Steps of Faith

While much of our new President Obama's focus has been a stimulus plan for the economy the rest of us are looking at our personal budgets and finances and trying to see how to make ends meet.

The CFCI office took some time out this last week to really take a closer look at our budget for 2009. Before we looked at the numbers Alcides shared a short devotional with the team. Philippians 4 was the text. The joy chapter. "Rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice in the Lord". As we look to the future and categorize and balance the numbers we could be overwhelmed and feel honestly depressed and overwhelmed. That is why we can not only look at the numbers but if we look back and see all the times that God alone has provided for us, and the ministry here we can rejoice. He has always provided and we can take steps of faith towards the future provision of the Lord.

The natural temeptation when we look at less income than budget is to start cutting. Many times by cutting we end up straying from the vision and the purpose because the numbers don't balance out. We beliving that the things we've planned for this year are from the Lord are willing to step out in faith believing that He will provide for the things that He wants us to do.

I left our meeting excited to see how the Lord has already provided for this years scholarship program and I look forward to seeing how else He provides in 2009.

I praise the Lord for His continued provision for my financial support here in Nicaragua. I am thankful that in God's economy there is no recession.

Warm Sunshine and Long Runs

One of the blessings of living in Nicaragua is that the weather is warm all year long. While many of you are still donning winter coats and hats I am happily wearing shorts and sunscreen. All of this warm weather makes it really easy for me to get outside for long runs with my running partners Myra and Amy, go for a nice bike ride with Aimee and play some good ole' ultimate frisbee. I have found this time out soaking up the vitamin D to be such a blessing in so many ways.

Lord thank you for your bright sunshine each day. Thank you for the growth and warmth that it brings. Help me not to take it for granted and each time I enjoy it to take note of the sweet blessing it is.

New Beginnings

The feeling you had as a kid at the beginning of a new school year was a unique one. Perhaps you laid awake the night before letting your imagination wander through all the new possibilities that lie in the year ahead. New clothes, new notebooks, pencils, new teachers and maybe even new friendships.

The Nicaraguan schools start the new school year this coming week. The ministry of education (MINED) has said that classes will start anytime between the 3rd and the 9th. Currently the teachers are in workshops and whenever they finish then classes will start. There is not a set date for the public schools to start. They will wait for word from MINED. The concept of not having a set day for classes to start is a foreign concept to many of us but is a fact of life for both teachers and students here.

With the beginning of a new school year there is a exciting new relationship that is forming with Colegio Hosana Sur. As I have shared before my dream has been to develop a teacher training/mentoring program with schools and teachers here. After many years, lots of prayer and patience God is moving us to start the program. We met with the pastor and director of Colegio Hosana Sur last week and they are really excited about the opportunity to deepen our relationship and to partner with each other. We don't know what things will look like as we progress but of this I am confident that God is at work in and through the the school and we want to join God where He is working. Please pray for this new beginning that as we move forward and share ideas, opinions, experience and resources that our first priority would be being sensitive to the Spirit's leading and focus on our relationship and not the tasks that lie before us.