November Update
HAPPY . . . SUMMER?
While most of you are experiencing weather changes, snow fall and plummeting temperatures, Nicaragua began the summer season in November. Ironically, the 2-3 months of summer are actually the coolest of the year. These months have little to no rain and are considered the windiest months. The temperatures do not really change all that much, maybe by 3-5 degrees lower, but it is noticeably cooler. Then midway through February until the middle of May, we enter into the hottest months of the year.
I would also like to take some time to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am very thankful for each and every one of you and the support you provide and the encouragement you have given me. This journey would not be the same without you.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving this year will look very different, as will Christmas. Since our office follows Nicaraguan Holidays, we do not technically get off Thursday and Friday. However, I am thankful that our office allows us the option to take off some time during these days.
I will spend Thursday afternoon with the Lowe family (David is a Civil Engineer for EMI), and then on Friday, our office is combining the World Cup game (US vs. England) in the morning with a team Thanksgiving meal in the afternoon.
Homeward Travel (recap)
As I mentioned last month, I was able to return to the U.S. for about a week to attend my grandmother’s memorial. While the reason for travel was heavy, the time with my family was so very good. My parents rented an AirBnb for the five of us (parents, my sister, me and Sebastian), which allowed us to spend some really good time together. We also had a lot of time with my dad’s family.
The memorial provided yet another opportunity to visit with some of my grandmother’s extended family and to reconnect with people from their church and people that I have met over the years in Bowling Green. The service itself was short and sweet, just how my grandmother had planned it. She left detailed instructions on what songs, verses and poems to sing and read and what pastors should share what and in the correct order.
We also had the opportunity to go and walk through my grandparents house once more. It was very weird seeing it that empty. In fact my sister made the comment, “I don’t think I have ever seen that wall before!” :) So very thankful for the time I had with family sharing memories of my grandparents.
Staff Retreat 2022
Last weekend we had our first staff retreat.
We drove about an hour outside of the city to a place called Laguna de Apoyo. All the staff attended, including spouses of staff that do not work for EMI. Our plans for the weekend changed last minute when part of our spiritual care staff were unable to make it. We spent our time together sharing our life stories, eating meals together and enjoying time on the lake and in the pool. We even got dance lessons from Jan and Dinnia on traditional Nicaraguan dances.
It was truly a wonderful and rejuvenating time - for me personally and for us as a group.
EMI Projects - Let’s Go!
The last few months have been quite slow at times, but I am happy to share with you all that I have my first two official projects for EMI! And both of them are local projects! Our project development team, consisting of Rob and Phil, have been in multiple conversations with various ministries and these projects are fruit of those conversations.
The first project is for a ministry called Ileana’s School (you can read more about their ministry here: https://lovelightandmelody.org/our-story/). They have run out of classroom space, and need additional space for 6 classrooms hosting 30-32 kids each. Our project scope is two fold - first we will be helping the school find a temporary solution for additional classrooms for the new school year (Feb. 2023). Secondly, we will be organizing a project trip for an intensive week of master planning, site investigations and client meetings. Following that our office will take an additional 2-3 months to design a polished design guide for the ministry. The hope is that once the funds are raised for the new construction, we will be contracted to help the ministry with the construction permitting process.
The second project is for a ministry called ‘Casa de Luz’ on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. The property is much smaller than the first, only occupying about 1/4 of land. The ministry hosts a surfing hostel and basic classroom space for ministry within the deaf and disabled community. The ministry needs additional space for housing, classrooms, a clinic and a small library. Our project scope will include site investigations, master planning and client meetings.
Prayer requests:
For our team -
The Quail family is returning back to the UK for their HA (home assignment), after having been abroad for nearly 20 months. Pray for them as they wrap up final details here, for their travel and for their time back home. Pray that God would provide the additional funding they need.
The Lowe family received great news this past week, that David can now start placing weight (20lbs) on his leg. They are also preparing to return for a couple of weeks at Christmas time to see family.
Phil and Oliva are a few short weeks away from welcoming their baby boy! Pray for the final preparations of the baby room and any last minute details.
Growing Staff - we hope to expand our team with a Nicaraguan office manager. Pray that God would be preparing the right person for the job and pray for our team as they search for that person.
Projects -the ones listed above and for future projects. Pray for Phil and Rob as they pursue leads and follow up on existing projects.
Holidays - this is my first holiday season in a new country. Today, it hit me that it doesn’t feel like that time of year already. I think it’s because there isn’t a change of seasons here so my perception of time feels off. Pray that I would find a way to make it feel like Christmas here. I know it will not be the same, but I would still like it to feel like Christmas.
Continued prayers - for a car and a church. I know many of you have been praying for this, but it has been a slow process. I honestly felt like by now (6 months after having lived here) I would have both of these things. The truth is, God has given me peace and confirmed that there is no need to rush. Pray that I would be attentive to his guidance.
As always - I would love to hear from you all. Would you do me a HUGE favor? Mail here is hard to get, but I would still love to see your Christmas cards. Would you be willing to send me your Christmas card via email?
Love you all,
Micah