Nica Update: Poem and Pictures

Poem and Pictures Dear Family and Friends, It is the time of year when our family looks back on the previous year to reflect on what God has done.  And then to look forward to the coming year, asking for God to lead our steps and plans.  One of the things that becomes so obvious as we look back on this past year is how God worked so powerfully through our weakness.  We are becoming more and more aware of how big God is and how small we are.  How strong He is and how weak we are.  How powerful He is and how we are in such great need of His power to work in us and through us.  We know now more than ever before that we can do nothing apart from Christ, but that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.   This past year has been such a great example of how God brings beauty out of ashes.  How He makes all things beautiful in His time.  Of how His grace is sufficient and His power made perfect in weakness.  How He works all things together for our good.  And that He is exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can ask or imagine.      At the beginning of the year, I shared about how I struggled with God's call to homeschool our kids.  So much of my struggle was related to my feeling like this call was far too big for me on many levels.  It made me realize how great my need is for God - not just daily - but moment to moment. And yet it has been through this struggle to see and know God moment to moment that we are growing both individually and as a family into people who understand more about who God is and who we are.    I wrote a poem that communicates some of the ways God has moved in us this year and demonstrated His immeasurable goodness to us.  We share this with you below, once again thanking you for praying and financially supporting us through this past year.  Someone recently said to me that "our testimony is in the test" . . . basically meaning that when we let others walk with us through our pain, they get to see the work of God happening as it happens.  Our vulnerability with you is related to our desire for you to watch God weave the story of His grace through our lives as it happens.  We pray that you see over and over again that . . . we are weak, but He is strong.  And we pray that our testimony would encourage you as you walk with your God.     The Immeasurably More God   One day she just could not find you She was experiencing such intense pain You told her that you were with her And that "The Immeasurably More God" was your name   She could not imagine how you would do it Fulfill that promise to be more than she could believe But now looking back on this amazing year She is in awe of the Immeasurably More story that you have weaved   Her family's year began with two broken vehicles And a boy who was sad because he missed his school buddies A husband who felt restless and wondering And a Mom who felt that she was going nutty   Their year now ends with two great vehicles That should, by God's grace, last awhile And a boy who now has a great group of friends Into our car for airsoft gun wars they all pile   The husband who was restless Is now excited about a new dream Teaching accounting, discipling students, and working on projects And coordinating an ACSI reevaluation to assist the administration team   And the Mom who felt she was going nutty Is now filled with thankfulness and praise Sometimes she can't quite even believe How much everything is becoming new in so many beautiful ways.   She is developing a love and appreciation for her husband As an inspiring spiritual leader of her family She enjoys listening to him each afternoon And is learning to think more of "we" and less of "me"   She is passionately embracing motherhood Like she never has before Being with her kids morning, noon, and night Is changing and transforming her at her core   She is watching her daughter grow in godliness Sewing gifts for others, caring for children, and teaching English at a school Passionately leading her group of Bible Study girls And loving kids at the orphanage – she has certainly been God's tool.   The son is growing so much this year As he reflects more on the things he says and does and thinks The Mom enjoys watching him love and lead little boys Each word that comes from Will's mouth is like a cup of cold water that they drink. The lesson this Mom is learning during this season of her life Is to obey her God and follow Him to the unknown place To depend on Him for light for each step And to trust that in obeying and following and depending – she will truly experience His grace.   So as they end this year of school at home She sees how her family has grown both deep and broad In their knowledge and understanding Of the Immeasurably More Than They Can Ask or Imagine God   Thank you once again for so faithfully walking with us.  It is a comfort for us to know that we are part of a team of people who are accompanying us on this journey and are investing in the work that God is doing through us.  We so appreciate you!    Peace and love to you, Lisa (Dan, Rebekah, and Will) Van Zoest Will and Rebekah were asked to help translate for a group of seniors from a High School in Canada.  These seniors were on their "class trip" which involved serving in Nicaragua. During a break, Will played soccer with these two boys from the school. After working at the school, the mission team and the kids and I walked to a local park where we picked up trash and painted new lines on the basketball court. The kids also helped the team paint a mural to cover the graffiti.  The mural depicted a Canadian flag connected to a Nicaraguan flag. Pictured here is Rebekah with her Bible Study group.  Each week, Rebekah writes up lessons on the computer to present to her girls. Pictured here are Rebekah and Will following our trip to the orphanage a few weeks ago.  An American was there and gave us a sticker book.  We did not have any paper to put the stickers on so all the kids put the stickers on each other's clothing.  What then ensued was a massive sticker fight!  I think Rebekah and Will got the worst of it. Will giving Khloe a good-bye kiss.  Khloe loved Will.  She would choose to go to him most often out of all of us. Katy giving Rebekah a good-bye hug.  We will so miss her hugs! This class is made up of both adults and children.  Rebekah's role is to help kids with their assignments and there are also times when she has gotten to stand up in front of the class to help with teaching.  Teaching is Rebekah's passion and pursuit and so this experience is very valuable for her. Here is Will with two of the little boys that he mentors.  Every Sunday, he will meet with these two boys and two other boys for "club".  He has been teaching them something about God each week and doing some kind of fun activity.  Pictured here, the boys are carving a bar of soap with their knives. Rebekah and Will spent the day with these seniors and with groups of Nicaraguan students, working on projects together and discussing differences between Nicaraguan and Canadian culture. What most impressed Will was that these boys did not have a soccer ball.  Instead, they played soccer with a ball made out of paper and tape. This Nicaraguan boy followed Will around most of the day and Will did a great job of talking with him.  We kept asking him to help us because the park we were cleaning was his neighborhood park.  At first he resisted, but then began working with us and by the end of our time there he had recruited another friend to help. She also plans fun activities like this picnic.  She sewed little lunch bags for all of the girls which included a tiny lunch for the girls' dolls.  And she also prepared lunch for each one of the girls as well.  After the picnic, she had organized a craft for them to make for their dolls. Here is Michelle and her girls just hours before they left Nicaragua.  It was so hard for us to say good-bye.  But, also so exciting to see them become a part of this family.  We feel so blessed to be a part of Katy and Khloe's story through our weekly visits to the orphanage.  We are so thankful for the opportunity to love these girls and to continue to pray for their futures. Great picture of Katy.  Love those eyes. This is a picture of the English class that Rebekah helps with each Thursday afternoon.  This community center is located in a very poor neighborhood a few minutes from our home. Rebekah's friend Dayana has helped with this class for years.  The community center is located in Dayana's neighborhood and so she has personal connections with the people which has also helped Rebekah to get to know the people there.  Someday I will share more with you about Dayana.  She is one of the most inspiring teenagers I have ever met.