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

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!!!!

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!?

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!!

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!?

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

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~

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.