As I sit here in my favorite coffee shop in my hometown with Coldplay playing in my ears, I can’t help but think about how much my life has changed is such a short amount of time. This place represents so much more than a good cup of coffee. We walked in the door and were greeted by the owner with a hug and a smile. It’s only been six months since we were here but it feels like years. The last time we were here, we were working out notices at our full time jobs, packing up our apartment and making plans for our move to Nicaragua. We lived a life that is so different than it is now. Not better or worse, just different.

I used to come here everyday and work and stare out at University Boulevard and dream about what our lives would look like when we moved to Nicaragua. Playing out scenarios in my head of what our everyday lives would look like. I remember thinking about how much I would miss these times and to be honest I do miss them sometimes. But I’m also reminded about a time when in our lives when the God of the universe called us out of our normal American lives and said “Follow me to Nicaragua”.

Being home for a visit has given me the opportunity to reflect on what God is doing in and through us in Granada. It has allowed me to not only see friends and family but also to miss our new friends and family. Granada may not be “home” but we also being shown that home is where you are instead of a particular place.

We feel that we are at sort of a crossroads with our time there and we are going to begin praying for God to show us if he wants us to stay for a longer term or if he wants us to come back to the states for something else. We are praying for God to give us this answer quickly because it changes how we look at our last seven months in Nicaragua. If he calls us for a longer period, we feel we should dive into language training and developing the base we have now into a more advanced level. If he calls us back to the states, we would spend our last seven months developing relationships and ministries so that it continues after we leave. Please join us in praying for direction. We are trusting and believing that he will guide our steps.

If we didn’t get a chance to see you face to face know that we miss you and can’t wait until we can hug your neck!

I felt connected at worship this morning, to generations of worshipers. To my grandmother, who loves Jesus and has been a great example of grace. To my mom, who trained me. To Mary, Naomi, Esther, Ruth, Rachel, Rebekah and all the other women in the Bible who worshiped the same God.

Our pastor spoke of the amazing mystery of being a tabernacle, the dwelling place of God. It is awe inspiring to realize that I possess the living God in my body. I sat there, ashamed of the ways I reject the God who created me. The ways in which my pride takes over and I am left with less than what God wants of me.

As I raised my hands in worship, I remembered the first services I participated in at Brookhills. Where my heart was healed after years of running from God. I felt connected to the person I used to be, and realized how far I’ve come in the past five years. The words poured out of me at the end of the service, when our pastor gave us time to respond to the message. I can’t even remember the specifics of my prayer, only wanting to belong to God completely and fully. Realizing that this was the last Sunday I would worship with my faith family until October was emotional. Our God is not a God of time, and those months will pass faster than I could ever imagine. But I will still miss this place, these people.

Peniel (named after the place where Jacob wrestles with God) is the mens center that we work with to sponsor men that want to enter treatment for their addictions. It is a place that allows men to get away from their surroundings and have a genuine encounter with the God of the universe. For 6 months the men are discipled and taught how to not only live a clean life but how to be the man that God created them to be. They also work while they are there to help offset the cost of the ministry.

The grounds at Peniel are well manicured – full of plants and animals

Peniel sits on 50+ acres. In their spare time the guys are encouraged to go out and find God in the landscape here.

There is fields and fields of crops to help feed the guys while they are here

The city of Granada is filled with people that are struggling with addictions. From 50 year old alcoholics to 10 year boys addicted to sniffing glue, addiction has ravished the city. Sadly, there are no treatment centers in the entire city so the ministry we work with sponsors men to go to Peniel which is about 45 minutes outside of the city of Granada. With so many people struggling and with poverty, you can imagine that there is a lot of interest in sponsorship. We have a process that allows us to get to know the guys before we send them and we also encourage them to join in the ministries that we are involved in. My hope is that some of them figure out that they can stay clean without going to Peniel.

The buildings are covered with graffiti art. This one says “Jehova Lives”.

This art symbolizes what happens here – the captives are set free!

Bacon anyone? Peniel raises a lot of their own food. This pig weighed over 300 pounds!

Mario talking with the director and owner of Peniel, pastor Frank

Currently we have three guys at Peniel going through the program. Here’s their pictures so you can pray for them:

At random moments around town it is not uncommon for someone to yell “SOLO POR HOY!” at me. It makes me smile every time.