Update ... here's Saul (their youngest brother) and his new mom, Andrea!

It’s been quite the ride – and difficult to communicate without the internet in our home (which we hope to get soon). Thus, the delay in information here – so let me fill you in a bit. John’s doing much better after his bicycle accident / broken rib / punctured lung incident. He’s been doing the final packing, meeting with attorneys, getting income taxes ready, has gone back to work, and is doing errands like taking Louie to the vet so he has a certificate to fly and enter this country. Talk about frustrations and disappointments! We’ve had our share, believe me – but we haven’t lost our zeal for this adventure. Our disappointments have been put to the side and have actually more so instilled the fact that we want to be here, no matter who is or who is not behind us. We know we’re called to this for many reasons, so we choose to look only forward. Here’s what’s happening since the last post:

• John (and Louie) are flying in Thursday. It’s 10 days earlier than planned, yet such good news! I miss them both desperately, and the boys need the family to be whole (not just me here).
• John will receive a team of about 20 people on Feb 9th … and they’ll work both on projects in Managua and also in Leon. This will be the first of many teams John will facilitate for Forward Edge International … with whom we’ve shared much in the past 7 years. He’s continuing on in a different capacity / I’m fading to the background, but will support him (and FEI too) however I am able.
• We’re living in the house, no furniture in many rooms but we have beds and a dining room table (and a “sofa” of sorts, which is more like a chain of chairs in an airport. Hey, it works!)
• My rendition of gallo pinto is not up to snuff according to the boys. I will need some cooking lessons from Lina and Leyda (the ladies in the pastor’s family who have hosted teams for years). They’re GREAT cooks.
• Nahum and Gener’s youngest brother (Saul) is living with us until his adoption to a family in Indiana is complete. His new mom, Andrea, is staying with us now also – will be leaving on Friday. She’s been a tremendous blessing and help to me in getting the house set up. It is our plan to keep the boys connected via communication as they are very connected in heart!
• School beings on Monday and the boys are a little nervous about it as they don’t know anyone there and probably assume they’re the outsiders looking in. They’re affable and intelligent, and soon they will say, “Did I really ever think that?”

Factoids of life here:

• Traffic lanes are simply suggestions (and so are stop signs).
• Life is slow here, except traffic.
• Being so much closer to the equator (than Portland, Oregon), every day the sun comes up at the same time and sets at the same time.
• There are no dishwashers (except our hands).
• Clothes are dried on the clothesline during this season (until the rains come and make that impossible).
• People are extremely friendly and kind (except they seem to be transformed when they get behind the wheel of a car). Sheesh. Every man for himself, and elbows flinging to the sides – GET OUT OF MY WAY!! It’s a mind-warp – rather like becoming invisible or thinking you’re invisible (you know, like picking your nose and thinking no one is watching (but they are). Hahahaha.

Thank you for your support of every kind. We appreciate your help financially and your prayers for this venture. Really, it would not be as possible or as fun without your help. The boys have had their eyes WIDE open with wonder and awe to hear that people are helping (I guess they thought we were cash cows) … so it’s been a privilege to share this with them and thus teach them the value of giving and not just receiving. We’ll instill that in other ways too, but for now – please know that they’re aware and they’re thankful and it’s our plan to mould them into givers.

Bless you all – please stay in contact via email. You will be our “wick to reality” – until this reality is wholly ours. Our hearts are with our family and our friends, and if that is you then know we’re thinking about you a lot! Write to schedule a visit … we’ll need to calendar it!
We send love and prayers to and for you.