We’ve arrived! The first week is down and has been full of setting up our little room, learning the culture, and stumbling our way through conversation after conversation. God has already been answering prayers and building relationships. Frank starts a small group tomorrow morning at 7:30am, and I start meeting with a girl on Friday. Life is very good right now, and God is clearly showing us our path here in Granada! We’ll post more when we have a stable internet connection.

If you’re interested in seeing the details of our every day life, including pictures, you can find those over on my website at http://www.theburders.com/rebekah.

Shared by my lovely cousin as we prepare to leave in 5 days.

In one week from today we will board a plane with three or four (depending on what makes the ‘final cut’) foot lockers, two carry-on bags and two backpacks to fly to Granada Nicaragua. I am excited to see what God has in store for us while we are there but more importantly – I am excited to see what God has in store over the next seven days. Our final week in the states for at least 6 months. It’s incredibly exciting and at times I am full of anxiety but the crazy part is that in my heart there is an overwhelming sense of peace and calmness.

Over the last 3 months God’s provision has been shown to us in ways I never imagined.

It’s our first newsletter! The theme of this letter is God’s provision, and I know that will be the theme of this next year and the rest of our lives. The lists have been made,shots were survived, bags are being packed, and the apartment has been vacated! Our church is commissioning us on August 23rd (at the 9am service) and our flight leaves on August 24th.

God provided financially in huge ways for us. Less than five months after our official application was submitted and less than three months after the first support letter was sent, we are 100% supported. From $20 to over $10,000, each donation has been joyfully accepted. Every part of our moving expenses has been provided for as well, through Frank’s business income and gifts from family members. At the beginning of this process, we knew that every penny was already accounted for by God. It has been amazing to see that knowledge confirmed.

God has provided for us emotionally as well through counseling, AIM staff, and family members. We have both been amazed at the peace we have felt during this process, despite a few moments of panic. These moments typically happen when we focus on our needs and desires instead of God’s amazing grace and provision.

The icing on the cake is that we have a place to live when we move. We will be sharing a home with a Nicaragua couple who work for Vida Joven de Nicaragua. Those of you with high school students in your life might recognize that as Young Life. Language training starts the second we move in, as they know limited English and we know limited Spanish. We both look forward to learning the language and culture of Nicaragua from this couple. Frank was very excited to hear we would have a small air conditioning unit, a true luxury.

A few requests…

Please pray for our parents as we say goodbye to them. It will be the hardest for our mothers, and our hearts hurt when they are hurting.

Pray for the people we will meet and disciple in Granada. Discipleship is the primary purpose for our move, and we will be jumping into the ministry there.

Pray for the men we have been ministering to at Brother Bryan Park. The majority of people at the park have expressed happiness and joy, but two men specifically have mentioned us leaving them several times. Please pray that they will be aware of God’s presence in their lives and be comforted by the One who will never leave. Our small group has taken over this ministry, and we’re excited to see what God does through them!

Pray that we learn as much as we can about the culture, and that God would protect us from the negative aspects of culture shock. Pray that our minds be open to the people and that the feelings of homesickness will push us towards God and not away from him.

Pray that every situation, from buying groceries to teaching classes, be filled with opportunities to share the amazing grace and love we have received from God.

The adventure begins!