Pastor Smerdying & Martha

August 3, 2015

Ever had a fully detailed plan and God responds with, uhno, here is mine!

Our summer mission was just like that! Our high school team had planned, trained, and practiced to teach a group of youth/adult leaders in Nicaragua (alongside Jeffrey Ruiz --Sonlife LatinoAmerica) at Iglesia Bautista Monte Sinai, Los Laureles.

During the daytime, our group was to have community projects: painting, repairing, and small scale construction while the student leaders were in school. We were also to have four evening workshops to teach THE BIG STORY of the Bible: Creation, The Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

None of this fully happened Instead, we went to visit church families (faithful ones, & ones gone astray) in the mornings with Pastor Smerdyng Aleman and his wife, Martha. What a treat that was! In most visits, students were able to share their brief testimonies. We got to visit and pray over a man (Juan) with failing kidneys, a young girl (Sirley) who just had a baby and named her Milagros (miracle) because through prayer she survived premature birth. We prayed with a semi-widow, Erika, who also accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior (ready 5 paragraphs down).

In the hot and humid afternoons, young children (ages 2-12) came by the dozens to play soccer, duck-duck-goose, board games, and get their nails done by our team of girls. We had anywhere from 30 to 80 kids show up.

One afternoon, the team dressed up in biblical costumes and acted out: The Forgiving Prince, written & directed by Ryan Schuhler. It was the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Although Joseph felt bleak in the moment, God had a bigger plan for him and the His nation The skit was followed by an alter call from Pastor Smerdyng; 12 children accepted Christ as their personal savior! His wife Martha wrote all their names down to have follow-up visits, later to their homes. Coloring pages that were copied as a back-up plan were also part of the application to the story, including a craft of brown paper bags turned into coats of many colors.

In the evenings, when the young church leaders could finally attend church service (about 7-7:30ish --pm), we would then present/apply some of the training (four topics: Creation, The Fall, Redemption, and Restoration) within the service program. Each night three students gave their testimonies according to the lesson. The church family was blessed by this.

Side note: I (Mireya) was surprised and blessed to see how the Holy Spirit worked through me that week. Prior to arriving to Nicaragua, Jeffrey, our missionary/liaison, had shared that he was having a hard time acquiring an interpreter and that we should be in prayer about it. He then followed by suggesting that I would do it, I just laughed, and followed with, uh, no.Ill be praying really hard! Initially we had a volunteer interpreter for the first few days but soon left abrubtly; I was left to take over. Surprisingly enough, I was able to interpret 98.9% verbatimwhat craziness, but then again, God can do ANYTHING! Phew!

Another blessing: Robert & I had received a thank you gift (private donor) to be used at our discretion while in Nicaragua. Remember the semi-widow mentioned in third paragraph? Her story: Erika was left with two children and one on the way six years ago; the husband left to Costa Rica for work, 6 years ago, never to return. She has been left to fend for herself, not able to get a job because the land she lives on is not her own; shes afraid itll be taken over if shes gone too long. Her 15 year old son provides for the family by working 10 hour days at a textile sweat shop in La Zona Franca. Water for drinking, cooking, and bathing is collected in recycled 2-liter soda bottles. Her home is made of rugged tree posts, corrugated metal sheeting, plastic sheets, and vinyl screening. As a team, we felt she had a great need. Although its currently their winter

season, theyve had a harsh drought (agricultural community) of maybe 3 rains since May. When they do have rains, the water would flood her makeshift home. So as to not draw too much attention to Erika and alter her community status of the Americans coming into town, and AFTER intentional consideration, it was decided to add the same type of metal siding and sheeting for protection of rains and easy access to intruders. After completion, the very next day, it RAINED, ...HARD! This was never included in our AMERICAN agenda; God knew her need. Erika, Pedro (15 old son), 10 year old daughter, and little Erik (6 years old) were blessed beyond our comprehension!

There are so many wonderful experiences that we witnessed while in Nicaragua, too many to include in my letter! There were times of hardship: the extreme heat, the humidity, the mosquitoes, however, we wouldnt trade this experience for anything in the world. Our high school students were fantastic, they were always willing to try new things, foods, and games; they were bold to share their testimonies, struggles & highlights.

We were also humbled and left in awe how Pastor Smerdyng genuinely loves his flock (church community) and how they reciprocate the same affection. Not only is he their pastor, he is their brother, father, friend, and husband (to widows) to those in his community. Even those that have walked away from the Lord love and respect him on the street. While interpreting (not once, but several occasions) on some visits, he would engage and invite us (our whole team) to have dinner at these homes as if it was his home! At one point I had to stop interpreting (while laughing surprisingly) to process the audacity of his boldness and freedom of familiarity! The families would warmly respond with genuine affirmation of it being okay. WOW.

Since we were there only for nine day (normally 11), we had two days to help our team (young high school students) process, debrief, and understand all that we had learned while at Tipitapa. It was really hard saying good-bye to all our new friends that we created a special bond with. It is our hope to return again if it is Gods will. We rest assured that Jeffrey meets with Pastor Smerdying and his leadership staff every Friday, to teach and mentor them.

There is so much more I can add to this, but it would be FOREVER! However, because of your support, prayers, and gifts, our team was able to share Gods goodness & attributes to the children of Tipitapa, Nicaragua. If

youd like know or hear more, wed love to get together with you!

In His Service,

Mireya Olmos, for Robert, too! mireyao@rhchurches.com, olmosrobert@msn.com, (562) 947-4791 ext. 492

Construction

an elder, & Pedro

Pastor, Erika

Visiting & praying with Brother Juan.