Brenda and I are thankful for the Lord's many blessings. Brenda is enjoying the challenge of teaching 28 first grade students at Nicaragua Christian Academy's International campus. Our four children are attending there and enjoy the learning environment and friendships they have formed. We are blessed to have such a schooling option for our children.
For the last number of years, the good folks at IBH have provided financially for the printing of 40,000 calendars. The calendars are distributed nationally in the regions where the 13 different Assembly testimonies are located. It is common to see the calendars hanging in homes, businesses and government offices all year long. Praise God that His word will not return to Him void. We have every reason to believe that the living word of God will bless hearts.
Calendar and gospel literature distributions are also an excellent opportunity for the local church to be engaged in the communities around the city. For the first several weekends in January, the Christians in Managua have distributed the calendars along with a verbal invitation to a central location for a street meeting later the same afternoon. While we cannot boast of huge numbers, it's been very encouraging to see several attending and some new contacts made.
Preaching in the open air around the city.
After several months of very limited gospel outreach due to the socio-political upheaval, the Assembly of believers is slowly adapting to the new realities. Some of the believers have relocated to other countries, some in business and upper management positions have so far been able to successfully navigate the difficult economic downturn. The Assembly is learning to courageously depend on the Lord in spite of the potentially volatile situation. As believers, we must walk wisely, in the fear of the Lord and continue to earnestly pray for those in positions of authority in accordance with the clear exhortation of 1 Timothy 2. Praise God for the liberty to preach the Gospel of Peace! We plan to preach in Managua for the most of February. Initially, we will meet in the rented building, and then in the tent for the last week of the month in a neighbourhood called San Judas.
Megan Sona continues to lead the NicaChild program that has 96 children registered for the 2019 year. William is 16 he has been sponsored for the last nine years. He is a very intelligent young man, yet has an acute sense of personal embarrassment due to the position of his teeth. Through extra donations not contemplated in the monthly sponsorship, the Lord has so wonderfully provided the funds necessary to correct William's mouth. The process will be long, costing thousands of dollars, yet William's joy is real, as he contemplates not having to hold his hand over his mouth whenever he talks. William also in the latter part of 2018 trusted Christ as his Saviour while attending Gospel meetings in Dolores Carazo. We don't have many stories of salvation yet connected with the NicaChild program. However, we do believe that the faithful monthly home visits, the practical gifts that meet real needs, the daily prayers of the sponsor family, and the planting of God's word in young hearts will in time bring forth much fruit!
Winter 2018 Written by Mark and Brenda Bachert - NICARAGUA ewsmith9749@gmail.com