This week has been full of different ministries. Monday we started our Bible study on the book of Job. Pastor Garcia who is one of the pastors down here who led it for us did a great job because I learned some things about that book I never had thought about before. Our team has been giving timelines since we got to Nicaragua which are just brief run-throughs of our lives. It was a really tough thing for me to do Monday night but there's something about talking about how God has got you to where you are or where you are trying to get to that is very freeing. I was really nervous about it but it turned out to be a cool experience because right before I started talking, the verse 2 Cor. 12:9 popped in my head about God's grace being sufficient for us and it calmed my nerves so much to know that truth. That verse has really just been such an encouragement to me throughout this week.

Monday and Tuesday we began teaching English at Sisters of Charity orphanage and had a great time. At first I wasn't sure how it was going to go because of the language barrier but the girls I was working with were so willing to learn and be patient with my less than fluent SpanishJ . That has really been the best part of this week to me because I started thinking of how much I love to teach and how I hope I can use that a lot while I am here.

As of Wednesday I have been away from home for a month which is exciting to me because I feel like I have already experienced so much that I cant wait to see what the next eight months hold. We definitely celebrated the occasion by Caleb and Laura bringing home a cake from the donut store (kind of ironic)J . I cant believe how fast the weeks go by here. We are pretty busy so I'm sure that's why it feels like that but it still seems so crazy to me.

Wednesday our team went out to El Puente and picked up the trash that is all over the streets in those neighborhoods. At first it looked like there was no way to actually make a difference because there was so much but it turned out way better than I think most of us expected. People came out of their houses and watched us like we were absolutely crazy but after they stared for a while, some of their kids ran out and started helping us. The parents and others standing around were pretty taken aback but eventually they helped to. We are going to go back to that same street every week for one day and just pick up trash and maybe the people living there will see what we are doing as a good thing and start trying to make a change themselves. Its also a great way to get to know the people we are living near and invest in their lives.

One morning this week some of us got up at like 4:30 and went to the lake to watch the sunrise. It was so awesome. I think many times its easy to take the beauty of God's creation for granted. I took tons of pictures so those will be up! The craziest thing that happened this week was when we caught an iguana at El Puente and put a leash on it. We almost kept it as a pet but decided it would be better off in the wildJ Yesterday our team went to Sisters of Charity again but for the daycare/feeding program they have there. I had a great time just playing with some of those kids and then getting to make and serve them lunch. More ministry doors are starting to open up so that is very exciting. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as everyone at home are in mine.

Hope everyone had a blessed week!!!

Love,

Jenn