March Update

Hello All:

We have been busy this month. No real surprise, I guess. We have had three weeks of 40 or more and are hosting 17 now. The groups have been from Texas Tech Medical School, Dothan, Alabama; Fellowship Church of San Antonio and Harding University. Our current group is from Coeur d’Alene, ID. This is a particularly special group because it is the birthplace of one Sheila Clark, a.k.a. Sheila Holland, and because in the group is a very good friend of hers, Katrina Swaim from her Harding days.

Two weeks ago, while TTU Med School was here, we screened the eyes of about 600 children in three different schools. This was made possible because of the purchase of a mobile auto-refractor Misión Para Cristo received via a grant. Last week I spent the week doing follow-ups and referrals. Sheila spends each Wednesday morning in the mission’s medical clinic running vision tests on walk-in clients. She then pulls and fits appropriate glasses, refers others to local optometrists, and sadly, must send some away without any improvement.

We have been blessed with the opportunity to move out of the mission facility and in doing so we will be relieved of some of the 24/7 duties. If everything falls into place, financially and otherwise, we will be able to move in the not-too-distant future. We have found a small house in a nearby neighborhood. The house is new and is adorned in all the typical bright colors of the homes here in Nicaragua.

This past Monday we once again met with immigration in Managua and were assured that the final step for residency is just around the corner. We are to meet again with them on April 14. Upon completion of our residency we, and a new home that could accommodate children, we will be ready to submit all the necessary paperwork to initiate the adoption proceedings. God is blessing us.

Along with these changes comes the need for additional funding. We are not asking our current supporters to give more money (unless you just want to J) but are asking all supporters to pray that we can find an additional $400/monthly, at least until our home in Georgetown is rented again. We would like to find an additional congregational sponsor for the new monthly need, or a way to bank $4,800 to cover the housing cost for a year.

My truck sold this past month so the short term finances are stable and the emergency “get back to Texas” money is available.

This month’s prayer targets:

Prayers of Petition:

·        Spiritual strength for employees of Mision Para Cristo – Many are feeling the attacks of Satan very directly in their lives

·        Direct Funding to better serve and equip those with whom we work in Jinotega

·        Focus to remain faithful to the work to which we have been called

·        Finality in the residency process

Prayers of Thanks:

·        New equipment allowing us to provide physical opportunities to open spiritual doors

·        New home and the tranquility and new opportunities it affords

·        Steps that are getting us closer to residency.