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

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

The Girls at the House of Rose Part 2

The time has finally come. After many many hours sitting at this computer editing video I have finally got a video for each of the girls as they were receiving their gift bags.

Things did not pan out like I had planned but in the end I was still able to teach them about true love.

As I mentioned before when I arrived I found that the older girls had been very mischievous. The director did not feel any of the older girls deserved gifts. This made me a little nervous at first so I made a deal with her to allow me to give them the gift bags.

Please pray for all the girls. A little girl named Marcella from the village they live in is teaching the girls very un-Christlike ways of doing things and especially how to be ugly toward the workers and the director of the orphanage. They are in the same school together and this girl is a bully.

The girls are shy on the video a little. They were just amazed that my friends "sent Ms. Angie" to see them and to bring them nice things. They were thrilled not just because they were getting something but because it was from so many people. They kept asking me questions about each of you. Tell me more about your friend one little girl said.

I truly hope that you and your family will continue communicating with the girls. I will be happy to take a note from your children or what ever the Lord lays on your heart. They usually get very little until I come around and then they get too much some times.

I really appreciate all of you that participated in this. The girls will never forget your kindness.

I videos are not the best but they are something. I encourage you to look at all of them; it will bless your heart tremendously. There are pictures too.

Check out the videos here.

God Bless,

Angie

"A person never stands as tall as when they bend down to help a child."-Abraham Lincoln

P.U.S.H (Pray until something happens)

I have had limited access to the internet in the last two days and I'm hating it that I have not sent this out by now but God knows best.

At 8:30 your time on Thursday morning Terry and I will be sitting in the office of Mi Familia (DSS of Nicaragua) submitting out paperwork to be approved to adopt our girls.

This process will allow us to be voted on by the Consejo (Consayhoe) which is like a committee or council. We know already there are at least one problem with our paperwork and so I am just praying it's only one.

The lady we will be meeting with is Dr. Artola. She is a Christian which I am hoping helps me a lot.

My prayer request is that we make a good impression on Dr. Artola and Mi Familia and that our paperwork has been done correctly and is in order.

God's favor has been on us this entire trip and we expect it to be there the rest of the week.

Also, please pray for another mother named Heather who is here in Nicaragua waiting to take her children home. Her paperwork has gotten delayed several times and it appears that she could be here longer. She has been her 6 weeks already. If we all pray together for her we can move her court date to be soon than later. God hears our prayers and acts accordingly.

Even if you get this after we have met still pray... Pray that it doesn't lay on her desk for weeks and it doesn't get lost in the many piles she already has.

Thank you for praying....

Angie

Smiles I'll Never Forget

We arrived at the orphanage yesterday to find the kids in disarray. Lately the girls have been very disobedient which is just not heard of around there.

It was so bad that I was in tears by the end of the night. I just could not believe my eyes or my ears.

The director and I had decided that the younger kids would receive their gifts today and ONLY if the older girls were better would they get there’s. I truly felt like it was just the devil trying to mess things up for me.

I just prayed over all the girls and expect a difference today and what a differen a day makes.

The girls were much much better today. They really were their old selfs again.

I gave the littlest girls their clothes and WOW what a show of love. They were so excited. I don't think I have seen such sweetness as I saw today. I so hope it comes out in the video. Once the kids put on their clothes they walked around like they were princesses. It was so so sweet. I can't wait to post the pictures.

Out of all the checking out of clothes, toys, coloring books, etc. I will remember that last minutes I had with the girls. I told that yesterday they were so bad that Ms. Angie didn't want to come back but today I was really proud at how much better they were acting.

The next words broke my heart.. "Ms. Angie, please forgive me for being ugly yesterday, please don't ever stop coming to see me". That came from one of the girls that got sent to bed at 6:30 because of her behavior. All the girls repeated what she said and hugged and kissed me over and over again. It was the most precious moment I've had at the orphanage.

Showing love to the loveless can move mountains, I watched it happen yesterday.

Until tomorrow,

Angie

On our Way

Wow, it's time to go already. Time is flying by. I'll be home next week before I can blink and eye.

I have so much stuff that I ran out of room. I will have to leave some things behind this trip but don't worry I'll be headed down next month hopefully. (All the girls stuff made it, just extra stuff I had didn't)

I have been so blessed to hear all the stories about your shopping experiences. I am sure there are more for me to hear about so make sure you tell me when I get back.

I am so humbled to have you guys as friends. I am honored that you trust me with your money, your time and your prayers. You can't imagine how special that makes me feel on the inside.

God will give you back more than you can ever imagine.

I just want to make sure you really understand what you did by giving selfishly to my girls at the House of Rose.

Those girls never receive things identified to them individually. It's always something for everyone. This week I am going to make sure they feel so special. Your package will be given to them in a way that they will know that it was for JUST them FROM you and your family. I can't wait to get there. I have gone 9 times and every time it's special but this trip for some reason is different. I have had butterflies in my stomach for 3 days. God is up to something.

Just in case you think that what you did was no big deal. This is what God has to say about it..

Matthew 25:40
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
God Bless, Stay tuned I'll update you as I can this week.

Pray for us every day that God will protect us, guide us, provide wisdom and knowledge to us and show us His ways.

This picture does not include everything. Just look what a bunch of us can do. :)

Angie

My Life That's in a Box...

Do you believe in God's Favor?

I do.... and I live my life expecting it.

2 Corinthians 6:2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

He tells us here that NOW is the time of God's favor. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy it. Well God showed me some serious favor this week with my paperwork for the adoption.

I have called the NC State Department and for days and days I got no one. This week I had to know exactly how to package all this information and so I tried calling them again. Once the phone rang I just told God, "Ok God, you know I need to talk to someone" and that someone answered the phone. Finally, I got a human. Not just any human, a Christian one. Ms. Dupree.

I told her what I was doing and that I would be sending all my documents the next day. She assured me she would handle them for me and get them out the door to the next location as soon as possible.

Well, long story short. She received them and there was something wrong with ALL 26 of them. It was minor but very important. I called back yesterday and spoke to her and she told me that technically she was to reject them and send them back to me BUT because she knew how important they were and my situation of time she bent the rules and sent them on their way. You can not imagine what that meant to me. If she had sent them back we would not be leaving next Saturday.

What were the chances I would not only get an understanding person on that end but a Christian lady who said she would be praying for me?

God’s Favor is all around you. Look for it and acknowledge it when you see it.

Stop saying, "Can you believe that?" or Wow! Aren’t I lucky.. There's no luck with God...

Monday is the next big day. The Nicaragua Consulate office has to stamp everything on Monday and send it back on Tuesday. Let's pray that person finds no issues.

Stay Tuned..

Angie

The Girls at the House of Rose

The clothes are starting to come in and I'm having a hay day.

Ms. Lisa found me 30+ pairs of the cutest undies.. There's no such thing as being in the right place at the right time with God... He knows what He is doing.

I'm so excited, it's like that day you buy the toy your child has been wanting and talking about for months and they are impossible to get but you found one. My stomach gets in knots just thinking about the look on their faces when they see these cool clothes and stuff.

I still need 3 more families if you are interested. I will buy for them and have already did some but would much rather someone other than me bless these girls. I can't wait for them to see your faces on your pictures. It will be so special to them.

God blessed me last night with other things to take to them.

I went to the BiLo on Belhaven and all their stuffed animals and candy was 75% off. The new manager their remembered me from a long time ago and after a chat he told me if I would bring him a letter he would give me enough gift certificates to cover any money I spent.

Sweet...

I got 16 hears that hang on your bed post that say "I Love You" on them, 20+ packs of crayons, 3 packs of 20 pencils with hearts on them and 14 beautiful soft stuffed animals and most importantly CANDY...

God is good, he cares about the little things in life just as much as the big things.

Those children at the House of Rose are precious in his sight. I can see the smile on His face just watching us pick out the clothes for these girls.

If you have not seen them yet, check out the pictures from Christmas by clicking here.

Remember, I have to have everything by the 29th. I leave on the 1st.

God Bless,
Angie

Can I do more? Sure you can...

I have had several questions about helping the girls of the House of Rose Orphanage.

Here are some answers to everyone?

1. Do you only want Easter clothes? No, I will take what ever I can get. The girls love comfortable dresses, some wear shorts and pants but mostly nice little sun dresses.
2. Tennis Shoes or Sandals? Tennis shoes are great because they last longer, but sandals are just as needed.
3. Do they need anything else? Underwear, socks, hair bows are always needed.
4. Can I send other items? Of course, it is truly up to you if you want to include things like fingernail polish, hair bows, hair barrettes, PJ's, or what ever God leads you to do.
5. Are you other items other than clothes that you are taking? Yes, I am taking school supplies also.
6. Can we include a letter and pictures? Most defiantly....Please make this a gift of LOVE, this is not about the clothes this is about showing a total stranger that God loves them and they have not been left and forgotten.
7. Can I send used clothes? Yes, but only if they look like you would buy them at a consignment store. I want to bless them with good stuff, not just stuff.

Once you email me I will send you the sizes and a picture of a child. Then it's up to you and God.

The only thing I ask is that each girl receives and outfit and a pair of shoes.

FYI,

Tonight I went to Walmart and I found about 10-15 pairs of sandals for $3 - $4 each so if you don't have the funds to buy the shoes I'll put a pair of these with them. I also found beautiful dresses made by Georgia for $5.63, they were perfect for the girls. There were nice Faded Glory jeans and shirts for $4 each and for the little ones Garanimals mix & match for $3.50 each.

Thanks to those who have already emailed me. I have 5 takers so far and only 7 more to go.

God Bless,

Angie

True Love is showing love to someone you don't know

Yesterday, all of the world people showed their spouses, children, boy/girl friends that they loved them through flowers, cards, candy, stuffed animals, a nice dinner and many more ways.

I heard the average person spent $50 telling someone they loved them. Just think if someone spent $50 on you every day, I mean surely Feb. 14th is not the only day I am loved, right?

Well I am asking you to dig deep and show someone you don't know that you love them through Christ and that God loves them even more than you do.

I support an orphanage in Nicaragua that most of you know about already and there are 14 little girls that every day of their lives they have NOone to show them they are loved. Think about for just a second, how would you feel if day by day passed and no one hugged you, or told you you were special and you were loved. After a while it would make you really sad.

Well my girls feel this way every day. All 14 of them.

I am asking those of you reading this to help me show them they are loved by purchasing them a new outfit and shoes for Easter or just for school. If you have used clothes you would like to give that is great also but I want them to receive at least one outfit and a pair of shoes.

I have all their sizes and I will pick up the stuff from you and deliver them there during the first week of March. I would also like each family to send them a love letter. What ever God lays on your heart, pictures of your family, pictures of your kids, what ever you feel but make it special. I will return with pictures of each child for your family.

Please pray and consider this. It does not have to be expensive. You can get a shorts outfit, a dress or pants outfit for $10 and new shoes, either sandles or tennis shoes for $5-8 at Walmart and K-Mart right now. So for no more than $20 you can bless a child's life who has no one to care for them and show them they are loved.

The House of Rose is not supported by anyone, yet. Their budget is only enough to feed them daily.

Please consider helping me. Of course, Terry and I will do my two girls so I only need 12 of you to help.

Please email me and I will give you a child's name and picture and all their sizes.

The bible tells us in James 1:27 that, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widos in thier distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Be Pure and Faultess and show true love...

My deadline is February 29th.

God Bless,

Angie

Adoption News

We are slowly but surely getting our paperwork finished. We hope to have everything finished and in our hands for delivery to Nicaragua at the end of this month.

What does that mean?

Our girls are still the legal custody of their parents even though they have not seen them since age 2 & 3. The DSS of Nicaragua, Mi Familia, has started the abandonment process to declare the girls abandoned so that we can adopt them. They are visting them on Monday to investigate this situation. That is good news. That means they are working on it and at the pace they go any activity is a good thing.

Once the girls are declared abandon Mi Familia has to accept our paperwork and file an adoption application for us. After all that is finished and many other things are done we should be told if and when we can have the girls.

I am not expecting them this year but if God wants them here, they will be.

Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers.

I'll update more as things happen.

Our New Family Members

Some of you know this already but for those of you who have not heard yet our family is adopting two beautiful girls from the orphanage I have been going to.

As of today we are in the beginning stages. There are a lot of processes that have to be completed here as well as getting the girls declared abandoned.

We hope to take our finished paperwork to Nicaragua in March.

Please pray for us as this is a lenghty process and requires a great deal of patience.

It is unknown at this time how long this process will take.

Our daughters names are Carmen and Isamar. I have spent the last 4 summers with them.

I'll keep you posted on the status as I have new information.

Click here to view photos of them.

God Bless,

Angie

Christmas in Nicaragua

Terry and I had the priviledge of going to Nicaragua at the beginning of December for 9 days. During this time we helped Ministries of His Glory give out backpacks to all the sponsored kids of Save A Generation. Preview those pictures by clicking here.

On Friday 14th, we got to have Christmas at the Orphanage. It was truly the most rememberable time I have had in Nicaragua.

Check out the bed heads of the girls by clicking here. We started at 5:15 am that morning. What a great way to wake up.

Enjoy the pictures.

God Bless,

Angie