Getting Ready to Go...

We're two days away now from heading to Nic and there is so many things going on. God must have great plans for us when we get there because the devil is working overtime to discourage me. He should learn by now that his tactics don't work with me.

We have had our rental car reservation get cancelled and it will now cost double each day, we've had the dad push back on allowing us to see the girls the full weekend and we have had unexpected expenses come up everywhere.

I'd say that was a good indicator of great things to come.

During my quite time with the Lord a couple of days ago God just dump a new project in my head. He is so good at piling my head full of ideas.

I would like to pursue having a type of Upwards Soccer Camp in Somotillo or another village. I have had several people approach me about wanting to help with any sports ministry I will have coming up and then out of no where God lays this on me.

I contacted Upwards today and discussed what they have to offer and it was not as I expected but it can be workable.

I already have a youth soccer team of 22 teens there and what better way to have discipleship go on after we leave but to have them involved. I plan on sitting the pastor down and the team and discussing having a camp this summer. Just imagine having a room full of kids and parents all at once and telling them about Jesus. What an easy way to bless them with fun and the Lord.

Pray that God will direct my paths and show me what location and direction to go in.

As I mentioned I am going back to the village of Coffradia to discuss the garden project and it's success. I hope to learn more about how things went during the process. Pray I get a good response from the families that participated. It's hard to get them together all at one time.

Here is the projected schedule so you will know each day how to pray.

Friday - Sunday - visit with the girls. If we dont' get the girls until Saturday we will be visiting a new location on Friday.

Monday - we will travel to Somotillo and stop along the way to minister to Oscar's mom who is in prison. Continue to pray for her release. She was found guilty of selling drugs but her husband was the one that was doing all the selling. She was not even in town when he got arrested but she was taken anyway and found guilty. Her husband has since been released. His family paid his way out. Her family has no money to do so.

Tuesday - Wednesday - we will arrange meetings with different people in Somotillo. The village of Coffradia, the pastors I have been working with and the soccer team.

Wednesday - travel the 3 1/2 hours back to Managua.

Thursday - visit another area and another ministry that I am interested in finding more about and leave that night for the flight home, arriving the next day at mid-afternoon. We will be flying from 12:00 midnight until 12:00 noon.

Thank you for the continued prayer for this trip. There are a lot of wonderful things going on and the angels have gone before me to make the path straight.

God has blessed me with almost all that will be needed for this trip. I am still around $500 short. There have been several people who have mentioned they are sending money in or have sent it so maybe that number will change by Wednesday. Thanks to all that have been able to help. God will multiply your giving. He will bless you more than you can imagine. If you can still help but it won't make it by Wednesday, email me and let me know the amount that way I can account for it. I just don't want to have a ministry need and not be able to bless someone.

Without prayer folks we can run up against many oppositions as I have already. Will you commit to praying for us daily? I have been praying for some friends of mine specifically and to remember I made an agreement that every time I ate something I would lift them up. Will you do the same for us? If you pray nothing more than Lord give them favor, that will be sufficient.

God Bless all of you and I can't wait to come back with great stories of what God did on our trip.

Angie

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

I have had many of you ask what is going on with Jacob and what happen with calling the dad. Here's the latest.

Jacob is doing great. He came through the surgery with flying colors. His doctor is Dr. Parsons from Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat. He is great. He is a christian man. How do I now you ask? Well he floored me just before taking Jacob back. Out of no where he said to us, "Let's pray over Jacob before he goes back". Before I knew it he was leading us in a healing, protection prayer. I am still amazed. I have never had a doctor act like him. He didn't even give me a chance to say no. That's a true man of God. Can you imagine the lives he is affecting by his prayers over these children? What boldness he had.

The prayers of the doctor and you are working because Jacob is acting like he never even had surgery. He has a little soar throat but that's all.

Thank you so much for agreeing with us for his healing. God listened, and answered.

As for Isamar's dad. We called him as planned and he was very hesitant in responding to our request. We asked to have the girls over the weekend since they were out of school. He kept saying they had homework and house chores to do. After more discussion he agreed to let us have them on Saturday at 2:00.

I am trying not to be pushy with this man but he is pushing my patience. I am trying to be grateful for the fact that I can even see them but it's hard. Of course, I want to see them every minute I am in Nicaragua but obviously he does not agree with me.

Please continue to pray for this situation. I am not sure how much my heart can take if he changes his mind.

Also, continue to pray for the rest of our trip. I can't wait to visit Coffradia and talk to the families that participated in the garden project and see the family that got the new house.

We are continuing to trust the Lord to  provide the much needed finances for this trip. Since the last time I posted we have had many unexpected expenses arrive. The enemy is of course trying hard to discourage me with changing our plans and adding those expenses but I am standing strong that God is in control of this trip. He is my pilot and He will be the one to direct my paths, not the enemy.

Thanks to those who are supporting us with the finances and prayers. You are a part of this trip even if you aren't going with us. Without people like you the work of the Lord that needs to be done all over the world would not happen. You are precious in His sight.

Your prayers are what will make this trip successful so please continue to lift Terry, the boys, and myself up in prayer. Today, tomorrow and all week long.

Let's watch God show off together...

God Bless,

Angie

Accomplishments from July 2007 - Dec 2008

I thought it would be appropriate to let you guys know just what God has done through me this past year. I am starting in July since that's when God opened the door for me to go multiple times. I have provided links to the pictures of each project if you haven't had a chance to view the pictures. July 07 Took at team 6 to Nicaragua Feed 260 families beans, rice, corn, sugar and oil Distributed 2,000+ toys, toothbrushes, toothpaste Put shoes on 2,000 pairs of feet Handed out over 500+ other items like tote bags, baseball hats, fingernail polish, brushes, combs, fingernail clippers, soap, wash cloths etc. Played with over 1,000+ kids Repaired 25 homes with new roofs and coverings Ministered to 3 churches with drama, puppets, music and story telling. Shared the Gospel and showed God's love with several 1,000 people

August - 07 Started a Greeting Card business for the village of Torres - 36 families made home made greeting cards and I sold them here in the US for $10 per pack. Each family made 5 packs.

October - 07 Provided the 36 families each with $48 per family. This was at least 1/2 years to a years wages for most of these families. Officially started the adoption process for Carmen and Isamar Collected over 20,000 pieces of clothing, shoes, etc. for Hurricane Felix Relief and shipped it to Nicaragua Did the card project again and each family made another $30 each. This gave each family a $78 profit which was now a whole years salary or more.

December 07 Distributed 1800+ backpacks, school supplies and hygiene products through Ministries of His Glory to 9 villages.

January 08 Hired a translator to work for me full time to help me with the adoption and with other needs. Provided a way for him to continue to attend college

March 08 Finished adoption paperwork and turned it into Mi Familia. While I was there I researched areas that I could continue working in Somotillo. Provided all the girls at the House of Rose with new Easter Dresses and shoes and miscellaneous items like hair brushes, etc. April 08 Purchased soccer uniforms for 20 soccer players in Somotillo. Ministered to many families with different things like helping with their house, building supplies, tools, etc. Ministered at the House of Rose Orphanage - provided toys, coloring books, etc.

June 08 Took a team of  7 to Nicaragua Ministered in two new villages Feed 200+ families with beans, corn, sugar, rice and oil Distributed 1800+ pairs of shoes Distributed 1800+ toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, gospel tracts Played with 100+ kids Provided full uniforms, cleats, balls, bats, score books, and other equipment to my baseball team in Somotillo Ministered to House of Rose Orphanage with new fleece blankets

July 08 Raised money for a garden project in Coffradia Purchased irrigation systems Purchased seeds Fixed the bedroom for Oscar to come home from the hospital to - tiled the ceiling, bought an air conditioner, hired men to put on a door and seal the room from dust and dirt.

August 08 Went to Nicaragua and purchased shovels, hoes, additional seeds, other materials need to start the gardens like lime etc. for 36 families. Hired a teacher to teach the families how to grow their own food Built a house for an elderly family from funds donated by a wonderful family her in NC

There are many other things that took place this year but this article would be too long for any one to read if I listed them all.

I am amazed at the things God did this past year and half. I look back now and even I can't believe they happen. Why me? Why did God use  me to fulfill his work for these people? Why not, he tells me. You are willing and able and that's all it takes.

Some of these accomplishment could not have been done without the prayers and financial support of those reading this.

You should know that I have no other ongoing funding from anywhere. No church supports me finacially, no organizations support me. God provided the way this past year through the income from our second business and the financial support you have provided. I am so grateful for all of you reading this blog. You are the only ones I have as support right now and I pray that God returns every dollar back to you 100 fold and answers every prayer you have exceedingly, abundantly more than you even ask for. 

As you know we are in a business that is not a priority during this recession. People don't have to have pictures. Our photography business has been hit hard and our second business has gone from doing very well to almost non-existent.

In order to continue working for the Lord in Nicaragua I will have to have access to finances other than my own.

I need your help to do that. Here are suggestions on how you can help me raise more support.

1. Commit to praying faithfully for this ministry to grow and be provided all it needs. 2.Are you in a Sunday School Class? A Women's Group? A Homeschool Group? - do a fundraiser once or twice a year and donate that money to missions. Ask them if I can come and speak to them about missions. 3. A yard sale, a bake sale, a spaghetti dinner 4. Take up a weekly offering in your class. Do you know that $10 a month is $120 a year and can provide a new roof for a house that is full of holes or it can buy 240 pairs of new shoes... 5. Go to your pastor and ask if they would be willing to meet with me and partner with me for support. It can be only  agreeing  to do a yard sale in the summer or they will take one offering a year. Anything is better than nothing. 6. Collect change - Have a designated jar for change for Missions in your house and get all your kids involved. What a great lesson for them to learn each time they put money in that jar. 7.Youth Car Wash -get your youth pastor involved and get the teens to do something positive on a Saturday. 8. Give up Pizza one time this month - $20 will go a long way in Nicaragua 9. Make a committment to give something toward sharing the Gospel. 10.Due it.. During these times is when missionaries are hurt the most. People have a hard time giving, even if it's just a little.

There are so many ways we all can do something for the kingdom of God. Most are already in some form or fashion and that's great. Please continue.  Regardless if you support what I am doing or you support someone else, just do it..It takes a lot of money to go on trips and bless families. It's a very costly endeavor but together if we all do our part there is enough to go around.

Please consider helping me with this months' trip. There are still a huge need and as always I am trusting God to provide. No amount is too small. Remember it's a group effort and a little plus a little adds up to a lot.

Thank you for your continued support and I know God will bless you more than you can imagine for your obedience.

God Bless,

Angie

His work continues...

It's that time again to continue my work in Nicaragua. We are heading down at the end of February to continue the work that was started in August. The garden project was very successful based on what I was told but I need to see it and hear the comments myself from the families so the only way to do that and plan for a future project is to go there.

Going there also means I will be in the same city with my girls. Will I get to see them? We are not sure but are believing God that the man that has them will have compassion toward us and give us some time with them.

In order to go on this trip we need your prayers. The economy has made things hard for our business this past quarter and now which has caused our finances to be less than desired.

Just yesterday I had no idea how I was going to get here and this morning God showed up and I found an amazing price on the airline ticket. He is working already on my behalf but there is much more to come.

All last year I went to Nicaragua 8 times and did not ask for support from anyone but this trip I have no other choice.

Times are really hard for all of us and I understand as much as anyone so I ask if each of you reading this would pray and ask God if it is his will for you to support this trip and the work the Lord has for me to do.

My plans for this trip include researching other places that need to hear God's word, other villages that need to learn to grow their own food and provide for themselves and hopefully meeting the people with another ministry who are looking for a team to come this summer to help with an orphanage.

I know God has plans for great things to happen this year but in order to do them I need support especially prayer support. Please join with me in praying that all that is need for this trip will come forth.

I have planned a budget for this trip and because of the airfare discount I will only need to raise about $1500 total for me and Terry. Normally a trip to Nicaragua is $1100 - $1200 a piece. So you can see that God is already doing his thing to help us get there.

Without your prayers none of what I do is possible. Please pray specifically for the following:

Finances to come in by February 20th Connections with the right people Wisdom about future projects Open doors with the new ministry Opportunity to visit with the girls Lives to be changed Peace in my heart as I return to where the orphanage is but none of my kids are there Safety and protection as we travel Safety and protection for my boys that we will leave behind

I could not have done all that I have thus far without the prayers of my friends. I appreciate them more than you can know and I know together we can move mountains in order to meet the needs of this trip.

If you feel led to be a part of this trip financially (remember no amount is too small or too big) please mail your check to  this address by February 20th:

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

Will you partner with me to make a difference in the Kingdom of God?

I am praying for you as I know you are praying for us.

Angie & Terry

Happy Birthday Oscar...

Today is little Oscar's 8th birthday. I am very surprised he has made it to see it to be honest.

I have been checking on him since the last time I was there and he is getting worse.

In October when we were there he was in the hospital with pneumonia from going swimming and while he was in the hospital his dialysis tube got infected so he had to have a surgery to take it out and put it back in again.

Last week he got to go home after 20 days.

Today, sadly we called only to find out he is back in the hospital with pneumonia again. This time they just feel it was from the damp weather they are having.

He loves grapes and apples so I sent him some by my friend in hopes to brighten his day.

Please pray for his weak little body. He is hanging on for dear life and today is a sad day for him since he can't talk to his mom because she is still in jail. It's his first holiday without her.

It is sad to know that this innocent little boy is dealing with so many adults issues. Pray he has peace and comfort through it all.

Additionally, please pray for the aunt that is taking care of him. Her name is Evelyn. She was going to college and quit to take care of him. She has no income and has to stay at the hospital day in and day out with very little to eat if any.

Thanks for lifting him up to the Lord.

Angie

This picture is on Oscar's bed. It was taken the first day I met him. I gave it to them the next time I saw them and now it has been enlarged and put on a piece of wood. He keeps it by his bed. The woman in the middle is him mom Francisco. He tells me that was the first day he met his best friend. It makes me cry every time I see it.