First they ministered to women from Nueva Imagen, a ministry that works to see women who are working on the streets transformed by Jesus Christ and equipped with new skills and abilities.. The women from Nueva Imagen and the Seacoast team shared testimonies of God’s grace and transforming power and encouraged each other. Then, Constance shared about shame and contempt that comes as a result of sexual abuse since the majority of the women have a history of sexual abuse and/or rape. Many women expressed afterward that they could relate and had those same reactions/experiences. Other things that was on God’s agenda that we didn’t know about was a baby dedication and one of the women’s daughters, Reynita accepted Christ into her heart and was baptized. This little girl has been coming to the program every week for a year and we’ve been able to see God working in her heart, her child like faith. So to see her make a profession faith filled us with so much thankfulness and joy.

The next day they taught the women how to make a special kind of jewelry. Chris and Linda who are supporters and leaders of our link team had the idea and made it all happen! Seacoast paid for the materials, lots of materials! I was blown away by how Seacoast and Seacoasters invested into these women’s lives in a way that will help make their future better by giving them a new skill and a means to make money. The women have already made about 25 pairs of earrings that will be for sale while we’re in the U.S.  We are still learning for sure and I can’t wait to see Linda and Chris to ask them how to make certain styles that we can’t master yet.

Next, the Seacoast team had a retreat for pastor’s wives from Villa El Carmen, Rivas, and Managua. They pampered them, played games, worship, and testimonies. One of my favorite times was when we split into groups to talk about different struggles, victories, and prayer requests. I loved seeing the pastor’s wives relaxed, open up, and put their wall down which is something they aren’t able to do since they have to be “the pastor’s wife” who is supposed to have it all together and not have any weaknesses. In my opinion the 2 most important results of the retreat was to give them a safe place to share, laugh, and cry and to encourage them and show them that they can meet together to share experiences and prayer requests after the retreat. At the end when they were all sharing they said that the team made them feel like queens. Mission accomplished!!

On a personal note, I was blessed more than I could’ve imagined with all of the girl time. I laughed so hard until my stomach hurt and was so encouraged by them. Thank you Maria, Jill, Chris, Libby, Mari, Angela, and Constance. You were such a blessing to many women including us!

Thank you for reading –- and thank you for supporting the ministry! Que Dios le bendiga.

[Note: If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter via email, please email me to let me know.]

Are we friends again?

Okay, good!  Now here’s a run-down of all of the latest news from the Babcock household:

• As you know, August wrapped up our summer tsunami of short-term mission teams. Between us, Amber and I served with three mission teams in July and August (Amber with two medical teams, me with one of the medical teams and one you team). You can read all about these short-term teams in our last “Field Notes” newsletter.
• September was supposed to be a recovery month, but it turned out to be just as busy as the summer slam! My aunt (Dawn) and uncle (Keith) called us to let us know that they were flying to China to adopt their new daughter (Sarah). The news was not unexpected, but sudden (the Chinese government sent word that Sarah was ready and that they should come and get her…now!). They were in a bind to find someone to watch their three boys (ages 13, 11, and 9) for the two weeks while they were away. We decided it would be good practice for us; we hopped on a plane and flew to Northwest Florida! For two weeks we were acting mom and dad…and teachers (they home school)…and chauffeurs (to piano lessons, soccer, and football).  And we were honored to be the welcoming committee when Keith, Dawn, and Sarah arrived!
• During and after our two weeks in Florida, Amber worked diligently on researching and applying for grants for the Nueva Imagen ministry.  She’s been doing an incredible job — along with Hellen Castro — at caring for the women and working on their behalf. The goal is to see that all of the women in the Nueva Imagen program have the resources they need to leave “the life” and become self-sufficient, fully devoted followers of Christ. We’re praying and believing that God will provide for the needs of the women and for Hellen as she serves in the ministry full-time.
• Last week the CFCI-Nicaragua team participated in two days of 2009 evaluating and 2010 planning. It was a productive time of looking back at what God accomplished — through us and in spite of us! — and looking forward to mission teams and ministry opportunities in the upcoming year.
• This weekend we will be serving in a national medical outreach in a rural area of Nicaragua. While I’ve been on numerous medical mission teams, this will be my first national outreach. I’m looking forward to working in the pharmacy and seeing patients get the medicine they need. Please join us in praying for a fruitful outreach, with many Nicaraguans receiving medical attention and hearing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Now you’re caught up!  I promise to be more diligent in posting blog updates; be on the look-out for October’s e-newsletter, coming up in the next couple of weeks. As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Que Dios les bendiga.

Upcoming: trips to Florida in September, the Carolinas and Tennessee in November; Nueva Imagen/Seacoast Women’s Mission Team in October.

Read about the mission team trio in July and August, plus what’s on the horizon for us this fall in this edition of Field Notes.

Thank you for reading –- and thank you for supporting the ministry! Que Dios le bendiga.

[Note: If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter via email, please email me to let me know.]

• Day 1 - Monday, July 27 - The team arrives. Tip Top for dinner. Nicaragua’s fast food chicken place is a hit. (It always is!)
• Day 2 - Tuesday, July 28 - Orientation to Nica culture, quick tour of Managua, 2-hour bus ride to Rivas to meet our host families from La Iglesia Lluvias de Gracia.
• Day 3 - Wednesday, July 29 - VBS for an orphanage across the street from Lluvias de Gracia. The kids have a blast. We do too. Soccer night w/ the youth group. Fun day!!!
• Day 4 - Thursday, July 30 - Singing and visiting w/ the sweet folks at a nursing home. Training workshop for youth group leaders. Nica+Chele worship service = amazing.
• Day 5 - Friday, July 31 - Host families treat us to a San Juan Del Sur beach day. We say our goodbyes and head to a weekend youth retreat on the shores of Lake Nica.
• Day 6 - Saturday, August 1 - Sleep? Who needs sleep?! Operating on adrenaline, the Holy Spirit, & fumes, we sing, praise, play, and laugh all day & night w/ 38 campers.
• Day 7 - Sunday, August 2 - We close the camp w/ a rousing “Mega Relay Race”. Great connections, friendships formed during the weekend. We’re off to Ometepe Island.
• Day 8 - Monday, August 3 - “Debrief Day” on Ometepe. Re-lax-a-tion. Some ride horses. Some nap in hammocks. I opt for reading/floating on the lake. Back to Managua.
• Day 9 - Tuesday, August 4 - After a nice farewell dinner, sharing time, and all-night games for *some* team members (not me!), we’re off to the airport at 5 a.m.!

I hope this gives you a nice snapshot of the mission trip! If you’re a member of the Seacoast team, the Lluvias de Gracia host families, or the youth retreat campers and would like to share your thoughts on the week in 140 characters or less, please comment here!

Amber will be with the medical and construction mission team from Grace Church. They will serve in the village of El Apante, near Villa El Carmen, Nicaragua. The team will serve the community, along with a partner church from El Apante, doing medical clinics and construction projects. The Grace team arrives today.

I will be with a youth team from Seacoast Church. We will be serving in Rivas, Nicaragua, doing a variety of outreaches and activities for kids, teenagers, and the elderly — quite a range of ages! We will stay with host families from the Lluvias de Gracia (Rains of Grace) church in Rivas. Then, next weekend we will host a youth retreat for 35 area teens on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. The Seacoasters arrive Monday night.

Finally, the Seacoast medical team will follow closely on the heels of the Grace medical and Seacoast youth teams. Amber and I will be serving with that team together, beginning August 8. We will serve at another church in Rivas, doing medical clinics all week, plus a one-day clinic in the Los Torres neighborhood of Managua.

As you can see, it really is a short-term missions tsunami!

Obviously, Amber and I will be offline for the next couple of weeks. We’ll update you with stories and pictures from all of the teams when we return. Until time allows us to get back online to share our experiences with you, please be in prayer for us, the three teams, the host church volunteers, and the people we’re going to be ministering to.

Que Dios les bendiga!

Every year on July 19, hundreds of people from all over the country gather at Plaza La Fe (also known as Plaza de la Revolución) in Managua to commemorate a historical and inspiring event: the fall of the militarized Somaza family dictatorship. This family ruled the country in a harsh and unscrupulous way for more than four decades. The dynasty was overthrown after the National Sandinista Revolution, which took place when people from all sectors – workers, businessmen, peasants, students, and guerrillas – joined forces and finally defeated the Somoza dynasty and the National Guard on July 19, 1979.

This year’s celebration promises to be especially grandiose since it is number 30, plus the first major anniversary since Daniel Ortega’s election to the presidency in 2007. Parties are planned for Saturday night, all day Sunday and in to Monday (which is a federal holiday). Think of this weekend as Nicaragua’s 4th of July…with a lot more fireworks!

For personal reasons (my disdain for traffic), not for political ones (which you can probably figure out), we will be staying far away from Central Managua this weekend. But if we see anything particularly interesting on the news or online, we’ll be sure to post some stories, links, and pictures.

Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!

Amber and I are going to enjoy our Saturday chillaxing at Laguna de Apoyo, a beautiful crater lake in Nicaragua. (We’ll snap some pictures for you.) We hope your 4th of July weekend is just as fun and relaxing. Shoot some fireworks for us!

Thank you for reading –- and thank you for supporting the ministry! Que Dios le bendiga.

[Note: If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter via email, please email me to let me know.]

• Day 1 - Sunday, June 7 - The team arrives from Charleston. Carey and I pick them up at the airport in our big, white school bus. They’re impressed. Domino’s pizza.
• Day 2 - Monday, June 8 - We discuss Nica culture, tour Managua, go to Villa El Carmen to meet our Nica fams. @chrisrus is bitten by his family’s dog w/in minutes!
• Day 3 -Tuesday, June 9 - We’re relieved to see that @chrisrus hasn’t transformed into a werewolf. Soccer & games w/ local teenagers & kids. A rockin’ church service.
• Day 4 - Wednesday, June 10 - Door-to-door evangelism & prayer in the community. VBS for 100 Nica kids. Spontaneous water balloon fight & piñata riot. Everyone survives.
• Day 5 - Thursday, June 11 - Swimming at the local watering hole w/ our Nica families. A second rockin’ church service. Sadness about leaving our families the next day.
• Day 6 - Friday, June 12 - “Hasta luego, Villa El Carmen!” HUGE soccer outreach at a Managua university in 100-degree heat. A cold shower has never felt so good.
• Day 7 - Saturday, June 13 - Another soccer outreach: juice, Gatorade, smiles, stories, testimonies for everyone! Great conclusion. Dessert w/ the @CFCI_Nicaragua staff.
• Day 8 - Sunday, June 14 - Debrief Day. Chillaxing on Laguna de Apoyo. Shopping and quesillo-tasting in Catarina. Trying to process a wonderful week in Nicaragua.
• Day 9 - Monday, June 15 - We load up our big, white school bus & head to the airport. It’s early. Very early. We all say goodbye & express our wishes to do it all again!

This doesn’t cover everything (actually, it’s only a snippet!), but I’m learning to practice what I preach to mission teams and others. That is, use the the Five B’s of Public Speaking…and Blogging: Be Brief, Baby, Be Brief! So to make a short story a little bit longer, I’ll just say that it was an amazing week. I’m grateful to the Seacoast team and all of the Nicaraguan families and volunteers who touched our hearts this week. Most of all, I’m thankful to God for all He’s doing in Nicaragua!

(To the eleven awesome team members from Seacoast, if you have any reflections from the week to share — in 140 characters or less! — please share!)