Monday Memories

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

God continues to shine His glory through His people here in Jinotega. To witness a few of the ways he is working is such a blessing. To take part in his work is humbling because I am certain it’s not things I could do alone. Only through him can we add to His kingdom, worship him with full devotion and embrace his love! With every new day there are so many things to be thankful for. Here are a few snapshots from the first couple weeks back and a few of the people I am so thankful to know!

I went to college with Juvelki. Every Saturday, she gets on the 5:30 bus,
at least 15 minutes early, and rides an hour and half to Matagalpa for pharmacy school/university. It was a quick visit, but she is a friend who is always there for me;
so it was nice to be able to encourage her before her test that day. 

Carlos, Wilson and Gaby came over for Sunday lunch.
We had Gringo chicken and veggies but they cleaned the plate!
These 3 are always wiling to help and serve. And they make me laugh :)

After 3 days back in the mission, I saw a mouse in my apartment.
So I called a family to borrow their cat for a couple days.
Pata was great company and did her job very well!!

The morning was spent working with Casa Materna to make their big inventory list.
Lunch was spent laughing and eating pizza!
The afternoon was spent door knocking for Hijos del Rey,
Sunday afternoon children's program, with the teens!

Caryn is a sweet spirit from God.  I love coming back home to friends who are eager to catch up and continue in the work of the Lord.  Especially when we wear matching infinity scarves! 

I finally made gyo-pinto that tasted good! It wasn't blow your mind away awesome,
but I finally am not afraid to make it for Nicaraguans!

Sunday morning was spent singing at the cross with Carlos and Wilson.
The best way to start a new week... Giving thanks and praying over our city!

El Segundo Año (2nd Year)

Dear Friends and Family in the blog world:

Thank you for following along with the work God is doing here in Nicaragua! I have returned for another year and wanted to give you an opportunity to partner with me in this service.

How patient and loving He is with us. How deep his grace is. How we are so privileged to see Him work and to be His hands and feet if we are willing to be used. The family I am going home to has grown over the last few days with five baptisms! Four of our teenagers and the wife of one of the youth leaders went to a near by river and were baptized to become part of the body of Christ! 

God continues to open doors for me to work with our children’s programs, teenagers, school projects and visiting groups from the states. I am so excited to return home and continue serving with God’s community in Jinotega. However, I cannot do this alone. I continually need your prayers for wisdom and His spirit to fill me. I am also looking for partnership through financial support, raising money for flights, Spanish lessons, a computer, food, visas and kids projects. My budget for this year is $3750 ($375 a month for 10 months).

If you would like to assist me financially, please, make checks payable to “Snellville Church of Christ” with “Misión Para Cristo” in the memo line. You may mail your donations to:

Snellville Church of Christ


3005D Lenora Church Rd.


Snellville, GA 30078-3621 

 Thank your for indicating if it will be a one time donation or a monthly donation.

I sincerely covet prayers on behalf of the Jinotega community and the country of Nicaragua. I appreciate each and every prayer and each contribution. Both provide me with the strength and ability to serve away from my first home.

If you are every interested in coming to serve along with us, please know God can make it happen! Praying for year of learning and growing for all of us as we seek to serve Him best!

Sincerely,
Colette

More Monday Memories

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

CiCi spent lunch with me in the office after I saw a mouse.
She hasn't killed it... yet. 

Man. If looks could kill.
Lucas wanted to eat his chocolate in peace without having his picture taken.

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:7

Yay for goofy friends! And three leaders of our youth group!

My first time making Nica rice and beans all by myself.
It wasn't horrible but I still won't serve it to others.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

The guys had a little extra time before lunch
and started playing a wall-ball game. Very entertaining.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13

The girls came over to do and aerobic dancing video.
Afterwards we were laying on the floor laughing and taking picture.
They kept saying "Foto! Foto!" I love their energy!

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you
 and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:1-3

 

Thanksgiving in Jinotega was a great success!!
With green beans! and lots of other traditional food,
but the time together for all the Gringos was so special to me!

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. 
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
 and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

We had piñatas at Hijos del Rey. One for the girls and one for the boys.
It was a hilarious mess.

It was definitely a good idea to separate the boys and girls.
That pile of boys was crazy! 

Monday Memories

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; 

yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

This team is growing and improving so well! I love watching the kids play and get excited when they do something right and encouraging them when they strike out. They have won a few games due to the other team forfeiting. Finally,  this weekend, THEY WON!! 2 games! They were so excited!!

Last week I went to Managua for the day to renew my visa.  One of the perks of the immigration office is it's in the mall. That means North American food choices! Sub sandwiches are one of the foods I miss the most so I was looking forward to Quiznos all day! It lived up to the expectation too.

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. 

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and 

arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness. Isaiah 61:10

After giving out pre-natal vitamins in a nearby city,
we went to lunch at a local restaurant.  They had a monkey!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Last summer, Hanna, Kelly, Kamri and I worked together for 7 weeks in Zambia. We grew to love one another so deeply. Thankfully they got to be together this weekend and took time to Skype me in. Technology is incredible but these ladies are even better. Catching up with them just made my cup overflow!

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Eveling, one of the youngest girls in the youth group, had her birthday Saturday.
We had cake and cookies to celebrate.

The Counts (Chris, Jill, Zach and Maggie) are life my family. Recently, I've spent the early part of my Sunday afternoon's with them. Chris was especially proud of his pizza this week too! It was great!

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52

Felipe, two of the teens and I passed out soup mix to school too.
It was a lot of driving for a quick drop off of boxes but some beautiful scenery in Nicaragua!!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8

Impromptu trip to the cross with the teens who have a free afternoon was a great idea!
Top left: Alec, one of the boys on the baseball team.
Top middle: Jonathan hanging off the cross. Crazy boy!
Top right: Elvin and Kevin learning to take selfies. So funny.
Bottom: The girls on the hike and Jorge. They are a loving group.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16