The Brackens

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Bittersweet

Webster dictionary defines "bittersweet" as pleasure alloyed with pain. Our family is experiencing this now. We can't wait to get back to the states, but it is heartbreaking to think of leaving Nicaragua. In about two weeks, we will return to Tennessee. Although the past two years have been the hardest of our lives, they have also been the most rewarding. Our two years in Nicaragua have changed us and we will never be the same. We have seen contentment in sheer poverty. We have seen joy in destitution. We have seen peace in the midst of turmoil. The people of Nicaragua will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank you Lord for giving us the opportunity to serve here. Help us to remember the things we have learned on this journey.

The past week was full of activities including kindergarten graduation, groundbreaking for the new auditorium, celebrating Thanksgiving with fellow American missionaries, celebrating Kora's 14th birthday, a gospel meeting, VBS and two baptisms.

John Bentley, David and Brenda McCrary and Tim Agee at the
groundbreaking ceremony for the auditorium

Kindergarten graduation

As we prepare to return to the states, we look forward to: worshipping in English, snow, cooler weather, sitting by a fireplace, spending time with family and friends, WalMart,cheaper gas prices, and fewer power outages.

As we prepare to leave Nicaragua, we will miss: worshipping in Spanish, wearing flip flops everyday, incredible scenery, the 276 students at Nicaragua Christian School, living 30 minutes from the beach, Nica friends, missionary friends, and working with mission teams.

The hardest part about coming to Nicaragua is leaving Nicaragua.

Pray for us as we leave Nicaragua. Pray for us as we return to Tennessee. Pray for God's provisions and plans for our family.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

Dios te bendiga,
James and Kim

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The library at Nicaragua Christian School is open! Thanks to all those who donated books. There are currently 300 books in the library. If you are interested in donating to the library, please send money or Spanish children's books to Campbell St. Church of Christ 1490 Campbell St. Jackson, TN 38301.

Rosita enjoying the new library

The kids are so excited about all the books that they line up at the door waiting for the library to open.

This is what the library looks like at recess

This month we also celebrated "The day of the races", in which Nicaraguans celebrate their Hispanic and Indian heritage.

We have been treasuring each and every moment as we realize our moments are becoming fewer and fewer with each passing day. Some of our favorite activities from this past month...

Coloring with the kids in the community

Hanging out with some of our neighbors

Kora enjoying a field trip with the preschoolers

Loving on babies

Jaden and our chicks

Jaden learning to play guitar

We have been blessed by many new experiences and adventures over the past two years. Most recently, our VISA's expired and we were forced to leave Nicaragua for three days.....so we made a trip across the border to Costa Rica. We had a some much needed family time and enjoyed our 72 hour vacation.

We return to Tennessee on December 12th. We are looking forward to spending time with our family and friends. Please pray that God will provide jobs for us and that we will have a smooth transition back into the American culture. Thank you for you continued support and encouragement!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus".
Philippians 4:19

Dios te bendiga,
James and Kim

Friday, September 21, 2012

Viva la adventura

Living in Central America is definitely an adventure! Within a four day period, we felt the earthquake in Costa Rica, were under a tsunami alert, and had a nearby volcano erupt.

San Cristobal erupting

Another view of San Cristobal erupting

                      Other adventures this month.....

                      On September 9th, the we went to Telica for VBS.

The little clowns

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Two baptisms in Ojoche.

The Elsie T. Rudd SHARE (Sharing Hope and Resources with Everyone) Program gave piglets to three families in Ojoche.

One of the first piglets given through the SHARE program

One of the families with their new piglet in a pen constructed by the family
Materials for building the pen were provided by the Elsie T. Rudd SHARE program

Nicaragua Christian School participated in a parade on September 15th. The school is ranked 6th out of 50 in Leon and 1st in our area for academics.

Nathaniel holding the NCS flag in the parade

Come join the adventure and enjoy the thrill of serving God and others!

Dios te bendiga,

James and Kim

Friday, August 17, 2012

Finish the race

The end of June brought a high school group from Murfreesboro, TN who conducted a Vacation Bible School on the NCS campus.

Marie Bentley, a senior high school student from our home congregation joined us for three weeks. She helped with the VBS and conducted art classes two days a week.

Alyssa and Marie, the first interns at NCS....could not have asked for two better girls

Kim's mom made her first and probably last visit to Nicaragua. She loved the kids at NCS, but the heat was too much for her. Emily Whipple, a thirteen year old made the trip with Kim's mom and she is already making plans to come again next summer.

Kora, Emily and Ellen at NCS

Emily and Kim's mom with the 80 books donated by Susquehanna Church of Christ in Pennsylvania.

The same day that Kim's mom and Emily left Nicaragua, Alison Jones, Andrea Nash, Sara Maners and Linda Dyer arrived. They worked at the school every day and enjoyed experiencing Nicaragua. Sara brought bubbles, matchbox cars and dolls which were handed out in the community. Sara, Andrea and Alison brought books for the NCS library, which brings the total to 260! Bookshelves are being constructed and the library will open soon.

Andrea being tickled by NCS student

Sara, Kora, and NCS students

Alison with some NCS students at recess

Linda Dyer at NCS

James has been working on the SHARE (Sharing Resources and Hope with Everyone) project. Three families in Ojoche have been identified to begin this program. Pig pens have been built with hopes of piglets to fill the pens soon.

A family with the base of their pig pen

Jaden carrying bricks to build a pig pen

Ryan and Summer Bush arrived in Nicaragua about two weeks ago. We are very excited to have them here. Being in the mission field is hard. Being in the mission field alone is even harder. With the arrival of the Ryan and Summer, it reminds us that our two year commitment in Nicaragua is coming to an end. In four months, we will move back to Tennessee. We are on the last leg of the race.
... my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Dios te bendiga,

James and Kim

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A picture is worth a thousand words

In the states, June and July equal no school and family vacations. In Nicaragua, June and July mark the middle of the school year and brings interns, mission teams and visitors. I would have to write a book to explain all that has happened since our last blog. It is said "A picture is worth a thousand words", so below are some pictures that will give you a glimpse into our lives over the past six weeks.