GCG538z04tR1ppP2L864YaMtbe6bIbghQ9YZwF59tNYHsX5-wF90OPOrP36PqCDA-ws4WEtRYP7g4q5CmC_XUuwiDmTsvW/s1600/Guarding+tranque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="324" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT64-KkZkaOb9V2hIVbPALan67GvoJie9YbgcQssGgikHVV5GCG538z04tR1ppP2L864YaMtbe6bIbghQ9YZwF59tNYHsX5-wF90OPOrP36PqCDA-ws4WEtRYP7g4q5CmC_XUuwiDmTsvW/s200/Guarding+tranque.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tens of thousands of people have left the country, Nicaraguenses, tourists, missionaries, and corporations. There are less and less people out and about and definitely no one after dark. Barricades or tranques as we call them are being set up at all intersections to stop the flow of traffic in and out of neighborhoods and to offer protection to the inhabitants. However, that is when the paramilitary groups like to strike, after dark. Those that are brave enough to stand guard at the tranques are being assassinated. So many have lost their lives already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Preston is going out only for a couple of hours mid day to do a little work at the shop. It is difficult for him to drive into town because of the tranques. He is able to drive down into the ditches with his moto to get around the tranques when he has been released to pass. Depending on the amount of gunfire we hear in the distance determines if he leaves the house on any given day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1nsOvbgwdgMR0gNNCvoSPbvabs8JCdZEmQz1nweWXHWu6ZNdSxR-fXfbOd_MUhOU23nEu7Afz7VqQjtNrvGkGhxuScfnURblHEZ-F7ZwKdN3-DftjmjUH1DKDvpEa6TvlaEvJWH26ePV/s1600/trucks+parked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1nsOvbgwdgMR0gNNCvoSPbvabs8JCdZEmQz1nweWXHWu6ZNdSxR-fXfbOd_MUhOU23nEu7Afz7VqQjtNrvGkGhxuScfnURblHEZ-F7ZwKdN3-DftjmjUH1DKDvpEa6TvlaEvJWH26ePV/s200/trucks+parked.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the greatest hindrances to the economy are the blockades prohibiting trucks to move within the country. At one point there was an estimate of as many as 6000 trucks that were brought to a halt. We ask ourselves how much discomfort are willing to endure when the necessary essentials are at a minimum or no longer available in the stores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So far, we feel safe. We moved outside of town prior to the beginning of the crisis. We added extra security measures immediately to our house because gringos are targets for thieves. The main gate to our community is manned 24 hours. Our condo area has its own secured gate that is manned. There is a lot of protection between us and the main road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I ask that you pray often for us and our adopted country. </span></span><br />
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-73180803490622746962018-04-28T09:30:00.000-05:002018-11-21T21:15:54.087-06:00El Taller de Gabinete<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the things that I have difficulty processing is dealing with disappointment. We spent 7 months working with the Nicaragua government providing all the information needed to set up a corporation for a cabinet shop. We finally received approval in December and then this year we have had to deal with a few unexpected changes to the original plan.</div>
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For years, we have allowed the boys in the vocational carpentry program to take home the small projects that they made in class. Often times, whenever they completed an item and took it home, they never returned to class. The item was a stool, very basic and could be beneficial to them, but there was always so much more that needed to be learned in class. The classroom was a constant turn over in students.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0I-o_kHOMppr0UOtOXSUr76NymqqcQKBRopRmr-2_BNUJ6kaM476J4dSVWCmBGdIdc5HqS95SjQJlesx-0Cc4rwUDNn4eOSBLhUaAZfvwj1vrHfN5VqE4377EWq3VLm2gd2eLMRrZ5Xb/s1600/20180426_153249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0I-o_kHOMppr0UOtOXSUr76NymqqcQKBRopRmr-2_BNUJ6kaM476J4dSVWCmBGdIdc5HqS95SjQJlesx-0Cc4rwUDNn4eOSBLhUaAZfvwj1vrHfN5VqE4377EWq3VLm2gd2eLMRrZ5Xb/s200/20180426_153249.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Our original vision was to have a cabinet shop associated with the carpentry school in order to sell the items that were made in class. The shop would teach the boys about business management, provide income for themselves and a funding avenue for the ministry. We partnered with our local church and they too would receive a portion of the profits. You might remember, that we were operating out of free space that was available in our church with the plans to expand the area for a permanent facility.</div>
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Even, with the best of plans, sometimes things change. Because of new programs within the church, our carpentry class space was needed by the church. So, we had to find a different facility. We wanted something with heavy foot traffic, good visibility from the street, and most importantly - affordable. So, disappointment #1 had set in that we were having to move.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVLt9__7xU3SbVQTS72rvC9Y30bthdKRpcWepTC1XmSPQyXgm9Ir-kLTBQs9cc5hp7OUFVjSy4S6yQHOoIqDvr8LR9qdIEOv3BGCwsdqafCDQyNq5XJtC_Qa8skDGXl6fG-TksvE6A1-7/s1600/20180426_153738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVLt9__7xU3SbVQTS72rvC9Y30bthdKRpcWepTC1XmSPQyXgm9Ir-kLTBQs9cc5hp7OUFVjSy4S6yQHOoIqDvr8LR9qdIEOv3BGCwsdqafCDQyNq5XJtC_Qa8skDGXl6fG-TksvE6A1-7/s200/20180426_153738.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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We were successful in finding a space that fit all but one of our criteria; heavy foot traffic, check; good visibility from the street, check, check. The most important criteria was a stumbling block. The rent was higher than we would have liked. After some negotiation, the owner agreed to a sliding scale on the rent for the first year. We moved into the space after Easter, painting it, adding additional electrical, lighting and fans.</div>
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We have our first commercial contract to build and install cabinets in a kitchen of a custom home for a local builder. We were on our way to what we hoped was a successful business venture for the students and the ministry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ATpQRW9TQAz9eTc8qayJrI0q0jkVDZR2lojkeX9qD2TOLmImmVvoL8308qniACsfc4pSpryYkHE8hP6ME2-NW_SZNBhvribZlA8-nUadtrjEJ4STgPs2UTDrAN29B5DQeo4F6PA-HIA4/s1600/20180426_153154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ATpQRW9TQAz9eTc8qayJrI0q0jkVDZR2lojkeX9qD2TOLmImmVvoL8308qniACsfc4pSpryYkHE8hP6ME2-NW_SZNBhvribZlA8-nUadtrjEJ4STgPs2UTDrAN29B5DQeo4F6PA-HIA4/s200/20180426_153154.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk75tq4tHK0F8eJESUse9O2HAa_9NYLYpHhD_bSuoaBYhZfL3Fezjv5CpAOYvP-03BlLu-oANyEIeam-uyCL7uL0Ks2U4fxRzcy6_GZum_RFHwOrQnNabjJs810YTE4tuClppqnfQUSrj3/s1600/Leon+burning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
However, disappointment #2 has landed on us. The country is in turmoil. We are in an almost lockdown state and many people are afraid to leave their homes. We have no idea what is happening, the situation changes daily and at times is very grim. Our downtown area was in flames and an entire block destroyed. First and foremost is our safety and that of the boys. We have suspended classes temporarily.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk75tq4tHK0F8eJESUse9O2HAa_9NYLYpHhD_bSuoaBYhZfL3Fezjv5CpAOYvP-03BlLu-oANyEIeam-uyCL7uL0Ks2U4fxRzcy6_GZum_RFHwOrQnNabjJs810YTE4tuClppqnfQUSrj3/s1600/Leon+burning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk75tq4tHK0F8eJESUse9O2HAa_9NYLYpHhD_bSuoaBYhZfL3Fezjv5CpAOYvP-03BlLu-oANyEIeam-uyCL7uL0Ks2U4fxRzcy6_GZum_RFHwOrQnNabjJs810YTE4tuClppqnfQUSrj3/s200/Leon+burning.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKliUuNPmld7u4uMDh19D5fAqaK_dvPncZUY0hyphenhyphen4-vE4RGJE0toXeAgqh5Kve5epB8GOfXYE7wCFylJVh0uP3tK1v2twzTapQVbh1m_1TDEQD15Y4II6VeSXF-nONUj_7qF3ft0b3d5GAv/s1600/20180421_110039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKliUuNPmld7u4uMDh19D5fAqaK_dvPncZUY0hyphenhyphen4-vE4RGJE0toXeAgqh5Kve5epB8GOfXYE7wCFylJVh0uP3tK1v2twzTapQVbh1m_1TDEQD15Y4II6VeSXF-nONUj_7qF3ft0b3d5GAv/s200/20180421_110039.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The builder still wants the cabinets for the home he is building. We will devise a schedule that will allow Preston and a helper to proceed safely with the work. Everything about our life seems to be in a holding pattern. Never did we think we would ever be living in an environment that was so unstable.</div>
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We ask for your prayers and your encouragement to continue to live and work in Nicaragua without fear.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-29812288399254070652018-03-23T12:19:00.002-05:002022-08-09T10:24:41.594-05:00A Promise KeptThe premise of this blog might be controversial for some of you; it has to do with the prophetic.<br />
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In December, 2007 we attended a 3 day New Year's Eve conference. During that time, someone that we did not know, nor had ever seen before, told me - Sandra, something that affected me deeply. It was something that no one would ever know about me, not a friend, spouse, let alone a stranger. She told me that '<i><span style="color: blue;">God wanted me to know that wherever He took me in the world, it would feel like home and in that place, He would always provide for me a home</span></i>'.</div>
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We had already booked our VACATION reservations to Nicaragua. Go to Nicaragua, visit friends, enjoy some time in the sun away from the frigid temperatures of North Carolina and return to life as usual. That was our plan.</div>
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Two days before we left on the trip, a mutual friend of ours called to say that 'God gave him a Word for us'. He said God told him that '<span style="color: blue;"><i>the trip would be life changing and there would be a miracle</i></span>'. Well, the trip was life changing because on our 5th day of the trip, Preston had a face-to-face encounter with the Lord where He invited him on an adventure. That's when Preston knew that we were to move to Nicaragua. The miracle? Well, that was me agreeing to accompany him; to move away from my HOME, my family, my church and friends.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHedpQhG_sx-F00vQos87FSyis1y8KNfC3AAXmsYK-wQh81kvVq2VNap4ixtjTn1C9XhN2tgwBz7_snJ636v6noPb9JshkKmkBhdmafDyikSZnsOavx51AkW4NTC6kvGAUr4ANoj0UJK8r/s1600/DSCF7877.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHedpQhG_sx-F00vQos87FSyis1y8KNfC3AAXmsYK-wQh81kvVq2VNap4ixtjTn1C9XhN2tgwBz7_snJ636v6noPb9JshkKmkBhdmafDyikSZnsOavx51AkW4NTC6kvGAUr4ANoj0UJK8r/s200/DSCF7877.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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In the first two years that we made a dozen trips back and forth before the actual move, we set up house so that we didn't have to stay in hotels and also to prepare for our move date. And the house was perfect, it had six bedrooms because we were hoping that family and friends would visit. But it was not solely for that purpose, because within in a year we started having boys from the streets move in with us. It was a wonderful house but not suitable for young boys because their play space was in the road in front of our house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmaZX0px8re8VM-4fWowzxyegicHz3Y4CHo-KYOK9fQ-5FetMYxAvQJ87n244BtuKvJgN-FDpOPFKRgjIHB1gz7d09Oq1jT0GySyYbRASHvdviNpp-w4GoACb_pAE7SlC9oU-r87p2Yiu/s1600/P1010161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmaZX0px8re8VM-4fWowzxyegicHz3Y4CHo-KYOK9fQ-5FetMYxAvQJ87n244BtuKvJgN-FDpOPFKRgjIHB1gz7d09Oq1jT0GySyYbRASHvdviNpp-w4GoACb_pAE7SlC9oU-r87p2Yiu/s200/P1010161.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJONqVtAutRBx1V-bl8SUt74NPSu8ConrN3pRyj9961470AKyHGzwOHicUXoj6S1r09fbKqBLAnvj5CvIPSRKwUQBTL9uqFHWsJHmlDwhIzpPKicPHhjH_nzp72KqrclHlcK_jYQ2CyV7c/s1600/DSCF1644.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJONqVtAutRBx1V-bl8SUt74NPSu8ConrN3pRyj9961470AKyHGzwOHicUXoj6S1r09fbKqBLAnvj5CvIPSRKwUQBTL9uqFHWsJHmlDwhIzpPKicPHhjH_nzp72KqrclHlcK_jYQ2CyV7c/s200/DSCF1644.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNlxOzhr-0476BvwtZogHDdYcBQ1r8iMwBxe9BN8An-oR71DYX32VWYVD4OkQyOTyc6VcUWQjyc09bq2nOLGwVydxBCXMVcRxtRRCIU6wwdRuN7U184ojt0eCO4okcsAfh8KEKrQ12rMJ/s1600/Jan+30.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNlxOzhr-0476BvwtZogHDdYcBQ1r8iMwBxe9BN8An-oR71DYX32VWYVD4OkQyOTyc6VcUWQjyc09bq2nOLGwVydxBCXMVcRxtRRCIU6wwdRuN7U184ojt0eCO4okcsAfh8KEKrQ12rMJ/s200/Jan+30.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Then, we made a decision to move to the edge of town to a house that had a yard and a pool. The boys needed space to run and who doesn't like to play in a pool. There were 2 kitchens in the house and a built in barbeque grill on a large patio. Perfect place for the boys and get-togethers with teams and other missionary friends. During the dry season, we continually ran out of water. Doing simple things like taking showers became a problem, not to mention the daily task of laundry was becoming a mountain of sweaty, smelly clothes after many days without water. Plus the boys wanted the convenience of being able to walk around town and go to the parks to play soccer with friends. So it was time to move again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LPywncUJqPKnWyq59wUuWQQJBB5YgodqdNr7coCqmuJ0fUHX-nd0xDoaoQ5Qr013xdpvPQ24z_L0_72FT4FMy6VLFI-OMpJfeWN28Ca_ueaYGT-zzzsjG7HDIiN4SbogPupGgLvWzOrr/s1600/DSCF0572.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LPywncUJqPKnWyq59wUuWQQJBB5YgodqdNr7coCqmuJ0fUHX-nd0xDoaoQ5Qr013xdpvPQ24z_L0_72FT4FMy6VLFI-OMpJfeWN28Ca_ueaYGT-zzzsjG7HDIiN4SbogPupGgLvWzOrr/s200/DSCF0572.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Our next house was like living in a beautiful secluded park with an open air kitchen. It was always cool, but in the dry and windy season, it was always very dirty. We loved the ability to again walk around town without having to take public transportation. We lived across the street from a school which the boys attended, no skipping class was possible under our watchful eyes. As the boys matured and it was time for some to be on their own, it was time for us to move again; we wanted something smaller.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbufZc3NG80vrSQbtgEvaAuh7U-l5YGpvKlz8qZI8Y9hAZUQny3LV3n48w-unfQF3RurJ9mUnv7aWTvdNYW8JA8RnVY7KYwgkeCa98xzHIy4cADOGmtt92o1HuNe-B7ldLft_YaE5ykURy/s1600/received_477615005967712.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbufZc3NG80vrSQbtgEvaAuh7U-l5YGpvKlz8qZI8Y9hAZUQny3LV3n48w-unfQF3RurJ9mUnv7aWTvdNYW8JA8RnVY7KYwgkeCa98xzHIy4cADOGmtt92o1HuNe-B7ldLft_YaE5ykURy/s200/received_477615005967712.jpeg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUiAImipVGYrx550cQOA4aYeS0Y5oMZTmSCzDEEtVQ84QgW7qx12Yaq02XEPDnZJ0PDDwCnw6Kf56N_cn3PDgBSjKIq3RB380YwLwz2_WhgxfIaSwX4isfgDUKvrXpjylGotmHUz1sKrM/s1600/IMG_20160724_115325_burst_03.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUiAImipVGYrx550cQOA4aYeS0Y5oMZTmSCzDEEtVQ84QgW7qx12Yaq02XEPDnZJ0PDDwCnw6Kf56N_cn3PDgBSjKIq3RB380YwLwz2_WhgxfIaSwX4isfgDUKvrXpjylGotmHUz1sKrM/s200/IMG_20160724_115325_burst_03.jpg" width="150" /></a>The next house was only 2 bedrooms and located on a private cul-de-sac with a park in the front of our home and a beautiful yard in the rear. There was a Catholic church across from the house and we were always entertained with festivals and fireworks and lots of clanging of the church bell. It was a beautiful house and we hosted weddings for two of our Nica sons in that house. The kitchen was large with plenty of room for several chefs working together to cook for gatherings. I thought it would be our forever house. However, God had other plans for us.</div>
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Last month we moved one more time to a much smaller house, actually a condo type rental. It is brand new, we are the first renters, and our rent is awesomely low. It is located a mile and a half outside of town. It is very cool and refreshing with awesome views of the volcanos that we love to look at and it is <i><b>QUIET</b></i>. I think as we age, quiet is such a luxury. Nicaragua is a very noisy country, everything is at full volume. When we lived in town, we always had interruptions by people constantly at our door at all hours, daybreak or midnight, needing or wanting something. There is a difference between needs and wants. As Americans, the locals think there is a money tree in our back yard, and it has an endless supply of money leaves. We are having to continually discern the requests and give to the legitimate needs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Xy9hPWGOorUxVBftUeD_9ZwNQ0TiUR39NiKOrn92bZGg9R-EDtJ4aBipnvEW0bD72ZUic6LrqabXZIOFAvmsSwTuY9eXQYB1qZU_5Ho3JHuqqhNtZOX92JFyNODvhrNI4Ukfdc0Raw_1/s1600/20180324_082647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Xy9hPWGOorUxVBftUeD_9ZwNQ0TiUR39NiKOrn92bZGg9R-EDtJ4aBipnvEW0bD72ZUic6LrqabXZIOFAvmsSwTuY9eXQYB1qZU_5Ho3JHuqqhNtZOX92JFyNODvhrNI4Ukfdc0Raw_1/s320/20180324_082647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's wonderful to finally have peace and privacy. We were on the verge of total burnout. It's been years of 24/7 and we now have a place to rest from the demands of the people and our work. We have the blessing of a car, finally. Eight years is a long time to be without a vehicle and the timing was perfect. A missionary friend is selling hers to us on payments.</div>
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God made a promise to me: Nicaragua has always felt like home, I don't think I could live here otherwise. And, He has always supplied the perfect house for every need we had at the time. He is so faithful, and I am so grateful. God Keeps His Promises!</div>
<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-42431085279904616982018-02-28T13:25:00.000-06:002018-03-21T10:35:15.089-05:00Lawlessness<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=955932800263934362" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Lawlessness - It really is a word. It describes people who are not restrained or controlled by law. Lawlessness is found in society, nature, government, religion. It's all over the world, but since we have not been out in other regions of the world in many years, I can only speak about what I know to be in Nicaragua.</div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrhJIcmN4KwFnleeHPLNekjo2LiNC8E_DV61IR1lg519FuU0jx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for lawless society" border="0" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrhJIcmN4KwFnleeHPLNekjo2LiNC8E_DV61IR1lg519FuU0jx" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="5VNWQLkmVwZcMM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrhJIcmN4KwFnleeHPLNekjo2LiNC8E_DV61IR1lg519FuU0jx" style="height: 154px; margin-top: 0px; width: 327px;" /></a></div>
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I see it out in society whenever I leave my home to run errands. Something so simple as waiting your turn in a line is nonexistent. Everyone moving and pushing to be first. There is no longer respect for the elderly, the young pregnant woman or the incapacitated to have first seating or first service. Or a person is forced to step off the sidewalk into the street because a group of people decide to walk abreast and not step into single file for even a moment. There is no respect for another's possessions, if they want it, they will take it.</div>
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Nicaragua is a beautiful country, but it is hard to see that because of all the trash and filth that litters the neighborhoods and streets. I have seen people walk to the door of their home and throw out papers and trash into the yard and street. In the commercial areas, trash bins are ignored. A person will open up whatever is in their hand and throw the wrapper immediately on the ground; this also includes plastic bottles, paper plates and leftover food. Rat infestation is a HUGE problem everywhere.</div>
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The government does not keep their own laws or enforce them to the people. The reigning President has abolished term limits and will be in office indefinitely. The police make traffic stops in hopes of receiving bribes; some of the stops are for no purpose - it's their word against yours. The people do not observe traffic laws and driving is now very dangerous.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0pSftFAsjLMxR-93xOice6Q-oUPGeVCb_fI_Mn6iMP-MEryYOwPcB5tL1-vzhtU54YksLzGS8Po3K86ZXGfmMxh270lrLLUuQ7Tkdn4OI6s6UQaTje2XJkqAg_yfVb07QxW-20AECS8/s1600/Broken+rules.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0pSftFAsjLMxR-93xOice6Q-oUPGeVCb_fI_Mn6iMP-MEryYOwPcB5tL1-vzhtU54YksLzGS8Po3K86ZXGfmMxh270lrLLUuQ7Tkdn4OI6s6UQaTje2XJkqAg_yfVb07QxW-20AECS8/s1600/Broken+rules.png" /></a><br />
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The final category is religion. We have attended several churches in our years living here and we do not hear teaching about adultery, pregnancy outside of marriage, abortion, physical abuse, sexual abuse, lying and truth, a person's responsibility to their family and community. All of these topics seem to be taboo in the church. If the church will not talk about them, how do the young people learn? They definitely are not talked about in the home.</div>
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One of our programs is to teach everyday life skills, respect for authority, each other and the environment. Many times it's a continuous battle, Americans vs. Nicaraguaneses. There is not a month that goes by that we do not hear "well, you are Americans, it's different here". We tell them that the laws of society and nature should apply everywhere. When they don't want to believe us, I love to take the "American excuse" out of the argument by turning to scripture and telling them what God has to say about the matter. </div>
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As we get older, we also have to weigh our aging against societal changes to determine the extent of what our tolerance should be. However, there is never an excuse for a lack of goodness, kindness, and love no matter how old or young.</div>
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Please pray for us and our ability to continue to teach what is good and true.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjojphYp6Aza-p1gYXJ0Dr_XdfEIs5cX4eLYMYkqqqD32mW2Za88asOL7lQBTyUhd7nKzvsjybryatR-cqunxYvv9HBmJoPpe-EXkC5aDQW6mJH-s3Ktkewd8qxoIlAiHEVzi2WEbdGk3/s1600/Earth+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjojphYp6Aza-p1gYXJ0Dr_XdfEIs5cX4eLYMYkqqqD32mW2Za88asOL7lQBTyUhd7nKzvsjybryatR-cqunxYvv9HBmJoPpe-EXkC5aDQW6mJH-s3Ktkewd8qxoIlAiHEVzi2WEbdGk3/s1600/Earth+view.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-79700506488219181692018-01-31T12:49:00.000-06:002018-02-03T13:02:42.488-06:00He Was Born to Teach<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are filled with such joy. One of our students, who also happens to be one of our Nica sons, has just signed a contract to teach English in a private school. His story is truly a "rags to riches" story.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDAko6bnRrgimU3xHQ7ffFyTAsLMEvA9qkgYawBlee7i1QjC6G_rrjfKwg914B8_QpsnKlVcXgVU_5TAZEAmV3GJ6YtgxW7pAn_JXDcHrc-xBqFn3GMbDsNS6Q_dYLWVDCMtbVfSfwLAL/s1600/James+after+healing+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="569" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDAko6bnRrgimU3xHQ7ffFyTAsLMEvA9qkgYawBlee7i1QjC6G_rrjfKwg914B8_QpsnKlVcXgVU_5TAZEAmV3GJ6YtgxW7pAn_JXDcHrc-xBqFn3GMbDsNS6Q_dYLWVDCMtbVfSfwLAL/s200/James+after+healing+2011.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="188" /></a> </div>
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James was 16 years old when we met him and at that time his name was Israel. You can read the original story on the December 2010 blog. <a href="https://restorationofthenations.blogspot.com/2010/12/israel.html">https://restorationofthenations.blogspot.com/2010/12/israel.html</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDAko6bnRrgimU3xHQ7ffFyTAsLMEvA9qkgYawBlee7i1QjC6G_rrjfKwg914B8_QpsnKlVcXgVU_5TAZEAmV3GJ6YtgxW7pAn_JXDcHrc-xBqFn3GMbDsNS6Q_dYLWVDCMtbVfSfwLAL/s1600/James+after+healing+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDAko6bnRrgimU3xHQ7ffFyTAsLMEvA9qkgYawBlee7i1QjC6G_rrjfKwg914B8_QpsnKlVcXgVU_5TAZEAmV3GJ6YtgxW7pAn_JXDcHrc-xBqFn3GMbDsNS6Q_dYLWVDCMtbVfSfwLAL/s1600/James+after+healing+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDAko6bnRrgimU3xHQ7ffFyTAsLMEvA9qkgYawBlee7i1QjC6G_rrjfKwg914B8_QpsnKlVcXgVU_5TAZEAmV3GJ6YtgxW7pAn_JXDcHrc-xBqFn3GMbDsNS6Q_dYLWVDCMtbVfSfwLAL/s1600/James+after+healing+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>There was an agreement made with Remar, for participation of some of their young men to attend our vocational carpentry school; Israel was one of them. It was clear early on that he had leadership qualities. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbF0CucnOqmYaLsYv1tsV0OkwxKNj2NT8xis_PAywSnXwSR0QaPPswUssuL7BsisfQYZZkGJqLG6Rux-xaLD9_otI0veWE-V7lIf4IUzn7NA93SExp-gbIFANJohsi36D03GwnmoI3kFC/s1600/June+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbF0CucnOqmYaLsYv1tsV0OkwxKNj2NT8xis_PAywSnXwSR0QaPPswUssuL7BsisfQYZZkGJqLG6Rux-xaLD9_otI0veWE-V7lIf4IUzn7NA93SExp-gbIFANJohsi36D03GwnmoI3kFC/s1600/June+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbF0CucnOqmYaLsYv1tsV0OkwxKNj2NT8xis_PAywSnXwSR0QaPPswUssuL7BsisfQYZZkGJqLG6Rux-xaLD9_otI0veWE-V7lIf4IUzn7NA93SExp-gbIFANJohsi36D03GwnmoI3kFC/s320/June+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In June, 2012 Israel came to us to inquire about the criteria for a person to live in our home. He said he did not see much future for himself and that he would probably always live at the Remar center. </div>
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For 2 years, our message to all the boys was for them to find their passion and pursue it. We were here to help them and provide whatever opportunity was needed to accomplish their goals. It was hugely gratifying that someone was actually coming to us to begin the pursuit.</div>
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After Israel moved in with us, the first item of business, was to get him enrolled in school. He had learned the basic reading skills from his grandmother in Honduras, but had no formal education. As I think back, I feel as though it was a miracle for him to jump over all the primary grades and to be accepted as a student in a combined 5th and 6th year. This story also can be read in it's entirety in the February 2013 blog. <a href="https://restorationofthenations.blogspot.com/2013/02/">https://restorationofthenations.blogspot.com/2013/02/</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rQVA64PXhFPbZXhtB7SQznJecM3C70tZTi1_SnZ9lYirXZTq4ZeLoLkn_h3rJM_Tn2dvwmo1Zj7rcRx0xJln31PmAtBA1NUij4g1sybSBwGzFIBkSiDX-xe7p0_opT7eISzeDxCFYwcK/s1600/English+study.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rQVA64PXhFPbZXhtB7SQznJecM3C70tZTi1_SnZ9lYirXZTq4ZeLoLkn_h3rJM_Tn2dvwmo1Zj7rcRx0xJln31PmAtBA1NUij4g1sybSBwGzFIBkSiDX-xe7p0_opT7eISzeDxCFYwcK/s1600/English+study.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rQVA64PXhFPbZXhtB7SQznJecM3C70tZTi1_SnZ9lYirXZTq4ZeLoLkn_h3rJM_Tn2dvwmo1Zj7rcRx0xJln31PmAtBA1NUij4g1sybSBwGzFIBkSiDX-xe7p0_opT7eISzeDxCFYwcK/s1600/English+study.JPG" /></a></div>
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While all the other boys were out playing or sitting around watching TV, Israel was taking our Spanish/English dictionaries and trying to read from them. He devoured<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rQVA64PXhFPbZXhtB7SQznJecM3C70tZTi1_SnZ9lYirXZTq4ZeLoLkn_h3rJM_Tn2dvwmo1Zj7rcRx0xJln31PmAtBA1NUij4g1sybSBwGzFIBkSiDX-xe7p0_opT7eISzeDxCFYwcK/s1600/English+study.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a> book after book and when words were too difficult to pronounce on his own, he would write them down on a sheet of paper and come to us for help. To say that he was passionate was an understatement, obsessed might more accurately describe him. He loved languages and soon sought to learn Portuguese and dabbled in Mandarin. </div>
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The time came for Israel to have an official identity. Years ago, it was very common for people born in rural areas not to have their births recorded. We all know that the modern world demands that we have an identification number and it was time for Israel to be recognized. We spent months of constant trips back and forth to various government offices delivering any and every piece of information that they demanded. Since there were no relatives to attest to his birth, so much of what we provided were sworn affidavits by us. </div>
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Along with an official identity, Israel wanted a different name and since the government was going to construct an official birth record, they agreed to allow him to choose his name. He wanted a new name to identify his new and changed life. Finally in late 2014, he officially became James Israel Ramirez Hernandez.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCw-pkUp-kUhEGaFdXGtYI5RCxcdLp1aM3_jh1aiI8K3qcSmuUpdtU1ky-ZWvsyDQGcmKIVQritLC3IUhp28OCeGC18zeIKJdAxe1lVXb-7FdL7u0Zc_xPeVDPkHiWz717gMFS80fhmIE/s1600/preaching+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCw-pkUp-kUhEGaFdXGtYI5RCxcdLp1aM3_jh1aiI8K3qcSmuUpdtU1ky-ZWvsyDQGcmKIVQritLC3IUhp28OCeGC18zeIKJdAxe1lVXb-7FdL7u0Zc_xPeVDPkHiWz717gMFS80fhmIE/s1600/preaching+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="912" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCw-pkUp-kUhEGaFdXGtYI5RCxcdLp1aM3_jh1aiI8K3qcSmuUpdtU1ky-ZWvsyDQGcmKIVQritLC3IUhp28OCeGC18zeIKJdAxe1lVXb-7FdL7u0Zc_xPeVDPkHiWz717gMFS80fhmIE/s200/preaching+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="113" /></a><br />
Now James will soon be 24 years old. He teaches the Word of God in his church,<br />
another of his passions. He has worked as a receptionist / manager at a local small hotel for 3 years while going to school on Saturdays to complete his education. He was growing tired of the hours required at his job and began to pursue other opportunities.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rQVA64PXhFPbZXhtB7SQznJecM3C70tZTi1_SnZ9lYirXZTq4ZeLoLkn_h3rJM_Tn2dvwmo1Zj7rcRx0xJln31PmAtBA1NUij4g1sybSBwGzFIBkSiDX-xe7p0_opT7eISzeDxCFYwcK/s1600/English+study.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>In Nicaragua, the requirement for a school teacher is to have completed the 6th grade. James more than qualifies because he will begin the 10th grade next month. He is committed to finishing school and receiving his diploma. He has learned that advancement in the work place is given to those with higher education. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCw-pkUp-kUhEGaFdXGtYI5RCxcdLp1aM3_jh1aiI8K3qcSmuUpdtU1ky-ZWvsyDQGcmKIVQritLC3IUhp28OCeGC18zeIKJdAxe1lVXb-7FdL7u0Zc_xPeVDPkHiWz717gMFS80fhmIE/s1600/preaching+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><br /></div>
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James is fluent in English and loves to work with young people. Working in a private school would give him more freedom. There is a lot of political propaganda in the public system. He wants to encourage as many as possible to not give up on their education and to pursue their dreams. He will be paying it forward. He could not do this if it had not been for you, our precious donors who have made it possible for us to be here to give opportunities to boys like James to have a chance at life.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-91228609860964902882017-12-30T17:51:00.002-06:002017-12-30T17:53:14.718-06:00The Month of Abundance<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh258iYLYhaqZgyWnLOihZM8dtn_VZMSaHN0m2j6WVhdvHFB-RWT6N-NHkVzGQaCAg5bJVs9RiHl7jIhi1SW4Z9ViJlRRsaT5RYIEoP_Pkv9TVC3Hi7-ge4gtvhHiaAux1YX-yBP7IPt3p3/s1600/DSCF3450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh258iYLYhaqZgyWnLOihZM8dtn_VZMSaHN0m2j6WVhdvHFB-RWT6N-NHkVzGQaCAg5bJVs9RiHl7jIhi1SW4Z9ViJlRRsaT5RYIEoP_Pkv9TVC3Hi7-ge4gtvhHiaAux1YX-yBP7IPt3p3/s200/DSCF3450.jpg" width="200" /></a>December is the month of abundance. Everything is over the top; community celebrations, festivals, neighborhood parties till 2am, drums, drums and more drums, fireworks that are all hours of the night. Our wonderful, exciting city is all about traditions and celebrations. The tall ladies are out nightly in all the barrios starting in November. And the festive atmosphere is strong in the air the entire month of December. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysj4Krtju5WnRBZ8q9Kr9S0rX09uA6KxmU71CM6ykc6oGygqS52lFpDdDtOgodHKoheBaPSvMv4OtvgCRYf_Z62fa8Jn7J63qmAfkhMsfjSIHIcnGPYLOoG8S-2BZsjJpoRG__MGb7685/s1600/Fireworks+del+bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="460" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysj4Krtju5WnRBZ8q9Kr9S0rX09uA6KxmU71CM6ykc6oGygqS52lFpDdDtOgodHKoheBaPSvMv4OtvgCRYf_Z62fa8Jn7J63qmAfkhMsfjSIHIcnGPYLOoG8S-2BZsjJpoRG__MGb7685/s200/Fireworks+del+bull.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IR7sV8NHrABrK3Eqydn9lLOv3ePBJ16Ac-bUvE3AJnD7kBKZy5TbJDhUHPhunfoECTLl07v8Vw7UL9RF9wN7e2tZcqOl_7CJbJawgT5VD7SyJikBszQK_Nv2Jte2kfv1Ozl8R4XHv2WR/s1600/Scan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="580" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IR7sV8NHrABrK3Eqydn9lLOv3ePBJ16Ac-bUvE3AJnD7kBKZy5TbJDhUHPhunfoECTLl07v8Vw7UL9RF9wN7e2tZcqOl_7CJbJawgT5VD7SyJikBszQK_Nv2Jte2kfv1Ozl8R4XHv2WR/s200/Scan.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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December 1st, started with us receiving our business license for the vocational carpentry shop and making the final installment for the corporation process. It was 7 long months of continuous requests and filing paper after paper of supposedly "necessary" documents. If we had had children, we would probably have had to offer them up too. Anyway, it is done and the vocational carpentry shop is officially a Nicaragua corporation called "El Taller Gabinete de Comunidad" or the Community Cabinet Workshop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltl5_GuQGM2ujgidutZt8u1gnLLYtKE93Zm2pwPTyzofMEP7ZB6Fv30Uw7mL_jBrYNNoIWMM9zkybOGo8fsBmjxIlgMXRJC4afdfE3jbHwaIB6GInJ9YLak6TKaobK2q3DmqYC4DI4KE/s1600/Julio+baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltl5_GuQGM2ujgidutZt8u1gnLLYtKE93Zm2pwPTyzofMEP7ZB6Fv30Uw7mL_jBrYNNoIWMM9zkybOGo8fsBmjxIlgMXRJC4afdfE3jbHwaIB6GInJ9YLak6TKaobK2q3DmqYC4DI4KE/s320/Julio+baptism.jpg" width="179" /></a><br />
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The second week, our local church headed to the beach for a day of fun and baptisms. Two of the guys from the Restoration House along with Noel's wife were baptized. It was our first time at this particular beach which was beautiful, and now that we have seen it, we'll stick to Las Peñitas which is closer to home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAKfmuxh_Mg2oa0a3kYUZaVXT8SRM1T1xlYfmsKhejcTq_pbBY8HSSRhcuepHdi7HJIc0MAgbjUaJE2j1C4pK-TVtRjyCX_LxZJ4oB9FoW40dyR2uMbGN31f4CGMeHPIrlktGBLPj7YGn/s1600/Christmas+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAKfmuxh_Mg2oa0a3kYUZaVXT8SRM1T1xlYfmsKhejcTq_pbBY8HSSRhcuepHdi7HJIc0MAgbjUaJE2j1C4pK-TVtRjyCX_LxZJ4oB9FoW40dyR2uMbGN31f4CGMeHPIrlktGBLPj7YGn/s200/Christmas+presents.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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We made a request for help with the year end festivities of our ministry and many of you responded. We were able to provide gifts for the 7 of our guys living in the Restoration House. We were able to buy NEW clothes consisting of 2 shirts, pants, 2 pairs of underwear and shoes for each one. We told them that people</div>
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from the United States paid for the gifts and the boys were SO happy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6YMBXqNFTVLwmbBotW9-r8omt3InBbZHdxenXpKUW_DXR-S5ylzHNHwPc6yBPDvJe4metB6tNL994uYbytGm2We911eMA5RBWbmERrxK97oyMC6DERZeGFJjPrb50wqHZ4IoUOUyongE/s1600/P.+Erasmo+teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6YMBXqNFTVLwmbBotW9-r8omt3InBbZHdxenXpKUW_DXR-S5ylzHNHwPc6yBPDvJe4metB6tNL994uYbytGm2We911eMA5RBWbmERrxK97oyMC6DERZeGFJjPrb50wqHZ4IoUOUyongE/s320/P.+Erasmo+teaching.jpg" width="176" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGvK9fs2my0XYeVNn-KCgGck7g5KzjN4dXgmX_LMK1jAQVP9WVzJRqPewy8QnV8ceARX7WxUrIryoSVpVAfaFydKFvkAa8ipWqXhSkFplt7l291ZHcchTbEjIDwYhoRkJNxYje27rPRvI/s1600/Wilber+teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGvK9fs2my0XYeVNn-KCgGck7g5KzjN4dXgmX_LMK1jAQVP9WVzJRqPewy8QnV8ceARX7WxUrIryoSVpVAfaFydKFvkAa8ipWqXhSkFplt7l291ZHcchTbEjIDwYhoRkJNxYje27rPRvI/s200/Wilber+teaching.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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You also made it possible for us to give a love offering to the Pastors, Ken and Wilber who give of their time to help with the bible studies for the boys and instruct them how to live life outside the walls of the Restoration House.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LSrA2vsx-fgX_avuoc-FUQSUyNjBXmnJG49pmh6cAbcsShiaXf8o_Q1VQmgUttGF3OZEBpMOz09ueIaYA-115hGVl-6l94y3g-R15mbLVIJh7ND2RP8AP3p0GqDMdj4mg6tFPdCVW2W4/s1600/We%2527re+on+our+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LSrA2vsx-fgX_avuoc-FUQSUyNjBXmnJG49pmh6cAbcsShiaXf8o_Q1VQmgUttGF3OZEBpMOz09ueIaYA-115hGVl-6l94y3g-R15mbLVIJh7ND2RP8AP3p0GqDMdj4mg6tFPdCVW2W4/s320/We%2527re+on+our+way.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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We just finished with our second annual outreach to the homeless. This year, we also included the elderly in giving meals to them at their homes. There were 19 of us that traveled by eight triciclos through various barrios in the city to give out a meal and be the hands and feet of Jesus to extend love to those in need, lonely or forgotten. I'm not sure who receives the most blessing, those that receive, or us that have the privilege of giving. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrSfiJ7OvE-eiJ_m8tyvUblqUl2x298ZyZO0zLF3TpFbAm3PyM68AsRT7Ah6m8lAvNoQWv6mSCcwq2Fi-OwVG_ohuq-1hx7_nea6TvqxcFfdVpnTrdfxcbRypA8-ofHWXaaz8i2CvjhQ5/s1600/Richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrSfiJ7OvE-eiJ_m8tyvUblqUl2x298ZyZO0zLF3TpFbAm3PyM68AsRT7Ah6m8lAvNoQWv6mSCcwq2Fi-OwVG_ohuq-1hx7_nea6TvqxcFfdVpnTrdfxcbRypA8-ofHWXaaz8i2CvjhQ5/s320/Richard.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We love doing this and you, our partners and friends, are such a big part of this.<br />
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I know that you all have been inundated with requests and we really don't like having to add to that. But we too need your help. Someone told me once, that God has chosen some people to go out into the world to help and others he has chosen to stay home to provide for the sending. Helping to send means providing for the needs to be able to carry out the work. We are $700 a month, yes, I said a MONTH <b>short</b> in our funds right now. This amounts to $8400 a year shortfall in funding. It is really affecting what we are able to do. If you feel led to help, we would appreciate you giving to the work in Nicaragua. Our donation website is easy and very safe to use.<br />
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<a href="https://connect.egiving.com/general-fund169/restoration-of-the-nations">https://connect.egiving.com/general-fund169/restoration-of-the-nations</a><br />
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One of our biggest needs will be equipment for the vocational carpentry shop. About 18 months ago we were robbed of EVERYTHING we had in the way of tools. This past year, we were able to purchase a small table saw and planer. The shop needs clamps, paint sprayer, a larger planer, drill press and various odd hand tools, not to mention an inventory of wood to get the shop started.<br />
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<a href="https://connect.egiving.com/machinery-tools-for-carpentry-school/restoration-of-the-nations">https://connect.egiving.com/machinery-tools-for-carpentry-school/restoration-of-the-nations</a><br />
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We are blessed and privileged to be able to work in Nicaragua and you all make it happen. Your prayers, your encouragement via calls and emails help to move us on. <br />
<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-89823899855341815172017-11-28T15:52:00.000-06:002017-12-30T17:53:08.644-06:00Give Thanks Always<div>
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We've had an awesome year. Not to say that it was not without it's challenges and great disappointments. But I love to look back on the year to see the beauty of what we do. I especially like to see and remember how God brought us through the rough times. </div>
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This year, the rough times have not been so much in our day to day work in Nicaragua, but in matters concerning our family that we left in the States. We've questioned our initial decision to come to Nica and more recently to remain when members of our family are dealing with crisis issues, divorce, as well as life and death matters. In the years we've lived in Nica, we've also missed the birth of all of our great grandchildren. Two of them we have not met and there is a fourth on the way.</div>
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We've never been to the States for the holiday season. In fact it's been almost three years since we've returned after the last visit. Since we have received our Nicaragua residency, there is no pressing need by the government to make us travel. </div>
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We have had to put the care of our family in the hands of God. We preach and teach to the people of Nicaragua ALL THE TIME about trusting God. And to be honest, some days our teaching did not line up with our current belief system at the moment. </div>
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As I said, it's been an awesome year. Our relationships are growing stronger with the guys who come into our lives. We have local people who recognize what we do and give of their time to help us. Opportunities are coming forth in the cabinet shop and vocational school. Preston is teaching regularly in a pastor friend's church and invited to preach in our local home church, as well. He started a local chapter of the Celebrate Recovery program. Along with Wilber, they have started a "home church" in the Casa Restauración on Sunday nights and it is open to the public.</div>
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Let me briefly share a recent event. Preston is one of 4 pastors/leaders that teach daily in the Casa Restauración. After lessons one day, there was casual conversation. The boys love to hear about what our life was like in the States. One of the boys made a comment about how much we must miss our family. Which prompted another to ask how much longer we would be in Nicaragua and when did we expect to return to the States. Preston told them we were not going back because Nicaragua was our home. They said, "but missionaries always go back". He told them about a recent conversation he and I had about a decision we would one day have to make, in case of a natural disaster or government unrest, if the US Embassy informed us that we needed to vacate. During that conversation we talked about the difficulty of walking away from the people whom we have come to love and the work we do. We made a decision then and there that leaving would never be an option for us.</div>
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While Preston was sharing this conversation with the guys, they became very emotional. Everyone of them cried, one of them sobbing and Wilber leaned into Preston to hug him. He said "no one has ever shown us this kind of love".</div>
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There are no words to adequately describe the up and down days of our lives in the last couple of years. Preston once had a customer of ours ask him before we left the States, "do you really have to go?" He replied to them, "<i style="font-weight: bold;">I don't have to go, I GET to go".</i></div>
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So, in this year of ups and downs, we continually have to remind ourselves to <i>GIVE THANKS ALWAYS. </i></div>
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It's an awesome privilege to have been chosen to be God's hands and feet in Nicaragua.</div>
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Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-87552965658294094252017-10-28T02:00:00.000-05:002017-12-30T17:53:04.224-06:00First Anniversary of Casa Restauración<b>Restoration -<i> A return of something or someone to a former, original, normal or unimpaired condition.</i></b><br />
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The Restoration House or Casa Restauración sp. was a necessity to the young men of our community to provide a safe environment in order for them to work on restoring their lives to the original, intended condition.</div>
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At the end of last month, Wilber sold some of his pigs and used the money to lay a foundation for a room on his property. I spoke about his passion for the work we do, never did we realize the extent until he was willing to sacrifice his income to help the ministry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf6JXz6_n3YxbpMIGFeNOQncwgrmZXW1b_ImQvvSqRSX1228zvRykWw3CsVAwQRSio8sljY2yI8Q54ntIMFTCnMMBuwoBYEMCmvB7ofWPlJFj4_sSZoqAyM4uksmZvGwNrMmulQCkdCRe/s1600/electrical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf6JXz6_n3YxbpMIGFeNOQncwgrmZXW1b_ImQvvSqRSX1228zvRykWw3CsVAwQRSio8sljY2yI8Q54ntIMFTCnMMBuwoBYEMCmvB7ofWPlJFj4_sSZoqAyM4uksmZvGwNrMmulQCkdCRe/s200/electrical.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKd6H0vPE0xENEXNpVhIgL7GgyqU0kHbzfwuq_1cVqnLApzaOEG5-kMuy5_LdygGwGb34mPDpbfUxd35uogkdIIVy4EVWZo8SDqgmbED7YnErs-HJ2DgGxN00gTzd91q7Y_HZCbmQ8uZ9/s1600/before+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKd6H0vPE0xENEXNpVhIgL7GgyqU0kHbzfwuq_1cVqnLApzaOEG5-kMuy5_LdygGwGb34mPDpbfUxd35uogkdIIVy4EVWZo8SDqgmbED7YnErs-HJ2DgGxN00gTzd91q7Y_HZCbmQ8uZ9/s200/before+1.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYeBK2rOEzDHseRUOZNvhxc3D51yV6lYyrbD5FNiYg2sTflAd5-jiwM4c_09SZouYzU52TAcC59vFi7jWuOV0h06oB-gjUTZrnrX6_uli-DTc9C2Km2c3BkmvmFmZlM4IPhBPlkudkkY9/s1600/construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYeBK2rOEzDHseRUOZNvhxc3D51yV6lYyrbD5FNiYg2sTflAd5-jiwM4c_09SZouYzU52TAcC59vFi7jWuOV0h06oB-gjUTZrnrX6_uli-DTc9C2Km2c3BkmvmFmZlM4IPhBPlkudkkY9/s200/construction.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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The ministry bought the materials for all the electrical needs including fans and helped with the construction of the room and rewiring of his entire property. Unless you have been in a third world country you cannot imagine the conditions of wiring in homes and older businesses. We wanted to make sure that all would be safe.</div>
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By October 15th, we had moved the guys from our house and along with one newbie into the Casa. It was the second anniversary to the day since we launched the Casa Restauración. We had all of the original beds, kitchen equipment, tables and chairs from the first Casa that will be used in the new Casa.</div>
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We will continue to do minimal improvements to the property as funds become available. There has been a roof installed over the area between Wilber's house and the room. This provides for a covering of the gathering space. Currently there is a mud floor, the rainy season is still upon us. Also, we need to add additional roofing to the kitchen area to divert water run off into the gathering area.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I said that improvements would be minimal to the property to make it habitable for the guys. We have all decided that we need more space in the near future. Currently, we can house 6 guys. It crushes Wilber to have to turn guys away for lack of space. Remember, this is the guy that wants to, no let me rephrase that, </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><i>has</i></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> to save the world.</span></div>
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This issue of wanting to take everyone in is something that we have had to wrestle with for years. We are teaching Wilber, that there has to be a limit and not everyone is a candidate for entry. We have several meetings and classes every day of the week except Saturday. We encourage attendance while waiting for space to open within in the Casa. If they do not make an attempt to attend meetings and work at making life changing choices, they will be denied entry to the Casa when space is available.</div>
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During this time of year, it gets cold (well for us 70 degrees is cold) and guys don't like sleeping on the sidewalks or park benches. They come for food and rest, showers, clean clothes and when they feel better, walk away. Our resources in staff and finances makes it impossible to allow this to continue. We try as well as we can to discern the intent of the individuals seeking help.</div>
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Our goal now is to find approximately 2 - 3 manzanas (3 1/2 - 5 acres) that will be a complex for the entire ministry. This would include the vocational cabinet shop, dormitory for the guys, chapel, barn, personal and caretaker residences. It all sounds like a dream but, it was the vision that we were given before we moved to Nicaragua and God has shown the same vision to Wilber. Now we have the joy of having someone to talk with, plan with and dream about the future other than with ourselves.</div>
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All things are possible with God!</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-72619995482861479102017-09-25T10:36:00.000-05:002017-12-30T17:52:58.357-06:00How Do You Spell Relief?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMqozkPHDMG7mVsPEl2sZZvXJAlM9ids26OoM_1ByVnE_tbih_qu4Em-FDfl36cvVKBRkb28Vkrj7REkm44_i1ySpR8HZusynSwlhdU7VEY9FExNbECCX65t2GjHASP2iI7YQieKh7fZc/s1600/hands+promise.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMqozkPHDMG7mVsPEl2sZZvXJAlM9ids26OoM_1ByVnE_tbih_qu4Em-FDfl36cvVKBRkb28Vkrj7REkm44_i1ySpR8HZusynSwlhdU7VEY9FExNbECCX65t2GjHASP2iI7YQieKh7fZc/s200/hands+promise.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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H E L P! <br />
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I'm not crying out for help. I'm saying we have HELP in the form of wonderful, passionate, loving, Godly people who are coming alongside to offer long awaited relief to our weary minds and bodies. You can't imagine the feeling this relief of responsibilities is to us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA76jY8JsGQ3yE5PE8eX2k41DmpY52meZmJlj7C3dkQCuBQuCZdwSoLbLm3jTkrC-YJofMu_vAjA8tsKl-qeKoaTg8cZGTUQGsCdblZqb6yVOKJ9SmBxafrmPF6GNp320WgROvxTJlio4e/s1600/Director+Wilber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA76jY8JsGQ3yE5PE8eX2k41DmpY52meZmJlj7C3dkQCuBQuCZdwSoLbLm3jTkrC-YJofMu_vAjA8tsKl-qeKoaTg8cZGTUQGsCdblZqb6yVOKJ9SmBxafrmPF6GNp320WgROvxTJlio4e/s200/Director+Wilber.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Wilber, our very close friend and more like a family member to us, has caught hold of the vision for what we are doing. He has so much passion, which is giving us a boost of adrenaline. God comes exactly at the right moment to tend to our minds and bodies and provides what we need.</div>
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Wilber is a born evangelist, which I may have mentioned before. He cannot help himself. He loves to go out to the highways, byways and neighborhoods that most of us would never step into. His job and he knows it so well in his spirit, is to reach the lost. Two years ago, he was in the streets, his life spiraling into eternal hell. He grasped onto God's outstretched hand and pulled himself out of the gutters. His life's work is to tell others about the transformed life offered by Jesus.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSZw9MWQSnlJHe5zG5dFs__LXiHcd4Ma5U28Txzkk7lZTDMov_nJtgHnqjOhfaTrEz9YUechBWOECe6Ormuj7bsXxtsR_jOm_XB1kKfr3n5yg9AIxKvQ0-ja2wV2PCmTwa_QH3uemR1FV/s1600/Ken+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="716" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSZw9MWQSnlJHe5zG5dFs__LXiHcd4Ma5U28Txzkk7lZTDMov_nJtgHnqjOhfaTrEz9YUechBWOECe6Ormuj7bsXxtsR_jOm_XB1kKfr3n5yg9AIxKvQ0-ja2wV2PCmTwa_QH3uemR1FV/s200/Ken+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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We also have pastors and a transplanted American paraplegic that are giving their time to help mentor and disciple the guys. Do you see what I have written - they are <b style="font-style: italic;">giving </b>their time. There are no requests for financial assistance, they too have a heart and passion for what we are doing. Weekly they come and each spends 3 hours one day a week with the guys.</div>
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Two of the volunteers travel a great distance - 15 plus miles each way. We feel led to pay for their transportation and just that small gesture has found great appreciation within them.</div>
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Preston has been teaching the Friday morning classes. However, this will be short lived because in January we hope to have the vocational cabinet shop up and functioning. If God has provided us with the current volunteers, He will provide someone for the Friday classes at the due time.</div>
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Oh, the sweetness of relief! It allows us time to devote to other matters, formulate programs and Preston's expanding teaching opportunities in other churches. I love to teach English and felt like I never adequately prepared my twice weekly lessons. Now I can devote more time to that preparation.</div>
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Can you hear the relief in my words and the gratitude for the people who have chosen to come alongside us?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmYdYuR1s8zBkhm4XLPCLQsKNUwDOPHq9UZqt08hF3tknzVyKvNByJRCpKgR0noJpE95ZzjBZI8_4d6RVG6h9etJtqzxsFVkYi_pXvOJ8-h0Q5V7AeO9jmHihuWfDAf9vuV5IAJOObtRX/s1600/Dedication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmYdYuR1s8zBkhm4XLPCLQsKNUwDOPHq9UZqt08hF3tknzVyKvNByJRCpKgR0noJpE95ZzjBZI8_4d6RVG6h9etJtqzxsFVkYi_pXvOJ8-h0Q5V7AeO9jmHihuWfDAf9vuV5IAJOObtRX/s320/Dedication.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before I leave you, I need to tell you about needs for the ministry. The expenses for the Restoration House are heavy and once again we are having to pull from my social security, We have had long term, faithful partners but in the last 2 years as is common with ministries, some have left us because their time has come to an end. We are now operating with a $700 monthly reduction. We have never taken a salary, the ministry provides for the operation base which is also our residence; but we pay for personal expenses as well as many of the events associated with our Nica sons. Now with us having to help with ministry expenses, our personal finances are in poor shape. Our savings account was emptied for medical costs when Preston nearly lost his finger a year ago and we've not been able to kick-start it again. Because of our work load and the exorbitant costs to travel to the States, we have not been able to meet with our partners or potential partners.</div>
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Would you prayerfully consider either increasing your donation, become a new partner or share our needs with your friends and your churches? This entire "adventure", that's what God invited Preston to take, has been totally by faith. When you no longer have the ability to work and earn money, it puts the meaning of faith to a test. Before coming to Nicaragua, we always said we had faith, but what we learned was we had faith in our bank account. We've come to know faith in a different way.</div>
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We would now love for HELP and RELIEF to come in another way - increase in available funds for the mission we are on. Giving is easy and simple using our donation site. We are always mindful of costs to the ministry and making donations via ACH, costs only 25 cents compared to the almost 4% charged by debit and credit cards. There are several projects and needs from which to choose to specify your donation allocation. They are featured in a drop down list on the site.</div>
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<a href="https://connect.egiving.com/restoration-house/restoration-of-the-nations">https://connect.egiving.com/restoration-house/restoration-of-the-nations</a><br />
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Thank you for your continued partnership in Restoration of the Nations. It's an exciting time for the ministry and we need you to join with us to fulfill all that is before us.<br />
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-88079474185480423352017-08-26T17:24:00.000-05:002017-12-30T17:52:51.915-06:00Temporary Restoration House (Casa Restauración)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've been 7 months with our personal home being the temporary facility for the Casa Restauración. Did I say it's been 7 months, seems like 7 years! There's a reason why people tend to have children in their younger years. To try to take on that responsibility in your golden years, well, let me say, it's a challenge. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCIE3tSzNf36NvnqHMUaG8nLApQbxc2sCyF1GxeGBvnhBY9h3yU1IWam6lmg04TWYZnJMIftbT0xyZ9DlD519zIg4hKvDLohdVRAFclvZxDfmNOG_gGLw_ihrSOngPyafNtQhA6HZkUxQ/s1600/Nelson+in+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCIE3tSzNf36NvnqHMUaG8nLApQbxc2sCyF1GxeGBvnhBY9h3yU1IWam6lmg04TWYZnJMIftbT0xyZ9DlD519zIg4hKvDLohdVRAFclvZxDfmNOG_gGLw_ihrSOngPyafNtQhA6HZkUxQ/s200/Nelson+in+window.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the cultural customs in Nicaragua is that families stay together. The guys take it in stride that we live all in the same house. However, I've always been an introvert and to have to share my space with another is a real STRETCH for me. My husband is use to me, but when I seek the refuge of my room, the guys want to know "what's wrong with her".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me share a funny moment with you from 2 years ago before there was a Casa Restauración: I think I will always remember the time when Jack Noel was talking about living with us -<i> FOREVER.</i> At first, I was not on the same page of conversation with him. But as I tuned in more, I realized that he was NOT talking about a temporary situation where he could save some money and get on his feet. When I finally asked the question, "how long do you plan on staying with us", I was not prepared for his answer. It was a good thing I had not taken a drink of water at that moment, because it certainly would have been projectiled across the room.<i> "FOREVER", </i>caught me by surprise. I asked him if he wouldn't like to have his own house one day. 'No, I want to live with you <i>ALWAYS'</i>, was his reply. I told him that families in America do not continue to live with each other after the children become adults. He reminded me that <i><b>I was no longer living in America!</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me get back to our current housing situation. We moved into our current home because it had two bedrooms and we no longer wanted others living with us. There was a breakdown in management of the original Casa Restauración, (see March blog - Blindsided), and we had to move the residents in with us. </span></span>We have had consistently 2-3 young men living with us since the end of January. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4eD2Rxy2DwNuZbFebfJNv-bLIwmzdBhQZj8yOpNqtDKQGGYtf0IJrQ07l_2HnHpzaPZbGXs5XCLJHyeouPy2UawQJGRk-nGvbvm9tsnfOZOlhTZUqNw0ePrJ_IGvQ661CcIwNv8w6Y_n/s1600/rental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4eD2Rxy2DwNuZbFebfJNv-bLIwmzdBhQZj8yOpNqtDKQGGYtf0IJrQ07l_2HnHpzaPZbGXs5XCLJHyeouPy2UawQJGRk-nGvbvm9tsnfOZOlhTZUqNw0ePrJ_IGvQ661CcIwNv8w6Y_n/s200/rental.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a house next door to us that has been for rent for months. It would be ideal to rent and place the guys in it. There is plenty of room to allow for more guys to join the recovery program. And we could personally manage the facility and keep better watch over everyone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what is the problem? Peace! Lack of peace about signing a lease for the property. Everything about it makes sense - it's next door for easy monitoring, there would be more peace and quiet in our home, and it's an opportunity to reach more guys. BUT, there is no peace in our spirits. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until God shows a solution, we will continue to make do with the arrangements as they are.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmozpBEMd51zgeLCVwivh03RYHXMhY_PqbFW-3BP8J_uRFvVzK4PR-l70gv7riq19O69Zijyyg5DpFsRIxdnhN3R96y5Tg_CwUVjuSOszobvAQQ24C9hk_26Ww6mMEbTnk_CO5yX8JNgk/s1600/Discipleship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmozpBEMd51zgeLCVwivh03RYHXMhY_PqbFW-3BP8J_uRFvVzK4PR-l70gv7riq19O69Zijyyg5DpFsRIxdnhN3R96y5Tg_CwUVjuSOszobvAQQ24C9hk_26Ww6mMEbTnk_CO5yX8JNgk/s200/Discipleship.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I agreed to accompany my pastor husband to another country, I certainly was not aware that it would involve me becoming a house parent. That was not in the original plan, but </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">God's plans are not always our plans</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. So many times that fact comes up in our daily lives. A friend asked me once: 'if before you moved to Nicaragua you knew that your work would involve young men living with you, what would you have done'. My reply was "stayed behind". 'Exactly', she said, 'God had to get you to Nicaragua first before He could reveal His total plan'.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB7qSti5ghFYPCoo_BIEFd1RWzJS-3YJcOkJ0xJjwpzy-L7yRTDq2oLmErppmjVaNuVlTmcmPpegeHq892qjSOK_SQgz_OOZjP8RjLArQ4BlaUdeO3UHOPsexfLuVVkVW2097u_cf0qCB/s1600/Comfortable+Aroldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB7qSti5ghFYPCoo_BIEFd1RWzJS-3YJcOkJ0xJjwpzy-L7yRTDq2oLmErppmjVaNuVlTmcmPpegeHq892qjSOK_SQgz_OOZjP8RjLArQ4BlaUdeO3UHOPsexfLuVVkVW2097u_cf0qCB/s200/Comfortable+Aroldo.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't get me wrong, I love the guys and most of the time they are a delight. However, let me repeat, I AM an introvert and I like my privacy and personal space. My privacy is gone, I've tried to carve out an area in the house that is mine to hide away in, it just does not work out. They are so needy for time and attention; someone is always coming to me to either talk or just hang out. Friends that really know me, find this amusing - I was a mother to girls, and truth is known in our family that the granddaughters got more of time. So how is it that I am a house mother to BOYS?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Oh, the humor of God!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-68627711843203718932017-07-31T16:41:00.000-05:002017-12-30T17:52:43.222-06:00A Month of Birthdays<div style="text-align: justify;">
July is traditionally a busy month for us in addition to our regular duties. We have always made sure that we celebrate the boys birthdays; not only with our Nica sons, but the boys that are a part of our lives. So, in July the birthdays are plentiful. The celebrations, depending on our personal finances, can be as simple as me baking a cake to a full blown celebration of a meal with their favorite foods.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVnfnfj1P-lwwP6Il4QkRYwfG0bedZMgt7Ar-O8D-om1fUlLA4ebnxEQgqSd8FJl_X1pm2K7lzIZ3HLowChLxe1JPHKOiHtsmSA8oQcg5_yLE_wQ0J2UlvpHHHEuX4jxu3bmKghiyHD1Q/s1600/Noel%2527s+Bd+%252717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVnfnfj1P-lwwP6Il4QkRYwfG0bedZMgt7Ar-O8D-om1fUlLA4ebnxEQgqSd8FJl_X1pm2K7lzIZ3HLowChLxe1JPHKOiHtsmSA8oQcg5_yLE_wQ0J2UlvpHHHEuX4jxu3bmKghiyHD1Q/s200/Noel%2527s+Bd+%252717.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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This year, we celebrated Noel's birthday with a family dinner which now consists of a huge extended family. We prepared spaghetti with meatballs along with garlic knots. The crowd is getting large so there were 2 cakes, one vanilla - Noel's favorite, and a chocolate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz78yTgJR57AlCGVLolL2x0tyefajFl0dkZE2gysbtN6sK8SXgFvQzQxuoSmDFMrBGs5tF6lqhI8kox_0H17V0ysxtJX333TBhODK3vyjelihr0CDEHftL0-kr4mU10PRcx2pMFtNvKme/s1600/Noel+y+Wilber+7%253A5%253A17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz78yTgJR57AlCGVLolL2x0tyefajFl0dkZE2gysbtN6sK8SXgFvQzQxuoSmDFMrBGs5tF6lqhI8kox_0H17V0ysxtJX333TBhODK3vyjelihr0CDEHftL0-kr4mU10PRcx2pMFtNvKme/s200/Noel+y+Wilber+7%253A5%253A17.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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The guys have always LOVED my cakes. The usual cake in this country is more like a dense pound cake with meringue icing. I use the always faithful Duncan Hines mixes - expensive here, but well worth the effort. They like the soft, moist cakes and some remember them fondly throughout the year.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvD-EQIdYVIgSdyf9sv6y9VDKusJKxfxA45-lmwwgIkzk10DZfc2zJz2URgv2HrHCXgtHohaKGKyW10Cook69QJbvYRqyXlQDb-mNRZNhjHIm4BrecrU1jgC06B6QdIFRaUYTUHbbiO-q/s1600/A+gentleman+offers+his+arm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvD-EQIdYVIgSdyf9sv6y9VDKusJKxfxA45-lmwwgIkzk10DZfc2zJz2URgv2HrHCXgtHohaKGKyW10Cook69QJbvYRqyXlQDb-mNRZNhjHIm4BrecrU1jgC06B6QdIFRaUYTUHbbiO-q/s200/A+gentleman+offers+his+arm.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">A gentleman always offers his arm.</span></td></tr>
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For Aroldo, we told him that we would take him out to dinner; anywhere he wanted to go. He's never been to a "fancy" restaurant and was hesitant to ask. But as we encouraged him to ask for what he wanted (that's what we always say to them - ask for what you want) he sheepishly said "but it's expensive". I said to him, "let me be the judge of that, what is it?" He - "El Carbon" Me - "We can make that happen" He - "Really?"</div>
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El Carbon is a steakhouse and by US standards very inexpensive, but still a stretch for us. This is the first birthday that Aroldo has not been in the streets, so we wanted to give him his birthday wish. We included Nelson to join us since he too is living in our home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4iHEec5RfL0ynBJBK_lA-Gu160djGyHl_gyiJoduHr1IGow093rPgSN07YYLo7wJzHUgh4b8RR3qoRZFP1zPb-yDok1IWtSg_BO-xTiMoovho9O9RJT-vk7TJLAJ6wRr8eWlPzkqAw_/s1600/Steak+for+Aroldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4iHEec5RfL0ynBJBK_lA-Gu160djGyHl_gyiJoduHr1IGow093rPgSN07YYLo7wJzHUgh4b8RR3qoRZFP1zPb-yDok1IWtSg_BO-xTiMoovho9O9RJT-vk7TJLAJ6wRr8eWlPzkqAw_/s200/Steak+for+Aroldo.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8F1dYE9bliQkQDqEufYyOp215GGXc9c7yvngVVLCktqTjLnRwuJFFxCuq3_ccAdjrECmoj12eU8VoFZUme8uqU9xjuGBJQokFZ3EKI5w3CnKs9H_BNB43IYQfKD7omARXxoJfhkdUTVag/s1600/Menus+are+confusing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8F1dYE9bliQkQDqEufYyOp215GGXc9c7yvngVVLCktqTjLnRwuJFFxCuq3_ccAdjrECmoj12eU8VoFZUme8uqU9xjuGBJQokFZ3EKI5w3CnKs9H_BNB43IYQfKD7omARXxoJfhkdUTVag/s200/Menus+are+confusing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">We had the most awesome time. It was a wonderful, rare treat for us, but it was so much more enjoyable to watch the guys partake of something that they may have only dreamed about.</span></div>
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Finally, we finished the month with a lunch for James' birthday. We went to McDonald's for the best fried chicken, EVER. It's crispy and moist and always the meal of choice with Nicaraguenses. For those who don't know, James is now a married man. This means we have to share him with his wife and in-laws and we don't get to spend as much time as we would like. He's such a joy to us and we cherish every moment with him. He's also fluent in English, so conversation comes so much easier because our Spanish still needs a lot of work.</div>
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Why do we make a big deal of birthdays? Because no one else does or never did for most of the guys. We want to celebrate their lives, their uniqueness and let them know they are important to us.</div>
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Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-1407674379036723942017-06-30T23:39:00.000-05:002017-11-12T16:23:41.072-06:00A Long Ago Dream<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNtGQkXv9gJZkZjqELQqcG8a4-xM6ka6UdrQtocL2JQNoomREGnOLf_JvxVfj4y_unlECm3WE4tEkjD9fy7zL-Jm6bzN2aJWRb-84jFSMNgTZyVfYPib0BJdAtt8zMYNmpU0cxPK8147l/s1600/Carpentry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNtGQkXv9gJZkZjqELQqcG8a4-xM6ka6UdrQtocL2JQNoomREGnOLf_JvxVfj4y_unlECm3WE4tEkjD9fy7zL-Jm6bzN2aJWRb-84jFSMNgTZyVfYPib0BJdAtt8zMYNmpU0cxPK8147l/s200/Carpentry.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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From the beginning of the ministry, we knew God had given us a vision to have a cabinet shop along with the carpentry vocational training. <br />
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We tried to start the shop in the village of El Paraiso which was located 30 miles from Leon. Jobs are scarce in that area. We spoke with another ministry who is very involved in the village and they felt it would be a perfect opportunity for the men in the area who were mostly jobless. There was one young man who in the beginning showed himself to be more ambitious than all the others. After two years of working with him, it was decided that he would not continue to pursue learning the concept of business management.</div>
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We continued training others in a small space close to our home. At the end of a year, our lease was not going to be renewed. Where to put the shop was a dilemma. Space that is affordable and sufficient in size for our needs generally don't go together.</div>
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The pastor of our local church loves carpentry. He also has a heart for the youth of the community and cares very much about the work that we do in Nica. For several years he lived in the States thus he is familiar with American ways. His experience in both cultures is an asset to our friendship and working relationship. He came to us one day and offered a portion of his church for us to use for the carpentry training. God always has our backside.</div>
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The business concept associated with the vocational training is of interest to Pastor Pedro. Together we have formed a Nicaragua corporation for the purpose of manufacturing and sales of cabinets. The cabinet shop would have a dual purpose, create jobs for the community and help provide additional funding for our ministry and his church.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueqA49iFP7kedjvbvfGI-HJA4JxDV2DFODgEATQXADd9_jMfx_62lotqYbn5lwrWehrlFnjx16diOEnJDdCoaEuSJbolhYxT9sFgmBCjAJvS77llsNXwVv3w-vbqVdSht84WxXWAppY7c/s1600/Building+boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueqA49iFP7kedjvbvfGI-HJA4JxDV2DFODgEATQXADd9_jMfx_62lotqYbn5lwrWehrlFnjx16diOEnJDdCoaEuSJbolhYxT9sFgmBCjAJvS77llsNXwVv3w-vbqVdSht84WxXWAppY7c/s200/Building+boxes.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Currently we are training the guys that are in the Restoration program along with local young men from the community. They are learning how to build various types of wall and base cabinets along with wardrobes and vanities. We have no plans now to expand into any type of furniture making. For now it will be all about building "boxes". It's easy and it's new in the this marketplace.</div>
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Nicaragua is growing and the economy is thriving. In the last 3 years, it consistently is rated as one of the top 10 retirement destinations in the world. There is need for better housing and that will require cabinets and wardrobes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvysURBnxNUzK7E-rXeMgt5uhQcJymjuit0QQlBs995CnLai5JNWVhJaAJCR7XjgQHOMRSIvOcMwcF3gmoB9Xikp7AUR77mbwRdFOuxMnzdijmE9nFOn6i1oTyzmTaIt0hg-TeNgATZAX/s1600/Demis+%2526+Freddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvysURBnxNUzK7E-rXeMgt5uhQcJymjuit0QQlBs995CnLai5JNWVhJaAJCR7XjgQHOMRSIvOcMwcF3gmoB9Xikp7AUR77mbwRdFOuxMnzdijmE9nFOn6i1oTyzmTaIt0hg-TeNgATZAX/s200/Demis+%2526+Freddy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We have our first commercial client and the guys are excited. A local hostel with a coffee shop needed a new bar counter for their coffee and drink preparations. The guys received a small wage for the construction and installation of the project.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC69VFvFPl50m_GzKBLgoLm2KDutQewcsqaptaksfsjcZyNXac-9UyOxplQvBPZRWZJ96z012WqMzPGcb9knoTJsrKM9M61bXnVBaI6ZbeVFWf_8OKvGqs2DKAcCb2CEXcY25740HaQi7/s1600/Finished+Paz+cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC69VFvFPl50m_GzKBLgoLm2KDutQewcsqaptaksfsjcZyNXac-9UyOxplQvBPZRWZJ96z012WqMzPGcb9knoTJsrKM9M61bXnVBaI6ZbeVFWf_8OKvGqs2DKAcCb2CEXcY25740HaQi7/s200/Finished+Paz+cabinets.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We are super excited about this program, it's been a long time coming. We think we are positioned at the right time in the marketplace. At this time, we work half a day in the carpentry shop since we need to share the space with the church afternoon programs. We also have the Restoration program that requires our attention in the afternoons. <br />
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The church and our ministry will each receive a portion of the profits. Our first payment to ourselves was $27 each for the month. Not too bad for our first job. <br />
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-54267822519438327882017-05-27T11:56:00.000-05:002017-12-30T10:39:38.640-06:00Learning to Yield to HIS Plans<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we arrived in Nicaragua, we came with a plan. Habakkuk 2:2 says:</span> <i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">'</i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">The </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Lord</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><i> answered me, Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read.' </i>And we did write it down because the vision was so clear in our heads it was like watching it on video.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">We immediately went to work on the vocational training all the while waiting for the rest of the fulfillment of the vision. We did not doubt that it would come because we had a promise,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> "<i>all that we would need was ready and waiting". </i> However, six months went by and nothing of the other things in our plan were coming about.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">What we were experiencing however, was boys and young men coming to our door. We did not seek this out, but if they were showing up, it must be from God. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZI5PmVMQVOjyCMAl94SPin_MKijzDdNAvChQqsNk9C9G8f-k8xWIFsq4lzWvEPLQiXu3QN0ieloZwRDG_MBvBN8P9nRdwL4maBI3LlW1FBpwGeYN2UBTmQ83t0n8FLUXJZNDTRy70E0o/s1600/Nelson+needing+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZI5PmVMQVOjyCMAl94SPin_MKijzDdNAvChQqsNk9C9G8f-k8xWIFsq4lzWvEPLQiXu3QN0ieloZwRDG_MBvBN8P9nRdwL4maBI3LlW1FBpwGeYN2UBTmQ83t0n8FLUXJZNDTRy70E0o/s200/Nelson+needing+love.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">And for years they have been coming. Some come for a day, some for a meal, some for months. All the while, we kept saying 'this isn't what we came to do'. Mentoring and parenting young men in our house was not part of "our plan".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">But, how do you turn away a hungry child, an orphan, a rejected young man or an addict? Matthew 25:40</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> <i>'The King will say anything you did for the least of my brothers, you did it for me'.</i> That scripture always stayed with us whenever we were feeling like maybe we were missing the mark of THE plan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">We have gone back to review the written plan a lot lately and we have discovered that we are not far off of our plan. We are doing the vocational, we are providing education, we are discipling, we are changing their lives in ways we never dreamed about doing.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">No, we don't have the land that we dreamt of buying, or the large facility built with which to do the work in and be able to sleep those that need a place to rest. We don't have it all YET, but we know that one day we will. Six months or six years of waiting is not a long time to the LORD</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">In the mean time, we will continue to work at what God has placed right in front of us. We believe that in His time, He will weave what we are doing now with the original vision He gave us. It will all come together in a way we would never have imagined and it will be perfect.</span></div>
Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-59689274723885383562017-04-28T17:33:00.000-05:002017-09-11T16:47:25.359-05:00The Gift of Family<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's HOT, it's dry, it's windy and it's dirty. Such is life during March and April in Nicaragua. Just when we think we can't possibly get up and go forward another day, we get a call from family stateside to say they are coming to visit. It is the first time that family members have visited us - 7 years of "loneliness". </div>
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Our oldest daughter had made a trip to Nica with us a year before we moved here. At that time, she had been drafted by her siblings to accompany us on a trip to do reconnaissance and determine if mom and dad should be admitted to a mental institution. This year however, she wanted to be able to spend her 50th birthday with us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMAHfE8dpp53E2PaErPEaPTKYVYl4k4sja8twedDKVkf1jiqxpdQGYtfFPAWFSSlWECXwW2sERZdvNUbJnzw3Bv8nY9cYfO2YQbqrUbS5k-qtRzz1f1e_3Yrc_vvM9b9LTwK28Sc8ZB8T/s1600/Street+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMAHfE8dpp53E2PaErPEaPTKYVYl4k4sja8twedDKVkf1jiqxpdQGYtfFPAWFSSlWECXwW2sERZdvNUbJnzw3Bv8nY9cYfO2YQbqrUbS5k-qtRzz1f1e_3Yrc_vvM9b9LTwK28Sc8ZB8T/s200/Street+painting.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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Nicaragua does not use the term Easter, it is called Semana Santa (Holy Week) and resurrection day is Holy Sunday. It was a wonderful time of year for our daughter and her husband to visit and experience the festive life of Nicaraguans. Even the streets are decorated with colored sand portraits. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkm3yoG9KbZJMWuYpo3hoButWioTQ6kymtT88pnLYB30jK3-POpxGVFhwp3WMP3WPg9nxNb2ehBR3psdmIDf_MSklfZYOhOSQ1WPPPA5NYWSvtLOy20_uqEIa-BU2A3El603gQYH0aPRQ/s1600/DSCF5043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkm3yoG9KbZJMWuYpo3hoButWioTQ6kymtT88pnLYB30jK3-POpxGVFhwp3WMP3WPg9nxNb2ehBR3psdmIDf_MSklfZYOhOSQ1WPPPA5NYWSvtLOy20_uqEIa-BU2A3El603gQYH0aPRQ/s200/DSCF5043.jpg" width="200" /></a>Life comes to a halt on Wednesday evening of Holy Week and the city empties out because everyone heads to the beach. Buses are loaded down with campers and supplies; pickup trucks are riding on their axles because of overcrowding. The tradition here is so different from what we experienced in the U.S. In Nica, Easter Sunday is no different than any other Sunday. They seem to acknowledge the death of Christ more than His resurrection. Life for the average Nicaraguense returns to it's usual pattern on Sunday.</div>
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We ventured out to the beach but only on Wednesday afternoon for lunch; any time after that would have been foolish. Las Peñitas and Poneloya are small fishing villages on the ocean that experience a tourist explosion of tens of thousands of people during the 4 days. We love the fact that we practically live on the Pacific and look forward to showing it to anyone who comes to visit, just not during those days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpU4vM2bmaY_2h9dzUi1zoxg76yvnDDfKjWNlli7FAiR8_2IfmmMj_D0yLrducodY7pjvpoQWe2K0Ci91JbgO8oUu4N74z6hVbRnHhenkNWBIUBFAesG0ElvCgKTuDtpH5znA4ognA5b9/s1600/LaVecchia+%2526+Nica+sons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpU4vM2bmaY_2h9dzUi1zoxg76yvnDDfKjWNlli7FAiR8_2IfmmMj_D0yLrducodY7pjvpoQWe2K0Ci91JbgO8oUu4N74z6hVbRnHhenkNWBIUBFAesG0ElvCgKTuDtpH5znA4ognA5b9/s200/LaVecchia+%2526+Nica+sons.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Our Nica sons and the other guys we are involved with have wondered for years about our children. They were excited that they would finally be able to meet one of our daughters. We had lots of gatherings so everyone had a chance to get to know our American family.<br />
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We live on a cul-de-sac with a park out our front door and an old Catholic Church across the street from there. The church is very active and there were continual events the entire week with lots of beautiful fireworks in the evening.. We love that we have a front row seat, but the noise can be deafening and spent bottle rockets landing on our roof or patio is more than our dogs can take. They hide in our room in fear.</div>
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The last day of their visit, we rented two tricyclos and toured the city. Our goal was to visit each of the major Catholic Churches - 14 of them. We took pictures inside and out of all 14. Who would have guessed we'd have had such fun touring our city. The sites that are so familiar to us everyday, I hope we never take for granted.</div>
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A week was too short, but being able to share our life with a member of our family was priceless. The time off from the usual routine was a welcome break. They talked of coming back at Christmas, it is something to look forward to.</div>
Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-87292650112159986162017-03-28T17:06:00.000-05:002017-09-11T16:40:17.209-05:00Blindsided<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't think there was anything that could have prepared us for what we have experienced this last month. Everything seemed normal, the guys are loving school, new guys are adjusting well to life in the Restoration House; everyone seemed to be in harmony with one another. Or so we thought. Since we do not live in the House or relatively near it, we rely on the house manager to keep us informed. We make several daily visits for either lessons or personally interacting with the guys.</div>
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I had to make a trip to Managua and I do not like traveling alone to that city so I asked for Noel to accompany me. When I picked him up at the House, it was so evident that he was distraught. We rode mostly in silence while I waited for him to tell me what was bothering him. When we returned back to the House later in the day, things began to unravel. By that time, all the guys were willing to talk.</div>
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It seems that the house manager, was allowing the guys to have more freedom than was allowed in order to "buy" their silence. When it was all said, we found that the manager was not doing his duties at the house, he was frequently away and he was stealing the money that was allotted for food. The stealing of the money was something that the guys did not know about. The guys have always known that we encourage good nutrition. When we heard they were eating only beans and rice at most all the meals, it was a red flag to us that something was not right. The manager was using the majority of the grocery money for his own gain.</div>
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None of this behavior is unusual for all that we have experienced while living in Nicaragua. What hurt so badly is that the house manager was one of our Nica sons whom we had trusted explicitly. He himself had grown up in Remar and knew the duties of a house manager. He knew the vision and scope of our work. In our minds, he was the obvious choice for the job. He was young, but the job was not difficult; he was strong in the Lord AND he had our trust. Now because of his selfishness and greed, he would be out of a job and out of a place to live.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOBZS6MrtbcvgQy8OyMCzUYrMDZeScScbtvyI5p89qY3upjEVyZMSeQMmTB3B9grPnAufDk5NuUuQR5YqrVU-ZTVd_9F-RzMNRsvT18J3OV5ThrHb9kTiuqaZSCOts0-A-krL-DoSuCA/s1600/bunks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOBZS6MrtbcvgQy8OyMCzUYrMDZeScScbtvyI5p89qY3upjEVyZMSeQMmTB3B9grPnAufDk5NuUuQR5YqrVU-ZTVd_9F-RzMNRsvT18J3OV5ThrHb9kTiuqaZSCOts0-A-krL-DoSuCA/s200/bunks.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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It is extremely difficult to find reliable, trusting individuals to do any type of work. The only remedy for this problem, until we could find responsible persons to help us, was to divide the guys to live in our home and Wilber's until we could find a better solution. We found understanding with the owner and was able to terminate the lease on the dwelling. To move the guys into our home was not ideal for us for two reasons: we had downsized a year ago so that we would no longer have others living with us and our home is the mission base. Everything happens at the base along with constant interruptions, leaving us with little to no privacy. Luckily we have room for 2 sets of bunk beds.</div>
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Not only were we blindsided, but this took the wind totally out of our sails. Trying to recuperate without the time and privacy is difficult. The work goes on, the demand is never ending. We have two evening meetings a week in our home and one evening outside for teaching, in addition to our daily schedule. Our days are long, beginning at 5AM and now they are crowded with extra bodies in our "sanctuary". </div>
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I have to laugh when I think about our time in Nicaragua. It has been all about adjustments. As Americans, we are so structured and rigid. More times than we can count over the years, the guys have said to us "<i style="font-weight: bold;">calmate</i>" which means - take it easy. We'll learn to adjust to the new living arrangements. For how long? Who knows. It's important that the guys have stability and feel welcome in our home. Their is an upside to this, we no longer have to make multiple daily trips over to the Restoration House. Maybe we can save a few minutes a day for ourselves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBDSWwwj2CmsVP4pyhhvjhyphenhyphenk8aqh_4VlADqwmNDXb4dUL4QXLIwUZlUI4MQO2dXDZf7sHEhav33-xnjMEZXX6sIGtQJTKwth3JzhanZO60iyQlbE77nAz-DX8NFqhM3q5c7FH4GUVnvsS/s1600/sancristobal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBDSWwwj2CmsVP4pyhhvjhyphenhyphenk8aqh_4VlADqwmNDXb4dUL4QXLIwUZlUI4MQO2dXDZf7sHEhav33-xnjMEZXX6sIGtQJTKwth3JzhanZO60iyQlbE77nAz-DX8NFqhM3q5c7FH4GUVnvsS/s200/sancristobal.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Nicaragua is a beautiful country, it is our adopted home. The people are warm, friendly, but they are proud and which sometimes means difficult. We are still learning that fine line between preserving the rich cultural heritage and educating them to be able to exist in this developing world. Every day is a challenge and we are always in a battle. Yet as we look back, we have learned a lot and developed personally in such a way as to be able to live in this culture. </div>
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We cannot do it alone however, we need your continual prayers to strengthen us and provide wisdom for the decisions that need to be made concerning the well-being of the guys and the future of the Restoration House as well as the other ministry programs.</div>
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Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-42836044004663814562017-02-25T15:57:00.000-06:002017-09-11T16:12:15.101-05:00In a Blink of an Eye <div style="text-align: justify;">
How quickly things can change. One minute we have one of our very own strongly speaking to an incoming addict about the benefits of our Restoration House program and the next, he himself is missing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLbuo-Eip3movyPcweGzUz8WQvssyxHnJT4GXSZrgjocjy3jFpzgSLRBwxBXCuYmBYHNyUywMik733hq2zGVcNpJpplUL7fHGQafkNHG2Ch86yfHkxE56S85tjyDsoe84Sq9xBZeC2EVQ/s1600/Wilber+%2526+Axel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLbuo-Eip3movyPcweGzUz8WQvssyxHnJT4GXSZrgjocjy3jFpzgSLRBwxBXCuYmBYHNyUywMik733hq2zGVcNpJpplUL7fHGQafkNHG2Ch86yfHkxE56S85tjyDsoe84Sq9xBZeC2EVQ/s200/Wilber+%2526+Axel.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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It was a beautiful, quiet Friday morning. Wilber brought to our home a potential young man to join the recovery program in the Restoration House. When Wilber entered it was apparent that he was in great distress. Hours earlier, his beloved cousin who struggled with drugs and alcohol was killed in a street altercation. Wilber is 14 months clean and his passion is to see that no man continues in their struggle with addiction. Because of his loss, he is now more determined than ever to go into all the streets to find young men who will listen to his story of living clean and free.</div>
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Aroldo has been in and out of our lives since 2010. He struggles with several addictions and yet he loves to learn more about the Word of God and experience His loving, awesome presence. On this particular Friday morning, he was sharing with the newbie all about life in Casa Restoración (Spanish). He was passionate about how the program was helping to transform his life.</div>
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The meeting lasted a couple of hours, the temperature was usual for this time of year in Nicaragua - HIGH; nothing had been prepared for lunch, so it definitely was a McDonald's kind of day. Air conditioning, daily specials and with a brood to feed, it was the perfect affordable place to eat. We had a fun lunch, lots of laughter, sharing, teasing and just enjoying each other's company. </div>
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After lunch, we had an errand to run and needed Jack Noel to accompany us. Aroldo volunteered to take Noel's wife and baby back to the Casa in Noel's tricyclo. Forty-five minutes, just 45 short minutes it took us to arrive back at the Casa only to have Noel's wife greet us at the door to say that Aroldo was gone. He had dropped her at the Casa, changed his clothes and walked out without a word. No warning signs, no moodiness, just passion, fun and laughter one minute and the next he is no where to be found. We tried repeatedly to call him, eventually he turned off his phone and then he sold it.</div>
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He was gone for 3 days before Wilber found him and brought him back. Upon his return, we learned that during lunch on that Friday, Aroldo had been texting with a foreigner whom he had met days earlier at the mercado and agreed to meet up with her. As I mentioned, he struggles with many addictions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCiEQ3XeGy1otuj7imFHnYy6TNz4XnWPHOwvQVoJj3nKNZjQbgHmK0ksmOJH1mPWlNKsg_JH3FDP3DcJUiJs2vAsA_D63olt5hyphenhyphenXxeam6O5XPRt1LMU-TF2GEqWCBrMj2xgVM2msK8cbD/s1600/P+comforting+Aroldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCiEQ3XeGy1otuj7imFHnYy6TNz4XnWPHOwvQVoJj3nKNZjQbgHmK0ksmOJH1mPWlNKsg_JH3FDP3DcJUiJs2vAsA_D63olt5hyphenhyphenXxeam6O5XPRt1LMU-TF2GEqWCBrMj2xgVM2msK8cbD/s320/P+comforting+Aroldo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For days after he returned, he was quiet and isolated. The shame, regret and accusatory voices in his head were coming at him continually. After the initial reprimand, there is not much we can say. It was evident he was beating himself up enough. We held back the "I told you so's" and just tried to be a source of love whenever he would accept it from us.</div>
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It's the same ole story with him, it's usually a girl that trips him up. He is so starved for acceptance and love, that he repeats the same mistakes over and over. The story of his earlier years is heartbreaking and one can understand his need for some sense of significance. As much as we continue to share with him where his validation and identity really comes from, it never seems to penetrate his heart. So, we wait on the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Aroldo is bouncing back but the infectious laughter and glint in his eye is missing. He asks us often "</span><i style="text-align: justify;">why are we patient with him</i><span style="text-align: justify;">". He doesn't know that it is a different kind of patience, some days we want to wring his neck. But the patience that he experiences from us is a knowing that there is a great plan for his life. And so, we keep loving him and working with him as long as he continues to reach out to us.</span></div>
Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-20495842990296866322017-01-30T14:29:00.000-06:002017-09-11T16:00:19.879-05:00Another Year of Opportunities<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBOMqbWb6XDw8Uk9T7FJxsvVilg4Fb72K_uNZH0On8YP_p4LY28rQGKW1gqrB39WPU2X3_xpvj_1Eh59D5i27sXdohT7yFNWvbMU6hrg7yK4PlwRedY60wC2Gg3qIl4pThjr5KA6-LuS6/s1600/DSCF2179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBOMqbWb6XDw8Uk9T7FJxsvVilg4Fb72K_uNZH0On8YP_p4LY28rQGKW1gqrB39WPU2X3_xpvj_1Eh59D5i27sXdohT7yFNWvbMU6hrg7yK4PlwRedY60wC2Gg3qIl4pThjr5KA6-LuS6/s200/DSCF2179.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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New Year's Eve is really a BIG deal in Nicaragua. We get to see first hand the celebrations up close because we live on one of the most popular parks in all of León fronted by a Catholic church which LOVES to PARTY. There were fireworks all evening long launched by the neighbors and then the grand finale at midnight by the church. Two of our Restoration House guys popped in and out all evening long, then came back shortly before midnight because they wanted to usher in the new year together with us.</div>
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It's a new year with new dreams, lots of excitement and anticipation of great things to come. Aren't we all hopeful on January 1?<br />
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The month started out busier than usual. The young men on the streets are tired of street life, the holidays are behind them, the nights are cold with nowhere warm to sleep and maybe it is time to sober up. Wilber has been taking guys out to The Farm almost daily where the detox process can start. They come to us with only the clothes on their backs, plastic flip-flops on their feet, hungry and tired.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE_SrI5hCuUBXAILS2znKi7uxk3wCQvRXeg19RvXdBMOSy1tcF0HMpSDsv-24sYTVGyxxZlI7hOjhp7c1f9cAY76XMwCX7yJZuTJPfH1de07k2JljPzs3amlVuBqmIQB2eGKDjuYEA3Up/s1600/Luis+to+Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1115" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE_SrI5hCuUBXAILS2znKi7uxk3wCQvRXeg19RvXdBMOSy1tcF0HMpSDsv-24sYTVGyxxZlI7hOjhp7c1f9cAY76XMwCX7yJZuTJPfH1de07k2JljPzs3amlVuBqmIQB2eGKDjuYEA3Up/s320/Luis+to+Farm.jpg" width="220" /></a><br />
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We feed them, give them a care package consisting of toiletries, change of clothes, hooded sweatshirt, towel, notebook, pen and Bible to sustain them while at The Farm. Most of the guys do not last the 3 weeks at The Farm, many do not make it beyond a day or two; one young man beat Wilber back to town (Wilber had stopped to talk with friends). The reasons vary as to why they leave The Farm. For some it is too "primitive", this spoken by guys that live on the streets - go figure. Others do not like the structure or rules and are very independent. Those that make it the longest, think that after a couple days of sobriety they don't need to complete the program. You can't hold a guy against his will, so they are free to go under their <i>own power</i> - there are no complimentary rides back into town. I am still amazed at how they can find their way through the maze of cane fields to the main road to hitch a ride.</div>
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For a long time, we thought we could love them into submission and/or change. More recently we have adopted the tough love approach. Wilber has been trying desperately to get us to change our minds, he was going to prove that love and patience would win them over. He's now starting to experience the disappointing and discouraging moments. Pastor Benjamin has stopped trying to talk the guys into remaining in the program at his Farm. The truth of the matter is the guys are NOT ready to change their lives. But none of us can make that determination on day one when they come to our home seeking help. Each of us chooses, at that moment, to believe that the requests for help come from weary souls.</div>
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How many of us on New Years vow to begin a healthier lifestyle? How many of us fail within the midst of the first month? We have all the best information at our fingertips to help us master our minds and bodies to kick old habits and yet we fail. How much harder must it be for these guys to put aside their destructive choices and behavior when there is no seeming hope on the horizon? How much pain are they trying to drown out? How much shame are they wanting to block out? There's no way we can stand in judgement of their momentary desire to change when we cannot keep our resolution to leave the sodas alone or view a lot less Facebook.</div>
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There are 2 policies that we have adopted in our ministry.</div>
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#1 - We will not do more for you than you are willing to do for yourself.</div>
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#2 - Jesus always told the sinner, "sin no more", then He went on his way. <br />
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We will love them, treat them with respect, but we will not chase after them; we will let them go until they return to us.</div>
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We look forward to this year and all of it's opportunities while remembering that we cannot control the outcome. We are His hands and feet to extend His love to those He has given <i><b>free will</b>.</i><br />
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-18849672466081899762016-12-31T20:40:00.000-06:002017-01-05T16:33:20.903-06:00Wrapping Up the Year!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s3qH3e1iHm99YLTolE4RZ8ChhwvUKBihVFrOh1uQ-E9O3lv9PlDY5glmnoMq6lXI5qCKVs0kivcxExR-fEzF8_xUcteLgpbKpHRvv6W2lYPzVJ4AIPUBn-yPLU_ol-5tCi1yv2EduRSG/s1600/Roller+coaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s3qH3e1iHm99YLTolE4RZ8ChhwvUKBihVFrOh1uQ-E9O3lv9PlDY5glmnoMq6lXI5qCKVs0kivcxExR-fEzF8_xUcteLgpbKpHRvv6W2lYPzVJ4AIPUBn-yPLU_ol-5tCi1yv2EduRSG/s1600/Roller+coaster.jpg" /></a><br />
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What a roller coaster year it has been. Think about riding a coaster. As it climbs the hill there is lots of anticipation, once at the top the excitement is exhilarating. Then the coaster starts down towards the valley; for me, fear starts to set in and I hang on because there is no getting off the coaster. Then there are the twists and turns and I think about if the coaster will be able to stay on the track. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9Cyh6bzxbUW6JiOn8TFoO3uWgTmFK9f9FhCniLao-0qCRiCp3deUDU-Dnsp5UZdjDTDGrsa_R4RJqS3sTveRE3JmiLbdvsmbJ2nWWQqDzrgVZIr-egHliaSNaEXIhVuoMgJ-0JOVL0_Q/s1600/Church.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9Cyh6bzxbUW6JiOn8TFoO3uWgTmFK9f9FhCniLao-0qCRiCp3deUDU-Dnsp5UZdjDTDGrsa_R4RJqS3sTveRE3JmiLbdvsmbJ2nWWQqDzrgVZIr-egHliaSNaEXIhVuoMgJ-0JOVL0_Q/s200/Church.jpeg" width="113" /></a>Our year was much like that. We started out with excitement and so much anticipation about the Academy. Then we had fear as we wondered had we missed God's Voice and His plan. All we could do was hang on because life kept moving forward. There were twists in our plans when God revealed that He had different plans for the building that we had hoped would be for the Academy. <br />
He was going to turn it into a church.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt0a1A0Ru0RIWGI2LbVP9s9jNrNmsuCtBEXQ_g7UlXec6FCVBu4KsLJz2dGn1ggP_9vkk2go0XAouFytMcSXx9XRLNTG_M2IaMALi8fwtcG72zYEZyowpEyyAAb5bnCSqeqjilnq5cOec/s1600/Shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt0a1A0Ru0RIWGI2LbVP9s9jNrNmsuCtBEXQ_g7UlXec6FCVBu4KsLJz2dGn1ggP_9vkk2go0XAouFytMcSXx9XRLNTG_M2IaMALi8fwtcG72zYEZyowpEyyAAb5bnCSqeqjilnq5cOec/s200/Shop.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Mario's carpentry shop did not turn out as planned. He learned some valuable skills, but as of today, he is in his village doing nothing. But, as I spoke about last month, God will use everything for good. He has a plan and His ways are not always our ways.</div>
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Mid-year, we welcomed our third Nicaragua "grand baby". Oh, the promises of God come to mind. Long before Nicaragua or missions was ever on our "radar", God told me that I would have many children and grand children. Someone once compared me to Gladys Aylward and she led over 100 children through the mountains to safety. Well, I know that we've had influence to almost 100 young men. You don't hear about all of them, because they come and go out of our lives. We only hope that we left something of value with each one.</div>
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In August, we had a team member say to us that now there was no one living in our home with us, it was time to find 4 new young men. My eyes must have grown as large as saucers because he said, I'm sure that is not something that you find appealing, having boys live with you again. He was certainly right about that. We raised daughters and learning the ways of boys was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I was enjoying my rest from the challenges of caring for boys; especially boys with issues.<br />
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But, here we go, more twists and turns! Remember, God's plans are not our plans, His ways are not our ways. At the beginning of the year, we met a man in his mid 30's and there was a mutual connection. Recently, God began using him to bring our awareness to young men in need. As quickly as a coaster can go around a curve, God quickly took us toward His plans. The young men would not be living with us, but we would help them try to lay hold of a more stable life. So, the Restoration House now has it's own residence.<br />
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We finished the year with a wedding. Our Nica son, Jack Noel, married his love during a ceremony held in our home with his American "dad" officiating. As with coasters, we have experienced ups and downs, twists and turns in Noel's life, but it came to an exhilarating end. Now he is passing from son to responsible man with a family of his own. As he and I walked arm and arm toward the Pastor and guests to take our place, I said to him, "don't forget me". He replied "<i>never, Madre</i>". It was a beautiful evening, set in a magical setting of twinkling lights in the presence of loving friends and our ever faithful God.</div>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-16550999878607926552016-11-26T14:05:00.000-06:002016-12-31T20:35:34.449-06:00Give Thanks<div style="text-align: justify;">
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There's so much to give thanks for during this wonderful season. When one is going through some difficult and discouraging times, it's hard to see what good could possibly come out of it.</div>
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Two things God's Word tells us: Give thanks in ALL things and He will use ALL things for good. </div>
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I don't know about you but when we're in the midst of trying times, giving thanks is not the first thing that pops up in my mind. I'm learning to slow down, pause, breathe and sometimes I do remember to find something that I can turn into a blessing in my prayers. </div>
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Believing that God uses all things, is a lifeline to me. Every single day our lives are challenged in ways I never thought possible, much less to be able to endure the hard times. Most of you do not know about the devastating blows that hit us just hours before boarding the aircraft to move to Nicaragua. There were years of sadness, verbal assaults and isolation from our family, all while trying to transition into a culture so totally "foreign" to our normal way of living. Even among the people we came to serve, we experienced so much opposition. I'd cry out continually asking, "God, where is the good in all this?"</div>
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But, I'm a walking, breathing testimony, that God's Word is true: <b>good does come out of trials</b>. All of life is a process, which requires time, obedience, faithfulness and it's not just on our part. As He is working in our lives, He is also working in the lives of those around us. Working and coordinating every detail until one day we start to see or experience that "promised good".</div>
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There's so much good! All around and near me, I see and experience good. Relationships are being restored, lives are being healed, amazing breakthroughs are taking place, dreams and visions becoming a reality. </div>
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We all love to experience the goodness of God. But, let's never forget to Give Thanks in all things, because He tells us to do so. And if we are blessed to experience the good, it's all the more reason to continue to Give Thanks.<br />
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Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-24849364057512293872016-10-18T13:30:00.000-05:002016-12-31T20:33:42.740-06:00Restoration House<div style="text-align: justify;">
For three years, we have been in association with a Godly, humble Nicaraguan man named Benjamin. He has a program that focuses on the rehabilitation of men struggling with alcohol and drugs. He teaches them to turn their focus away from substances and turn towards God. You might remember us talking in the past about taking some of our guys out to "The Farm" located in the midst of sugar cane. It's located a 30 minute drive from our city, not easy to find, nor is it easy to get into or out of The Farm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjytYEXdvyisMa5E_Ds38SJy60v5BSzzppAKKp-D4Lt3XhBNavZbrKK8-N5IHbihPRjrkvvtL_WEzG-Zz0mZ8HNf1itApIgrZBMgedVYDrmTMbNc9iHSy1ulWLaQufl-3mA2SlntXRAvS/s1600/Guys+at+Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjytYEXdvyisMa5E_Ds38SJy60v5BSzzppAKKp-D4Lt3XhBNavZbrKK8-N5IHbihPRjrkvvtL_WEzG-Zz0mZ8HNf1itApIgrZBMgedVYDrmTMbNc9iHSy1ulWLaQufl-3mA2SlntXRAvS/s200/Guys+at+Farm.jpg" width="200" /></a>Recently, there have been more and more young men that we have escorted out to The Farm for a 21 day stay. It was becoming a concern as to how the guys would cope when they left. The fate of Israel Jose was probably responsible for us to finally take action to implement a plan. We had known him for years and he was brought back into our lives for a purpose. On the drive back from The Farm after leaving him there, we asked a question to our friend Wilber, "do you think it would help the guys if they had a safe place to go after leaving The Farm?" The very next day we started looking for a house.</div>
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Twenty-one days in recovery is not a long time. A person is hardly finished with the detox within his body. We want to provide an additional time and place for them to begin on learning to transition back into society. Many guys were living in the streets before. Many have lived in horribly disfunctional homes. Many homes have more than one person actively using alcohol and drugs. Many don't have jobs. Many have never learned the every day life skills most people take for granted. We want to provide a safe environment where they can learn to live as healthy, whole and <b>Holy</b> men.</div>
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We love how God works, which at times can be suddenly. We looked at one house that we all thought would not work. When we drove around the corner, we stopped on the street to get our bearings and ponder where to look next. There was a house directly in front of us that had been for rent for almost a year. We had called about it several times earlier in the years to use for the cabinet shop, but the answer was always the same. The house was being remodeled and it was not ready. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDio6pax3vKF3RRtrenamo0m5w94vqLKmAideo9A8cljBQf23X9O1DwZOBTZtTGIvfD4WS2suaiUXXT-2vwd7soiuHrA9mPwY_KBECQ2Av_m9f0dR7bxOHaDuFIobl2mCuV94NqB-nV_p/s1600/House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDio6pax3vKF3RRtrenamo0m5w94vqLKmAideo9A8cljBQf23X9O1DwZOBTZtTGIvfD4WS2suaiUXXT-2vwd7soiuHrA9mPwY_KBECQ2Av_m9f0dR7bxOHaDuFIobl2mCuV94NqB-nV_p/s320/House.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We made one more phone call and finally, the house was available. The representative said she would come right over to show us the house. When the cab pulled up and a woman stepped out, there was no doubt that the house would be ours. The woman was a friend of ours helping the owner who lived in the States. She was so excited because just that morning she had asked God during her prayer time, "to please bring someone to rent the house".</div>
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The place was a perfect size because we wanted only 6 men max in the house plus the house monitor. And the favor of the Lord just kept coming. Without asking, the rental price was reduced by $50 a month because we would not be using it for an income producing business. Now we had less than 21 days to prepare what has become known as The Restoration House for the first occupants from The Farm.</div>
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Favor, favor, favor was continually coming our way. We had to purchase everything we needed to supply the house. When I say everything, I mean <i>EVERYTHING. </i>We had to find a person to live in the house to manage it and watch over the guys. AND, probably the most difficult was to establish a schedule along with rules and procedures. Up to the final hours before the occupants arrived there were last minute things to purchase and most importantly was to fill the House with groceries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqnEbUVjY5tP2UmG7JeuoF54muP3gfxIG5RRWhp1qxrfxXHBn1XjnLsvnXqswwUI14vuPfBNPBS27JAKtXgkVE6WspPQhfKOlZw1XK731XI1ZXYAeB1C7GpOy1NZxqftCs1H6nh3fJlqb/s1600/First+occupants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqnEbUVjY5tP2UmG7JeuoF54muP3gfxIG5RRWhp1qxrfxXHBn1XjnLsvnXqswwUI14vuPfBNPBS27JAKtXgkVE6WspPQhfKOlZw1XK731XI1ZXYAeB1C7GpOy1NZxqftCs1H6nh3fJlqb/s200/First+occupants.jpg" width="200" /></a>Three young men including Israel Jose were first brought to the office in our home to talk with them about the schedule and rules. We did not anticipate the resistance that we came up against during this meeting. It's been an ongoing battle during our entire time living and working in Nicaragua to get the local people to see the wisdom in scheduling your time and observing rules. They are very independent and more so the young men we have dedicated ourselves to serving. </div>
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One of the guys actually broke down in tears and tried every way possible to negotiate with us. They only looked at the schedule and policies as what was being denied them instead of how it was meant to keep order in the house and protecting them from the neighborhoods and old friends that might be harmful to them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8McviVYWzg66E2AQcv9wNuJSrt8nf4ViZINEhH2QYrzFriFECgUm1xYQ_CydF9EYWlV7xmsVW-K661FdXKmnPUSjVlTS0ApXb6ZWzIf94ChyzbUKD-tCU967yiIbz3ezF_1QNaZ7kv4E/s1600/Bible+study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8McviVYWzg66E2AQcv9wNuJSrt8nf4ViZINEhH2QYrzFriFECgUm1xYQ_CydF9EYWlV7xmsVW-K661FdXKmnPUSjVlTS0ApXb6ZWzIf94ChyzbUKD-tCU967yiIbz3ezF_1QNaZ7kv4E/s200/Bible+study.jpg" width="200" /></a>We've learned through experience that when you have to talk someone into something, the commitment level is not very strong. Wilber, being a recovering addict, was passionate about the guys staying in the House and talked to them for some time about the benefits. They all three agreed to "try it".<br />
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Sadly, the one in tears left the house the next day.</div>
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Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955932800263934362.post-11594480142503020952016-09-27T14:49:00.002-05:002016-09-27T14:49:09.651-05:00Out From the Past<div style="text-align: justify;">
This morning while having a time of meditation, we heard a honking of a horn and a calling out - <i>Preston! </i>It was 6:30AM and our front door was still closed, we do not open it until 7:00 for this very purpose - privacy and quiet. However, the call came out again - <i>Preston!</i></div>
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We went to the door still dressed in our pajamas, but here in Nica, seeing one not properly dressed is no big thing. Opening the door, we found our good friend Wilbur. He proceeded to tell us that there was a young man that has been heavy on his heart lately and this morning he saw the guy, down and out and ready for a change. Wilbur wanted us to call our mutual friend, Benjamin who has a substance abuse rehabilitation farm in the middle of NO WHERE to ask him if we could bring the young man out, he was ready to go, <i>now!!</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF8vFfYrTdaS2KZytOyt-Ui9Q6wNRkJsbk5xws_VxM56dzmDWFt3AwUWG5gem_cZI_CAPVdRdLsIq2mV8ojWgeRcsXSUygVcpXWyklvT1w3RUZCXEARF855DCN7tISaVgC_49uuJzGCAo/s1600/Israel+Jose+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF8vFfYrTdaS2KZytOyt-Ui9Q6wNRkJsbk5xws_VxM56dzmDWFt3AwUWG5gem_cZI_CAPVdRdLsIq2mV8ojWgeRcsXSUygVcpXWyklvT1w3RUZCXEARF855DCN7tISaVgC_49uuJzGCAo/s320/Israel+Jose+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Israel Jose 2012</td></tr>
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Wilbur went back to his home, grabbed up the guy and brought him on the back of his moto to our house. In the mean time, we changed our clothes to prepare for a trip 15 miles out. When Wilbur announced his return, we went to the door and saw the young man with his back to us sitting on the curb, slouched over, head hung down and hugging himself. Wilbur spoke to him to stand up, there was no reply; he spoke again, still no reply. Then Wilbur smacked him on the shoulder with his moto helmet and the guy jumped up. When he turned to face us, we were SHOCKED. He was one of our lost prodigals who had lived with us for a short time, 4 years ago - Israel Jose.</div>
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He was timid to step towards us. Preston was the first to welcome him through our front gate with a hug. When I, Sandra, opened up my arms to hug him, he fell into my arms and cried. I held him for awhile and let him know that we were glad to see him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzuvNXlyx_70mc3Es6CB7fDznT299GC6Z93vwZEum3Y7Rgy3TEw8tyfk6A2T2vourO2DudHNjUP4XQtE0i__4_hXuK688aOE8vbQYM3hkyRxHWrn7jq628kqA9mWFVZKBio8UrGwDtx8j/s1600/Israel+Jose+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzuvNXlyx_70mc3Es6CB7fDznT299GC6Z93vwZEum3Y7Rgy3TEw8tyfk6A2T2vourO2DudHNjUP4XQtE0i__4_hXuK688aOE8vbQYM3hkyRxHWrn7jq628kqA9mWFVZKBio8UrGwDtx8j/s320/Israel+Jose+2016.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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We took him into our house as we assembled a few things for him to take for his 3 week stay on the farm. All he had was the clothes on his back. We provided him with a sweatshirt, towel and large beach towel to act as a blanket. We told him we would get a few more things for him and bring them out on Sunday. He is horribly thin, so we asked if he was hungry; I know, that's a really foolish question. He smiled and said he remembered that Preston was a good chef. It's amazing what some people choose to remember. We had leftovers from the previous night's dinner which came in handy. It's always wise to have a supply of rice and beans or arroz china (fried rice) on hand because we never know who will be stopping by.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ3tXBTpkQoPyGFoiDwYz7M7it5pCX-wAf1xe6w7inuGiDwEMtFm3vrI1i0Q4Aja2mzIAZiWqXu8_wdVj-ZGsTb3eqaoafeBPtxrIkeMyjT_jxSFFJAlzxO9HEDQY3W86nkBeMjStorYN/s1600/Israel+J+%2526+Ishmael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ3tXBTpkQoPyGFoiDwYz7M7it5pCX-wAf1xe6w7inuGiDwEMtFm3vrI1i0Q4Aja2mzIAZiWqXu8_wdVj-ZGsTb3eqaoafeBPtxrIkeMyjT_jxSFFJAlzxO9HEDQY3W86nkBeMjStorYN/s200/Israel+J+%2526+Ishmael.jpg" width="150" /></a>Wilbur accompanied us as we drove Israel Jose out to the small town of Posoltega. It's our norm to wait in the community park and someone from the farm comes out to meet us. When we arrived, Benjamin's son, Ishmael, was already waiting. </div>
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We left Israel Jose with Ishmael to be taken out to the farm located a journey through a couple of small rivers and hidden amongst the sugar cane. We will visit the farm on Sunday for services and spend time with Israel Jose.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFcmNJVkrcnQNh172cnsZtIUu1v8EveVXhnJmHTPPp5rF-Q19ty56ygD7rxCJq2dvwqhvjvs4yGWp7peATWQqbdU-xUTUbirSk7OGPsaqkYLVebVOveAuwQYyB53ERjJ8eAO9ClC7sd1-/s1600/IJ+%2526+Ishmael+Moto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFcmNJVkrcnQNh172cnsZtIUu1v8EveVXhnJmHTPPp5rF-Q19ty56ygD7rxCJq2dvwqhvjvs4yGWp7peATWQqbdU-xUTUbirSk7OGPsaqkYLVebVOveAuwQYyB53ERjJ8eAO9ClC7sd1-/s200/IJ+%2526+Ishmael+Moto.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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Israel Jose is an "old" 22 years. He's been through the "school of hard knocks". Back when he lived with us, he did not see the necessity to change his life. Whereas he was always polite to us, he was manipulative and dishonest in his behavior. Within a month he chose to leave our home to pursue his own way. Occasionally we would see him in the market place and it was apparent that his own way was not being kind to him. It has been a least 2 years since we last saw him.</div>
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We ask that you join us in prayer for Israel Jose; that his time of running is finally over and that he is ready to submit to the One and Only who can show him the Way, the Truth and the Life.</div>
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It's been a beautiful morning and we are grateful to God for bringing Israel Jose back to us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOaR30Qg-wlkxDgA29OMVSKhknXdPyd9siW3pRFLqvh1v14Bfb8kprJHutdC-4sf9Z1TL366ZDX9eXGXTZEYgmk5_WePM5lX2u-2PFkOXntEy-emfiYMhPNDWm3TxOvIs7u-Bc75mRhop/s1600/DSCF1684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOaR30Qg-wlkxDgA29OMVSKhknXdPyd9siW3pRFLqvh1v14Bfb8kprJHutdC-4sf9Z1TL366ZDX9eXGXTZEYgmk5_WePM5lX2u-2PFkOXntEy-emfiYMhPNDWm3TxOvIs7u-Bc75mRhop/s320/DSCF1684.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road to Finca through cane fields</td></tr>
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<br />Restoration of the Nationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16344947406725583390noreply@blogger.com0