big news: a new direction in nicaragua

Panorama of NCA Matagalpa's new row of primary classooms.

It's been another long haul since the last post, and I've been looking forward to this update for quite some time now.  Again, lots has happened, but I've waited to send this update because there was some big news abrew, and I wanted it to be final so I could share it with everyone!

A Guate Trip. A Nica Intern.

Athentikos film crew. Center of Gautemala City.
On top of the tallest building around.
Matt, Me, Scott, Tyler, Bobby.

It's been a good long time once again!  The past two months have been chocked-full of lots of activities and many new friends.  Guatemala for two weeks and five weeks of overseeing an intern at the NC, and redesigning our website are at the heart of what's been happening.  Now that the 2/3 of those are behind me...I need to focus on all the things that have been getting neglected--including my supporters!

Speaking of my supporters, I want to give you guys a huge THANK YOU for your support through the past year.  My fiscal year with CRWM ended at the end of June.  I was blown away that my year end funds raised were within $6 of my goal!  What a testament to God's provision.  Thank you for joining with me in his work in Nicaragua.  I pray that you will be blessed richly in return.

I should also mention that I celebrated my 31st birthday since the last update.  Can't believe it.  Isn't this the point at which it should start slowing down?

reaching milestones

I'm afraid I'm trying to fit too much into these reports.  They get to be so long that, ironically, I think even I would be tempted to skip over large sections.  This time, I want to share with you a decision I have to make very soon about the possibility of pursuing more education, news on the internship I'm coordinating starting at the end of June, two significant milestones we reached this week in both RedProCom and in the Studio, and of my probably trip to Guatemala in about three weeks.  Don't worry, I'll try to make it brief and add some nice photos, too!  By the way, Happy 50th Anniversary to CRWRC!  Here's a picture from the party at the Nehemiah Center. (read more link is below)

Celebrating the CRWRC's 50th Anniversary

horseback and loving it

On a Horse in El Progreso

It's already mid-April and this year is flying by.  It's been a challenge to find time to pound out a blog, but at some point you just have to push everything else aside and get it done, right?  Below, I've got it broken down into groups.  Here's a taste.  RedProCom focused last month on learning tools for teaching media. We're nearing the end of the video project in El Progreso.  Things went really well and we ended up going back for an extra 4 days to film more.  First stages of Nehemiah Center website redesign have concretized, and we have an initial goal of a working site in 1 month!  I'm also working on planning an internship for Scott, an IT student from Covenant College in Georgia.  Lastly, catch some pictures of my most recent motorcycle adventure to Rio San Juan and El Castillo.  Read on to get the juicy details!

across the land...

As always, life has been busy.  I can't believe it's already March.  Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye, as did January and February.  It was wonderful to be back in Michigan and connect with many of my supporters again.  I was able to give a brief update at Brookside during the morning service on the 1st of the new year, and a more extended update during a different service.

I want to share with you just a few highlights from the last couple of months: