It's almost time to go...

On Friday, Terry, Logan (middle son) and I will leave at 12:10 on our way to Nicaragua. It's hard to believe this will be my 21st trip in 7 years. I remember my 3rd trip riding in the front of the van talking about how one day I would love to be coming more and doing more and here I am just 4 years later. God is so good. He is so faithful.

This trip we had two others what were suppose to go but due to unforeseen medical issues they can not join us. Please pray for my friends as they will be dealing with serious issues while I am in Nicaragua.

This trip we have several things planned that I would like to your prayer for.

1. On Sunday 11th we will be having a celebration in Ceibita. My hopes are to bless the families with a hotdog lunch with fruit. They don't get meat but once or twice a year so this should be a treat. We will also be playing games and will give the kids a pinata.

2. Meeting with the men of Ceibita. Remember last month we started the tile business there. The men had gone to 6 other organizations before coming to me and now they are in business. I am hoping this opens a huge door for me to share with them how much God loves them and cares about their future. This is a great opportunity so please pray for the right time and the right words to be shared.

3. Soccer and Basketball Tournament - on Monday and Tuesday we will be hosting a tournament each night for a 140 youth. It will be held in the center of the city where all the youth hang out. All the drug dealers, gang members, prostitutes tend to linger around this park area so we are bringing Jesus to them. On Wednesday night we will invite them to a banquet and give them a celebration with a Christian youth group performing skits and dramas and there will be a presentation of trophies and metals to all the players.  Last year 55 boys accepted the Lord. We are hoping for another harvest of souls this year as well. This year however the boys in the tournament are a different "type" of kids. Most are the ones that would never step foot in a church. Pray they come to the banquet, pray now they will listen to the knock at their door.

4. My Darling has a little girl - the lady who's house  I have been raising money for has had her baby this week. We will be working to repair her home and give her a bed to sleep in and thanks to several of you I am taking nice baby clothes to her as well.

There are many other things going on but these are the key ones that I want to bring attention to.

As always please pray for my family as I will be leaving Jacob and Jordon behind.

Pray for health and protection. I have no desires to be sick this trip.

Thanks to all of you who  supported the Women's Project, bought jewelry or contributed to the yard sale. All the money raised I will be spending there this week. I made just enough. Would have like to have had a little more but God's in charge of that problem.

I'll try to keep you posted while I am there but the tournament is at night so I won't have access to the internet very often.

Please commit to seek God's face for the many lives I will be around. I'm expecting to give you a great report.

Thanks for everything and for your prayers.

Angie

My first Micro-Loan

Remember I told you in March my visit was to discuss how to start a tile business? Needless to say I had no idea what God had in store for me.

I arrived late to Somotillo, (an entire day) missed my very important meetings with a tile business owner and found myself feeling very overwhelmed and frustrated only to find out God had it already under control.

In December when I went to Ceibita unbeknown to me the men were trying to start a business on their own. The trouble in Nicaragua is no one has any money to start anything. 12 men in Ceibita had been saving and saving every penny they had for a while trying to better themselves. They unfortunately had to go to a "Loan Shark" and borrow money to get this business started. This is where I come in.

I arrived sick as a dog to my meeting with the men and found they had done their homework. They had approached 6 organizations in Managua already and been turned down by all of them. They were trying hard not to come to me since they felt I had already done so much for them already. They had put together a business proposal and a plan that would allow them to succeed. Here I was right smack in the middle of a major business meeting and I could barely hold up my head to look at them. They were so gracious with me. Did I mention at 8:30 that morning it was already 110 degrees. Ended up being the hottest day ever recorded in Somotillo.... I was not sure why in the world God had me there, sick, tired, hot and frustrated trying to listen to these men but I knew he was up to something.

Well long story short, today I look back at that meeting and realize if I had not been sick I would have most likely ran the meeting as I normally would have an would not have gotten to see men who had never spoke in front of a crowd ever before must less present a business plan shine like no other. It was great. I could not talk much because my throat was hurting and my head was pounding and I felt like I was going to pass out every 10 minutes but God gave me strength that day and he gave it to those 12 men also. They were so worried, they had studied every part of the plan in case I ask a question. It was great. They desired it so bad and they showed it with their wiliness to get out of their comfort zone.

I promised them nothing more than I would be willing to ask on their behalf to anyone and everyone that would listen but it would be up them to pray and seek God and ask him to send someone my way. They were hoping I would make this happen soon and I again told them it was in God's hands and up to them to ask for me. I was told even though they are not Christians and do not go to church they met every week to pray with the Pastor over their business.. Sounds like God is up to something here.

The proposal required me to raise $2580. This would be $215 per person (12 men). They would then take this money and purchase the much needed equipment and instead of paying off the "Loan Shark" at 20% interest they would pay me back with no interest and for a longer period of time giving them more money in their pockets each month and they would be able to make more tile because they could take 12 small businesses and make it one large factory.

I came home and wrote a business proposal for the men and sent it to a man I know in SC. He then proposed it to another person who has agreed to make this dream come true for the families in Ceibita. I wired the money two weeks ago and the men are shouting so loud I could hear them here.. They are so excited and are working hard.

It all seems well and has a good plan now it is up to the men to pay it back and make their business successful.

Here is the best part of this. Every month on the day they have to pay the loan back they have agreed to attend church. They are not going to church at all right now, only the women. Only one of them is a Christian and only one of them attend any church related function or meeting. I am trusting God this is the avenue to the hearts of these men. What a door God has opened for them! This gives me a chance to show them how much God really loves them. I can't wait until July to talk to them. They will have to listen to me that day.. :)

Here are photos of our meeting and photos of the tile factory. Please pray for these men, pray they will see Jesus through this and know their source is God not a "Loan Shark" or me.

I had to spend an additional $207 to make this happen which was not planned for so if anyone feels led to sew into this project to cover the remaining $207 it would be greatly appreciated. I know God has this taken care of so pray about it and if its us just let me know. This will change over 100 peoples lives. This community will become the most popular place to live in Somotillo very soon.

Click here to see the photos

God Bless,

Angie

The Power of One Ministry 198 Mellwood Drive Charlotte, NC 28214

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This is a picture of one of the ovens and some of the finished tiles.

Things going on...

Well its June already, half the year is almost here already. Time is flying by. I have been extremely busy trying to work as much as I can to raise money for my family and I to go to Nicaragua this July. God has blessed me with extra work for this purpose, now we need extra work for our business. Please keep that in prayer.

I had a yard sale two weeks ago and due to the rain and other issues it didn't go so well so I'll pulling everything out and having it again this weekend. Send people my way. I have tons of different things to choose from.

I have also had another jewelry party and although it went well I have a lot left over that I am hoping to sell at the flea market. Please pray I get a good booth there and lots of people buy....

There are a few things I am in need of for this trip I would like to share with you. If you have any of these or know where I can get them for a donation let me know.

1. Baseballs - I need new or used ones. I have been asked for them for the last two trips so I hope I can take some this round. Please share with others you know who are playing sports and see if they have any laying around. I hope to take at least 20 or more. They cost like $20 for 12 at Walmart and those are the cheap ones.

2. Old Laptop - The police department who protects me when I am in Nicaragua is asking me to help bring their office into the 21st century. They do everything on pencil and paper. If you have one laying around that is older and just collecting dust I would love to have it to see if it would work. It needs to be able to run Windows XP at least. I need it as soon as possible in order to get it ready before we leave.

3. Baby Clothes - My friend will have her baby any day now and I want to bless her with any clothes I can. She is one of the poorest people I personally know in Nicaragua and I am hoping to bless her in a way that shows her how much God loves her. I need infant clothes more than anything to fit a boy or girl. Onesies, shorts, tshirts and things along that line would be great.

4. Storage Building - does anyone know one of the local storage building owners? I need a storage building that I can use for free. I can't justify $30 or 40 a month for one to hold stuff for Nicaragua when that money could feed someone. I am hoping to find someone who has connections to one of the owners of a storage company.

5. Bunk Beds- do you know anyone who needs a set of beds? I have a nice set on Craigslist for sell. They are in great shape. Check them out or send this link to any of your friends.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/bab/1778218479.html

6. Prayer Prayer and more Prayer - please pray for my family as we start another trip to Nicaragua. Logan, Terry and I will be going leaving Jacob and Jordon behind. Please pray for my team members Leigh, and Gwen and their families as we prepare to be unified as a team and plan how we will minister to the people of Nicaragua.

Well that's all for now, don't want this email to be a book.

Thanks for everything so far and all your prayers.

Angie

Reminders...

This is just a reminder the deadline for the Nicaragua Women's Project is this weekend. If you had planned on sponsoring a women please send in your $6 payment or donate online as soon as you can.

Also reminding you of my jewelry party on May 1st for those of you who live locally. It's from 3 to 5 at East Belmont Church of God in Belmont.

Please try to come, I've got some great pieces of jewelry made with lots of hard work, love and prayer. I am not having a good response so far so please come if you can even if it is just for a few minutes.

Also several of you have told me you are not getting these emails on a regular basis and I am sending them out pretty often. Please hit reply to this message and let me know you got it so I can test the system and determine what might be going on.

You can also send me a word of encouragement if you would like. It's hard being me..

Thanks,

Angie