a new year

It's a new year and it feels good to say that a lot of things are feeling fresh. I had a wonderful trip back to the States and Canada this December connecting with people that I love and who have contributed to my life and been a great blessing to me. There are, of course, many others who I wish I could have connected with or been able to spend even more with. I have also had a great, yet challenging, last four months (since the last update) in terms of work and personal life. As usual, for the purposes of this blog, I've had to wade through all of the many exciting and challenging things to try and make it short enough as not to lead my readers into a gentle slumber (although some would probably appreciate that, too).  Read on to learn about the launching of the second phase of the Raspberry Pi Pilot Project, a brief update on Mauro and Breyling, and a quick, shotgun blast look at what is on the horizon for the next several months for me.

Picture Taken Recently at the mouth of Volcán Masaya

september update

I have to say, when posts come so infrequently, it can be a challenge to boil a blog post down into just a few points.  There are so many things I'd like to be able to touch on, but this post won't try to hit everything. Read on to hear more about hosting a tech team, the broadening impact of RedProCom, and the recent trip to Michigan.  Prayer items can be found at the end of the post.

animated, back in the capital

Sometimes, when you're learning a new language, words you've been using your whole life begin to take on a new richness.  The obvious translation for the word "animado" in Spanish is "animated" in English.  When we hear the English version, we often think first of animated films.  Then, if we think a bit further, we might imagine an animated person--someone who is lively and energetic.  In

Spanish, we think of something slightly different, someone who is is in good spirits, encouraged, or excited.  More than a personal characteristic, it's an emotional state, and is often used as a verb (animar) to indicate the giving of encouragement.  Yet the two words have a similar root and when you take each of them together, the the meaning is richer and more powerful.  In the same way that cartoons are animated when they are moved into action by an artist, we as people are moved into action and encouraged by something in our lives.  I suppose you could say that God is the ultimate animator.  He's the one that breathes life into us, encourages us, moves us, and makes us alive.  But he's also created us in such a way that because of our individual giftedness we also feel that movement, that excitement, that life when we experience different things in the world around us.

These ideas have been circulating in my head because right now I'm feeling "animado".  And what is it that has been "animating" me?  I think it's the sense of being caught up in a greater story.  God is doing some really neat things here, and has brought a lot of talented people around.  Sometimes I get to thinking that I'm not prepared enough, or smart enough, or dedicated enough to be able to do what he's called me to here.  But despite that, he is using me and encouraging me.  I'm excited to share about it here.  Read on for more details!

Family Day at NCAM and My Evolving Role

Greetings from Nicaragua!  It's time for another update.  NCA continues to grow by leaps and bounds both in numbers and in qualitative ways.  This update will share a little about NCA Matagalpa's recent family event, news about refining my position at NCA, my houseguest and support update.  Enjoy!

This year's 7th grade class presenting at the family day celebration.
Breyling is there.  Can you find him?

2013 Year in Photos, 2013 Looking forward

Finally... a chance to sit down without distraction and get out a much needed update.  2013 was a full year.  2014 promises nothing less.  Here is a summary of what went down and what is in the works.  You won't be disappointed.