Brick factory

A few years ago, we decided it would be nice to take our groups to a local brick factory. We allow each team member to write whatever they want in the bricks. After the bricks are fired, we pick them up and use them in construction projects on our mission farm. This is special to Steve and I as we look back over the bricks and reminisce about previous teams.

Pastor's Training

Several years ago we asked the local pastors in Nicaragua what THEY needed instead of us deciding what WE thought they needed. They ALL said,  "TEACH US." The majority of ALL of the pastors we have ever worked with have had NO seminary training. This began a huge mission in our hearts to bring pastors and leaders from the states who had a heart for missions and training up other pastors. Our home church pastor, Bobby Maynard, is an amazing man for this job. I have never seen a pastor walk his talk like this man does. This is his third trip to Nicaragua to help train and equip local pastors and leaders with biblical knowledge to help them shepherd their own flock.

Pastor Bobby Maynard

Daughters of the KING

DOTK....Nicaragua and USA. Our home church has an amazing women's group called, "Daughters of the King." Yvette, who leads our group at home, shared with this group of pastor's wives and leaders from the local churches. She shared Psalm 91 and Mark 12:30-31. We were able to share testimonies, complete arts and crafts, and break bread together. The elephant represents our "herd" of women that does life together. On this very special day, Yvette extended our herd. 

Vacation Bible School

Thrive Church hosted two VBS's during the week. The local public school was on a two week break, and all the students came to school during their time off to enjoy all of the fun games and activities. The second VBS was at a local church we support in our barrio. The children were able to participate in arts and crafts, play games, and broke a pinata at the conclusion. As always, each child received a Salvation bracelet as the Gospel was shared.

WE FINALLY DID IT!!!! THRIVE CHURCH - JULY 2019

After ten years of construction, we were finally able to host our mission team ON OUR MISSION FARM. Over the past ten years, teams stayed at the local hotel in town. It was always our dream to be able to host teams on our own property, and this year our labor of love came to fruition. We always knew that our HOME church should be the first team to stay with us, and in July that happened. Here are some pictures of the amazing team from THRIVE CHURCH, Winter Haven, Florida.

It's been a long time...

It has been quite awhile since I posted. 2018 brought numerous challenges and heartbreaks. I lost both my mother and oldest brother, had two foot surgeries, then Steve had a close call and ultimately ended up with a defibrillator pacemaker. 2018 also brought civil unrest to Nicaragua, which forced us to cancel our mission teams. Through it all, the anchor holds.

Without having groups, we were able to do more construction than ever before. We are very excited to announce that for the first time, we can start hosting the mission groups ON OUR MISSION FARM instead of the local hotel. It has been a labor of love for the past ten years, as we have watched our dream come to fruition. Being self-funded missionaries we had to go through a lot of trial and error, but in the end, we are ready!

This July, we will be hosting our HOME church. It was always my desire to have my home church to be the FIRST group to stay on site. (partly because if something goes wrong, they will be likely to extend more GRACE...hee hee) Stay tuned for more details and photos...

Hebrews 6:18-19 (NIV)

18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain...