Catching up

I have once again terribly neglected the blog. This will basically be a summary of Instagram posts over the last few months with a few extra details in the stories. It will also probably be a bit jumbled as far as the timing goes! I'll probably post another set of photographs later since it seems I have some on the computer and others on my phone. 

We traveled to Indianapolis in November to work for a couple of months. This was in the Fort Lauderdale airport. So nice to see the friends wherever we go! It brightened up what was a looooong layover in the airport!

Quick coffee and muffins before heading out into the cold for field service in Bloomington, Indiana with Charley's family

With the Matthews after the meeting. The boys are growing up so fast!

Hadn't seen frost in a long time! Our first weekend in Indiana was chilly but not too terribly cold. 

Loved seeing the snow fall downtown. The novelty wore off as soon as I had to go outside though! We've decided we definitely won't be going back to Indiana in Winter unless we absolutely have to for some reason! This was our first December in Indiana for five years and we'd forgotten how challenging it can be!

We both got new glasses and by complete coincidence chose matching frames!!

We got to enjoy field service (and breaks!) with old friends from the Spanish and English congregations

A couple of weeks after getting back to Nicaragua we had our first break-in experience. We came home from service at midday to discover our gate lying down and the back door open. The police got some good fingerprints, but as far as we know nothing has resulted from that. We don't expect to get anything back of what was stolen but it was a good reminder of why it's best not to be too attached to material things. The worst of it all really is the peace of mind they steal, that's harder to get back. But that weekend we went to the English circuit assembly and felt very comforted by a talk that specifically mentioned how as foreigners we're often the target of thieves and that we continue to have faith in Jehovah as our shield. That assembly day was like a big hug from Jehovah in the language of our hearts. Very encouraging indeed.

This is Charley's new wedding ring! His ring didn't want to fit the morning we got robbed, and so it was in the house and they stole it. It wasn't an item we would have bothered replacing, at least not any time soon. Well, the next week, a little girl in our congregation gave me a little pink box with a necklace in that she'd made for me, and the ring you see in the picture! For some reason she had this ring, and she decided to give it to us, and it fit Charley perfectly! Amazing to see how Jehovah can use a 7-year old to comfort us when we've had a difficult experience!

On a study last week. It was so heart-warming to hear this sister's student talk about how she's trying to use the name Jehovah more often now. She really appreciated understanding more about his name, it's meaning, and the importance of it. She sells clothes so we sit on the high curb to have her study. This picture also captures two popular modes of transport here in Masaya. Motorbikes and horses! You have to look closely but you'll see the horses and carriage in the background!

Field service scene from circuit visit week. This sister and her husband were also visiting us from the States to "spy out the land". We had a really fun week with the substitute CO and his wife, and this couple that were visiting too. Such fine examples of couples who have made wise decisions and always put Jehovah first in their lives.

Finally got public witnessing worked back into our schedule. We did an afternoon shift in Masaya's Central Park. It was so nice to have this aspect of the ministry back into our weekly routine. 

And some random guy decided to draw Charley!!!!!!

So, those are some random pictures from recent months. We had an enjoyable but hectic trip back to the States. I worked at my old job full-time Monday to Friday and Charley worked mostly Saturday-Tuesday at his old job, so we didn't seem to have much time together, or to spend with others. We didn't get to see as many people this time, but we thoroughly enjoyed the time we did get to spend with family and friends. The cold weather also made it harder to want to go do anything! I just wanted to be wrapped up and warm in the house all the time!!

It's always so good to be back though. Although we've had the awful experience of being robbed, and we've lost time and money getting some repairs done from the damage they did, but we don't let that take away our joy. Being out in the ministry, seeing students making progress, and spending time with the friends more than makes up for it all.

We have a busy time coming up as does everyone worldwide. Some dear friends are coming to visit in March so we're very excited about that. And we also have our circuit assembly. CO school started back up so we're back in the kitchen at the Educational Center, but on Fridays now with a different crew. We just had a sub-CO since our CO is in this month's class. And when their class finishes they're off to a new assignment and we're getting another new CO. We can't seem to keep our CO's for very long around here for some reason!! And of course before we know it we'll be in Memorial season which is always a busy time for Jehovah's people worldwide. 

So, lots going on and lots to look forward to. We're trying to tighten our belts a little this year so that we don't have to go back and work until Summer (not Winter!) 2018. It's been amazing to see how Jehovah always provides though. How those unexpected expenses always seem to be somehow covered! And even sometimes there's a little left for some of those little "wants" in life that Jehovah so lovingly provides as an occasional treat!

Thank you to all of you who made our trip to Indy a success, and who continue to support us in many different ways. Your friendship and kind words and deeds mean so much to us.

I leave you with a couple of my favorite quotes from the English Circuit Assembly:

"You have to faith it, to make it"

"Faith doesn't make it easy, it makes it possible"

"Faith is like taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase"