Category: Uncategorized

Today children are starting school in Portland, and I am sitting in a wooden rocker in our screen home, under a fan watching a herd of cattle go down the road directed by their four year old herdsman. Last night the entertainment was an electrical storm and fireflies, and today our goal is to successfully get a ride into and out of town after we get the money to pay our rent.

After spending three nights at a hotel in Granada, we have found a place that is outside of Granada a few kilometers-loosely think suburb. It is called Reparto San Juan. We opted for this to get out of the noise of the city, the price is right, and technically it is cooler; although I must question the difference between 100 degrees with 80 percent humidity and 97 degrees with 80 percent humidity. 🙂 Essentially we live in the converted garage on the property of a larger house. The owner is married to a Nica and they have three daughter. They also own what I have named the “rag-tag posse”- five dogs of varying shapes and sizes and three cats.

So the understatement of the year is “Life is different here”. We are in the season of the miliped ( they are on the floor, the wall, the sink, the bed…), Stephen got to be the hero last night when he saved me from the large frog that had taken up residence in the bedroom, and a little pool time is an essential part of the day. I am doing a little better this morning at a appreciating the differences, but last night was a different story. 🙂

As cold water to a weary soul, so is great news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25

Provisions:
Enough money to take care of our needs as they arise- plane tickets, luggage, setting up home, storage of our American stuff
The right people to be watching over N-Response2 on this side
Connections with individuals in Nicaragua, knowing that much will need to be settled on that side, but trusting that it will all come together as God allows
Time, although it seems in short supply, has been enough to complete the tasks- moving, seeing people, packing belongings, raising support

So many of you have allowed God to work through you to care for us- so humbling and exciting!

I wake up at night still wondering how the details will come together, I still look around and see piles of stuff knowing that the only way they will “disappear” is through hard work, and I fear that the Nicaraguan weather will really melt me- maybe melt away the pounds (that would be good!)

So, now I get back to packing… and trusting God that He will continue to provide!

The latest “beginning” is we have our tickets and we leave in 10 days! Where has the time gone? This comes with excitement and some anxiousness. I have a mix of feelings in me of wanting to get going on this adventure and fearing that this next week and a half will pass too quickly.

 

It is weird going into Target to buy things like anti-biotic ointment rather than school supplies. It is weird still driving out to Scappoose rather than Beaverton, and it continues to be weird packing up my belongings rather than arranging them around the house.

 

Our goal and purpose at this time is to trust and hope through faith in God I am successful much of the time, but other times I fear that I do not have enough faith for this move. Stephen and I have devotions every morning, so we are reminded of God’s power, ability, and control in our lives as we yield to Him. I wonder what I will see when I look back on this time?

 

We feel like we are moving into the “10^th hour” of support raising, packing up our stuff, and good byes. The “11^th hour” is just around the corner and Faith is our big word. Will you believe with us?

 

Love, Natalie

Faithful friends-
How do I put all of my thoughts on paper when in less than a week everything changes? Interestingly enough though, I feel like these are changes that God has been preparing me for much of my life!

I have much experience with caring for people, but none at caring for one person for the rest of our lives together. I have experience living in another country, Germany, but none in a Spanish-speaking, developing country. I have experience as a missionary, but none as wide open as we are stepping into.

At the same time there are many questions and fears in me, there is also much excitement to be committed to Stephen, to trust God for the provision of money, to get started in learning a new language, and direction for the next step.

This is just a beginning! Recently I read in the book Sacred Marriage that a relationship is a conversation. It keeps going with ups and downs, agreements and disagreements, understanding and misunderstanding. I invite you into this “conversation” with our experience as life unfolds for us!

There is joy in the journey,
Natalie Schumacher… almost Goff