Corey and Ashley

mi corazón te cantará Jesus

Ashley — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:22:09 +0000

I mentioned going to the dump in one of the posts already if you want to read about it, it’s in this post here. We went back to the dump and gave them some more boxes of food. Everybody there was so happy to see us! I wanted to share this picture, we put it on the SIofNica facebook page I also wanted to add the caption that Corey put on it, This family gave me a new perspective on raising children. So often in the US I think “I don’t want to raise children in our little condo.” This family works in the dump all day and probably live under a thin roof with holes. While their situation may seem hopeless, its so encouraging to know that there is still hope for them in Jesus. Jesus came to die even for the people who work in a dump. He loves them and desires a relationship with them. I’m glad I can have a part in introducing these people to this hope.

I love my hubby

I think it will be easier if I just put some pictures up and explain them.

All these kids work and eat from the dump

This is what I look like on the mission field.

We literally had a truck full of these boxes of food! Hundreds of them, we had to unload them all and put them in this warehouse.

This is Mario, he works security for the compound and Patrick. He’s hardcore.

Ervin is our hermano (brother) and Roldan our driver!

This is the bucket in the well…the well where they get water…to drink.

Its so encouraging that while we were praying or Nicaragua, the people here in Nicaragua were also praying to the same God. Even though we speak different languages, God still hears all our prayers.

She drinks that water…

This is a family in their home.

Detours and Beanie Babies

Ashley — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:20:25 +0000

On the 29th of January (I only remember this because the date is on the pictures) we went to a village to visit “grandma” a sweet lady who has taken on the task of raising her two grand daughters. On the way back Patrick just decided to turn down another road to explore, we found a new village. This village, because it is new is struggling to have power and just to keep their homes. Whenever we would go out we would usually put a couple of boxes of food on the truck in case we needed them. So we left some food for them, and then we made our way to their “church”. This church has no walls, no lights, no chairs, and no roof. While the pastor and Patrick were talking the pastor just started to cry because the government recently turned down their application to become a legal community (basically that means they are living and developing land (called “squatting” and is normal in Nicaragua) that does not belong to them, and they can be told to leave any time). Even so, they were filled with joy that God is with them. They said that they knew that if God was with them, nothing could be against them. They trusted God to provide for their needs, even though they don’t have walls or running water. It’s so sad to compare this to the churches in the U.S. who complain when the air conditioning is out, or that their isn’t enough money to pay their staff. Obviously we live in a different culture, and there are different expectations… but the idea still remains. What if we were content just to meet with God… in a HOT dusty field. What if we trusted Him to provide for us. Our attitudes would be totally different and I really believe that God would bless America in a way it has never seen.

So somebody donated two containers of Beanie Babies to give to the children in the different communities. Along with the food we packed in the truck we brought the Beanie Babies. When we were on our way back to the compound we pulled off of the road to small area where kids were playing and we gave them each a Beanie Baby! I loved the whole BB thing it’s another memory that I’ll have with me forever. Of course I loved it because it had to do with the kids and apparently my favorite memories have to do with the children.
Thinking back to this over a month later I have one regret. This time I had a horrible canker sore. My whole life I’ve gotten those annoying things in my mouth some times more than one at the same time. So, sometimes I can have 1 or 2 and it not bother me because I’m so used to it. But sometimes I get 1 or 2 that are in a bad spot or are really big and it just messes me up completely! This one was just a little one…but it was in a bad spot and around the second day of having it I bit it once…and it swelled up and got bigger. Every time (atleast it felt like it) I would close my mouth, you know to eat or talk or..breath. I would bit it and it was very painful! I feel like in my sleep I was trying to eat it! Not really but sleeping was no fun. Any ways! The night before I was very smart and left my Orajel (which is a gel that I use to numb it and make it heal faster) in the bathroom of a restaurant. I was angry at myself all night the combination of that and the pain my mood was not a happy one. I stopped talking…and just put my head on my knees every time we were in the truck. I didn’t want to get out. I couldn’t smile. I was just not happy. But I was standing here watching a pastor cry because he doesn’t know what to do because him and all his church family could loose their home at any time, and all I can think about is how much pain I am in! That’s messed up! Now that the trip is well over with I have so many regrets…and I’m ready for a second chance to do it all over again. I’m so ready to go back. But you know…that’s life. We do stuff, we have regrets, we learn from our mistakes and grow from them. But I cant wait until I can go back to Nicaragua and not let silly things make me angry. Ok I’m done ranting. Here are some pictures!

This is the “church”

Our driver carrying a box of food for the people.

The pastor praying

Day of Fun!

Ashley — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:38:42 +0000

Soo we’ve been home for almost 3 weeks, I’ve decided that I did not do a very good job at updating. First of all we were very busy in Nicaragua, I just finished editing the rest of the pictures. So I’m going to try my best to update on the rest of our trip.

The compound we stayed on hosted a “day of fun” type thing for all the kids in Pochocuape. We opened the gate and brought in two bounce houses. The kids had a blast! I had a great time taking pictures of all the fun. All the kids love to have their picture taken I kept hearing “gringa gringa!” They would all call me and make me take a picture, they would tell me to stay and they would run around to me to see the picture. While I was taking a break one girl came and sat next to me I “talked” I say “talked” because she spoke spanish and I dont…lol. But she followed me around the rest of the day and all of her friends started following me around. That is probably one of my favorite memories! I miss all of my friends. The next day they all came and sat next to me or on me during church. Every time they saw me out in the community they would run up and hug me, it’s such a great feeling! They are all so sweet. So here is a couple of pictures from the “day of fun”

This is the girl that came and sat by me! It took forever for her to let me take her picture, she asked me to take pictures of all her friends but wouldn’t let me take hers! lol

Como Nos Amas

Ashley — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:57:31 +0000

So to be honest I’ve been avoiding this post because I just dont know what to say! We’ve been here for over a week! It’s going by to fast. We’ve been having a great time. However, I’m not gonna lie, I had a rough day Monday. I am so thankful for my husband and a God who love me no matter how much I dont love me. At church on Sunday they sang How He Loves Us…in Spanish! I love hearing some of my favorite songs sung in Spanish. The songs are so powerful and here I am in a poor place with poor people and they are singing these songs worshiping God the same way I am no matter what language it is it’s the same worship! That gives me goosebumps! God is so awesome! Ok…updates! One day last week…idk what day (I had to get a watch so I would know what time it was and what day it was) we wanted to go on a hike out side of the compound. We are staying in Pochocuape which is basically a mountain with 4 different zones. We asked where Pochocuape starts and they basically said “when the road ends and the dirt roads up a mountain begin” So The compound is in zone 1. So on a hike we went, Corey and I and the other intern who is here for 6 months Abe (His Blog is here). Dont worry we had a body guard…Frank. Who lead us on a short cut that at one minute he said he knew…and then the next he said he didn’t…yeah oh yes did I mention that this short cut was NOT on a trail…and we almost fell off a mountain?!? jk…kinda. Anyways! We walked all around and everybody was happy to see the Gringos. We ended up walking to zone 4…which is at the top of the mountain…yeah. Where we ended up was a little community that did not have running water, they have to go down to the bottom of the mountain to get some water and take it back up the mountain.

This is a house near the compound.

The “trail”

When we got back the workers at the compound were making dinner, we were hanging out with them so they let us have some, it was very good!

The rest of last week was filled with settling in, cat fun, a fun trip to the airport to pick up the couple that run the compound, a trip to Pizza hut, facebook and website work (like our page www.facebook.com/siofnica) House Hunters International in real life, anddd Spanish learning.
This week we have gone to give out medicine to an older lady outside of the compound that has a horrible case of shingles…Corey and I both have had shingles so we know how painful it is. This lady is unable to speak, so she couldn’t tell her family how much pain she was in. Patrick (the guy who runs the compound) was sent to see what was wrong with her, because of him she was able to get the right medicine to help her with her pain. After, we went to visit a feeding sight. We walked around their community and visited with some of the people. A few months ago Patrick had helped a lady who was very very sick. He wanted to go visit her family and see how she was doing. She invited us into her home and we got to hear her AMAZING story, she was basically on her death bed, but because of Patrick and his AWESOME ministry the work he does in Nicaragua this beautiful woman is now recovering and is almost fully functioning. Her story was very inspiring. We went back today and recorded her story. I hope to get that video up to share soon. As soon as Patrick told her that churches in America were praying for her, she started crying because she was so happy! She is great!
After we recorded her story we went to one of the dumps. This dump has people working there with their children to find food IN THE DUMP!! We told them that they were going to be one of our new feeding sites. It’s so cool to actually see Patrick in his everyday life. See the lives he’s changing, see the smiles on the peoples faces that he gives food, and medicine. Have I mentioned that the organization we are helping not only feeds 40,000 people a day, but they run a christian school, they have a medical clinic on the compound, and they go out and visit people and supply them the right medicine they need! I have seen with my own eyes everyday I’ve been here Patrick and SiofNica save lives!

I am so blessed to be apart of this! The best part is that when he goes out to feed people or help people he makes sure that they know that he is there in the name of Jesus. I love every member of the SIofNica team, I feel like we are part of a family. They are my brothers and sisters!

Oh! the Sunsets are beautiful here!

Last night there was a black out, so instead of being all mad that we couldn’t finish working on the website and check facebook and all that fun stuff we took our chairs outside and star gazed, it was soooo beautiful! Check out this picture Corey took.
I’m sure I’m leaving something out, but whatever! If I think of anything I’ll just add it to the next post Keep praying for Corey and I, the missionaries, and all of the people here in Nica!

Tour of the Compound

Ashley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:42:49 +0000

Here is a short tour of the whole compound. Should give you an idea of what everything looks like.

Tour of our Room! (Recorrido por nuestro cuartos)

Ashley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:30:19 +0000

Oh Great God Give Us Rest

Ashley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:13:52 +0000

We’re finally in Nica! It feels so good to be here. I was super stressed out yesterday as soon as we got in the airport I started stressing out like crazy! When we got off our first flight I calmed down a lot! Corey said I was pretty pale when we were in the Atlanta airport. I just realized that this was happening, I was about to go out of the country for a month, I said goodbye to my mom, and I was going through security (which is stressful on it’s own), and I felt like I was going to be sick. Of course it doesn’t help that I wasn’t getting enough sleep the week before and that night I only slept for like 4 hours. As soon as we walked into the Managua airport it was a big relief! Just the smell of something familiar calmed me down. It’s strange because I’m still a little uneasy, but that’s ok! It’s so familiar but so unfamiliar at the same time. I am not ok out of my comfort zone, I’m already a really shy and quiet person, but being out my comfort zone it’s like doubled. I say it’s ok because earlier I was almost desperate to read my Bible and spend time with God, because that’s familiar and I was desperate for something familiar. I have never had the feeling of being desperate for the comfort of Gods word. That makes me excited, one of my goals while being here is to make quiet time a habit I have a rubber bracelet on my arm that says “make it a habit” to help remind me to spend time with God.

That is something I would ask people to pray about. One thing that has made this unfamiliar and makes me a little uneasy is the fact that I miss my Nicaraguan team! The group of people that came with us those 5 days in July. It is not the same at all! But their are some great people here that are already making it feel like home.
Today Corey has spent most of the day working on their website, we’ll put a link to that up, once that’s up. The place we are staying is also a school. The school is actually on break right now, they wont start back until February, so they have a lot of supplies piled up and they will be getting some more supplies before school starts. So I spent most of the day doing inventory.
everything I had to inventory!

We also got to go grocery shopping for the week. We went to two markets, one was very similar to grocery stores in America, and the other was not. The weather isn’t that bad actually today it was pretty windy and cool. I went outside when it got dark to watch Corey play soccer with some of the workers, and I almost needed a jacket!
I plan to keep this updated with pictures, and I hope video! So look out for that. Keep praying!

Testing

Corey — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:58:58 +0000

test test

Hello Nicaragua!

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:20:51 +0000

Here we come!