It’s that time again to write to your sponsored student at Colegio Cristiano Havilah. You may already be keeping in regular contact with your student. If so, that is great. If not, we would like to encourage you to send your student a note to encourage them. This can be done very easily by using the form found on the website.

Simply follow this link http://unidosnicaragua.org/sponsor-a-student/write-to-your-student/

We will be translating and sending down all of the messages we receive on “    “. So please have your message sent no later than “    “.

These letters mean a great deal to the students. Your student will love to know about your life and about what is happening in the world around you. We will be sending letters back from you students as well. So ask questions about your students. The would love to fill you in.

Please let your student know how much they mean to you today!

My name is Lillian Rodriguez Flores. I am 5 years old, living in the United States because of one man’s decision to follow God’s calling to serve His people in Nicaragua. I call this man, Papa Lee. He came to Nicaragua in June of 2005 to work with the first construction team from Northshore Baptist Church, establishing a school in Los Cedros with Eben Ezer Church pastured by Pastor Manuel and his wife Pastora. Little did he know God’s larger plan as he served in Nicaragua, was to care for me. I was 18 months old living on the outskirts of the Managua dump and malnourished when Melisa Buzbee agreed to take me to her home by the request of my Mother, to nourish me back to health. During my stay at Melissa’s home I was provided care and nourishment and spent time with the team of men from Northshore Baptist Church, one of which was Papa Lee.

God has had His hands all over me, taking care of my every need. I received much care from the Buzbee family, spending time living with my parents, in an orphanage, and in the Buzbee’s Open Hearts Ministry’s rescue home called, Casa Havilah. I spent time with Papa Lee’s family when they traveled to Nicaragua on many occasions and during the time they were living here. None of us knew at that time exactly what God’s plan was, we just cherished our time together. While my life hasn’t always been easy, I know God has paved the way for me to be where I am today. Many have prayed over and for me and I give thanks to all of them.

Papa Lee and Mama Becky built a relationship of trust with my parents who agreed to give them legal guardianship of me in the hopes of educating me in the United States. This task seemed impossible to us as the U.S. embassy doesn’t usually grant this type of visa. Of course God can open any door, and He did. By the Grace of God, the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua agreed to grant me a student visa so I could live here with my new family, the Lockridge’s. I know that this new life I have been granted is one that many children in Nicaragua will never know. I am fortunate for God’s Love and all that He has in store for me. I enjoy having my own bedroom, consistent meals, a school that accepted me, for Ms. Elyse, my speech pathologist and the many who pray for me daily. I know this is an opportunity for me to learn and grow into the women God has intended me to be.

I pray for the many people God is calling into the Mission field and that those called will follow, receiving all the Blessings God has for them. This may be you, if so, think of what you can do, spreading God’s love throughout the world, if only you will submit to Him and go where He calls you. You too can make a difference!

I Love you, Papa Lee, Mama Becky, Jeremy, Kashara, Zach and Sadie. My family forever!

-Lillian

and Nancy on discipline. Each one of their talks resonated with different cultural issues – so much so, the next day Pastora, the school director, informed us of the town chatter. Charise shared how she gave up coca-cola in order to save money – and the women were chattering about what that could mean for their lives.
The conference lasted from Thursday night till Saturday. Through testimonies, crafts, and extensive times in prayer – we saw the move of the Holy Spirit as he softened hearts towards Jesus Christ and the conference grew in numbers daily. Judy Hystad and Bianca Simineaux shared powerful testimonies, followed up by prayer ministry. Loretta Trainor led crafts and each lady creatively enjoyed make something new. Patrice, and Charise were our ‘Joy Bag’ ladies and brought the Nicaraguan women to laughter. Linda Wright and Katie Higgins and many others took care of the children and loved each one of them with a Jesus tenderness.
A woman named Maria Virginia gave me her best dress as an offering of gratitude and shared how Jesus spoke to her about her value and significance in Him rather than in what men think of her. The next day, I wore her dress with pride and she smiled at me with tears in her eyes.
The final day was the culmination of everything when the ladies shopped free of charge through a Northshore sponsored boutique and “bought” clothes, and purses. We laughed in delight as we watched Nicaraguans come out with Coach bags, and silk scarves.
At the end of the conference the Los Cedros women lined up to give Northshore an offerning. In the midst of their own poverty they thanked us for our presence in their community. We were humbled as we watched the poorest people we know give with such nobility.
Katie Day and Kerri Fredrickson led the Northshore women’s team into a new place, both physically and spiritually – and we are so thankful.

Luisa soon proved to be a very entrepreneurial, and we began working with her to sell clothing for the community. Every time that a team came to Nicaragua they brought bags of clothes that had been donated. From the profits a portion went to her and other portion went to support the school feeding program.

During that time Luisa and her husband German where taking some business classes at Eben Ezer church; after the class the teacher told us that she was a very smart business women and had some great ideas. Within a short period of time Luisa had developed a business plan for a “pulperia” (small convenience store) and presented it to us for consideration.

UNIDOS had been working to start a micro-finance fund, and through this process Luisa became our first borrower. Today Luisa is faithfully paying back her loan and running the successful pulperia. She knows very well that her repayment is helping enable other loans for people in her community. She still cooks for our teams and remains a very loving and welcoming person.

Six years ago Tony was a 9 year old boy that walked through the streets of Los Cedros way after all the other kids had gone to bed. He carried with him a machete and if you would ask him why, Tony would say just in case the “bad guys want to do something to me”. That year Tony was invited to join the school and we are so proud that he is one the “original” students that is going to finish his primary education.

A few months ago we noticed that Tony was developing a cloud over his right eye and we asked him what happened. Tony told us that about two years ago he was hit in the eye with a sling shot and he couldn’t see through the eye very well. We became really concerned about his situation and contacted a local eye doctor to take a look at him, who said that Tony had a detached retina from the impact and had developed a cataract from the trauma.

There wasn’t much that could be done with the detached retina, but through the generous gift from his sponsor in the US Tony had the cataract removed from his eye. Today Tony has recovered partial vision in that eye, and avoided further complications that would have come. He looks very good and he is leading a very normal life. Tony is a sports lover, he plays soccer, baseball and like any 15 year old he is very concerned about how he looks. Because of the surgery Tony is no longer self conscious of his eye.

We will miss Tony at the school next year but we pray that he will continue to grow to be a great man of God and a leader in his community.

Thanks,

Team UNIDOS

People began to gather around 4:15pm, and the ceremony started at 4:45pm. The Pardos, David Bustamante, Pastora, Ronn Wilson, and the teachers sat at the tables of honor in front. The ceremony began with a procession of the graduates, first the preschoolers and then the sixth graders. Each child and their escort were announced, whether mother, father, grandparent, or orphanage worker. The parents then sat on the let and the kids on the right.

It was a beautiful ceremony. The children were called up to receive graduation gifts. Preschool boys received “Cars” gift items, the preschool girls “Hello Kitty” goodie bags, the sixth grade girls received journals and gel pens, and the boys a soccer ball and bag. The sixth graders also received a framed photo of themselves that Hilario took on the field trip to Leon. The program included a few folkloric dances by the 4th and 5th grade girls, “Jesus Me Ama” (Jesus loved me) by the preschoolers. Speakers included Ronn Wilson on behalf of the sponsors from Northshore, Hilario, and a thank you from the sixth graders to Ronn in English and Spanish.

The graduates were all then called up again, and joined by their escort, to receive their diplomas. The program ended with a great slide show put together by Mary Frances (Northshore yearly missionary) depicting major events throughout the school year. The teachers passed out cake and drinks for all to enjoy.

At the end of the program, the lights were turned off and everyone gathered facing the field to watch a spectacular firework show sponsored by Phil and Rachel Goodman. Ryan L. and Brinson Buzbee had the honors of putting it together, and they did a great job. All were amazed!

-Nancy Gibson