The Fun Begins

We've been planning, praying, and preparing for camp for several months now and we have one week until the first day of camp. Actually it feels like camp begins today because we have 9 people who work with Word of Life Mexico that will be arriving today to stay in the Aguilar house with us. We have 16 people total staying in the house for the next week and for every weekend in January. We have a planned food menu for this week and made out a shopping list. It's incredible how much food it takes to feed 16 people. So, camp offically begins in a week but this week it's Camp Aguilar at the Aguilar home.

We've been spending our time lately visiting churches and promoting the three weeks of camp. Many youth have been signing up. Also we've had weekly leadership training for the counselors and camp staff. Jader is in charge of the food for camp and making all the purchases along with leading the kitchen and maintenance crew. I help him with alot of that stuff too. We've been visiting different food and vegetable markets to find the best prices. The supermarkets have extremely high prices compared to what you find in the street markets here. Managua has the biggest market in all of central america called the Oriental. We've made several trips there to find stuff for camp.

Apart from camp preparations we've been looking for an apartment. We've actually found one we like that's near the Aguilars and Loren and Karen who are missionaries with the IMB. The man who rents the apartments is on vacation until the 8th but we have his cell number and hope to get in touch with him soon. There is only one apartment available for the size and price range we are looking for. It's two bedroom and has a large living room area. We have several groups visiting and this year and would like an extra room for guests along with space to put small mattresses if we need to have a house full of guests. :) We would appreciate your prayers for God's guidance in where to live. We don't have a lot of time to look around because camp starts soon and then we leave for the states right after camp to get married!! :)

I'd like to mention a huge blessing that a had mentioned before but it gets even better. Jader and I were able to buy several large applicances and a bed for an incredible price from a young married couple that moved back to the states. Well they left us with not only what we bought but several extra sheets, towels, kitchen knives, plates, silverware, hangers (which are expensive here), waste baskets, lots of clothes that are from nice stores in the U.S. and just my size, along with much more. We are encouraged by seeing God's provision in such a tangible way.

We'll there is much to do as far as cleaning and preparing the house for the people that will arrive today. Thank you for reading and keeping in touch!

Please be praying that the camps are at full capacity and that the price of the camp would not be an obstacle for the Nicaraguan youth. Also pray for God to be working in hearts and lives in a big way and that many would understand that Jesus died on the cross for them and He offers them new and eternal life.

Camp Property

Here are some photos of the property where we will be holding camp. We will have three weeks of camp with around 100 campers per week and 30-40 camp staff. It's a beautiful new property constructed by Baptists from the U.S.

A few days ago we had a banquet where over 50 people attended. Here are some photos of the banquet. Our purpose was to review all the ministry activites that took place over the last year and give thanks for all that God has done. Also we looked at the calendar for 2009 with anticipation for all that the next year holds.

Making Christmas Cookies

I love baking cookies and especially when I have a sweet little helper. Valeria and I enjoyed creating Christmas cookies together. They are suger cookies with a little lime twist to them. Very yummy! I hope you enjoy the photos!

Some photos

Here are some photos of what we do and the people we spend time with.

Sharing the gospel at an orphange

Bible Club leaders



More youth that we work with

Much to share

Well, I looked at my last blog entry date and realized that it was over two weeks ago! It's hard to believe that two weeks have passed since I last posted. Time seems to fly by here in Nicaragua!

I've explained in earlier blogs a little of what we do here in Nicaragua. There is a team 6 missionares working with the youth in 5 different local churches. Our annual calendar is full of various kinds of activities but at this time we are focusing on three weeks of youth camp that will be hosted here in January. The youth are excited and are inviting friends. Our goal is to have 300 campers total and we have a work crew of around 40. We're working on the camp theme, programs, games, food, decorations, and so much more. It's a lot to do for 6 people but many of the youth are sacrificing time and energy to help out.

Word of Life started up here in Nicaragua just about a year ago and we will be having a banquet tomorrow to celebrate all the God has done in the past year. We will have around 50 people dining at the Aguilar household. We're excited but there is much preparation to do! I'll be baking 4 pound cakes today! :)

Also, I have great news. Jader and I had decided a few months ago to designate a certain ammount of money in order to purchase a car. We have been traveling by bus and taxi but unfortunately you waste a lot of time waiting for the bus, etc. We began to pray and ask God to lead us in this process. I will have to make this very long car story short, but we were able to buy the car and picked it up yesterday. It's wonderful! Jader actually is using it now to run errands and I think he will get them done in at least half the ammount of time it would take him by bus. God is good. Also we got the car for a much better price than we were expecting!

I wish I had more time to write but I need to go and help prepare for the banquet we're having. Thanks for reading and keeping up with stuff here in Nicaragua!

Back in Nicaragua!

Hey there! I've arrived to Nicaragua and have been here a couple of days now. It's nice to be back and to see Jader and many others here who are special to me. The weather is pretty warm and more humid than Texas. I'm happy to be eating beans and rice just about every day and I love the beautiful nature of Nicaragua. I've been attending different local church activities and reconnecting with the youth that our ministry works with. We are preparing for three weeks of camp that we will host in January so it's a very busy time for us. I hope to take some pictures soon and post a little more about what we are up to. Thanks for reading the blog!