Update for Dec 2012

We have been back in Matagalpa for only about six weeks now. It didn’t even feel like we ever left. We were welcomed back home by friends and the ministries that we had started in our first few months here.

When we were in the states, we told many of you about a pastor and his family that we knew that were starting a new work here in Nicaragua. This family left their house and some of their belongings to go to a city where the sewers are. They built their house out of metal and had blisters on their hands. The church at first was only a roof that they gathered under with no walls. They started with only about 8 people but the church is now grown to about 50! God is doing an amazing work in this little village of Sor Maria! Their house leaked and they had plastic over their bed to keep the rain off of them while they slept. But glory be to God with the donations that we received we passed on the blessing and they were able to fix the leaking roof and also make the house a little bigger. The Lord also blessed so that they could add walls on to the church building and make some much needed improvements to the electric system. They were so thankful for the donations that were given so that they could be blessed. They still live a very hard life with dirt floors, no running water. But this life is shortly lived and only what’s done for Christ will last. So while they still suffer with their three children, They are doing a mighty work for the Lord! Please remember this family in your prayers!

　

It was such a blessing to hear about the men and children in the streets that were eager for us to start having the church services in our homes again. And that is exactly what we did. We started our normal services with the men on the streets on Fridays and the children’s service on Saturdays. We always teach the word of God and feed them also. We have really begun to build relationships with our regulars. It is so wonderful to see them learning more of the Bible and turning to the Lord in prayer.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by friends and family that you love. We also had a celebration for Christmas here in our house with the kids that come each week for service. Our special activity included singing, puppet show, memorizing scripture, gifts and food and pop! It was such a wonderful day seeing their little faces full of joy! Each child received two gifts. The boys a truck and a helicopter, and the girls received a Barbie doll and a makeup set. Most of these children believe that no one cares for them. Some sleep in the streets, some have no shoes, it is very sad the things that we see each week. But it is such a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus and wrap our arms around these kids and tell them that we love them, but even more importantly that Christ loves them, and died just for them. We believe God has great things for these kids. Sometimes they are looked down on so much in the city but we love to see them on the streets and just remind them that they are truly special!

We want to thank you for the support that you have sent since we started this adventure over a year ago. We are so thankful for all that the Lord is doing in our lives and the lives around us. We pray that God blesses you and your churches. We love and miss you all dearly.

"A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is th...

ere something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.

God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power."

- Oswald Chambers

Nicaragua Mission 2012

The Lord is doing new things!

   God has been moving and blessing us tremendously here in Nicaragua. These past few months have been amazing! Our days are getting more and more full the longer we are here. Every Tuesday we go to the prison and minister to a group of about 20 inmates. We see them growing each week and become closer to the Lord. They are memorizing scripture and some are helping with the singing and testifying about how God has changed their lives. Here in Matagalpa, the easy part is the preaching to them, but it is much more difficult to get there. We must go and try to find the bus. Sometimes they are packed full of people and only standing room remains. Then we get to the prison, go through security and have the service. Then it is the same to get back home. We must find a bus, oftentimes walking 10-20 minutes on dusty roads. And then another 3 blocks from the bus stop to our home. But the revival we feel in our hearts is worth every step we take! We arrive home very thirsty and sweaty but though the outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day!

   There are a few new ministries that have begun this month. Every Saturday we have a children’s service in our home at 3pm. Some are neighborhood kids, but some are orphans right off the street. It is such a blessing to see them playing games, laughing and having fun. But then to see their little faces light up when we tell them that “Grande es la amor de Dios” (Great is the Love of God). This was a little song we learned at the first meeting but continues to be a favorite. We have teaching as well, for them to learn more of Christ. We have been averaging about 15 kids each Saturday and soon we will have to buy more chairs because it is growing so quickly. There is such joy in this home as God’s love is shared with these children.


Mark 9:36-37 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall  receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

At the end of each service, we feed the kids. Though some are black as can be with dirt, their little bellies are filled with food, and their lives shown love.

   Another similar ministry is with the men on the street. We are averaging about 10 men a day that come to our front door and ask for food, or prayer. The need was there so we decided to try to gather them together for a bible teaching and prayer time. So we now have a service on Friday afternoons just for these men. This week one man was shaking and crying because the spirit came upon him so much. This particular man usually tries to change the subject whenever he feels conviction, but this week to watch God get ahold of him was amazing. The men were on their knees praying. It is such a sweet sound! We feed these men as well. But even after the service as they are eating, one man asked “Can we please continue to talk about the Lord, the food is good, but I want to hear more”. Another man told us just yesterday, “The door is always open here for us.” These are awesome testimonies to what God is doing here. We are humbled to be a part of it.

   We have those ministries every week but there are many things that come up unexpected on a day to day basis. Going to pray for someone, or being invited to preach at a church or on the radio. God is always showing us more needs to meet, and opening more doors. We are so very blessed and happy in the work here.

   We just wanted to share an update as to what God is doing in out lives here in Matagalpa, Nicaragua! We want to Thank you all very much for prayers and support! We continue to pray that God blesses you and the churches in the States.

                                  With much Love,

                                      Neil, Amanda, Nehemiah and Anabelle

March update 2012

We had such a great visit back to United States! We appreciate all our family and friends welcoming us into their homes and churches. When we returned back to Nicaragua the ministry has been even more wonderful than ever! We really have been revived and renewed on our trip back home and God has opened many new doors for us to minister.

Upon arriving home we found a few obstacles that we had to overcome the first few hours. We had no electric the first two days then the second day a pipe in our street had broken therefore we lost water also. This is nothing to a lot of the Nicaraguans that live here but for us it was a little challenging. We ate dinner by candlelight and the kids enjoyed it. A few days later we had to return to the airport and found a city shut down by rioters. The Pan America Highway was completely shutoff to vehicles. We spoke to several men who said we couldn’t get through because they where shooting at the police. Needless to say we found ourselves driving through rivers and farming roads trying to find away around. The Lord kept us from any danger and we returned home safely. Only a normal day in Nicaragua.



One of the new opportunities is going into the High schools. Prayer and bible reading has been banned from many public schools, but here in Matagalpa, we were invited into the class. The teacher stopped everything and the students listened as we gave forth the gospel message right in the high school classrooms. It is an amazing opportunity! We are very excited about this new door of ministry that has been opened up. Also the prison ministry has grown and we now have permission to go every Tuesday for the next several months to speak to both men and women. Between working with the people in the street, churches, prison, and now schools we have become very busy. It is wonderful and humbling to have such opportunities.

When we were in the United States, we had asked a few churches to pray for us. One specific prayer was that the orphans in the streets would trust us more, so that we could help them more and begin to build relationships with them. Although some people here think we are crazy for inviting them into our home, and feeding them, that is a prayer answered. Lately we have had up to 15 orphans a day coming into our house. Therefore we purchased 100 lbs of rice, 100 lbs of beans. This went very quickly! Later in support we were sent more money and we went and bought clothes, different sizes, but mostly for boys. This week alone we have gave new clothes to about eight boys, and one girl. We also bought shoes for four of those boys. Girls are much sweeter and easier to care for, but honestly there is so much more need here to help the boys. They range from five years old, to fifteen. One little boy who is about nine, we seen sleeping on the street, on a cardboard box. Sometimes the need here is overwhelming, but we are so thankful for the prayers and support that is given. These boys come to our house and we fix them rice, beans, and other treats. Today it was corn that they were very excited about. But through all the wrestling, fighting, eating, and playing, there is a sudden reverence that comes when we mention Christ. They know who is giving them food. They know who gives them life itself. It is Christ! We are only vessels. So in all that is done in Nicaragua, or there in the USA, may God receive glory and praise!



Christ came to be like us, so that we could be like Him. Zac Poonen