Happy Birthday Oscar...

Today is little Oscar's 8th birthday. I am very surprised he has made it to see it to be honest.

I have been checking on him since the last time I was there and he is getting worse.

In October when we were there he was in the hospital with pneumonia from going swimming and while he was in the hospital his dialysis tube got infected so he had to have a surgery to take it out and put it back in again.

Last week he got to go home after 20 days.

Today, sadly we called only to find out he is back in the hospital with pneumonia again. This time they just feel it was from the damp weather they are having.

He loves grapes and apples so I sent him some by my friend in hopes to brighten his day.

Please pray for his weak little body. He is hanging on for dear life and today is a sad day for him since he can't talk to his mom because she is still in jail. It's his first holiday without her.

It is sad to know that this innocent little boy is dealing with so many adults issues. Pray he has peace and comfort through it all.

Additionally, please pray for the aunt that is taking care of him. Her name is Evelyn. She was going to college and quit to take care of him. She has no income and has to stay at the hospital day in and day out with very little to eat if any.

Thanks for lifting him up to the Lord.

Angie

This picture is on Oscar's bed. It was taken the first day I met him. I gave it to them the next time I saw them and now it has been enlarged and put on a piece of wood. He keeps it by his bed. The woman in the middle is him mom Francisco. He tells me that was the first day he met his best friend. It makes me cry every time I see it.

URGENT URGENT Prayer Need

Just when I think that it can't get any worse I get news that it can.

Today I was told that this week the Nicaragua administration that governs the adoption process in Nicaragua announced on TV that they are planning on closing the option for foreign adoptions and will close all private ran orphanages. Instead, children will be put in foster homes all over the country.

This is serious guys. This is much bigger than dealing with Isamar's dad this is dealing with the Nicaraguan government.

There has been a lot of issues going on within the administration lately but no one knew exactly what.

How does this affect me and Terry? If they put this plan (that is not legal that we can tell) into place we will have lost any and every chance at getting the girls and the many many parents that are waiting on children will have lost their chances also.

As for them closing the private ran orphanages that means that 1,000's of children will be taken back to abusive homes, given to people who don't want them or even taken to over crowded government ran orphanages, who knows at this point but it will be a horrible situation for all of these innocent children.

This requires a great deal of prayer from everyone. We have to pray that God's will be done in these kids lives and not the will of man.

We are not fighting against flesh and blood here guys we are fighting against the enemy who would love for all the Christian families who are adopting to lose that opportunity.

Please I beg you all that are reading this to make this a top priority on your prayer list daily. Prayer can move mountains and it will take all of us petitioning the Lord to change what could possibly happen.

There was no exact date on when this would take place or how it would happen but exactly but if they went as far as telling it on national TV you can bet they are working on making it happen if at all possible.

Please, please pray for all the innocent children who will be affected by this decision.

Pray for wisdom for us. We just bought tickets yesterday to fly to Nic on Oct. 13th to hire a new lawyer to try and save our chances in getting the girls. We are not sure what we will need to do now.


Angie

The First of Many to Come

During this year God blessed me with money from a wonderful Christian family to build a new home for someone in Nicaragua.

I truly felt it was going to be the family who owns the sugar cane house on the front of my website but that was not God's plan. Most people in Nicaragua do not have proof they own their property and without proof you don't want to be building a house because the next time you come back someone else will be living there.

I prayed and prayed God would show me who but time after time I found no one.

During my walk from house to house in Coffradia I saw homes that were really bad but none that stood out to me until almost the last house.

I could not believe my eyes. It was actually worse than any house I had seen before.

The family that lives there is a older family and the poorest in the village. They have a handicapped child who suffers from seizures and has mental issues. Their home was open to the elements of weather and they have only one spot in the whole house to go when it rains. It was truly a sad sight to see.

I am honored to say that after this week they will have a new home to live in that will last them a lifetime and will be there for their daughter when she is older.

This family does not go to church but believes in God. I shared the gospel with the mother to ensure that she knew what it takes to get to heaven but she has been taught false doctrine and thinks if she accepts Christ she has to go to church every time the door is open and she can't go all the time because of her daughter. I assured her that God knows her heart and that is what he cares about.

Gives thanks to God for this new home and pray that this shows this family how wonderful God really is.

Check out the old house and the new here.

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Garden Project Photos

I have finally got all the photos edited and loaded on the site. I am sorry I am slow getting them done but I have little time on my hands lately.

I spoke with Pastor Jorge who is the man doing the training and he is very pleased with the progress being made.

Unfortunately, a tropical storm hit Somotillo last week or the week before and a lot of the crops were lost due to the heavy rain. This is one of the biggest challenges this area faces. Just when things are going well it pours down the rain.

Three families have been able to grow plants and now transfer them into their gardens with the irrigation systems installed.

There are 36 families total and all are working hard to make this successful.

In the photos you will not see all the tools. The hardware store had to order them but I assure you they have be purchased and delivered including 5 wheel barrows.

The pictures of the black pipes are the irrigation systems and the white bags are the seeds. We also bought fertilizer, a pump, lime and other items needed.

For those of you who sponsored a family I will be printing photos of your families with their names and information as soon as I can. For now you can see them by clicking on the photo link.

Thanks so much for making this project successful. I can't wait until December to see the harvest and find out who's lives were changed through this process.

Click here to view the photos

God Bless,

Angie

Oscar Enjoy's His Power Rangers

Several of you came to the call and donated some great toys for Oscar.

I have never seen him so happy as that day. He was on cloud nine.

I had seen him earlier in the week and told him I would be there to see him but it took me a couple of days to get to his house. When I got there he made sure I knew I didn't keep my word and come and see him. It was so sweet to hear him fuss at me since for over the past year he hardly ever speaks.

Here is a link to the photos and a link to the videos of him.

Photos

Video 1 - this is him saying thanks to everyone.

Video 2 - this video is Oscar receiving a card from a little boy named Zack. Thanks Zack he loved your book.


In the vidoes he is saying, Thank you for my toys and God Bless you.

Thanks so much for making Oscar's dream come true.

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Project Update

During my August trip to Nicaragua I started my first of many garden projects.

We are now helping 36 families in Coffradia grow their own food. They each received a shovel, hoe, seeds and an irrigation system. We also purchased 5 wheel barrows that they will share in that community.

We walked to each family’s house and talked with them about their knowledge of growing, their land and their wiliness.

The first day when a meeting was called only 25 families showed up. It actually made me sad. I just could not understand why people would not want this help. Later that day after I left the village God showed me why.

Most of these families are not Christians and that morning we were meeting at the church and the Pastor of that church was the one who went and gathered all the people. Think about it, if you are not a church going person would you be willing to come and meet in a church? What if what's being offered forced to me to go church? There were many things that went through my thoughts that day but the most important thing was to separate the church from this project for now. We need to draw them to Christ not force them to come.

I contacted the village leader and ask him to meet with us, he came and together we put together a plan of action. The next morning when I arrived every one was accounted for at a meeting in the school.

I have hired a man (who is a pastor of another church) to teach these people how to grow their gardens. He is working in the village with each family 3 - 4 days a week every week. I was told yesterday the families are already seeing progress in their efforts and all are working very hard. I can't wait to go back and see what is going on.

Before I left I did not have enough money for all 48 families. I was concerned about how I was going to handle this. God had it already figured out. I had enough for 30 families and received word from Tina Gilbert she had collected enough for 6 more families. Exactly enough...

It's amazing to me how God works things out.

I am working on the pictures now and will post them soon. I will be contacting each of you who sponsored a family soon with a picture and the names of the families. In December I hope to bring back pictures of their crops.

Each family was very happy to receive the help. One very old man was an excellent gardener already but was working with only a broken shovel. Imagine what he will produce with good tools.

Stay tuned for more on this topic.

God Bless each of you that donated to this project, soon you helping these families feed their minds, body and souls with God's blessings.

Angie

Amazing Race Part 3

So after we arrived to the airport we soon learned that nice lady who worked for Delta DID not do her job and send our standby bags through as she promised she would. Thank God we had our clothes with us but all my seeds, irrigation systems, etc. was not there.

The next day I was told that one of the three bags was arriving so I went to the airport to get them. The nice man in baggage brought my bag to me and put it through the customs scanner. Immediately I knew something was not right. The man who scanned it flagged for me to come to him and my stomach got real sick, real fast.

He made me open the bag and in it were my tomatoes and radish seeds and a ton of irrigation stuff. He questioned me on the seed and I showed him all the nice authenticated paperwork I had from the US. The next thing I knew some really grumpy old man came and told me I could not bring those seeds into the country without their approval. I told him I had the documents I was given by the company who tested the seeds and that these seeds go all over the world. An entire container full is coming to Nicaragua next week. Did it work? Heck no... He took my seeds and gave me a document with a contact number.

The next day we called and they said that they would test one seed out of each bag for 35 Cordoba. That's $1.80 per pack of seed. There were 200 packs of seed total. You can do the math and figure out that was not going to happen. Then they told me if the seeds did not meet the first test it would cost $1,000 to do another test. Yea right... Here in the US the FDA has more regulations than the world has put together. I am sure those seeds were fine. But... rules are rules.

I had to leave to Somotillo that same day and could not wait on my bags to come. I was heart broken. I did not have the money to pay for the testing and did not have the money for new seed. Quickly this project was turning sour.

I had to drive about 15 minutes in Managua without a translator that morning and on my way to pick up Claudia my translator. Guess what? Yes, you got it. I got pulled over by the police. He says I ran a red light but I didn't. The cops there are always looking for someone they can harass and that day it was me.

Here I was in the truck just me and Terry and no one to talk for me. I called Carlos immediately and he talked to the guy. Now this part I am not proud of but I pray God knows the situation I was in. You see in Nicaragua cops get paid nothing and if they figure out a way to make a dollar they will. The cop told me he was going to give me a ticket and take my license. I would have to go and pay a special bank for the ticket, then go to the police station and get my license back. This would take at least a week. A WEEK.. I was leaving for Somotillo that minute and I would be coming home in a week and if I got caught driving again I would get two tickets.

Carlos convinced the cop to allow me to pay him for the ticket and he could go to the bank for me. That's all I'm going to say about that..

So to Somotillo we go. No seeds and 3 bags short. Claudia got on the phone and called a friend who worked at the airport to see if there was anything he could do. He told her to call someone else and by night we had someone who was willing to get my bags through customs. At a price of course.

So in one day’s time I had to pay off a cop, pay off people in customs and risk getting kicked out of the country forever. It was crazy.. My nerves were a mess. The devil was working over time. Don't forget about Jordon. It was this same day I found out he was sick. Can you imagine what was going on in my head?

Needless to say the next day came and went and I sent Carlos to the airport to get my bags, the guy snuck them out and he brought them to me.

I am not proud of what I had to do but it worked and it's their way of life. Conform to it or suffer. I'm not sure my heart can handle it again.

To be continued...

Angie

Amazing Race Part 2

I'm home now...

I did not have access to this blog since the last time I wrote for some reason. So I am sorry I have not been in touch. For those who are wondering Jordon is doing great. His pain has passed and the doctor says he is ok, actually he is confused by the doctors examination for his physical.

First let me say thank you to all who prayed for me. Trust me your prayers MOVED MOUNTAINS..

I have some crazy stories for you..

First, we went to the airport on Sunday to find that US Airways had cancelled two flights to Atlanta making all the Delta flights full with those people and the standby list was huge. We were flying with standby tickets and since it was an employee ticket we were on the bottom. We were scheduled for a 10:00 am flight and were not allowed on that one. The lady told us there was no way we were going to make it out of Charlotte today but our flight to Managua looked good. So we decided to rent a car and drive to Atlanta. We had plenty of time to get there so we took our time. Big mistake.... When we got to downtown Atlanta, 10 minutes from the airport, they had 3 of the 6 lanes closed for road construction. We sit, and sit and sit. It was getting later and later and we could not move. Traffic was at a stop. Earlier I remembered seeing a sign to call 511 for traffic help so I called and told them I had to get to the airport like 1 hour ago. Some lady told me how to go another way. We followed her instructions only to find 5 minutes down the road was a detour for that street. All the sudden we were in the middle of know where with no more road signs to follow.. By then my stress was at a max. It was 4:30 and our flight was to board at 5:10. By the grace of God we found our way back to the interstate and headed on to the airport.

We pull into the airport to the rental car place and there is no Thrifty place. We had to go around in a circle and still no place to drop off the car. I called the 1-800 number and they told me, oh yea we moved to another place outside the airport. By then it's now 15 to 5:00. We had not got gas and there were no gas stations to pull into so we had to pay $7.00+ a gallon to fill up the car. We told the bus driver to go fast we had to get to the airport like NOW.. He drove us really fast and we were just praying that the plane was delayed because we were not going to make it.

Now we get to the airport and the lines in the check in were long but God's favor was on us and we got to go through the lines for the Captains. It was now 5:10 and my heart was beating 90 miles an hour. We were running through the airport to find which gate and PRIASE GOD the sign said the plane was delayed and was not leaving until 6:10. I just about passed out...

As we where heading to the gate my phone rang and it was Tina Gilbert telling me her Sunday school class had sponsored move 6 more families. I almost cried right there in the tram. The stress my body was going through trying to get there was worth it knowing that I know had 40 families sponsored. I could have kissed Tina right about then.

God showed off that day. He not only got me to the airport and delayed that flight for me; he gave me a FIRST CLASS ticket. We got to sit in first class and be treated like kings and queens. It was great. That was my first time flying to Nicaragua first class. It was nice.

I have so many more things to tell you but I'll separate them so you can keep up.

Thanks again for your prayers.

Angie

Amazing Race Part 1

I love the reality show Amazing Race. It´s a show about people who are on a race around the world for a million dollars.

I am on that race now.

We have had some many things happen since we left Charlotte. I don´t have time to type them all now but I will tell you all the stories later.

For now PRAY.....

Customs took my seed that I brought and I am trying to get them out of customs, our bags did not come until today and I´m having to pay someone to bring them to me which was an added cost that I just don´t have and today we met with community and things did not go as planned, in addition, my son Jordon is sick and the doctor found two major issues yesterday.

So, the devil is really mad this trip and he is working hard to cause problems.

Please I ask of you to cover us daily in prayer and the people here I am trying to minister to. My family needs your prayers even more.

To be continued..

Angie

Leaving for Nicaragua on Sunday

August is here already. Time is passing way to fast for me.

Terry and I will be leaving on Sunday morning to Nicaragua.

I would ask that you pray with us for some specific needs.

1. We are flying on a Buddy Pass Ticket. Pray that we get seats on the flight from Charlotte to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Managua and back.

2. Since we are flying on a special ticket our luggage could be sent without us. Pray we all go at the same time.

3. I have money for 35 of the 48 families in Coffadia. Praise God for all who helped make a difference in these families’ lives. Please pray that I have wisdom on how to handle the remaining 13 families.

4. Pray for a finances to cover this trip. The cost is very expensive and we need support from others in order to continue doing what we are called to do.

5. Pray for safety and protection as we travel and for our boys as we are leaving them with a care giver.

6. Pray for my little Oscar. We paid to have his house fixed which will help him for now but without a daily/weekly shot to keep him healthy he is at risk. This shot cost over $30 each, without it the smallest virus will take his life. This is just an expense we can not pay right now. Pray God will supply this need. He is Oscar’s healer and He can take care of him or He will find a way to supply Oscar with the medicine he needs.

7. Pray for the families of Coffadia. Most are not saved and most have never seen the love of Christ. By providing them with the garden tools and working with them we are believing for a harvest of souls in addition to a harvest of fresh vegetables.

8. Pray for my heart. This summer has been very hard on my me with the death of my aunt, and my father-in-law. I truly never got to deal with my grief for either of them and now I am facing some very hard times which is bringing out all my emotions at once. I have had some unexpected needs for Oscar come up which has brought great stress to my life also. I am not one to worry or one to allow things to get to me but with all that has gone on in the last two months I can say I am at a breaking point. God is my strength and I am relying on him but prayers from you guys I am sure will help with all that is going on.

9. When I return from Nicaragua I must find a part-time job with benefits. Pray God opens that door for me when I return. Let me know if you know of anyone looking for a Great Employee with lots of experience in many areas of an office.

Thanks for all that you guys have done for me this year. God sees all of you and will return blessings back to you much greater than your gift to these people.

Your prayers are so needed and appreciated.

God Bless,

Angie

Tax Free Weekend

August 1 - 3rd is Tax Free Weekend this year.

As you are shopping for your childs school supplies can I ask that you use this time to teach them the gift of giving?

I have a small school in Coffadia that just started and their kids basically have nothing to learn with. If you can buy an extra this or that they would be grateful. There are at least 50 kids that go to this school.

I can use any of the following items;

#2 Pencils
Erasers
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Markers
Binders
Rulers
Composition Books (small ones)
Scissors
Personal Pencil Sharpener or a Larger one for the teacher

The Dollar Tree and Dollar Stores has great buys on this stuff. Walmart usually has good sales also.

I will be collecting this from now until my trip in December so if you pick up some things for me after I have left on my August trip just hang onto them and let me know you have them so I can come and collect them from you or you can drop them off to me.

Thanks in advance,

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Still Needs YOU...

I have 17 families sponsored so far and have 31 to go with only two weeks before I leave for Nicaragua.

If you have not sent in your sponsorship please do so as soon as you can.

My deadline was July 27th in order to give me time before I left but at this point I'll take money all the way up to August 2nd.

Let me share God's word with you on this matter.

Proverbs 11:24 NIV

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.


Proverbs 11:25 Message Bible

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.


Email me and let me know if you are sending something so I can plan ahead.

Thanks to all those who have supported a family already. You will be abundantly blessed.

God Bless,

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Project Continues

I have received money for 9 families so far and others have agreed to put out of the word.

If you do not feel led to help in this project at this time would you be willing to spread the word by emailing this pdf flyer to others.

Many of us know other people who attend mission minded churches that would love to help. Sending a email to a friend might just be your role in this.

God has who he wants to help change these peoples lives, are you one of them?

Thanks to all who have so far and thanks to everyone for praying for these people.

Simply email this link to your friends and family. www.thepowerofoneministry.org/adoptafamily.pdf

God Bless,

Angie

Pictures Have Finally Arrived

I have posted pictures of our trip on my site for you to view.

Check them out and enjoy. Scroll to the bottom and the newest pictures will be listed.

http://www.thepowerofoneministry.org/gallery.html

Enjoy....

Angie

ps. Videos coming soon...

Adopt-A-Family

On Sunday our pastor preached on Make Us Great.

The basis of this was on serving.

He asked a question, "Do you love others like you love yourself?" What would your answer be?

In Matthew 22:37-39 the bible tells us to love the Lord your God will all your heart,.... but it also says, "A second commandment is equally important, Love your neighbor as yourself".

I had to think about that. Do I really love my neighbor as myself? Would I do for them what I want done for me? Would I give to them as I give to my family and myself? Would you?

What would happen if you started giving to others as you give to yourselves? If you were pumping gas and paid for the car beside you or were in the grocery store and noticed a woman searching for extra money, would you be willing to step up and pay for her groceries? These are some of the examples our Pastor challenged us with.

Now I am going to challenge you.

When we are serving the Lord we are at our best in God's eyes. We are acting out the most important commandment God gave us.

Here is your chance.

I am going back to Nicaragua in August to start a garden project in the village of Coffadia.

These families have to smuggle goods across the border, risking their lives in order to feed their children. They need a better avenue to earn an income and that project is much larger than I can do right now but what if we did for them what we can do for ourselves and gave them the ability to grow a garden and feed themselves.

They will need wheel barrows, shovels, hoes, and matics to do this. An irrigation system and seeds are also a must. I am checking on pricing today for the tools and it's not cheap in Nicaragua.

Would you be willing to sponsor a family and give them a chance to feed their children?

In return I will provide you with the following:

Receipts for the purchase of 1 shovel, 1 hoe and 1 matic. (Wheel barrows will be bought also but not for every family since the cost is so much)
Receipts for the purchase of seeds and the irrigation system.
Pictures of the family and their house, and children.
Their names and any additional information you would desire.
Pictures of the garden project from beginning to end
Pictures of the results.

With any project there are no guarantees. We can invest in them and the outcome is glorious or we can invest in them and they do nothing with the stuff. To avoid this I plan on holding them accountable before they get the equipment. They will have to put forth an effort to receive the products. In other words, be invested in the effort, not just receive a hand out.

I will require them to build a fence around the garden areas to keep out the animals and I will require them to carry the water every day and buy the fertilizer. This way they are able to see their efforts in producing the food and it not just be something we gave them. Don't you feel much better about a project when you have worked on it?

I just saw 12 young men come to know Jesus at this village last week; can you imagine the seed that will grow from those 12 men? We have an opportunity to serve and truly make a lasting difference for years to come with this project. Will you join me?

There are 48 houses in this village. In one house may be multiple families. For now I am only focusing on each house.

The cost to do this will be $150 per family. The wheel barrow alone will cost $80 - $100 so I am asking for enough money to buy several wheel barrows for them to share and the rest will receive their own shovels, hoes, etc. That cost will be around $65 per family.

Can your family give up pizza, eating out after church every Sunday or just splurging over the summer to help a family for $65?

Here are some suggestions on how we can raise this money;

Get your bible study group involved – with 10 people that’s only $6.50 per person.
Get your Sunday school class involved? With 20 people you would only need $3.25 a person.
Your extended family – with 30 people that’s only $2.17 each
An office pool – with 65 people it’s only a $1.00 each

Together we can change these peoples lives for the cost of eating out a couple of times in a month.


We don't have to do this, We GET TO...

There are 48 families on this distribution list and about 20 more who read it. If all of you pitched in every family would receive the needed tools to feed their families.

Will you join me?

I would need the money by July 30th. That gives you two pay periods, 4 Sunday school glasses and many other opportunities to turn dollars into crops.

If you can't do the entire amount would you be willing to do something?

Over half this community is not saved. What a great way to show them Jesus.

To donate please send your tax deductible check to:

The Power of One Ministry
198 Mellwood Drive
Charlotte, NC 28214

Attention: Adopt-A-Family

Please pray for this project. If you can't help maybe others can. Tell them about it. Get others involved.

Let’s watch what God does with this project. Email me and let me know I can count you in.

God Bless,

Angie

My Friend Oscar

In July during my visit to Nicaragua, Dr. Anderson told us about a little boy that was really sick who lived down the street. He had been born with a bad kidney and was losing the other one.

His mother Francisca brought little Oscar to see us. It was an immediate bond between his mother and I and little Oscar didn't mind the attention at all.

Each trip I have gone since July I have visited them and taken him clothes, food, toys and even a new bike for his birthday. It was so great to see him smile.

God did amazing things to Oscar after we left in July. Within months a fragile, sick little boy was a vibrant, energetic, growing boy. Even Dr. Anderson told me in October that Oscar had received a miracle from God. There were no explanations for his healing but God.

In December I returned to find that his mother and father had been arrested and place in jail. Immediately I had great concern for Oscar. His mother kept him clean and feed. She gave him better care than most children get here in the US. What was to happen to Oscar now? That's all I could think about during my trip in December. By March, when I saw him again he still looked really good but was covered in dirt from head to toe. I warned his aunt that Dr. Anderson said he needed to stay clean at all times.

Now in June Oscar lays in a hospital bed in Managua hanging on for his every breathe. I am so blessed that I was there last week. He had been asking for me and wondering when I was going to come and see him. I went to the hospital to find him weak, un-talkative and not at all the healthy little boy I say two months ago.

On Thursday of last week Oscar had dialysis done on his only kidney. The doctors said it was a miracle he lived through it. His system is very weak and fragile and on top of everything else the medicines he needs can only be bought in the US.

Oscar's favorite characters are Power Rangers and although I don't allow my kids to play with them I had to give in to Oscar. We looked everywhere in Managua until I found a nice Red one for him. We took him some fruit and of course candy. The doctors there said he could have anything he wanted. That's not a good sign.

Please pray for Oscar daily. He is only 6 years old. He has the rest of his life to live for the Lord. God is a healer and can do all things. Agree with me that Oscar will receive the care he needs to get better. They are going to test his mother and father to see if they are a match. At the speed they go in Nicaragua it could be too late so pray for a speedy process.

Click here to view pictures of my visit with Oscar.

God Bless,



Angie

Many Prayer Requests

I have a lot going on in my life right now as you already know but there are some specific needs I have that I would ask you to be in agreement with me on.

1. I need a job. During the summer months our work is very low and the increase of gas and food caused our spring months to be lower than normal. We don't have enough money to carry us through the summer months and be able to minister in Nicaragua as we feel called to do. I have lots of computer skills, clerical skills, just about anything in an office I have experience doing. I can wait tables, answer phones, you name it I'll do it. I only need a temporary position. I can work from now until July 27th with the exception of July 11, 12 & 19.

2. I need to find a contact with Budget, Avis, or Hertz. To rent a truck in Nicaragua is about $80 a day. It's the most expensive part of my trips. If I had a contact there that could give me an employee discount it would help tremendously.

3. Is your husband/brother/cousin in the National Guard or the Army? I need a contact with a military group here in Charlotte that might be able to help me with getting the small shovels that fold to Nicaragua. In August I want to start helping Coffadia plant a garden. There soil there is hard as a rock and without tools it’s impossible. I am researching to find out how much it will cost to buy the needed materials there but that requires more money to raise.

4. Do you know of a wonderful Christian college student that will still be home from August 4 - 12th? I have a wonderful friend and his wife that takes care of my kids while I am gone but I do not want to wear them out. I am looking for someone who loves kids and loves missions. By watching my kids they are allowing me to do the work God has for me. I just know there are young adult ladies out there that would love to help us out. Please think about your friends and see if you know of someone who would like to serve the Lord through babysitting for a week.

I know it seems like I am asking for a lot so I'll share a testimony of how God is already working this out.

In the airport in Atlanta the agent announced our flight was over sold and they needed volunteers to give up their seat for a $400 ticket and a hotel voucher. Terry and I decided hey this is a way for us to get a ticket back to Nicaragua so we volunteered. While I was at the desk telling them we would take the offer I mentioned we were adopting and another agent starting asking questions. I told her my story and she smiled and say, "Hang on a minute I think I have something you can use". Within a few minutes she handed me a note that said she would be happy to give me two buddy passes to use when ever I wanted. She looked up the flight and told me it would be $80 to fly to Nicaragua and back. $80, can you believe that. A total stranger offering me her tickets to use. She then went on to say that if for some reason she could not help me she knew many others that could. God is working on my behalf. He is opening the doors He wants me to walk through. Sadly, I didn't get the other two tickets after all.

Now, let him use you to help me get answers to my prayers listed above.

Can't wait to see what he does with these requests.

God Bless,

Angie

Changing People's Lives

Each trip I travel to Nicaragua I can see the changes that are happening in the area I visit.

Somotillo is a town of 20,000 people (very poor people) and it is right on the border of Honduras. Over the past 4 years I have seen the travel time from Managua change drastically. Before this April it would take 1 hour+ to get to the next major town and now it takes about 30 - 45 minutes. The USA actually paid to fix the road and man it's really made a difference. Progress is coming to this little community one day at a time.

When I visit a village I can only hope I am making progress one smile at a time.

This trip we were able to visit the orphanage a lot and we ministered in two new villages that had not ever had a group come to love on them. Progress in the making..

We blessed 146 families with beans, rice, corn, sugar and oil. New flip-flops, toothbrushes, toothpaste and toys. It was so sweet to see the little boys playing with their little cars on the church floor making car sounds as if they were driving them. Memories I won't ever forget.

The most moving event for me this trip was giving the baseball team their uniforms and the soccer team their new cleats. Words can not describe their emotions. They were more than happy. As I mentioned before the baseball team gave me their trophy. It was so nice of them to want to give up their very hard earned trophy. I convenience them to keep it and remember what God had done for them.

The soccer team all met at church on Saturday and at the end of the service all came up front and presented me with their trophy. I really didn't know what to do. I didn't want to take it but I didn't want to reject it so I made them a deal that the Pastor needed to keep it in the church so that it would be a reminder to them also. It was so sweet but I did not want them to give me credit for something God did. I felt so happy for them.

Overall, however, the biggest event of the week was in the village called Coffadia. I had bought that morning a soccer ball for that village hoping that some teenagers would be there and sure enough 12 boys showed up. I sent them off with my friend Mario and the Pastor to play while we were playing with the smaller kids.

About 10 minutes’ later people are yelling for me to come. I was busy so I just said, Hang on a minute. That didn't work. “Hurry, Hurry”, they said. Pastor Jorge informed me that he had shared the gospel with these boys and all 12 had accepted Christ. I encouraged them by sharing my testimony with them and reminding them that their decision was going to change that entire village. Progress in the making.

We had a great experience with the 2nd village but the 1st one we visited was a little more reserve with us. We will need to work on them a little more.

Thank you for all your prayers while we were gone. 12 souls are going to heaven because of them. You may have not gone on this trip with me physically but you were there in spirit and God will honor your prayers and they’ll be crowns in heaven for you.

We are planning another trip in August because of the situation with Isamar. We have been told if you want things done you better come back soon so we will try to go before school starts. Pray the Lord provides.

I had a great team this trip. Bonnie and Thomas are starting the process to adopt Loriana. It was amazing to see God bond them together. It is truly meant to be. Please pray for them as they are just beginning this roller coaster ride I’m on.

I will be putting pictures on the site of all this as soon as I can get my wonderful husband to prepare them for the website. Stay tuned for some great photos.

Last but not least I want to challenge each of you to look at the people around you and ask are you changing people's lives? It doesn't take a mission trip, or a position at Billy Graham's ministry or something big. All it takes is a willing effort to make a change for the better for someone who can not. Maybe it's a neighbor who's lawn mover is broke or a friend's mom who is sick and needs a meal. It can be very small or very large but in God's eyes it's changing His people's lives..

God Bless,

Angie

Update on our trip

Wow we have had a busy time. This is the first time that I have had to write.

I really need some prayers lifted up.

1. My friend Oscar, the little boy that had kidney problems is in very bad shape. He is in the hospital and we have been told he is dieing. God has healed him already but since his parents were put in jail in December he has not been taken good care of and is now very sick. He is asking for me so I am going to see him on Wednesday.

2. We had a meeting with Mi Familia on Friday and they told us that Isamar´s dad came to visit her. He told Isamar that there is no way he will allow her to come with us. He told Carmen she was the lucky one that she gets to come. That to me is the most crueliest thing you can do. They told us that they are really in a bind because the dad can sue them if they don´t give Isamar to him IF he meets the conditions. Let´s pray he does not. The director of the orphanage is doing a report on how the dad is treating Isamar and Carmen. Hopefully they will see his manipulation.

3. Pray for me, I have lost my voice and my throat is swollen. We still have a village to go to tomorrow and time with the girls. It´s hard not to talk here.

We handed out the soccer equipment and the baseball stuff and it was amazing. They wanted me to have their trophy but I made them keep it to remember what God has done for them.

It has been a very successful trip so far but my heart is hurting thinking that I am not going to see Isamar again after this week. I am doing good but its painful. I trust the Lord and I know that he will do the best for Isamar.

Please pray...

Angie

I will update you more as I can but for now we are all doing.

Headed to Nicaragua

I'm 5 days away from heading to Nicaragua and 6 days from seeing my beautiful girls.

I am taking so much stuff that I don't have enough room for everything and it's quite discouraging. I so wish I had my own plane. I would not have this problem any more.

Please pray for Terry and I as we leave our children home again. Although they will be well taken care of there are still many things to consider when Mom and Dad are gone.

Pray for our team members that are going. Bonnie & Thomas, Chris and Lauren, and Jennifer are all coming with us. All three of these families are praying about adopting from Nicaragua as well and are leaving family behind.

Pray for our safety, health, unity and most important for the people we will touch while we are there.

I am taking baseball uniforms and equipment for one team and soccer equipment for another. This is going to rock their world. Pray it raises their faith to a whole new level.

Pray for additional finances that are needed to accomplish this task. I had to purchase new baseball pants for the team that was unexpected and going to my aunts and to her funeral cost me almost $300 in gas that was not planned for so money is very tight for this trip.

I am trusting God to supply all my needs. Pray that people who understand the needs of missions will rise up and help as God leads them to.

I have also ran out of room in my bags. I will have to leave toys or hygiene products home. Its hard for me to make that decision. One is needed and the other is desired. An extra bag is another $100 that I just don't have to spare right now so pray that God will send that money as well if they are to go.

We will be at the orphanage a lot this trip but on Monday and Tuesday morning we will be ministering in two villages that have never had a team of Americans visit them. Pray our showing of love will open doors to share God's love with them and lead them to a personal relationship with him.

Thanks for your support and your prayers.

Angie

Update on the Baseball Equipment

Just wanted to show off all the cool stuff I got for the baseball team in Somotillo.

I am so excited and can't wait to take it to them. Just imagine the smiles on their faces when no only do they get the cake but they get to eat it too...

Check out the pictures by clicking here.

Don't forget about the items I am still neededing for the June trip. Let me know if you have any items you can donate. I really need toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Thanks,

Angie

More Praises and Prayers...

First the prayer needs...

It has now been 37 days since Isamar's DNA test. The longer this takes the farther out our stay in Nicaragua will be causing us to go into our businesses fall season which makes things very complicated.

The council that meets to vote on us has not met in several months; however, they are meeting this Friday and possibly next. If we could get the test results in now it is "POSSIBLE" to get on that council schedule for next Friday.

God knows the plans for this adoption and I am not concerned about our business but the bible says, "Ask Not, Receive Not" so I'm living by that motto and asking you guys to be in agreement with me and ask God to intervene in the delivery of the test results.

If the results are positive it changes this process completely and will hold this process up again.

P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens.. That’s what I'm going to do.

Time for Praises...

Remember my soccer team in Somotillo I wrote about? Remember I told you about having a connection to the Charlotte Eagles? You're not going to believe how God showed off this time.

Yesterday I received a call from Jim and Renee Hughes who also have a sports ministry and are currently working directly with the Charlotte Eagles. Ms. Hughes informed me that she is working with a group of teens who are going to Nicaragua in July and they have raised additional funds that need to be spent. What better place to spend that money but to bless a group of teens in Somotillo?

That's right, they are going to provide the much needed cleats to my soccer buddies, and not just cleats but the kind that the Eagles wear. They are also going to provide balls and shin guards. The coolest thing is they are going to give them the "Gospel Soccer Balls" to use in their ministry. Those balls look like the gospel bracelets and you use them to share the story of Christ.

Can you believe this? God took total strangers and together we are going to bless a soccer team with items they are believing by faith for. Just imagine how this will build their individual faith.

Give God Praise for the little things and watch Him give you BIG things..

Thanks for your prayers and for the praises.

Angie

Preparing for a June Mission Trip

Terry and I will be going to Nicaragua in June and with us will be a couple who is interested in adopting Loriana as well as my friend Jorge and his girlfriend so I can't waste having all those people with me so our plans are to minister in at least one or more villages while we are there.

In order to do so I need supplies. I am sorry for the short notice but with friends like you guys I know we can pull some things together.

I have most of everything I would need except for the following:

Toothbrushes - I can get 12 for a $1 at the 521 Flee Market if anyone is going that way.
Toothpaste (travel size) - Can you ask your dentist if they will donate some for me?
Fingernail polish - The moms and teenage girls love to see me come with polish.
Combs
Washcloths
Fingernail clippers
Razors - disposable
Purse Size Umbrellas would be nice - do you have one in your house you can donate?

I would need to get any thing you have no later than June 13th if at all possible.

Please email me if you have any of these items and if you get any so I will know what is coming in.

Please remember that I might be the person going to Nicaragua and handing this stuff out but it's YOU that make it happen for me. You play a huge part in every trip I take so remember one item is more than I had yesterday. No amount is too little.

Now let's get things ready to show these people how much God loves them and how much Americans do care about other people.

God Bless,

Angie

Praises and Prayers

During my last two visits I had 3 young men from a local baseball team come to me and ask if there was any way for me to help them get equipment for their teams.

Just think about it, they could have ask me for food, money, medicines or any other much needed items. Instead, they asked for baseball equipment. I was very impressed by there request because it was more of, "Would you please pray about helping our team" instead of "We want you to help us, or We really need your help". They were gentlemen with a heart for the love of baseball.

I told them I would come home and ask for assistance for their team and in the mean time they needed to be praying that God opens a door for them.

As soon as I got home I found a company that donates uniforms and equipment. There name is Pitchinforbaseball. I had to write a letter to them and fill out a huge application. I called them since I had not heard anything from them only to find out they had deleted my request by accident. I'm glad they did because then they felt sorry and actually took time to listen to me.

Today I got a phone call from the President who informed me that they do not give equipment to Faith-Based ministries but since my letter to them encouraged them and explain my plan to help these young men they would send me what they had. No promises of how much equipment, just some.

Within hours I received an email from them and they are shipping me more than I asked for. I'm getting enough uniforms (pants, shirts and socks), cleats, gloves, bats, balls, catchers stuff, and bags to put the stuff in and score books for up to 4 teams. This is 1,000's of dollars worth of equipment for FREE.... They even paid the shipping.

For those of you who know me well you can only imagine how happy I am. For those of you who don't well you can say I played 8 years of sports in school and 27 years of Softball. Baseball/Softball has been my life. Being able to bless these guys is a huge blessing to me and them. Praise God.. With this I will build relationships that could lead to Salvations.

Not long after the baseball man called the phone rang and it was a company that donates Eye Glasses. I had filled out another form online and they have agreed to give me 200 adult glasses and 200 children’s glasses and a machine to use to determine the strength of used glasses FOR FREE.... This is not the company I told you about earlier. This is an additional one. Glory, Glory, Glory…

Now for the Prayer Requests...

I got word yesterday that all the buses, taxies, and tractor trailer drivers have gone on strike in Nicaragua. The gas has gone up to $6 per gallon in some places.

This is a huge issue. There are 1,000's of trucks with food sitting on the borders refusing to bring it across until the President does something about the gas prices. Food has doubled in the last two days. People who were already struggling are having severe problems now.

It takes about $2,000 to fill the gas tank of a tractor trailer. Do you know how long it would take for a self-employed person to make $2,000 in Nicaragua?

Please pray for the government to step in. Without a resolution soon people are going to be desperate for food even more than they are already.

I was going to book my flight yesterday and heard that an American was pulled over by the strikers and harassed. They are angry at us because we are at war and it's hurting them. Nothing serious happen but it scared the American really bad. Needless to say I am waiting to book my tickets for June. I won't live in fear but I also believe in using wisdom.

America is in a serious position with the gas prices at $3.75, imagine paying $6.00 per gallon on a salary of $50.00 per month.

I'm a week away from hearing about the results for Isamar. As we get closer, pray for my peace and for God's will in her life to be fulfilled. No additional news at this time. Hopefully I’ll have great news to report next week.

Thanks for your prayers,

Angie

ps. If you are affliated with baseball leagues and they need to get rid of gently used equipment, please contact Pitchinforbaseball.org A huge Thank You goes out to them for all they did for the boys in Somotillo.

Collecting Bathing Suits for the Girls

I will be going back to the orphanage in June and the last time I was there the girls were able to go swimming in their blow-up pools, the only problem was very few of them had a bathing suit.

I would like to take each of the girls a new/gently used bathing suit when I go.

If you have any please get them to me by June 1st.

I need 5 size Toddler Small (3-5), 8 size Small (5-7) 5 Mediums (8-10).

We have two girls that have left the orphanage and 3 new girls that has arrived. I am sure they would love to have a suit since they came to the orphanage with nothing and are having to wear clothes of the other children.

If you feel led to help, just let me know.

God Bless,

Angie

Do you know a Christian Eye Doctor?

I currently don't have a Christian Ophthalmologist and I am in need of one.

I have found a company that will provide me with New glasses to take to Nicaragua for free.

I need a doctor who is willing to teach me the best method of distributing these glasses.

Having poor eyesight is bad enough but to have poor eyesight and the wrong glasses is just asking for a headache.

If you are going to the doctor soon ask them if they would be willing to partner with me and teach me how to determine what prescription a person needs. I’m not looking for an education on your eyes just the best layman’s method of figuring this out. I know it can be done; thousands of mission teams are doing it.

Just think how cool it would be to give sight to someone so they can read the Word of God.

If you will end me your doctors name and location, I'll call them.

Thanks,

Angie

Isamar's DNA Test

Isamar rode the 3 1/2 hour bus ride to and from Managua yesterday and completed the test.

Sadly, we are now being told it will take a MONTH to get the results back. This causes a lot of problems for us. We have to live there for 6 - 10 weeks and since our business is slow during the summer months we were planning around that time but with this pushing things out a month that makes things very difficult. We are now looking at bringing the girls home in September or October which is just not good for our business.

Please pray for favor. We need that test result back much sooner.

The dad also caused a scene yesterday because Isamar rejected him. He tried to talk to her and hug on her and she refused. Now he is saying that we caused this. We have brain washed her into believing he is bad for her. This is just not the truth. I have said nothing to her about her dad.

He is making things difficult for us. Pray that his heart sees that we are not trying to change how Isamar feels.

Pray for her sister Carmen. She cried all night on Sunday thinking she would not see Isamar again. Yesterday when she finally arrived back home Carmen hugged her for 10 minutes saying "I thought I would not every see you again". How difficult that was for Carmen to endure.

Thank for your prayers. You are truly helping me stay sane..

I'm trusting God to handle this, I know he won't let me down.

Angie