LOVE NEVER FAiLS

"JUST WHEN i WAS GETTiNG USED TO YESTERDAY, ALONG CAME TODAY"

2008-09-18T21:47:00.001-07:00

Ever felt like that!? You've gotten used to something, only to find things changing again!?! Well, that's the easiest way to explain this past year. I fought going to Nicaragua for so long. I finally got the nerve to go, then move there for a year. With time I realized I didn't want to leave Nicaragua for the world, and guess what?! It's time to go home for a while!? I sure wish I could find those higher thoughts and ways of God's sometimes! (Isaiah 55:8-9) ...For those of you who may have been out of the loop...I am officially home now. I have actually been home almost 4 weeks now, which is nearly impossible to believe. I've had a hard time figuring out what to say, hence the reason there hasn't been an update in over a month. The famous question since I have been home is "Are you glad to be home?". Such a great question. but it's impossible to find a good, honest answer and not hurt anyone's feelings at the same time. Of course I love my family, my friends, my church and love to be here with them. But I came to realize I left a very important part of me back in Nicaragua...and that is my heart. If anyone has ever experienced this, it's hard to cope and especially function without it. And that is what I have been experiencing for the past 4 excrusiatingly painful weeks. (Not to mention America "just isn't the same to me" after a year in a better place. I get the funniest reaction when I tell people I don't like America anymore. they laugh. they must think I'm joking. but...unfortunately...I am not joking at all).....so to wrap this up, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am here in TN for a good while and at this time I unfortunately do not know when I will return to Nicaragua (or reunite with my heart!)

MUCH LOVE

MAMA BROOKE RESURFACES!!!!

2008-08-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

that's right! another month as "Mama Brooke"! Yesterday Jean and Cheryl left for Tennessee, so that leaves me as mama Brooke now! Only this time I don't have Tamara to help me. I do have Eugene and Patricia staying in the house for 2 weeks and then Chico and Eliot for 2 weeks, but they are mainly just support. The kids and I are making a good team so far (even though it's only been 1 day! haha). I am now realizing I need to learn how to cook! these poor kids might lose 10 pounds by the time Cheryl gets back...if I was all they had!! Luckily I'm not, but I gave Esperanza and Rosa the day off today since they had worked all week with the team, so it was up to me to cook! breakfast was easy, they wanted eggs...and lunch was easy because the kids wanted sandwichs and chips. For dinner, Wilber (the driver) volunteered to cook for me. So the kids had rice (which I somewhat learned how to cook today) and beans and fried bananas. We had the same, but with an egg (with tomatoes,peppers,onions)...Wilber's cousin, Mario (the translator), has volunteered to cook dinner tomorrow night for me!!! They must all feel so sorry for the kids!!!!!! oh well, I'm trying to watch and learn...and I get a good meal out of it too, so I'm not complaining! :)
I guess that's enough for now. Don't know that I'll update much this month, just because I don't stay on the computer much when the children are my responsibility...but I'll try...and put some pictures up too (of the children losing weight!!! haha)

MUCH LOVE!

WHERE iS THE BREAKTHROUGH!?

2008-07-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

ok...Chele and his brother Wilmur (Wilby) both went up for salvation the last night of the crusade while the group was here. Granted, Chele has went before (and probably Wilmur too). So Ashton, Madison and I talked to both of them about it, along with the fact that if they were serious about their decision, then they would fix the problem they have with each other (they hate each other). I also told them that I would start going to church with them on Wednesdays and Fridays if they wanted. Well, they were supposed to be at the house at 6pm tonight, but they never showed up. I waited around for an hour, dressed and ready because I had all confidence in them coming. And now here I sit so discouraged because they didn't show up.....the worst part is, I know they want to change. If they didn't, they would live how they wanted and they surely wouldn't go up for salvation, if they weren't seeking. I know that God has great things for both of these guys, I have no doubt about it. And I can see God receiving SO much glory through this, and perhaps changing their whole family. I guess I just want them to hurry up and do a 180 degrees turn, not thinking about the difficulty of changing a lifestyle that they've lived for 15 and 16 years. I just wanna see the breakthrough, to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, so that they can show everyone around them that they truly do want to change, but they need love and shoulders to lean on, not a turned back...please pray hard core for these boys. I have truly been broken for both of them and I want to help them however I can. I want to be the love of Christ for them to take hold of, so they can truly understand what love is...and what Christ did for them...and what He wants for them now.
MUCH LOVE!

FAMiLiAR FACES ON THE WAY!!

2008-07-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's already time for another team, but I'm so excited for familiar faces tomorrow night!!!! ...I know starting tomorrow morning, it will be extra busy around here and difficult to post blogs, so I wanted to update before the madness starts!!...this past week we had little Ramon (Raymond) staying with us in the house, along with his mom and aunt. Ramon is 15 months old and weighs 8-9 lbs! I wanted to hold him, but every time I did it felt as if I were holding a skeleton. I was terrified I would break him! We think he may have a very rare disorder of Primordial Dwarfism. You can look it up on YouTube with a video of an adorable little girl named Kenadie. I think the statistics say there are around 100 kids like this, needless to say...VERY rare. even more rare, we think he also has down syndrome. Cheryl and I think we are probably looking at a one in a trillon case with Ramon!! Crazy how the rarest cases show up at our door!! Here are a few pictures of him...

...in other news...Chico gets married on Saturday! In Nicaragua, you have a Civil Wedding with a lawyer which is the actual wedding that counts. Then, you have a Church Wedding for the celebration. So he is technically already married since his Civil Wedding was this past Sunday. But, as he says, he's waiting for the cake til after the wedding this Saturday!! He and Eliot are going to the beach for a few days, then he's coming back for the second half of the week with the group. Pretty excited to experience my first Nicaraguan wedding! Here's a pic from Sunday...

...did I tell everyone how daring I am!?....Fair rides in America are somewhat unnerving, right!? how about Fair rides in Nicaragua?? sounds a little moreso....well, last week, Eugenio, Wilber, Jean, and I went to a local Fair in Leon! And rode a few of the rides!!! Guess I figure if I can survive the ocean, I can survive the Fair rides!!! ...HAha...!?

The last ride by myself (Wilber and Jean got sick from another ride and Eugene was too scared!)

MUCH LOVE!

3 WEEKS ALREADY!?

2008-06-28T17:51:00.001-07:00

I sure can't believe it's already been 3 weeks since I got back to Nicaragua! things have been going fast around here! I meant to write a week ago, but never got the chance. We've been really busy the past couple of weeks trying to get prepared for the group of 28 people that came on the 22nd. They represented about 5 or 6 different churches and have seen around 433 people come to receive Christ!! Experiencing a big group is completely different on this side of the fence. Cheryl, Jean, and I were the ones that had to make sure everything was bought and ready, and everyone prepared in terms of cooks, interpreters and other help. And then I had to keep up with my main "job" here, which is receipts. That can be somewhat challenging when you're going a million miles a minute, but I hope that it's helped take the stress of Cheryl at least a little bit...It is somewhat stressful at moments when something isn't the way it should be, but I am so thankful for the experience to prepare me for the future! :)

In other news...Juan is an adorable little guy!! He has already gained about 5 lbs since he has lived with Cheryl. His mom has came once since I've been back, but she doesn't even talk to him or play with him. She just sits there and holds him...he likes the Johnny jumper! And I've heard we have raised enough money to buy a pool so that we can try some water therapy with him and Magaly, without creating alot of stress on their bodies. We are actually fasting for Juan tomorrow until 4pm. And then we are having a special prayer service for him in the house, for healing of his little body!! Please join in with us if you feel led to do so!

In a bit of other news, I know I've always talked alot about Chele on here, so I'll try to give a short, but detailed update....He was hanging out at the house, helping with little things. But one day he left mad, and then came back two hours later very drunk. He ended up collapsing and we had to take him to the ER where they pumped his stomach. He had taken some kind of pills along with alot of alcohol. It was said that he could have came close to killing himself. Not that I think that is what he wanted to do, but he wanted to hurt himself. So Cheryl had a meeting with some of the board for her ministry and they came up with some conditions in order for him to come back around the house. He has to have counseling meetings with Pastor Cortez, as well as Carlos (who is a psychologist on the board). He has to continue in school on Saturdays and if Pastor Cortez says so, Chele can start coming back around in a month....some days I it's hard not to be mad at him and his "unwillingness" to change......I know God has big things for him, it's just gonna be a LONG and HARD journey!! Please pray for him...his mind and his heart. That God will break through!!!

MUCH LOVE!

PRAYER REQUESTS

2008-05-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Just want to post a couple of things that are in need of prayer right now. Number one is that a tropical storm hit Leon yesterday (Thursday). Tamara Price called me today, thinking I had perhaps talked to Cheryl, although I knew nothing about the storm. Tamara talked to Cheryl yesterday morning and the winds and rain (around 70mph winds) were pretty fierce. Reports say the storm blew roofs off of homes, and knocked out power and telephone services. We've both tried to call Cheryl, but it's still unavailable. Please be in prayer for them and that telephone services can be restored so we can get in contact with them. I'll post details when I can get them....Second prayer request is for Mario (he's the little guy that came to church in Oct that had the tumor in his liver, for all of you Fairview readers out there). I got an email from Cheryl earlier this week that said he had a CT Scan and has another cyst on his liver. Cheryl was going to send all the information to the doctor in Cinncinati that did his first surgery to see what needs to be done. Just pray for Mario (he's only 4 yrs old) and his family and wisdom for the doctors (especially the Nicaraguan ones because we know they need alot!)...Third prayer request is for Diana. As far as I know, she is a little girl that should be leaving June 1 for the U.S. for heart surgery with HeartGift. Please pray that their travels and surgery all go smoothly and they can see God's hand and give Him thanks for what He's provided.
Thanks in advance for all the prayers!

MUCH LOVE!
Brooke

~4 days to go~

2008-05-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

can't believe it's only 4 days to go before I'm home again!! sorta seems like I was just home, but I'm definitely excited to see familiar faces of friends and family! :) ...I actually have to pack tonight because some of us are going to Diriamba (sounds like diddy-amba) with Eugenio's ministry, and they will be taking me to the airport from there on Friday! Not sure if I'll have internet there, so if not, I'll see everyone at the airport on Friday at 10:14pm. ok!? haha
I just wanted to post a few fun pics of things that have happened around here recently (and remind you of the airport! haha)...

About to get on the boat for Monkey Island. from left to right:
Chele, Lauren, Denis, me, Wilmur (our new driver), Eugenio

Funnest picture ever!

Lola (can you tell I was a little scared?)

Chele's house (the wind made it fall)

from the inside of his house

Chele, Gabby, and Wilmur's mom, Silvia

Allan, he just got back from Houston, TX for open heart surgery with HeartGift.

a day in Managua

2008-05-04T21:56:00.001-07:00

i am so sorry for not updating more often...it's gotten tougher and tougher.......yesterday we spent a day in Managua....we dropped Tamara off at the airport around 11am and then we waited for Lauren. She was supposed to come with a group last year, but didn't get her passport in all the madness with passports last year and had to use her ticket by this week. After we found her, we did the traditional site-seeing day for her (since we had to wait til 7:30 pm to pick Cheryl up at the airport). So we headed to Granada for Monkey Island which was alot of fun! Until we got off the boat. I tried to buy cokes for everyone, until they tried to charge me 18 cordobas when it should have been 10. unfortunately 3 of the guys had already opened theirs, so i had to pay for them. Then, we get to the van and started to leave. apparently, since we didn't use the boat at the restuarant where we parked, we had to pay to park!? well, we tried to ignore it, got in and tried to drive off. unfortunately we didn't get very far because a guy crossed in front of the van and we couldn't go anywhere....Wilmur tried to rev the engine to get him to move. but that only made the "family" around the restuarant start moving in toward the van. so finally i had to hand a 20 cordoba bill out the window to the guy so we could leave. all because of mine and Lauren's American faces! geez! :) we were all quite flustered after that, but we weren't about to let it spoil our day....after that, we went to Masaya for Lauren to shop for souvenirs, but it seemed they were on to our American faces too. but not too bad....after we finished there, it was back to the airport to pick up Cheryl. She got in about 8pm, we ate dinner and headed back to Leon....about 5 mins from Leon, the bus starts rattling. we got to the side of the road and Wilbur (our new driver!!) checked to find some belt was about to come off. So he had to call his brother Mario, who came to pull us back to the house with his big work truck, going about 3 mph!! :) .....we made a day of it, leaving the house at 9am and returning home at 11:45ish!!!! whew what a day! :)

LiFE iS JUST A LiTTLE SWEETER RiGHT NOW

2008-04-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

very sorry to have not updated in a LONG time! but it's definitely been busy around here. Cheryl is in the states for a month, so I have been playing mommy to 5 children. definitely a full time job!!! lucky for me, I have Tamara here with me for the month and it's actually pretty fun. I love the kids and I love that they call me mama for now! :) but needless to say, I've had very little time to concentrate on the computer, especially for updating the blog. I get up at 5:30 to get the kids up and ready for school, so by the time they go to bed at 7-8, I am about to drop too! :) ...the reason I'm taking the time to write this blog is because I want to make public, the thanks that I owe God for my life. I have debated whether to write this on the blog (in part, because I have a very hard time recalling it, without getting nauseous), but it's part of my experience in Nicaragua and it is just another way God has shown me I have a purpose.........this past weekend we took the kids and everyone who helped (minus Chico) to the beach. We got some rooms at a hotel and enjoyed Friday at the beach and then had most of the day Saturday for the beach too. We had been out and about in the water Saturday morning, we'd walked around a little and came back to the water again to play some....Apparently, the water current/tide/something had changed. The waves were rougher and Chele started to head for shore and motioned for me to do the same. But the more I tried, the further I kept getting from shore. Eugenio motioned for me to come in because I was pretty far out and all I could do was throw my hands up to gesture that I was trying but couldn't get anywhere. (this is where it gets stressful for me)...I keep swimming as forcefully as I can, but I only get further and further out. Before I knew it, the ocean had taken me out past all the HUGE waves crashing on the shore. I was between those and the other occassional waves that crashed on top of me. The people on the shore appeared to be about an inch tall and I could go nowhere but where the waves wanted to take me...At this point, I began to panick. no one could come out to get me because they would end up in the same situation as me, and I couldn't go anywhere...I was in a place I had never imagined myself. I was recounting what I thought would be my last minutes of life. I was screaming, crying, begging God to not let this be the end, not to let this be how my life ends...it seemed like an ETERNITY that I just watched the shore, with a crowd of people on shore just watching me...til I was no more. Thankfully, I made myself calm down, knowing if I panicked it really would be the end. So instead, I prayed, yelled, screamed any and every scripture that came to my head. It was the only thing that kept me sane for the estimated 30ish minutes I was out there, completely helpless...I kept looking, hoping that a boat, a jetski, anything would be coming to my rescue because I didn't know how long I could continue to kick before I ran out of energy (little did I know, that Eugenio and Chele had ran 2 km to find someone with a boat that would go out and look for me)......I couldn't see anyone on shore because of the waves crashing in front of me and they couldn't see me because of the same thing, but all of a sudden I see this person coming towards me in the water, and "something" was pulling me closer to that person. because I was getting closer to the waves crashing, and they were now crashing on me and spinning me like I was in a washing machine. I start screaming for help, and it takes what seems like forever, but the guy gets to me with a boogie board, my angel from God! And then all of sudden, in like 2-3 mins I was back to shore. I couldn't believe that I was actually alive and able to carry my body with feeble legs to a table to collapse...A nice man from one of the hotels gave me a tranquilizer and some juice and some instructions on what to do for the rest of the day. If you don't know the Pacific Ocean, this thing happens quite a bit, but many people truly don't survive.....All I can say is God had mercy on me that day, because I know (along with a few workers around the beach telling us) that I should never have survived what I went through. And if I didn't know before that God still has purpose for my life, I know now! If he did not have something for me, He could've taken me easily. but he didn't. I have life...and it's just a little sweeter right now than it has been in a while. I am so thankful to God and his provision for my life!

PS - don't tell my grandparents!!!!!!! :)

THiS iS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE...i WiLL REJOiCE! :)

2008-03-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today has been a good day in the Lord! We went to Managua today, making a trip to immigration and a trip to the burn center at a hospital. The rest of us were sitting in the bus while Giselle and her mom were in to see the doctor at the burn center. Well, I decided I needed to go to the bathroom, so Eugenio walked with me to the building. After I come out, he starts talking to me a little, in his broken English. And across the room, a guy that had just walked in starts snickering a little bit at our inability to communicate. So Eugenio asks him if he knows English. He did. He was actually from somewhere in the Carribean (pretty hard for me to understand through his accent). Eugenio asks him a few questions. Then he came over to sit with us and he began to tell me about his little girl that has burns (she's only 6 months old). I had a very hard time understanding him, but he started talking about God and how he prayed for help with his daughter. And he had all the answers, that God is the only way, He's the one that knows the number of our days, etc. He talked about getting baptized soon, but he was waiting til he knew exactly what it was, I guess making sure his life sizes up to the commitment that comes with baptism!? So, that was my entry way. I just started sharing that baptism doesn't equal salvation. gave him Romans 10:9-10. That if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you will be saved. I asked him if he wanted to do that today and he said yes. I asked him if he wanted me to lead him through a prayer or if he wanted to pray. And this is where his accent was a problem, I'm not sure if he prayed or if he was telling me what he does pray on a regular basis, but what he prayed was in line with the scripture. So, did he pray to receive Christ today or had he already?! I'm not sure. But I know that he received truth today. And after a few more minutes of talking, he told me that he was not married but would hopefully be in the future, but he and his girlfriend are living together. So, then I couldn't just let that stand, so I had to confront him on the sin he was living in. Pretty hard, for someone (me) who has the hardest time with confrontation!!! (has seemed to be a trend for the week...is God stretching me like I asked!?!? ut-oh!) :) ...He seemed to take it pretty well and I asked if Eugenio and I could pray for him. So we did and that was that. I pray that God sprinkles the words in a way that help this man find the Lord and/or help in his walk with the Lord and convict him of what he's doing wrong in his life. But praise God, that even through the pounding heart, I was able to allow God the opportunity to work in this man's life!!! ...God is SO cool...using a bathroom break for an opportunity to share about Him!!!!!! :)
Let's see what else I've conquered today (haha)...when we visited Eugenio's uncle for the legal papers to be a legal ministry in Nicaragua today, I drank part of a glass of tea (GAG) because I didn't want to offend the lady who offered it. I tried so hard to like it, pretend it was anything but tea. I choked down about 3 big gulps before I had to surrender the glass to the table!!! But hey, I consider it a victory, that I drank it at all!!!!
what else...tonight, I became Chele's teacher! We waited and waited for Chico to come back to the house, but he didn't come back tonight. And Chele has school in the morning but hadn't finished his homework. I was going to just fill in the answers for him and let Chico help him after his class tomorrow, but I knew that was not the answer...So instead, me in my broken Spanish, gave a lesson in Addition. We used 2 sets of hands and conquered about 15 problems in about 30-45 mins. He is definitely just beginning to learn, but the fact that he is trying makes me so proud! And that I got to be a part of that tonight, I was honored. God has done a transformation in his life, I know it. Maybe he doesn't even know it, but God is there and even though it's going to be a LONG ROAD, I can't wait to see the growth throughout the process of him learning (and one day learning to read the word of God for himself!!). Please continue to pray for him. for the desire to learn and that God would ease the pain (& difficulty) of learning!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 118:1

MUCH LOVE!

AMERiCA...THE REAL WORLD...OR FANTASY LAND?

2008-03-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

I could spend tons of time ranting and raving about all the things that have went wrong this week...the diarrhea and nauseousness (and apparent parasites living in me), the sore throat & runny nose & constant cough, and today the aching legs from dehydration.....But, why in the world would I spend time on those things to get sympathy for anyone would might be reading this.....when this time could be better spent on the intricate work of the Lord in the lives of those who love him!? It's so cool how God works and networks. Right now, we have 3 Americans staying in the house from a organization called AIM (Adventures in Missions). They are on a World Race (theworldrace.org) and travel the world, a country at a time, a month at a time. How did they get to our house, you ask?? Simply because they walked past our door a few days ago. The 3 of them (Esther, Tamara, and Mark) are in a period of ATL (Ask The Lord) ...in which they go by faith where they feel God leading and depend on him for all the resources and the work when they get there. It is so amazing to sit down and talk with them, and the experiences they have had in so many countries (Africa, South Africa, China, etc). Cheryl and I were talking with Mark tonight and it's amazing how much Americans are ignorant of life outside the U.S. I'm not sure if it's true ignorance, or if it's a choice of ignorance b/c it scares us to open our eyes. Mark was saying the missionaries in AIM talk about getting back to "the real world" (U.S.) after their year is up. But then it dawned on them, that America is not the real world. America is this fantasy land, and then there is the rest of the world. Outside America is the true, REAL world. I don't want to be Debbie Downer on Americans, but it just seems we have no sense of what the real world is, because we don't get out of fantasy land. If we did, I don't know how we could ever go back & truly live our lives the way we do...with the next biggest toy, the complete debt to "provide" for our families with $300,000 houses and $30,000 cars that are our "needs" (when some of my friends here live in cardboard and tin piece houses)... I knew something had happened when I went back to TN in January. At this point, I just don't see myself being able to truly live in America again. I cannot live in a fantasy, with now having at least some knowledge of the real world. When I'm here, my heart is in America with my family and friends. But when I'm in America, my heart is here...I feel as if I'm a girl without a home...at least an earthly home. a somewhat hard place to be in, but truly it makes my heart yearn for Heaven in a much more passionate way. Knowing it's my only true home!
I'll end with a song from MercyMe. I know it's not a perfect fit to what I was saying, but just a way to prove, this world is not our home...in Nicaragua or America!
MUCH LOVE!

"Homesick" by MercyMe

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again
And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

MY 25TH BiRTHDAY CELEBRATiON...AND LiTTLE KEViN

2008-03-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

We celebrated my big 2-5 birthday this past Friday (Feb. 29) It was a good birthday celebration. Tamara treated me to a pedicure which cost around $2.50-2.75!! Then she took me, Chele, Luis, and Dennis to El Sesteo, a restaurant in central park. After that, we rode the Bus Palon (sp?) around town. It's the bus without a top so you can enjoy the air and it goes all around Leon.

It was a good thing we celebrated on Friday b/c I spent my actual birthday in bed (& in the bathroom with vomiting and diarrhea). I might not eat beans and rice for a while now!! yikes!! :) ....also, at the end of the day we found out that little Kevin had passed away. He wasn't doing good Saturday morning and so Cheryl was going to take him to the hospital. But his mom came and refused to take him to the hospital, b/c when he was little she took him to the hospital for dehydration or something relatively small and they ended up cutting him open to do a surgery that wasn't for him. So the mom took him home and he lived about 5 more hours before his little body gave out. The mom had called Cheryl and asked her to come to the house b/c Kevin wasn't doing good. So I stayed with the kids...Then, Luis and Eugenio come to the house and tell me that Kevin had passed away. And Magaly heard him. So I got to play mama. I had to console her, who was attached to Kevin from the second he got to the house (they both had cerebral palsy). Then the other kids want to know what is wrong with Magaly, so I have to tell them about Kevin!! Talk about a real mom moment!! That was hard. And then that night I rocked Gabby to sleep in the hammock, and then Magaly (they are the ones that had the hardest time coping with it)....then yesterday (Sunday) we had the funeral, which lasted pretty much all day long. They are much different here than in the U.S.....we left the house yesterday morning at 9:30 and went to Kevin's house, where we sat around until 2:30ish. That was part of the wake and family members were coming to visit. At 2:30, they loaded the casket into the back of a pickup truck and we took the family in the bus to the cemetary. At the cemetary, they had dug the hole for the casket (where anyone could walk by and fall in) and the guys that dug it were sitting to the side with their shovels, waiting for the service to be finished. Eugenio spoke a few words and Carlos sang. Then, while we were still there, the guys put the casket in the ground and started throwing the dirt on top. Talk about a hard sight to see!! BUT, Kevin is now a perfect little boy in Heaven, Praise God!!!

Here's a couple of pictures:

PiCTURES FROM THE WEEK WiTH THE GROUP

2008-02-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

i'M BACK........HOME!

2008-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

sorry it's been forever since I wrote the last blog. But being home for a couple of weeks and then getting back to Nicaragua with a group has been busy so I haven't had a chance to really sit down and write one. I wasn't planning on writing this one either, but I just thought I'd put up some good news of the week about my boy, Chele. He has came by every day since I've been back. He didn't go to school this past Saturday like he was supposed to, but he said he was sick and I choose to believe him. He says he will go this Saturday so we'll pray he does. Chico and I asked him to attend the crusade we are having this week, and he came last night and tonight. He had a hard time last night because he hadn't slept at all in several nights. I gave him some medicine to help him and today he was like a new person...I'm glad because God was at work tonight in the church service. (Last night after the service LeeAnn with our group talked to Chele for a while about the Lord. Then today Eugenio talked to him today and I learned that Dennis (one of our interpretors) had been talking to him too). And then tonight, Mark's message was all about sin and the separation it causes with God. It was right on for Chele and what had been leading up to this point. Mark even made a comment about if you can't read the Bible, you need to get someone to read it to you. And I'm sure there were others in the crowd maybe like that, but that was something that Chele needed to here....then came time for the invitation. Mark went through the "sinner's prayer" and then asked for anyone who prayed to raise their hand. and guess what....Chele did!!!!!!!!! Glory to God! Can't explain how excited I am!! But... I'm even more excited about the next step, and that's sitting down to talk with him about his decision...what it means, what it doesn't mean (that his life will be perfect now), how to live, how to persevere, etc....so I can't wait to do that! Please just pray that God continues to work in his heart. I know that Chele has a great heart under the toughness and God can use his life in great ways!! Just wanted everyone to share in the joy of more souls coming to our Father tonight (not sure of a total count, but there were numerous hands tonight)!!!!!!
MUCH LOVE!

BiCiCLETA (BiCYCLE) ADVENTURE

2008-01-15T20:25:00.000-08:00

today was a day of Chele for me, it seems. first, Chico went and got the bike fixed for me. We had to change the brakes and something that had to do with the chain. Chico said the one they give you with the bike is cheaper. So we got a ¨better quality¨ part (if you can use that word in Nicaragua) today. Although, it seems the biggest part of the problem is that there is a 15 yr old boy controlling the bike. not quite the same care as a 26 yr old like Chico controlling the bike. While Chico was doing that, Eugenio and I went to sign Chele up for school where he will be starting Saturday, February 16 (the day I get back to Nicaragua). Had to take the birth certificate, and I almost left it there. The guy was going to keep the original, and half way down the street I remembered and so we went back to get it. I told him we would bring him a copy back. I travelled 8 hours for that document, so the original is mine. Chele will only get a copy too (since he lost his last one), and I will take care of the original! :) ...after we finished that, Chico and I went to check on Chele at his house because I had no seen him since Friday when he was hurt. The only problem was, I wanted to take the bike back to him, so that either meant I ride on the bike with Chico, or I ride Chele´s bike and Chico takes his bike. So I opted for riding Chele´s bike there. I was scared to death. I like my life and wanted to keep it. I walked out the door saying my goodbyes and what to tell my parents in case I did not make it back alive!!! If you have not been to Nicaragua, the driving here is about like New York, only worse. Especially since there are so many bikes on the road too...Obviously, since I am writing this blog, I made it home safely. And I actually enjoyed riding the bike. I think I might purchase myself one in the future (long term future, that is). So Chico and I make it to Chele´s house but the door was locked and no one was home. So we sat down by the highway for a while because that is where he and his brothers hang out all day, asking (begging) for food, money, whatever. But we didn´t see them, so we went to check on a little girl down the street and then we came back, and Chele was down the street from his house. We found out he broke his toe Friday because the bike is such great quality! He was trying to turn the bike and I don´t know if he stumbled or lost balance (because of the brakes being bad or the other part being bad) and he got his foot stuck in the spokes of the bike!! He did go to the hospital Friday night and they gave him a brace for his foot to wear for 15 days and a prescription for pain medicine. Well, he wore the brace for 2 days and took it off yesterday because it was itching. and he tore up the prescription because he didn´t have any money to get the medicine. You would think he would know where to come for help with that, crazy boy...so Chico went and got him some pain medicine while I sat with him in his house. I SO wish I had a camera or video camera to capture what he lives in. It´s got a dirt floor, maybe the size of my bedroom at home. cardboard and curtains to separate the 2 ¨rooms¨. a little tin for the roof, with some holes. the ¨mom¨and all 4 boys sleep in one bedroom, there´s a little place when you walk in the door for 3 plastic chairs, and then you walk about 4 feet, through the curtains to the kitchen/exit out the back of the house. We couldn´t imagine living in a place like he lives, we wouldn´t dare live there. yet that is all he knows...I just know God has something big for Chele´s life, why else would he be on my heart so heavily. Can´t wait to see what God has for him in the future! Much Love!

MOViES iN CENTRAL AMERiCA

2008-01-14T18:59:00.001-08:00

forgot to add...yesterday Eugenio and his wife Patricia took me out to the art museum. well, we tried to go to the art museum. but it was closed. then we tried another museum, but it was closed. then we tried the Catholic church where you can go up on top of the building and see the whole city, but you guess it, it was closed...so, we decided to go get something to eat and see a movie. sounds pretty innocent, right!? Not even close. the meal was fine. but the movie we saw was a different story. The name of it was something like The Heartbreak Kid. PG-13, so it's fine right!? OH NO! I saw more of a women than I ever want to see again and I heard more about sex than any single person should ever hear. I cannot tell you how shocked I was to see and hear all of this. Especially when I double checked the rating before walking into the theater. The only reason I stayed in the movie was because Eugenio had paid for my ticket and I knew he wouldn't let me pay him back for it if I left. (honestly, I should have left anyways.)...from now on, I will have to screen the movies I want to see much closer. Either that, or not go to any movie over a PG rating...I have learned that the one thing we still have in America is censorship for things like movies. and I am SO very thankful!!!

LiL OF THiS, LiL OF THAT

2008-01-14T18:41:00.000-08:00

Today I received a package from my grandmother in the mail!! It only took about 2 months!!! haha...she sent it around Thanksgiving and I just got it today. Luckily we called about it and knew it was here at the post office, otherwise it might have been sitting there for another month before I got it! :) Now, I'm just waiting on the package from my other grandmother. maybe tomorrow!? so we'll see! :)
Last Thursday, Eugenio & I went on a 4 hour journey to Matagalpa for Chele's birth certificate. the ride was somewhere between an airplane ride (how fast we went) and a roller coaster (being tossed side to side and bouncing up and down b/c of the holes in the road). quite amusing...We made it there, got to the right places for the right documents. and then we found out the birth certificate wouldn't be ready til the next day at 4pm. and since we weren't staying over night, that presented a problem. But, the genius Eugenio is, decided we would find the pastor in the Apostolic Church (that's the church he goes to) and ask if they would go get the document and mail it the next day. Pretty cool stuff, and we got the birth certificate in the mail today! :) tomorrow we are going to go sign him up for school...Chele came by the house for a few minutes on Friday. I didn't get to talk to him, apparently something happened on the way here with his bike. who knows. he was in a bunch of pain (practically crying). he took off his shoe and his big toe was crooked. i don't know if it was out of place or broken. Eugenio tried to pull on it (in case it was out of place) but (obviously) that made Chele in more pain and a little aggravated. so he took off his other shoe and walked off. Eugenio got on his bike to catch up with him, and he said Chele was walking to the hospital. later, on Eugenio's way home, he went by the hospital but Chele wasn't there. So I don't know how Chele got home (with no bike and no shoes) or if he is doing ok, but I pray that God is taking care of him and that he isn't in pain.

UH-OH...ADiOS COMPUTADORA!!!!!!!

2008-01-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

That's right...say goodbye to Brooke's freshly bought laptop from July! Sadly...he is dead. well, technically not dead. He's very disabled now...good for nothing! :) ...I figure, either satan is trying to break me (ahem, satan iT'S NOT WORKiNG!) or God doesn't want me to have any technology...either way, I'm still kicking after getting a camera stolen, mp3 player stolen, and a laptop dropped on the ground. Some people would say, just come home!! hehe...but I'm still kickin' for Jesus! :) ...the story...yesterday after our first day back of English class, we were in the office. And all the kids were running around in the office (ahem, where they are not supposed to be) and apparently Eugenio tripped over a my cable that was in the floor, and the computer jumped off the table to commit computadora suicide! yikes :) ...Eugenio was pitiful! He apologized a million times, and I let him take me to a computer fix it store this morning so we could get all the documents, music, and pictures onto my external hard drive. The only reason I let him do that is because Cheryl said it would make him feel better...just a little more stuff gone...good for me, I bought insurance with my laptop, so it should be that when I come home in a few weeks, I will just have to take it back and claim it (or whatever you do), and hopefully get another one!? I pray to Jesus that it's that easy! :) ...until then, I will have a bit of harder time responding to emails, updating the blog, etc. Although Cheryl is kind and is letting me borrow hers...puts a little more damper on me getting all my work done. But hopefully I can load the program onto Cheryl's computer and get everything input at night. Hopefully.

in a bit of other news, Chele came by a few minutes ago. along with about 7 of his friends. and i had bought some tacos the other night in case he came by after we got home. but tonight was the first night he came by since i bought them, so i fed 7 boys with 2 tacos. almost a Jesus story!? or not!?!? hehe :) ...Not so sure about Chele's friends. It seems they could be "punks" when they get together. Chele had a little bit of a different attitude with his friends here. more of a "carefree" spirit, if you will...But I told him about Thursday...I don't think I've told the internet world...Thursday, Eugenio and I (and Chele) are heading off to Matagalpa (about a 4 hour trip, one way) to get Chele's birth certificate, which he lost a while back. He has to have it for school. which he will start the first saturday in February (8am - 3pm every Saturday). Please pray that he goes and he will stick with it! Also pray there are no hiccups in getting his birth certificate once we get there. and that it will be a safe trip. and that Eugenio and I can have good conversation with Chele and provide encouragement and love for him...Lately, I have even found myself asking God why I care so much about Chele. I really don't know. It's not an easy thing, but it's also something that is not light on my heart. It's very heavy. I really think it's from God, and that's he is using Chele in my life to give me a passion I have never had, for youth like Chele. for a ministry in the future. please pray for guidance and that I will follow God in all things!
MUCH LOVE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

I wonder just how long it's gonna take me to write 2008 instead of 2007!! that's always rough for me...first thing New Year's Eve, Chico, Chele, and I went to find Chele a bike! We finally had a chance when all of us were together so that I could give him his Christmas gift. He was really appreciative and thanked me a bunch of times!! He told me that God was gonna give me a good husband. I asked him why he would say that!? And he said for being such a nice person and for buying the bike for him. I'm not trying to show everyone how nice of a person I am ;) ...but I am trying to show that in Chele's own way, he is recognizing that I care about him. And hopefully that I'm different from everyone else in his life. Not that I can buy him a nice gift. But that I care and want to take care of him!! That one moment excites me, it shows me that God is working in Chele's life and working through me to show Chele the love of Christ!!! yay for Jesus!!! :)
...for New Year's Eve night, we went to our little "home church" here in Nicaragua, Fifth Baptist Church. There were around 30 people there for the New Year's Eve service. that's about 15 more than a normal Sunday!! :) ...It was a special service for the church. Pastor Carlos has been on leave for a year. The church asked him to do so after his wife had a baby by another man and apparently left him. But New Year's Eve they swore him back in as Pastor...I really enjoy the church. Everyone is so nice! And even though I can't understand too much yet, I can still feel the presence of God there. And that's big, that you know God is there even when you can't participate in the service. The church has had struggles this past year with what Pastor Carlos went through (and thus affecting them), and then a ministry that tried to take over the church, but never showed up. They only tagged their name to it. So they've been hurt alot this past year, but they are eager and ready to have a new beginning starting with the new year. And I'm so grateful that God has given me a chance to be here and to be a part of it!

DEAD MAN WALKiNG

2007-12-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

There is a 13 year old boy, Eddy, who has severe aplastic anemia and is need of a bone marrow transplant. Cheryl had been looking into medicine that could help him instead of the transplant, considering the transplant cost around $300,000. And the medicine is $9000/day for 7 days. Well, last weekend he became really sick and was put in the hospital. The only way he was breathing was from a tube...and the decision came whether to take the tube out or not. His mother talked to Eugenio and he told her if Eddy was that close to letting go, then it was best to take the tube out and let God take care of him. So his mother decided to take the tube out and prepare for his death because the doctors said taking the tube out would ensure death. So they took the tube out and told his mother to take him home because they were no longer responsible for him. So we got a phone call saying that Eddy had died. A couple from the U.S. got food and drinks together to take to his house (b/c that's what you do here when someone dies. you sit up all night and eat/drink. alcohol if your non-christians. coke if you're Christians). So the couple heads to his house and goes in to see Eddy (thinking he was dead, mind you) and the lady gasps when she sees him breathing. Turns out, by taking the tube out Eddy got better!! He had a hamburger that night, and the next day he was out Christmas shopping!! Crazy how if we put our trust in God, he allows takes care of us!...We went to visit him and he looks like a healthy 13 year old boy. Cheryl got him to say a little testimony on video, so I'll see if I can upload that sometime soon. I said a prayer when we heard that Eddy had passed away. I asked God if we were going down the wrong path (looking for the medicine) that he would allow Eddy to get better and I would try to help us get on the right path (there has been someone step forward interested in being a donor). It's just that we need to pray for God to open some doors: for the two to be perfect matches (doctors don't want to do an operation without a full blooded sibling b/c they say he will reject it, and Eddy doesn't have any full blooded siblings), for doctors who would donate their time and skills, and for a hospital to do it. These are big requests to fill because the operation is so expensive, but we have a God who can do it all! I fully believe if God has laid it on a person's heart to donate, then He has already provided the perfect match. But please be in prayer with me and let's watch God perform another miracle in the life of a Nicaraguan child!!

A FEW PiCTURES

2007-12-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

*since i talk about him all the time, i thought i'd throw up a few pictures of Chele so everyone could put a face with a name.
MUCH LOVE!

A WEEK...AND NO CHELE!!!

2007-12-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

i haven't seen Chele in over a week. and i'm not sure why. this past monday, Luis and i were supposed to start helping him with school. but he didn't show up. he hasn't showed up at the house in general, either. nor has he went to Elliot's house (Chico's fiance) where they usually hang out quite a bit. i'm not gonna say i'm worried because i really don't think i am (plus the fact that the Word tells us not to!), but i am concerned. i'm concerned that he's safe and healthy. his brother, Wilmer, did come by a couple of days ago and he said that Chele was at the house with a headache. which could be true. and it could be untrue......Wilmer says his mother is at the house, and the other 3 (Chele, David, and Alex) say she is in Managua. plus, Wilmer and Chele do not like each other. so you can never really tell who is telling the truth...but i want to know that Chele is ok. Chico and i were gonna go to his house to check on him a few days ago, but Chico is busy with this man that is staying at the house for 2 weeks. so i guess i'm out of luck until Chico gets time...since i can only string a few words of spanish together and i don't think that the taxi guy would understand me. then i would be out in who knows where, lost and not able to ask for help!!! :) ...so please pray for Chele. pray for me, to not worry. and pray that God breaks Chele's heart. There was a lady from the Educational System that came today to test and see if the kids are ready for the next year in school. And she said that starting in January, she could help Chele at a school that is free and that in 3 years he could be finished with primary school. i'm trying to figure out how you motivate a 15 yr. old guy. did you get that. #1 he's 15, a teenager. and #2, he's a guy. i ask, what can you do with that!?!?!?!? lol...but seriously, how do you motivate someone to learn!? and to value education and learning!? so please pray that God works mightily in Chele's life!!
MUCH LOVE!

DON'T MiSS HiM!!!

2007-12-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

Don't Miss Him!
By Marybeth Whalen

"We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:69 (NIV)

Devotion:
I remember reading an account of the Christmas story that focused on all the people who came in contact with that young couple searching for a place to stay--the busy townspeople dealing with the crowds, the innkeeper too busy counting his money and taking care of guests to be bothered for long, the other travelers worried about where they would sleep. The author pointed out that so many of us still make the same mistake of rushing past the drama that unfolded in a forgotten corner of Bethlehem that night. Consumed with our own problems and issues, we glance away from the significance of Jesus' arrival to focus on a myriad of tasks. And in all our rushing and stress, we miss an opportunity to connect with our Savior in a whole new way.
There are only a few people mentioned in the Christmas story, yet we know that the city was filled to bursting with travelers and citizens. There was no lack of folks there who could have welcomed the Christ child. They just didn't stop long enough to look for Him. Though He was right under their noses, they scurried right past Him. I often wonder if those who were there that night later told the story down through the ages, "I was in Bethlehem that night, you know. I stayed just a few houses away from that stable. I could have seen Him if I would have known." Those folks could have stood in adoration alongside Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds, marveling at what God was doing before their very eyes. And they missed the opportunity of a lifetime.
And yet, how many of us say the very same thing about Jesus, even now? If only we had more time. If only we had more money and didn't have to work so hard. If only we weren't so busy. "Then Jesus," we say, "Then I would be able to really know You. Instead, I race past You, unaware. And I lose out on the opportunity to see You in the process, to touch You. To know what it means to utter" Immanuel, God with us. God with me."
Don't miss Jesus this year in all your busyness. Don't be like the busy citizens of Bethlehem who could have had a part in God's story if only they would have stopped long enough to look for Him. Make Jesus your focus this year and allow Him to show you how to slow down, to be less busy, less stressed. Ask Him what you can let go of. Ask Him to give you the courage to say no when you need to. Ask Him to help you have an encounter with Him like never before. What better time to do it than now, at Christmas, when our thoughts are focused on His coming. There has never been a better time to allow Him to come into your life, your heart. Look for Him around every corner, in every face, in every moment.

Dear Lord, Right now I am stopping to tell You that I do not want to miss You. I am committing to look for You everywhere instead of rushing right past You. I want to know You intimately. Thank You for coming to earth back then, and thank You for coming into my heart and life now. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

this was one of my devotionals for the day. i just thought i'd share it for all of you americans out there getting ready for the CHRISTmas season!...I've been looking forward to this Christmas since I knew I was coming to Nicaragua. Yes, I dearly miss being in TN for Christmas b/c of my family and friends, the cold weather, and the sense of hope you get through this season, but I don't miss for one second, all the rushing around, hopelessly looking for that perfect gift (or 20 gifts) for each person. I finally have an opportunity in my life to get past all the materialism of Christmas in America and get my focus on the real reason for why we have this season. Jesus. Cheryl and I have been reading updates on all the businesses that no longer allow "Merry CHRISTmas" in their stores, etc. But if you take away Christ, you have no holiday. you have no celebration. that's the only reason we celebrate, b/c of Christ. so what are they celebrating during our season of celebrating our Savior!? hmm. i wonder if they have thought about that?? they take the part that they like (the gifts), and trash the rest. we, as Christians, must show them that there is more than presents and gifts for celebration. we must celebrate CHRIST!!! Don't miss him!!!
MUCH LOVE!

:::CHELE:::

2007-12-02T20:55:00.000-08:00

...one more story this week involves the God send of my life, Chele. he is like part son, part brother, and part friend to me. but i've never felt so concerned for someone like i do him. it's more of what i imagine a mother to feel. i want to adopt him (he's 15 yr. old). anyways, he is a very troubled teenage boy. I can’t remember if I’ve really gotten into detail about him on the blog, so I’m just gonna go through it again in case I haven’t. He is one of Gabby’s brothers. He’s 15. He can’t read, write, count money. His mom works in a bar, his dad is in one of the neighboring countries. His mom has left him and 2 of his brothers before, while she went to Managua. And they had no means of money for food. His mom is a joke from what I’ve been told. I want to meet her, and Cheryl has been saying she wants to go talk to her, but we haven’t had a chance yet. I really want to meet this woman who could neglect her children like she has. Back to Chele, he's gotten into quite a bit of trouble in the past. But I say that he hasn’t lived for 15 years, he’s survived. He has a lot of anger that has built up in him. He gets mad all the time, but it usually doesn’t last long and he’s smiling again… he was living in the house when I got here in November. We would hang out all the time, which I figured out was as nice for me to have someone as it was for him to start acknowledging that someone truly cares about him. Don’t want to get into everything that happened, but he was told that maybe he could come around during the day and go to his house at night. Then a day or so later, it was decided that he would have to go to school for a month before he could come back around the house. So that meant no contact with him for a month, which didn’t make much sense to me considering what I’ve sensed God placing on my heart. But I have tried to obey, but still trying to figure out how I’m supposed to accomplish what God has given for me…well, this past Friday we were taking some people home and decided to get Elliot (Chico’s girlfriend) from the gym and take her with us. When we did, Chele was there and I asked Chico if he could ride along with us. So then we went and hung out at Claudia’s house for a little while for Charlie, Benny and Pam to say bye. Then we came back to the house and Cheryl, Charlie, Chico, and I started talking to Chele. He said he was not going back to the school (he had been 4 days in a row and seemed to be doing really well). But he said it was hard (mind you, he’s never been to school so I imagine it is very difficult, especially to be disciplined when you’ve never had to be). He started talking about how his life is misery. He didn’t want to talk about his mom and family. Charlie talked to him about giving his life to Christ. Chele said he’s prayed it over and over, how many times does he have to do that. So I’m not sure if he is saved or not. It only takes once, if he meant it. But he just doesn’t understand what it means to be a Christian. I’m thinking he may think becoming a Christian is a magic pill that will make everything bad in his life disappear. So pray for us in how we deal with him, and the wisdom to talk and mentor him. And for us to give an accurate picture of what a Christian life is. Because I think that’s an obvious problem with what he’s thinking when he prays the sinner’s prayer.......so he had given up on school. BUT, I talked to him, and got him to agree for Luis and I to help him with schooling. Luis has a master’s in Spanish or something along those lines, and he cares about Chele too. So I’m excited to get started with us teaching him. I say us, like I could teach him Spanish! Ha! I’m just there for moral support and love, and maybe to catch a little Spanish learning myself!! J …and after we all talked, Chele came in the house and ate dinner. Charlie loved on him a lot that night which made me SO happy. I finally felt like someone cared as much for Chele as I did. It’s been brought up more than once, me and Cheryl and then Charlie, that Chele really needs a psychologist or a Christian counselor. Something to help him get all that anger out and the neglect that he’s experienced. So does anyone out there with that experience or degree feel led to come to Nicaragua for a while!?!? There truly is a need for that here in Nicaragua. Cheryl has said there is no where for teens, like Chele, to get help and counseling for the lives they live. There is a couple of places, but they are for alcohol and drug abuse, and thank God, Chele doesn’t have those problems. I thank God for that!! He really is a good guy, deep down. And if he could see that he is valuable and worth something, and loved. Then I think he would be more likely to excel in school. And spiritually. He’s gotta know that he’s lovable, before he’ll believe that God loves him. And I KNOW that one of the main reasons I am here is to show that love to him. Please pray for him. And for me. It’s very hard for me to know how and when to ask if Chele can be included, or when I can see him, etc. I will not give up on him. I am not everyone else in his life. I am Jesus in his life. Big shoes to fill so pray big!!!!

MUCH LOVE!!!!!

p.s. He came by tonight…and he said he was going to Honduras and/or El Salvador tomorrow to work with a friend. Please pray for his safety. He has no papers, no i.d. nothing. And so technically, if he gets caught I think he could be sent to prison. But before he came around here, that’s the life he lived. He would travel with men to those neighboring countries and would just hide when they crossed the border so he wouldn’t get caught….that’s another prayer request, I want to get his papers. I think he has a birth certificate, but it’s in another city (he doesn’t even know his birthday!). But, truly, if God ever allowed him to be adopted, then he would need them. (plus if I get his Christmas present bike, then he’ll need an i.d. …b/c you have to carry papers on the bike to verify it’s yours and so he’d need an i.d. card to verify he is who he says he is).

drama, Drama, DRAMA!

2007-12-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

well...benny, pam, and charlie left yesterday. and i can say there was more drama in that week than i care to repeat ever again!...the first of the week started off fine. the saturday they got here, we had our thanksgiving party for all the kids that have been to the united states along with their families. all the moms got up and shared their story of what was wrong with their child and how they are healthy now.
...charlie and benny did alot of work around the house while they were here. benny made a ramp for wheelchair access into the house. funny thing though, someone had thrown a bag of beans into the rocks that were used to make the concrete and so now we have beans that have surfaced in the ramp! hope we don't grow beanstalks on our ramp! :) Benny also fixed the ceiling in my room. there were a few panels hanging down and so now it's fixed and i can sleep with the light off. what if i'm scared of the dark!?! :) Benny also put some screws in the door to my shower. i'll have to take a picture to show you how it's set up (oh wait, i can't. more on that story down below). anyways, there are two doors to my bathroom. and from one you walk right into the shower. well, there wasn't a very good lock on the door and so it could've opened at any time while i was in there. a little nerve racking, especially when someone is walking by the bathroom and says hello to me!!! LOL. that's quite a feeling too. me in the shower and chico or cheryl walking by and says "hey brooke". oh well, guess that's nicaraguan life! :) but at least now there are screws that keep the door closed. but i guess i have to live with the cracks in the door and the people walking by!!!!
...Charlie took one of the walls off the kitchen and pushed it out a little more to give more room for the cabinets he built. that way we don't have to use the freezer as a storage place...Pam, Cheryl, and i painted half of the house. we used a beige, taupe color. i was a little worried on the first coat b/c it looked a little pink-ish. but after the second coat, it looks like a new place. it actually looks like a house now (at least where we have painted). we ran out of paint and the paint store didn't have anymore of that color. and didn't know when they would have it again. but we found another paint store that looks to have the same color so i think we're gonna try that one. i can't wait to get the rest painted and the trim finished. we're gonna paint the bottom trim of the walls a rust color, along with the doors. once we get everything finished, i think it's gonna look really nice!
...let's see what else good happened before i get to the drama...we went to a village one day to show benny and pam what it's like outside the city. we sang some songs, benny gave a little devotional message, and then we had a pinata. while we were there, cheryl found a little girl that she recognized. i don't remember her real name, but the name she wanted it to be was Jennifer so that's what we call her. about 3 years ago, Jennifer came to live with Cheryl for a week b/c her grandfather was abusing her and the Ministry of the Family asked Cheryl to take her and give her the medicine she needed. the medicine was only for a week and then the Ministry of the Family came and took her back...and now it looks like they have put her back in the same situation. because she is back at the village, her grandfather is still there, and the scared look (Cheryl showed me a picture of her 3 yrs. ago) is the exact same look that her little sister has now! we're really worried that these little girls (and possibly their mom) are in an abusive environment. please pray for them. Cheryl is thinking about going to the Ministry of the Family to ask them what happened to the little girl to see what they tell her.
...wednesday was Pam's birthday. and so Cheryl got the Mariache band to come by and play 10 songs! that was fun!! everyone was dancing and having fun. then we had cake and ice cream, and the adults got to have the pinata. actually just pam, cheryl, and me. i was the one that knocked it down. but we were blindfolded. that's an embarrassing feeling, swinging at thin air most of the time. after that, we walked to central park and walked around for a little while.
...another cool God story...karla (mario's mom) asked Cheryl to go look at a house. and Cheryl said to be open, she would go look at it. so me, her, and charlie went. but the house was smaller than the one we're in and they wanted $10,000 more dollars. BUT, while we were there, they were telling us about a little boy that couldn't talk. and while we were there, he just happened to come by. and so we look at him and the little dangly thing in the back of your throat, he has two. well, it looks like two. we've read up on it and while you are in the womb, it starts as two and meets to form one in the middle. but his never met, so he has two. it's sorta in the same family as a cleft palate, but different. it causes him problems eating and he can barely talk, and has a hard time hearing. so we're currently trying to get a doctor that can look at him and determine if there can be a surgery or not, and what else could be done for it. i told Cheryl, we thought we were going to look at a house, but instead God had planned for another child to come into our hands.
...today, we went to the promotion (aka graduation) of karla's oldest son, Jose. he graduated from primary school (6th grade) and afterward, she took us to the house of a child who has cerebral palsy. he's 9 years old and probably weighs around 25-30 lbs. i need to put the picture up that cheyrl took, b/c he is seriously skin and bones. they haven't kept up with his hygiene b/c all his teeth are rotten and need to be taken out. they don't feed him food, only formula (hence why he weighs what he does). he doesn't even have a mattress to sleep on, the frame of the bed is made up of the stuff like the back of rocking chairs (at least the ones down here) and that's what he lays on all day long. they never get him up. he wets himself and since there's no mattress or anything to catch it, it hits the floor and makes the place stink. it really is a pitiful situation. but the problem here with medical conditions is ignorance. they have no clue what to do for these children. and they don't take them to get the help they need, not saying they could get it here, but they don't even try. Magaly was in the same way when Cheryl found her. her family did nothing, they actually crippled her by not helping her learn to take care of herself. before she came, she couldn't eat by herself, dress herself, etc. but now she does all that and more! ....so please just pray for all these that i've mentioned. pray that God gives us wisdom, that his will be done and that we merely join him where he is already working!
...so now for the drama of the week....let's see...in the middle of the week...Eli lit a mattress on fire right outside my bedroom. while benny and pam were putting the panels up in the ceiling, i caught sight of a redish-orangish glow on my door and i go out my door to find Eli with a look of shock while the top of a pile of mattress is on fire. i start panicking and trying to go get some water, and meanwhile, benny got the mattress and got it outside to the yard and stomped it out. if i hadn't caught sight of it when i did, the whole part where my room is could have been on fire!!! needless to say, Eli spent most of that day in his bed. along with Gabby, who apparently told him to flicker the end of the lighter (she had gotten it out of my purse and gave it to Eli).
....then the next night, Cheryl, Pam and I were in the kitchen getting dinner together. the bread had been in the refrigerator and was almost frozen so Cheryl put it into the microwave for a few seconds. well, people down here don't know how to use twist-ties and the bag had been torn and then tied into a knot to close it. so Cheryl didn't think to look for a twist-tie. well, there was one on there and it caught fire in the microwave. who caught sight of it in the microwave? none other than yours truly! everyone is trying to burn the place down and i keep saving it!!! lol :)
...and then the personal drama for me, when we were taking benny, pam, and charlie back to the airport yesterday to go home, we stopped at a On the Run gas station and ate in the little restaurant place on the side. so there are 5 people sitting at my table, and i put my purse on the side of my chair, which was right against me and right beside Luis who was sitting beside me. well, we get up, ready to leave and i go to get a purse that is no longer there! someone stole my purse. if that weren't enough that someone took my wallet, along with that, they got my camera and mp3 player that were also in the purse. i am a little sad when i think about it, just b/c it was my stuff. but, in the end, it was just "stuff". but please pray that whoever it was does not somehow steal my identity! that would be bad...but hopefully i can replace the camera sometime b/c that is my way of showing you all life in nicaragua.
guess that's enough for one very long blog!! i'll try to get some pictures off cheryl's computer of the ones i've mentioned in the blog and get them put up in the next day or so.
much love!

~BUSY BUSY BUSY~

2007-11-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

today has been a pretty lazy day. just stayed around the house and rested. this past week is a blur in my mind right now...there is a child that has been in need of a bone marrow transplant and it seems that God is working his will in the situation. There has been someone that has stepped up to be a possible donor. And then Cheryl called to see if Vanderbilt would be the place it could be done. They called her back the next day and the lady she talked with was from none other than Leon, Nicaragua!! hmm, concidence I'm sure! ;) ...so now the only thing standing in the way is the testing to make sure the donor and the child are compatible. pray that God's will be done, but it appears that HE knows what He is doing!! :) ...We have a little boy and his mom staying with us right now. They are from a village like 3 hours away i think. they went to the emergency room b/c he was in pain. he was complaining of headaches. so the doctors say he needs a CAT scan, but they release him from the hospital b/c they don't have the means to do CAT scans in the hospital. you have to go to a clinic for that. so they come to our door and we go to get the CAT scan. but the CAT scan comes back perfectly normal...so what was wrong with him??? he has 4 bad teeth and some bad toothaches b/c he has never brushed his teeth. aren't the doctors in Leon hospital so smart!? we spend $100 on a CAT scan b/c that's what the doctors suggest, and then Cheryl figures out it's the teeth. shows how much prayer the doctors of Nicaragua need! ...we are currently looking for a cook. We are splitting it up so that the one we have now, Regina, will take care of the kids and clean the house, and then the new cook will take care of all cooking. We were hoping for Katherine to come for about 6 months to give lessons on good cooking, but we're not sure if God is directing Katherine like he's telling us that she needs to come!! ;) ...although, tonight we went for a walk to Central Park and had dinner at Hollywood Pizza. It's good pizza...and I had a caramel frappaccino the other day in Managua, for all of you out there worried about me not getting my starbucks!! it definitely wasn't a starbucks, but a good second runner! :) ...I can't believe this week is Thanksgiving!! It sure doesn't seem like it is that time of year, probably b/c it's around 90 degrees everyday. so it feels like summer here year round. we're gonna have a family thanksgiving dinner this thursday, and then on saturday when Benny, Pam, and Charlie get here, we are inviting all of the kids that have been helped through the ministry over for a Thanksgiving Dinner!!! I can't wait for that one! it will be overwhelming to see all of the ones not only helped, but those that have came to Christ b/c of the ministry that God has brought to Nicaragua! Me and Cheryl are just so excited that we get to be a part of what God is doing here in Leon, Nicaragua!! Such a blessing!!
Much Love!
p.s. Everyone eat some turkey for me b/c the turkeys are too expensive here so i don't think i'll get any for Thanksgiving dinner. (But we will have ham!) :)

2007-11-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

This is Juan. He just turned six. Juan cannot talk, besides a few words like aqua (water), so he uses sign language.

The little baby on the left, that Luis (our driver) is holding, has hemmorraging in her head. Her father brought lunch for the payment for help!!!!!!! it's a chicken...it proved to be quite tough when we ate it.

This is the little boy that is malnutritioned. He is 9 months old and weighs 13 lbs. She is 22 years old, but looks about 16! His mother was supposed to show up again today to work and get pediasure. But she never showed up.

This is me and Chico trying to teach English class. Cheryl left me to go to the hospital and it was up to me to teach. at least we got through it. and she got back in the middle so she finished off the class. Maybe in time i'll become a teacher! tal vez (maybe)!? :)

TiME FLiES WHEN YOU'RE HAViNG FUN!!

2007-11-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

i can't believe today is already Friday. It seems like I just wrote my last blog, then I look and it was three days ago. And I ask myself where the time went!? It stays busy around here so it makes the time fly by. The past couple of days we have been cleaning a few rooms out in the house. One room, me and Chele cleaned the floor so that they can put the tv in there. That will be the place that the kids go to watch cartoons and whatnot. There is definitely not much time for us to watch tv around here, maybe a little at night if we're lucky to sit down and watch cartoons with the kids! :) Not that I can understand anything (spanish)!...Chico and Chele cleaned and painted the first room on the right in the house, and we have moved the office into there now. And there is a door to the street in there, so that way when people come for help and have sick children, they get no further than the first room. That way we keep the children in our house healthy... We also went through a bunch of stuff that teams had brought or left down here. It was a mess in the yard, but we've went through most of it and gotten it organized back into the room......There is alot to pray for when Nicaragua comes to your mind. I could try and write some more about some of the kids that need help from us. Or I could write about some of the kids we know whose mother has left them and they have to worry about finding food for each day. I could write about alot of things. But I am not going to tonight. I want to let you let the Lord reveal to your own heart what to pray for in regards to here. He knows the needs, every single one. What comes to your heart, pray for that. And know that God is working because of your prayers!!!
Much Love!

WORKiNG...ER, TRYiNG TO WORK!!!

2007-11-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

this morning we started off with a staff meeting for all ministry staff. it was very good. Luis (our driver) gave the morning devotion about finding our mission for God. that whatever our job at the house is, it's for the Lord. Whether it's Chico translating, Luis driving, me doing financial stuff, Regina cooking, etc. that it is all important. because it all comes together to work for the glory of God. I could not think of a better way to spend my year. I feel so blessed to be here. I know there are distractions in the U.S., but just not as much or as hard to ignore. Here, it is simple. This house is all for the work of the Lord. And I get to be a part of it for at least a year...maybe God will call me longer. I don't know. But I am so excited to be a part of what God is working on here in Nicaragua. Let's see if I can update you on some cases that have came since I've been here. Mario is back at home and well. He has became my amigo! we play alot when he is around. We had a meeting with his mom and dad yesterday to help them get organized with a plan on how to make money with a home business. They received support from people while in the U.S. and now we are helping them start their business with that money so that they can make a living. I am excited to see what comes of it. Just pray that they are serious about using it for good, to provide income for their family.
Another lady came yesterday for help. Actually she came the day we got here, but we asked her to come back and she came yesterday. She has a little boy (i can't remember his name) who is 9 months old and weighs 13lbs. Cheryl said it is possibly b/c she did not breast feed him long enough. so me and chico went to get some formula to help him grow. he is very malnutritioned. but hopefully after a while he will come around to a better weight. To get the formula, his mother will work around the house. yesterday she helped Regina with things that needed to get done. And I got to hold the little boy. The only problem is cloth diapers. I don't like that part!!! :) But I got to feed him and get him to sleep. So I am still getting my baby fix down here, even though I miss my 1 yr. olds in sunday school!
There is another girl that has came into our hands this week. She is at the hospital in Leon. She is 11 yrs old and all of her private parts were fused together. It's a very sad situation. BUT, Cheryl emailed a doctor in the tn pediatric association and he thinks it can be fixed!!! how awesome is that! so now we need to pray for the funds to get her to the U.S. She will probably be coming to TN.
There are a few others, but i am not sure of the conditions and what our help will be. but i will let you know when i find out. I am hoping this blog will help to show everyone how much truly goes on down here. Even I didn't realize how many people show up at the door each and every day. It is a constant flow of people coming who need help. Pray that God gives us the wisdom and strength to help what ever way we can, but most importantly that they hear the Gospel!!! You will hear me say it a million times this year, but I cannot wait to see all that God has in store!! This ministry is truly a work of God! Gloria Dios!!!!!
Much Love! :)

i'M HERRRRRRE!

2007-11-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

just a quick update before i head to bed...i can't believe it, but i am finally here...destination nicaragua!!! it's been quite a long day since 4:30am this morning when i got up. it is now 12:15 USA time and everyone is in bed here. ahhhhh, a spider just glided down from the ceiling in front of my laptop (for those of you that don't know, i am borderline phobic with spiders!!!). now i'm feeling all itchy and crawly b/c i don't know where he went when i swatted at him! This is most likely the biggest prayer request i could ask for in the next year, and that is that God will heal me of my phobia of spiders! OR better yet, just pray for no spiders in nicaragua during the next year!!! :) ...so we got to the house around 3pm today. There was a reporter that came back with us to interview Cheryl about Mario. I'm not sure what kind of reporter he was (radio or whatnot) but i will let you know what comes of it. Chico and Eugene (i think he likes to be called Fernando) set up a bed and table for me in my room (for all who came in July, my room is where the kids slept while we were here). I also have a fan all to myself which will be really nice to have...Elliot and her brother came by for a little while after we got here...other than that, we have not done much besides eat and relax a little in the rocking chairs. and of course lots of playing with the kids. They are as energetic and crazy as ever! definitely lots of entertainment around those 5!!! ...it's really odd to be down here right now b/c there is no team with me, but in a weird way, i feel really at home already. now i just need to learn spanish so i can talk to everyone more easily!! please pray that i can pick up on the language fairly easily (i brought some books to help me study vocabulary)...well, i am off to bed so i can rest a little before my alarm clock goes off in the morning (Cheryl says that will be the kids!!)

45 DAYS...OH MY!!

2007-09-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

only 45 days til i leave. it still doesn't seem real, that i'll be living in Nicaragua in 45 days. crazyness! well, i just want to post some updates from the past couple of weeks...b/c God is still on the move...let's see, i am up to 10 months covered with sponsors. but i also have a few others that have said they would like to contribute monthly so i'm pretty sure they whole year is covered.....2 weekends ago, i went to my grandmother's church to speak about my trip in July and to tell them about going back in november. so the size of her church is probably 40-50 people. granted, she did invite some family to come that sunday (maybe 75-100), but they took up a love offering & i now have $ 4,325.00 more towards my trip!!! that was overwhelming! God is SO good! He seems to be helping out in other ways too. I had to cancel my gym membership (of which i never used anyways), expecting to pay a $150 early cancellation fee. Turns out i only had to pay $23.40. definitely a praise! and then yesterday, i go to downgrade my cell phone package. i had been told it would be $150 early cancellation fee if i cancelled & it would be easier to just lower my package and pay til my contract runs out which is next march. so that is what i was there for. well, i just happened to mention cancelling again (different person from the last time i was there) b/c i was moving to Nicaragua. without a blink, the girl told me i could cancel w/o a cancellation fee as long as i provide proof of address change. blessing!! and an added bonus, we got to talking and she actually knows Cheryl and has been to nicaragua with her church!! out of all the stores i could have choosen to go to, and all the people to talk to, i talk to her...i love how God works like that!!!

WHERE iS THE EASY BUTTON!?

2007-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

ever seen that commercial?? i wish i had an easy button to push! faith is hard sometimes!!! the easy button would allow someone to come along and buy my car at an incredible price...the easy button would give me insight to know exactly how much money i need for nicaragua and what God wants me to do with what is supplied, or if extra money is so that i can stay longer...the easy button would give me extra hours in the day to spend completely devoted to God, being with Him, doing whatever it is He wants and not time that i just waste...the easy button would get rid of the "junk" in my life. i'm talking literal junk. i look at my bedroom and am disgusted by all the "stuff" i've collected throughout the years. and the mentality that i am always in "need" of something! hopefully i'm gonna get rid of alot when i have a yard sale sept. 29. i can't wait! if anyone sees my easy button laying around, please let me know...otherwise, i'll keep (trying) to having faith (as feeble as it may be) that God will take care of all my needs!!!
p.s. i hate satan...let's kill satan...anyone...anyone?! lol

EVERYTHiNG

2007-08-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

church was great tonight! we had some old fashioned gospel singing. it was mostly the choir singing, but of course anyone in the congregation who knew the words sang along. It's amazing that no matter the type of music, contemporary or traditional, God can still be found in it. oh, how we forget that. It's not about whether the church sings contemporary praise songs or traditional hymns, they are words written to bring us into worship for our Lord. it's the words that we offer up as praise, not the melody or tune of the song. if only the church as a whole could figure that out and praise him no matter what the style of music! it's NOT about us, nothing in worship is about us! it's ALL about Him!
i found out tonight that i have 2 more months sponsored! I'm up to 7 months, plus the possibility of a few more! it's so amazing to see God working to make this come together. a little over a month has passed since i got back from nicaragua, and God has already supplied more than half of the support i need...in spite of who i am, he still wants to use me. it's so beyond me!
today is one of those days where i feel like the flood gates could open at any moment and i'll start crying, just b/c i feel so overwhelmed by God's grace and his sufficiency in my life. He is truly all i need.
here's some lyrics to a favorite of mine...

"Everything" by Lifehouse

Find Me Here, Speak To Me
I want to feel you, I need to hear you
You are the light, That's leading me
To the place, where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light, to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want, your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want, you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

GOD iS ON THE MOVE

2007-08-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

in a little under 3 months, i will be moving to Nicaragua for a year! exciting, i know...the hard part is raising the funds for support, but God has been moving since I concreted the plans. The night I announced it to my church I received a check for the first month. Since then (about 3 weeks ago) I have received 2 more months worth of support, plus a promise for a 4th month. I have also had about 6 others promise to help as much as they can. I am amazed at the hand of God on this. I feel so privileged for God to choose to use me, in any way, to help accomplish his mission of souls being brought to him.
My main purpose in going is to provide administrative support for the missionary from our church, but I know that God has so much more in store for me than just that. He's already moving in my heart for the need of discipleship for the people of Nicaragua. Sure it's great for so many to go down and have crusades, etc. but what happens after the team goes home!? who shows the new believers how to live a life for God? no one really, unless they get connected with a firm Bible believing & preaching church. And if they can't find that, then they are gonna continue to search elsewhere.
I'm so excited (and nervous) about where God is leading my heart on that issue! we'll find out soon enough I guess.