Tuesday -- Mission Trip Update

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2013

Matt and I have talked nightly 

BUT

tonight we finally had good reception for SKYPE.

Our call only dropped 2 times :)

He called early to talk to the kids.

Yes, the kids miss him like crazy!

They pray for him all of the time.

They talk lots about him.

BUT

ALL of us especially miss him around dinner time.

Matt is SO much fun at the dinner table.

It's the time where the kids tell him all about their day, we talk about what we are thankful for --

and 

there is ALWAYS lots of joking and laughing going on!!

Yes, Matt instigates all of that.

Thankfully, he called right after dinner and the kids ABSOLUTELY loved it!!!  They had their 'DINNER' session on SKYPE.  It was fun :)

He called me much later so we could discuss the day :)

OF COURSE, the team is tired :)

They are working --- LOTS!!

They have a nice plan on what can get done and they are sticking to it!

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

They got the suitcase WITH the chop saw!!!!!!

Really, it is a total answer to prayer!

Thank-you, LORD!

Matt has spent an ENORMOUS amount of time welding!

Really, like -- ALL OF THE TIME!

They have done some picnic tables.

BUT 

Much of the welding work is on the trusses.

The trusses are done (built) --

AND

They will be going up -- pending the weather --

in the morning.

The trusses go ON TOP of the red steel poles.

PRAY for little wind!!

AND

SAFETY!!

Matt has to do a lot of welding ON TOP of this structure.

They have hired 3 locals to come and help the guys put it up -- but Matt will do the welding.

Dophie and Dave R. have been helping with the welding as well.

Much of the cement work was done yesterday and today.

The group has worked on cabinetry and block laying.

Bill and P.Dave have wired 7 rooms.

Mike and Dave S. worked on cabinetry yesterday but today did a drop ceiling in an entire room.

Bruce is working on plumbing.

The women have been helping the guys where they can ...

BUT
today they were able to work with the BIG group of women.

When all of the women arrive they have a lesson time.

This is where they talk about the LORD and 'stuff.'

Trish gave her testimony to all of the women during this time -- 

She did an AMAZING job -- another answer to prayer!

P.Dave and Jen sang in Spanish to the group of women.

There was also testimonies from the local women.

Our women then got to help work with the HOH women doing the beading and card making.

The average temperature at this time of year in Nicaragua is 82 degrees 

BUT

today it was 92 -- with very little breeze.

Matt's arms are pretty burned -- 

SOME is from the sun and the rest from all of the welding.

PLEASE pray that it does not burn anymore.

YES, he is putting SPF50 on it AND aloe at night.

Bill is not feeling well again -- his cold is setting in and he is struggling with sleep.

There are just little things here and there with everyone

BUT

thankfully, everyone is really doing well!

A TOTAL praise and answer to our prayers!

They are eating well -- 

have a nice place to sleep at night and have their group meetings and planning sessions.

Everyone sounds happy -- they have been playing cards when Matt and I have been talking.

Yes, they are all goofy and having fun --

EVEN 

After a long day. 

They have been going to HOH around 7:00 am and leaving the site around 5:30 pm.

They do have to QUIT using machinery when the HOH women are in the TEACHING session.

The men were able to attend the TEACHING session today.

They have 2 LONG days of work remaining.

Continue to pray that they get MUCH done.

Pray for:

Safety
Health

OPPORTUNITIES with locals AND HOH women

Changed Hearts

We are doing well as a family without dad!!

Today, I do have to admit was harder for me.

Matt runs the morning 'show' around here --

  I am VERY planned but when we all got going this morning I had 2 sick kids.

THANK-YOU -- to the MOMS for helping out!!

Work was BRAIN HARD today :)

AND with the wonderful snowy weather that I love -- NOT -- 

I had to race (haha -- as I followed someone going 25-30 miles an hour all the way to Montague) to pick-up the 2 of the girls from school BECAUSE BaJabs cannot ride the bus.

Well, a few tears dropped as I started for Montague!

It had been a lot today 

AND

I knew I still had much more to do!

GOD KNEW -- what I needed!!!

My mother-in-law surprised me and made our dinner -- THANK-YOU to her and the LORD --

Thank-you to my mom for just listening -- and the email that made me smile :)

The kids all rallied tonight and we got things done and had a little fun!

ALTHOUGH --

My bed has 3 little girls waiting for me .......

I'm really looking forward to Matt coming home ;)