He will not leave you nor forsake you

For I cannot but speak of what God has done! I am very thankful to see how God is answering prayers of the last three years. He is good!
Since the beginning of Campos Blancos School, the paper work has always been a headache for me. I didn't understand a lot of especially the formal language, there were no clear instructions of how things should be done, promised help was not reliable, offices delayed, time was missing to work on it ... I was confused and frustrated. In those three years I learned a lot, many things moved and we are much closer to the official permission than ever before, but we still run without it, the parents started getting concerned and rumors in town don't help our reputation.
Until last Wednesday, when I lay sick in bed, already a little stressed because on Thursday the American Ambassador would come and visit the ministry and I would have to present Campos Blancos School, when I received a phone call giving me the news that the inspector of all the bilingual school in the country will come on Friday to check out the school, which was to be an important step in the process for the permission. I was stressed out. I cried. I wasn't sure if it was good news or not, because I felt not ready, some papers were still missing, I didn't have strengths to prepare. But after a prayer for help to the Lord, I got up and started making arrangements and preparations. The Bible Verse encouraged me "I can do all things, through Christ, who strengthens me." The visit of the Ambassador on Thursday was very blessed, but I was even more nervous for Friday. God gave me the text of a song which comes from Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them, for the Lord, your God, He is the one, who goes with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you." I like most the part where it says be not afraid OF THEM. :) It resounded in my mind while I was busy and I realized that all this is nothing about me, but only about the work of God and it filled my heart with peace.
Doña Blancita came accompanied by a colleague of hers who got retired just about a month ago. After a welcome and some starting conversations, we were able to show them the campus and share more about this whole ministry and its mission. We went over to the school, where the children sang a couple songs and shared why they like to be in this school - what they had practiced just a day before with the Ambassador. The inspector and her collegue saw the classrooms and the construction site, and while we walked away, back to the administration, they both started commenting on what a great work that is, a big blessing to the community, and the man even said he would like to come as a volunteer and assist us. :) The Holy Spirit has definitely impacted them! An answered prayer! As we sat down again, we started talking about the contentment of the parents, but also their worries of the missing permission for the school. And she started by saying that all the past years and the diplomas of the children will be legalized. Wow! Another answered prayer! And she asked for a paper and started writing down and explaining the things that are still not clear in our documents and structures. An answer to many prayers and searches for specific information and support! And I could see her spirit of helping and supporting us. I was sooo thankful! From this point on only a couple things are missing that look easy and clear to be arranged and we will be able to get the provisional permission. This will be valid for two years, after which we will be able to request the definite permission. The visit ended with a very nice atmosphere, talking, laughing, a prayer and we stayed back with hearts overflowing with thankfulness! God is in control and I am sure that He has still many beautiful plans with the school and all its children and their families! Thank you God for being faithful and help me to trust more in your faithfulness!

Now I can finally be sick in peace. :)
Wishing you a blessed new week with many warm greetings from Honduras,
Manuela

Teacher needed

Der Bau hat begonnen!

Construction started!

Praise the Lord!

Gott tut Wunder...heute noch!

Keisy ist eine meiner Freundinnen hier im Dorf, mit der ich auch die Bibel studiere. Sie hat es nicht sehr leicht zur Zeit. Sie ist schwanger, ihr Freund ging vor kurzem in die USA und scheint sich nicht mehr wirklich für sie und das Kind zu interessieren, dazu gesundheitliche Beschwernisse... Das Schöne ist, dass sie lernt alles im Gebet zu Gott zu bringen und Ihm zu vertrauen! Kürzlich wollte ich ihr per sms einen ermutigenden Bibelvers schicken. Ich dachte allerdings nicht daran, dass ihre Anzeige kaputt ist und sie nichts lesen kann. Doch später dankte sie mir für die sms mit dem Bibelvers und erzählte, dass genau in dem Moment, als meine sms kam, ihr Display für eine kurze Zeit funktionierte und sie die sms lesen konnte. Gott tut Wunder ... heute noch!

Keisy is one of my friends here in town I study the bible with. She doesn’t have a very easy time at the moment. She is pregnant, her boyfriends went to the States just recently and seems not to be very interested in her and the baby anymore, additionally there are health struggles... The nice thing is that she learns to bring everything to God in prayer and to trust Him! Last week I wanted to send her a text message with an encouraging bible verse, but I didn’t remember that her display is broken and doesn’t show anything. But later she thanked me for the text message with the bible verse and told me that exactly in the moment when my text message arrived, her display worked for a short time and she was able to read the text message. God is still doing miracles today!

Darum wachet...!

Es ist ein frischer Sabbatmorgen. Gemütlich, singend, nichts ahnend bin ich unterwegs ins Dorf zum Gottesdienst. Plötzlich merke ich, dass sich vor mir auf der Strasse etwas bewegt. Eine Schlange schlängelt sich zögerlich über den Weg! Darum wachet...!

It is a fresh Sabbath morning. Unhurried, singing, not expecting anything extraordinary I am on my way to town for church service. Suddenly I notice something moving in front of me on the road. A snake wiggles hesitantly across the road! Watch therefore...!

Krumme Wege

Gott kann auch auf krummen Wegen etwas Schönes wachsen lassen!

God can also on bent ways let something beautiful grow!

Wishing you a happy Sabbath!

Die Schönheit im Sturm - The beauty in the storm

Ich sitze am Sabbatnachmittag auf einem Hügel. Der Himmel verdunkelt sich. Ob es wohl bald regnet? Die Loblieder auf meinen Lippen erhellen die Finsternis der herannahenden Wolken. Da erscheint ein Regenbogen. Erst nur klein und schwach, doch immer grösser und stärker. Ich stehe auf dem Hügel und beobachte die Wolken und den Wind. Die Allmacht Gottes und die Schönheit des Sturms bringen mich zum Staunen. Die dunklen Wolken kommen auf mich zu. Der Wind wird immer stärker, bis er mich fast hinweg fegt. Ich kann nicht anders als an die Wiederkunft Jesu zu denken. Wie mächtig und herrlich wird es sein! Ich möchte bleiben, doch ich weiss, dass der baldige Regen gnadenlos sein wird. So steige ich hinunter und lobe Gott, dass ich im Sturm Seine Gegenwart erleben und doch noch trocken mein Zuhause erreichen durfte.

Ich kann es nicht mehr erwarten! Bin ich - bist du bereit für die Wiederkunft Jesu?

Ich wünsche dir, dass du während dieser neuen Woche, ob in der Stille oder im Sturm, die Gegenwart Gottes erleben darfst!

Be blessed,
Manu

I sit on a hill on Sabbath afternoon. The sky gets dark. Would it rain soon? The songs of praise on my lips lighten up the darkness of the approaching clouds. Then a rainbow appears, first only small and weak, but then growing bigger and stronger. I stand on the hill and watch the clouds and the wind. The omnipotence of God and the beauty of the storm amaze me. The dark clouds are moving towards me. The wind gets stronger, until I’m almost blown away. I can’t but think about the second coming of Jesus. How mighty and wonderful will it be! I want to stay, but I know that the soon coming rain will be merciless. I go down and praise God that I was able to experience His presence in the storm and still arrive home before the rain.

I can’t wait any longer! Am I – are you ready for the second coming of Jesus?

I pray that you can experience God’s presence during this new week – whether in the quiet or in the storm!

Be blessed,
Manu