Ways you can help in a time when money is tight

If anyone knows what tight is our family does. Pictures are a great thing to have but not necessary to carry on life. Several people have said, "Angie I wished we could help but we just don't have any extra" .

Being a budget minded person and a mission minded person I have taken a look at our own lives and ask can I find extra?

Here are some examples of how must people spend money outside of the normal bills each month and the amounts we are spending.

Lunch after church - $25 - $30 4 times a month Pizza on Friday night - $20 - 2 times a month Starbucks - $3.50 - $4.50 2 times a week Drive thru at McDonalds - $10 - $15 4 times a month A case of Dasani water - $8.00 2 times a month Watching a movie - $30 - $40 for the average size family

Total spent - $312

Alternative

Eat at home after church- $10 4 times a month Pizza on Friday night bought at Walmart $12 - 2 times a month Make your own coffee at home - $1 2 times a week Eat before you leave so you don't need to go through drive thru at McDonalds - $5 4 times a month Nestle bottled water (the same water as Dasani) - $3.00 2 times a month Rent a movie from the library  - free with library card 

Total amount spent -  $98 and you still get to have everything and can still donate $25 to missions

This is not to make anyone feel guilty about spending. It's your money and you can do with it all you want. The point is that God wants us to be good stewards of our money and when it comes to giving it seems we never have enough to give but when it comes to other things there is always enough.

In this economy we all need to look at our spending and ask if we are living how God would approve. We all have to cut back but sadly the church gets hit the most.

Can you give up lunch after church twice in a month and donate that money spent to help others share the gospel?

What changes can you make in your life that could save you money that would be better spent increasing the kingdom of God?

Just something to consider. I'm challenged to change things are you?

God bless,

Angie

His work continues...

It's that time again to continue my work in Nicaragua. We are heading down at the end of February to continue the work that was started in August. The garden project was very successful based on what I was told but I need to see it and hear the comments myself from the families so the only way to do that and plan for a future project is to go there.

Going there also means I will be in the same city with my girls. Will I get to see them? We are not sure but are believing God that the man that has them will have compassion toward us and give us some time with them.

In order to go on this trip we need your prayers. The economy has made things hard for our business this past quarter and now which has caused our finances to be less than desired.

Just yesterday I had no idea how I was going to get here and this morning God showed up and I found an amazing price on the airline ticket. He is working already on my behalf but there is much more to come.

All last year I went to Nicaragua 8 times and did not ask for support from anyone but this trip I have no other choice.

Times are really hard for all of us and I understand as much as anyone so I ask if each of you reading this would pray and ask God if it is his will for you to support this trip and the work the Lord has for me to do.

My plans for this trip include researching other places that need to hear God's word, other villages that need to learn to grow their own food and provide for themselves and hopefully meeting the people with another ministry who are looking for a team to come this summer to help with an orphanage.

I know God has plans for great things to happen this year but in order to do them I need support especially prayer support. Please join with me in praying that all that is need for this trip will come forth.

I have planned a budget for this trip and because of the airfare discount I will only need to raise about $1500 total for me and Terry. Normally a trip to Nicaragua is $1100 - $1200 a piece. So you can see that God is already doing his thing to help us get there.

Without your prayers none of what I do is possible. Please pray specifically for the following:

Finances to come in by February 20th Connections with the right people Wisdom about future projects Open doors with the new ministry Opportunity to visit with the girls Lives to be changed Peace in my heart as I return to where the orphanage is but none of my kids are there Safety and protection as we travel Safety and protection for my boys that we will leave behind

I could not have done all that I have thus far without the prayers of my friends. I appreciate them more than you can know and I know together we can move mountains in order to meet the needs of this trip.

If you feel led to be a part of this trip financially (remember no amount is too small or too big) please mail your check to  this address by February 20th:

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

Will you partner with me to make a difference in the Kingdom of God?

I am praying for you as I know you are praying for us.

Angie & Terry

Website and Blog Changes.. finally

Well after many many hours I have changed my website to another color and different pictures. Just felt like I needed a new look. Check it out when you get a chance and let me know what you think. Your comments are very important to me. My blog has changed also and I am still working out the issues.

Please email me and let me know if you get this post in your email. I should have all the issues resolved soon.

Thanks,

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