Nicaragua ILTI

Part II

The training has come to an end and we had thirteen participants "graduate" on Friday.  Before the certificate ceremony, we all got together and played a great game of baseball, the national sport here in Nicaragua.  It was a blast (but unfortunately I don't have any pictures b/c my battery died).  On the way home the next day, we sang songs together on the bus all the way to the capital (Tedd even had his guitar out!), and then we all said goodbye, though it was very difficult.  We became like family within a couple weeks, which makes perfect sense, because weare family in Christ, huh?  It's been a great 2 months here in Nicaragua and we hope to return in the future to encourage and do follow-up with our new (and old) dear friends who are doing literacy ministry in their beloved country.  

One of our participants, Marlene, had to leave at the beginning of the training because her son, Rene, had a fatal case of dengue.  We've been praying for him a lot, and if you could pray with us, I know it would be a blessing to Marlene!  Rene is still alive and has been improving, so we are just asking God to have His way, and to heal Rene as a miraculous testimony to the people living in their community.  She and another participant who came to the training (Josue) live in a part of Nicaragua where there is a strong evil presence because of witchcraft that is prevalent among the people.  Josue has an incredible testimony that I felt led to film so that others can hear - I hope to post it soon.  Please pray for Marlene and her son Rene.

Here are some pictures of the end of our trip:

We're now at the airport heading back to the United States of America! (a country that we are most fond of )  We'll be spending some time in Oreland (near Philadelphia) with Tedd's family and then heading to Arkansas.  We had a wonderful experience in Nica., but we're so excited to come home!

Nicaragua ILTI

Part I

We've completed the first week and 1/2 of the ILTI training here in San Marcos, Nicaragua and I am personally so touched by each of the participants.  When we first arrived, we were surprised to see so many youth that had come to be leaders.  Unlike any training I've attended before, I feel the Holy Spirit working in my heart for each of the youth and adults that are here participating -- I feel such a deep love for them!  Many of them have caught the vision of literacy as a ministry and even a few are feeling God's calling to do this ministry full-time in Nicaragua.  As we are isolated from our home towns and living together, eating together, working together, playing together, PRAYing together, we have already experienced the closeness and unity of the Body of Christ.   -- Em

Nicaragua has a special place in our hearts.  

Here are some photos from the training:

The first week of training has ended and it went really well!  

Above: these are some of the participants who completed the trainings.

The first two and a half days was the literacy training, followed by two and .half days of English Language Ministry training.  All of the participants are missionaries to Nicaragua who were adding "tools their tool-belts" to use in their ministries.

Above:

LEI's Don Edic came to Nicaragua to head up the English Ministry training with his updated curriculum "Building a Firm Foundation."

Don uses highly-interactive methods to help students jump right into useful English conversations.

The Nicaraguan ladies in this picture showed up as students, or English learners, to be our "guinea pigs."  They came to help all of us practice our English-teaching skills!

Above: the students showing off their newly-earned literacy certificates.  There were a few in particular who

 were very excited to take what they've learned and immediately apply it to their areas of ministry!

Below:  Sandra Arellanes, another LEI missionary from Mexico, also came to assist with the literacy training.  She will also be a teacher at the two-week training coming up.  She's good!

Above: I (Em) helped teach several parts of the literacy training and it was a really great experience for me.  Here we are demonstrating how to teach a basic literacy lesson.

I also had a little scare the night after the training ended.  I had severe vomiting and diarrhea to the point of dangerous dehydration.  Tedd took me to the hospital to get an emergency I.V.  Turns out I had parasites AND a bacterial infection...a combination that had me very ill.  I'm doing much better now - I'm already eating solid foods and my energy levels are almost back to normal, all thanks to God!  His overriding peace and His protection proved faithful through the suffering and I'm pretty sure I'll be back to normal in a few days.  Thank you for your prayers that cover us as we travel.

The second phase of our trip is approaching!  The training will start in a couple days.  Please pray that the participants will arrive safely and that they would have hearts prepared to catch the vision for literacy ministry in their country for the sake of the Gospel!