March Update
Buenos Dias a mi familia y mis amigos!
I hope this update finds you all doing well and maybe, just maybe, seeing glimpses of spring? Down here in Managua, hot season is upon us. Temperatures are slowly starting to rise more and more during the day to the low - mid 90’s (eventually climbing up to the upper 90’s).
Community
This month has been full of wonderful community - providing beautiful glimpses into what settling into life here looks like realistically for me. The past 9 months at times have been hard and I have felt alone (remembering all of my friends in the US). But God is providing a wonderful community of friends here, and for that I am THANKFUL.
This past month I have hung out with the Lowe family, going to the movies and then ice cream afterwards (their two girls are Ema (7) and Hannah (5); going to a local international school for their performance of the Wizard of Oz; hanging out with ‘my crew’ - Jameson, Alex, baby J, Michelle and Eugene at a pool party and cookout and getting to celebrate Eugene’s birthday this past Sunday night at a wonderful little Cuban restaurant.
Office Dogo
This past month Max had some major surgery. I am thankful that the cost is so much lower here in Nica. So, I stayed and worked from home and took care of him. Then on the last day of his recovery I brought him with me into the office and he was an instant celebrity. Several of my teammates asked if he could come in regularly, which I was happy to oblige.
Car
As some of you know I have found a car!
After 9 months of browsing online and only seeing a couple of cars in person, Miguel (our Nica accountant) took me around to several car lots this weekend. On the last lot I fell in love with a 2016 Honda HRV. After prayerful consideration over the weekend, I went back to the lot yesterday with two mechanics - one that works with/for my host dad (Roque) and Oscar (who I knew had worked on Honda’s owned by expats). They both took their time reviewing it, and gave me the same opinion - it is a great car and value for the price!
Today, I will be returning to the lot with Bismarck (my host dad), to sign the official papers. An interesting fact: non-residents cannot own a vehicle in Nicaragua. Therefore, I have to put the car in someone else’s name (some trustworthy), and then once I am approved for residency I will transfer it over to my name.
Virtual Meet Up
The zoom virtual meet up will be held on Wednesday, March 22nd at 1:30pm CST. Below is the invite:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9612948578?pwd=SlhJTmhkUEN4QlB4V3FZekQ1T1FPQT09
Meeting ID: 961 294 8578
Passcode: c4qJ5H
I am looking forward to seeing you all and to sharing a glimpse into my latest (and by that point, completed) project with EMI! Below is a sneak peak into the project! :)
Praises and Prayer Requests:
Praises:
A car! After months of searching, God has open doors to the purchase of this vehicle.
A growing community - deepening friendships and relationships.
Continued project work with EMI
David - my coworker who broke his femur last year - received great news at his latest check up - he can now begin PT without his crutch and will be able to slowly start walking without a crutch!
Prayer Requests:
Car - that the paper signing would go well today, and that I would be able to find a way to transfer funds down here without any major fees or issues.
Team-
Phil and Olivia (and baby Gabe) will be traveling back from a directors conference in South Africa. Prayers for traveling mercies and then for the re-adjustment to the time zone - especially for Gabriel.
The Lowe family - Diane has been having some health issues and has had a series of appointments with doctors and specialist here. We pray for an answer and diagnosis and for peace during the waiting and the unknown.
Dinia (Jan’s fiance) recently took entrance exams for a specialty focus in her field of medicine. Unfortunately she did not get the scores needed to proceed forward, so she will try again next year. Please pray that she would receive encouragement as she prepares for next year and that God would bless her with peace in the waiting.
Miguel will be traveling to Miami in a few short weeks for a conference. Prayers for safety in travel, a good conference and then a good break as he does some traveling and sight seeing.
My parents will close on a house this week - praise the Lord! In March they will be moving to Wauseon, OH and working at Crossroads Church.
Family and friends - I am really looking forward to our virtual meet up. I have missed seeing all of your wonderful faces and cannot wait to share with you all.
As always - I would love to hear from you and connect with you via facetime or zoom.
Much love to you all,
Micah