Sorry it's been so long since we last updated everyone. There is really no excuse because I've been home the last month with Curry just playing! I love having the summer's off with him, but by about 5 o'clock each day we are both ready for Ben to come home!
Curry celebrated his first birthday on May 27th. We had a great time with our families and had lots of friends to help us celebrate! If you came...thanks so much!
Curry is really growing fast and getting around so good these days! He loves to play outside - helping mom in the garden, swimming in his pool, chasing Skip and Sandie. Most days he wears just his diaper and a smile!
Curry has had a few "first experiences" in the last month or so, including his first Vacation Bible School and his first campout. Check out the pictures!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Free Day Missionaries on Tour
Today was our free day. We went to the market in Masaya. Its definately a cultural experience. Its an open air market...although the air is smelly in places and all the booths are covered, so its really not that open. Anyway, imagine hundreds of booths with shelves of trinkets, clothes, shoes, machetes, hammocks, wood working and every tourist baiting souvenier imaginable. Everyone wants to sell you their goods. You could really get lost in there. In fact, I dont remember if Kyle came out. Hey I hope hes not still there. Anyway, they sell produce, meat and souvienrs all in the same noisy market. It is no place for the clostrophobic. But we survived.
After the market, we went to eat at a local restaurant that has been deemed safe by the local missionaries. The food was great, but it was greater when Adam found out that he could buy a pizza there. Youve never seen a Papa Johns that was more appreciated. Everyone else ate a Nicaraguan steak.. not what you are thinking..smaller..thiner...but very good.
We wound up at Crater Lake. Its an old volcano that has become a lake and a tourist attraction...much like our own Crater Lake in the US. There are shops and people who want to shine your shoes, sing you a song, give you a neclace, take your picture or anything else for a little cash. Someone had a local duo sing a little anniversary tribute for Adam and Amelia. Touching. I know.
As usual, Preacher led a great trip and of course today DR was her normal super tour guide. But now we are all tired and ready to get back home. Cant wait to see everyone in church Sunday morning.
After the market, we went to eat at a local restaurant that has been deemed safe by the local missionaries. The food was great, but it was greater when Adam found out that he could buy a pizza there. Youve never seen a Papa Johns that was more appreciated. Everyone else ate a Nicaraguan steak.. not what you are thinking..smaller..thiner...but very good.
We wound up at Crater Lake. Its an old volcano that has become a lake and a tourist attraction...much like our own Crater Lake in the US. There are shops and people who want to shine your shoes, sing you a song, give you a neclace, take your picture or anything else for a little cash. Someone had a local duo sing a little anniversary tribute for Adam and Amelia. Touching. I know.
As usual, Preacher led a great trip and of course today DR was her normal super tour guide. But now we are all tired and ready to get back home. Cant wait to see everyone in church Sunday morning.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Back at the Mission Home
We finished our work in the village of La Libertad. The week in La Libertad was fabulous. The setting was amazing. We were in the mountains with beautiful backdrops of mountain peaks and tropical vegetation. The climate was actually mild ... thats a first for our group. We had a little rain everyday, but it was never a problem.
We saw plenty of people during the week and our clinics were able to offer a lot of assistance to people who lived in the area. People traveled as many as four hours on horseback to visit our clinic. Everyone did great. I cant wait for Sunday night when we can all see the pictures together as a church family and hear the final report. We miss you guys so much.
Today was a little tough. We packed up and left the village around lunch. The hardest part of the trip is leaving. The village was our home for a week, and leaving the children was heart wrenching. They got attached and so did we. They were crying and some of us were. It is amazing to feel loved this way. The goodbyes were hard, but they reassured us of our place in the village and in a way, our place in the world. It is good to love God and to love His children. Today it seems like all Gods children really are one big family. We are truly all brothers and sisters.
The village sent us off with a celebration. Local children dressed in festive clothes and danced local dancxes for us. The mayor presented a plaque to bro. Hogan and the local pastor expressed his appreciation for ou work. It is great to feel so appreciated.
The five hour bus ride back to the mission home however was not so great. And, to top it all off in true mission trip style, one of the buses broke down. Fortunately for us it was on the street just outside the driveway of the mission home. The bus stopped to back into the driveway, and with a loud clank, the driveshaft hit the ground. We figure that things like that are to be expected.
Tomorrow we will spend some time sightseeing and shopping. Tonight we will celebrage together in a banquet at the mission home. All is well as we wrap up a good week.
We saw plenty of people during the week and our clinics were able to offer a lot of assistance to people who lived in the area. People traveled as many as four hours on horseback to visit our clinic. Everyone did great. I cant wait for Sunday night when we can all see the pictures together as a church family and hear the final report. We miss you guys so much.
Today was a little tough. We packed up and left the village around lunch. The hardest part of the trip is leaving. The village was our home for a week, and leaving the children was heart wrenching. They got attached and so did we. They were crying and some of us were. It is amazing to feel loved this way. The goodbyes were hard, but they reassured us of our place in the village and in a way, our place in the world. It is good to love God and to love His children. Today it seems like all Gods children really are one big family. We are truly all brothers and sisters.
The village sent us off with a celebration. Local children dressed in festive clothes and danced local dancxes for us. The mayor presented a plaque to bro. Hogan and the local pastor expressed his appreciation for ou work. It is great to feel so appreciated.
The five hour bus ride back to the mission home however was not so great. And, to top it all off in true mission trip style, one of the buses broke down. Fortunately for us it was on the street just outside the driveway of the mission home. The bus stopped to back into the driveway, and with a loud clank, the driveshaft hit the ground. We figure that things like that are to be expected.
Tomorrow we will spend some time sightseeing and shopping. Tonight we will celebrage together in a banquet at the mission home. All is well as we wrap up a good week.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
In La Libertad
Big thanks to the mayor of La Libertad. She is allowing us to make this post in her office on the city computer. I couldn´t find an internet cafe in the village, so this is a huge gift. Here´s the update from Wednesday.
We´ve been here since Sunday. We were off to a slow start after traveling a long and bumby road to the village. Rain slowed us down as we tried to get our clinic set up for our first chapel. That was Sunday. On Monday all was well.
Chapel services have been great. Anthony is doing a great job preaching. He has been a huge new addition to our team. We´ve seen about 1,800 people so far and over 200 decisions for Christ. God willing that will continue or increase today and tomorrow morning.
John and Linda joined us yesterday. It is great to have them back. They know the ropes so well, and it just feels more normal with them around. We had a very sick team member from Florida last night, but the doctors did great. Meredith Wilson did an exceptional job. We prayed a lot and she is back at work this morning. It was a late night for a lot of people on our team.
The Pharmacy is doing well. The dentists have pulled more teeth than you want to know about, and Dr. Mauldin is leaving today for a commitment at home, so they will be without her after today. She has done a great job.
Preacher is doing a great job leading the team. He and I got a personal tour yesterday from the mayor. I was just tagging along with the dignitary. It pays to have important friends. She drove us to the gold mines and to an local ranch. It was very impressive.
The children are beautiful and we feel blessed to be here. Thank you to everyone who cooked, brought food, packed pills, gave money and prayed for us. It is good to be a part of our church family.
The village is beautiful. We are loving this trip. I´ll update you more when we get back to the mission home on Thursday evening. We miss you guys and hope you have a wonderful night at CBC.
T
We´ve been here since Sunday. We were off to a slow start after traveling a long and bumby road to the village. Rain slowed us down as we tried to get our clinic set up for our first chapel. That was Sunday. On Monday all was well.
Chapel services have been great. Anthony is doing a great job preaching. He has been a huge new addition to our team. We´ve seen about 1,800 people so far and over 200 decisions for Christ. God willing that will continue or increase today and tomorrow morning.
John and Linda joined us yesterday. It is great to have them back. They know the ropes so well, and it just feels more normal with them around. We had a very sick team member from Florida last night, but the doctors did great. Meredith Wilson did an exceptional job. We prayed a lot and she is back at work this morning. It was a late night for a lot of people on our team.
The Pharmacy is doing well. The dentists have pulled more teeth than you want to know about, and Dr. Mauldin is leaving today for a commitment at home, so they will be without her after today. She has done a great job.
Preacher is doing a great job leading the team. He and I got a personal tour yesterday from the mayor. I was just tagging along with the dignitary. It pays to have important friends. She drove us to the gold mines and to an local ranch. It was very impressive.
The children are beautiful and we feel blessed to be here. Thank you to everyone who cooked, brought food, packed pills, gave money and prayed for us. It is good to be a part of our church family.
The village is beautiful. We are loving this trip. I´ll update you more when we get back to the mission home on Thursday evening. We miss you guys and hope you have a wonderful night at CBC.
T
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Day 2
Everyone is in the kitchen standing in line to bleach their hands and have breakfast. CBC folks are picking out ties and trying to find bibles for church. We miss all of you, but its great to know that we are connected as a church family whether we are in the same country or not.
Pray for John P. He has been sick since last night. We hoped that he would wake up feeling better, but that wasnt the case. He looks better now, but to be on the safe side, he will stay in the mission home this morning. He and Linda will join the team in La Libretad as soon as he feels better.
The mission home is beautiful this morning. Its peaceful and the plants are so healthy. We have lots of church members who would absolutley love to see the plants here. Some of the things that we grow at home are here too, but they are really thriving in the Nicaraguan climate. Its really something.
One interesting note about typing here. I couldnt find the @ symbol. At home you type shift then 2 and youre all set. Not here. You have to press alt and 6 and 4 at the same time. Try figuring that one out. I still cant find the apostrophe, so bear with the poor contractions. Pray for us today. Well have our clinic set up after lunch and we will see our first group shortly after that. Today will be a busy day for us.
We hope that worship goes well for you guys at CBC. May God bless you as you gather today. I hope that He will speak and move and show us more of what he wants.
God Bless You, and somebody give Curry a hug from Daddy please. ...Ben
Saturday, April 28, 2007
We Made It
We finally made it to Managua and all are safe...most are sound. Its a late night for us and since Nicaragua doesnt observe daylight savings time, its later for us that it is for them, but who can complain.
We have one sick missionary and a lot of lost luggage. Fortunately for the CBC crew all the MIA luggage belongs to our Floridian friends. We were cutting it pretty close on the flight from Houston. They held the plane and offered passengers 600 dollars in travel vouchers to wait for tomorrows flight because they overbooked. Of course Bro. Hogan wouldnt let any of us take them up on that deal, but 8 others did, and that made enough room for all of Spikes folks.
The mission home had a great supper waiting for us. Pollo on skewers with a few sides and sweet bread. All is well. It is good to see our friends from Jacksonville and to sit on the porch of the mission home enjoying the breeze off the lake. May God bless our trip. Please be praying for us, and forgive the lack of appropriate punctuation. The keyboard is a little different.
Good night.
We have one sick missionary and a lot of lost luggage. Fortunately for the CBC crew all the MIA luggage belongs to our Floridian friends. We were cutting it pretty close on the flight from Houston. They held the plane and offered passengers 600 dollars in travel vouchers to wait for tomorrows flight because they overbooked. Of course Bro. Hogan wouldnt let any of us take them up on that deal, but 8 others did, and that made enough room for all of Spikes folks.
The mission home had a great supper waiting for us. Pollo on skewers with a few sides and sweet bread. All is well. It is good to see our friends from Jacksonville and to sit on the porch of the mission home enjoying the breeze off the lake. May God bless our trip. Please be praying for us, and forgive the lack of appropriate punctuation. The keyboard is a little different.
Good night.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Nicaragua Mission Trip
I hope to be able to update you on the progress or the church's mission trip to Nicaragua. Of course that depends on the availability of Internet access to the mission team in La Libretad. Please spend time praying for the team members and the people who will come to the clinics, and check the blog every couple of days for updates.
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