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We're incredibly grateful for Scott and Bethany McEwan, who have been great mentors and friends to us. And the girls and Evie love playing together too!
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We've been so encouraged by our Nicaraguan church, Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana. Their grace and patience with us, love for the Lord, and dedication to making him known in their city is inspiring!
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Learning to Be
Though our trip back to the States felt at first like a diversion from "the plan," we see the many ways God has used it and are grateful for this season of rich growth. Perhaps most challenging of all, we've been encouraged to slow down and just "be." To fully be where we are. To be spouses. To be parents. To be friends. To be disciples, and listen to what God has for us at this time. As active, energetic, and often impatient people, the Lord has had much to teach us about the importance of living as "human beings" not "human doings." Our "just being" has taken the shape of trusting and being satisfied in Christ where we are now, and using this time here intentionally:
- Finding healthier rhythms of Sabbath rest and learning that our ability to be faithful each day does not require knowing what the future holds
- Spending quality time with family and friends
- Going to marriage counseling and reconnecting with each other after a full and stressful last year
- Refining aspects of G2G's structure and practice
- Strategically planning for future ministry in Nicaragua
- Continuing to study Spanish
- Attending Vida Nueva, a Spanish speaking church in Indianapolis
We're especially grateful for a kind family in Brownsburg who generously offered us their home in the country while they're away, which has provided a peaceful setting for this growth and renewal to happen (see topmost photo)
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We've been attending Vida Nueva Iglesia and have loved making friends there. It's also been refreshing to hear and speak Spanish again!
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It's been life giving to reconnect with family and friends. We enjoyed our trip to visit our Board President and his family, who are long time friends and mentors.
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Looking Forward
We're deeply moved by the opportunity for God's kingdom to shine in what has been a dark time for Nicaragua and are eager to be a part of what He's doing there. Because we feel confidently led to return, we know it's important to make significant strides in our language learning in the coming  months.
God has blessed us with an opportunity to attend the Spanish Language Institute in San José, Costa Rica, which is a Christian Spanish language school that has trained over 16,000 missionaries in the last 70 years. This provides us with an opportunity for intensive Spanish study in a classroom setting and an immersive environment for both us and Evelyn.
We plan to attend from January 3rd through April 19 and return to Nicaragua thereafter to continue working with young adults and the local church.
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Prayer Requests
 Nicaragua is experiencing significant flooding causing damage to many homes. Please pray for safety and health for the families who have been affected. - Many of our Nicaraguan friends have family members who travelled abroad in search for work. This is very common in Nicaragua right now, and we pray this circumstance isn't destructive to otherwise intact families.
- Pray for swift change in the relationship between the government and the pueblo (people). The situation has improved in some ways since we left but the government's dictatorial hostility continues and the people are struggling under the violence, corruption and economic collapse.
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Kurtis: I'm always eager to dive into the topic of God's plan. Not only for me now, but for the whole world through all of time. Wright does a great job of examining God's missional plan in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. He challenges how we view our responsibility in that plan, along with our view of theology, evangelism, love for our neighbors, and care for the world and everything in it.
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Carrie: A good friend recommended this book to me at the beginning of our time back in the US. It was so timely and helped shape my perspective on some of the ways God could be using our time here. For various reasons, people experience "isolation periods" in which they are set apart from full-time ministry. Through various biblical and contemporary examples, the author shows how God can use these times for significant spiritual and ministry transformation.
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We want to connect with you!
We'll be here through December and we'd love to connect with you. If you'd like to meet up in the coming weeks for coffee, click the mug to the left to send an email our way.
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