Settling In.....

First of all, THANK YOU to all of our incredible, wonderful supporters, prayer warriors and friends.  As many of you know, this has been an incredible journey.  A lot has happened since our last post at a month and a half in!  As I reflect on the past couple of months, the most resounding theme is that of God's faithfulness.  

Taellor is still working with Dr. Melba going to do clinics in the communities.  Two of the clinics they are focusing on include one at a deaf school and another serving the elderly.  Taellor is also going once a week to Blue Bird (Special Needs) Orphanage where she helps with their dance therapy.  After going with me to teach a Bible study to the girls in prostitution, I noticed Tae off to the side.  As I walked closer, I realized that she had taken the smaller children (5-9 year olds) and using my left over craft materials was doing her own makeshift class!  So proud of her!! No translator, just a picture book, stickers and a willing heart! One of my greatest joys has been serving alongside my daughter in the field.

In between teams, Travis has continuing to work with the Furia Santa men.  I had the privilege of going with him to meet one of their families.  The depth of the conversation regarding accountability and choices was amazing during the ride home.  It ended with Travis telling him that he had the opportunity to change his family for generations to come...generations.  That is powerful. Travis was also able to go fishing with some of the staff that we work with.  From what I understand, they hiked half-way around a lake and used fishing gear that they had made themselves.  He loved it!!!  The only downfall of the day was when he looked to see Jorge's fish (the only catch of the day) and it got away!

Slaton is doing amazing at school!  Our "Mary Poppins" (Mrs. Andrea) has completely changed his world at school.  The control she has of the classroom is unbelievable..with the grace and patience of no one that I have seen before. He continues to find ministry in places that I don't see...The other day at Subway (our super secret Friday after school snack!) he saw a homeless lady eating out of a dumpster and was appalled that she was eating garbage.  As we watched, she ate an apple (half-eaten), part of a sandwich and some milk.  Slaton slowly began to realize that she was hungry and that was the food that God had provided for her..just like his sandwich for him... He asked if we could buy her one which we did....but I think this lesson will go well beyond him giving her a sandwich.

Buster remains to be an amazing dog.  He is Slaton's faithful companion...not a very good guard dog (He gets sleepy at about 8:00 and won't get up until Slaton does!) 

I've recently started doing "Pan de la Vida" visits.  Based on the Truth that Christ is the Bread of Life, Claudia and I are going door to door to every home in Mateare delivering a loaf of bread.  During the visit, we have been able to have sweet conversation, pray for specific needs and relate woman to woman.  I love being in their homes or on their front porch embracing their day to day life.  One key culture point that keeps ringing true to me over the past couple of months is that to be a woman in a third world country is difficult.  Difficult.  However, what is even more difficult is to be a woman in a third world country without a good husband.  Already, I have sat in the home of one recently single mother with two kids praying and crying and praying some more.  She can't read or write yet knows the importance of education for her son.  We are making weekly visits to her home and reading scripture with her. I continue to do Bible studies for the young girls that are affiliated with prostitution/sex trafficking.  This has been such a blessing.  I am starting to see some of the girls out in the community.  At first, they wouldn't make eye contact with me but after I initiated conversation, they will freely talk to me.  I love how the girls are becoming more "girly" during our crafts..giggling more, smiling.  This is also the case in the Wednesday afternoon women's Bible study in the dump...a true fellowship is forming.

In addition to our growing ministries, we have undergone some pretty major changes over the past couple of months.  The first (actually, they are all important in their own right...so no ranking...just random ordering...) is that we have moved from H.O.P.E. Central into a home of our own.  The decision to move off of base camp wasn't one made lightly.  In our plan, we expected to stay on base for a couple of years or so in order to learn the language and become more independent.  However, God seemed to have another plan for us.  As those of you know who have been to H.O.P.E. Central, it can be a very busy place.  The busyness of vehicles, staff, teams and such combined with a very active now-five year old was becoming more difficult as team season approached.  As God knows our needs before they happen, we found a home that is within a gated, guarded community of three other missionary families.  One of the families has a son in Slaton's class at school and they are having a wonderful time together!  We moved in this weekend and Slaton has been outside playing almost all weekend!  In addition to a safe place to raise our family here, God has given us some fellow missionaries that are incredibly Christ and mission focused!  This move also signifies a more permanent arrangement of a family home....it has been our prayer that we would be able to integrate.

Two weeks ago Wednesday, Travis had gallbladder surgery in Missouri.  The symptoms slowly crept up on him until one night he awoke to what I initially feared was a heart attack.  Dr. Melba attended to him while he was here (He was one of my first Ultrasound patients!) and thanks to Dr. Bob Powers, the transition to care was quick and seamless.  He is doing so much better! The highlight of the visit back home in addition to seeing family, friends and our small group was being able to worship with our home church! What encouragement!!!

As we continue to settle into our new city, I will be posting more frequently.  I am also on Facebook under Tammy Conner Stearns if you would like to follow us there.  I am more faithful updating there.  Mail can be sent to Project H.O.P.E. at 1419 S. Enterprise, Springfield, MO 65804.  (Someone will bring the mail down to us when they come down.)

Our First Month...and 16 Days!

We have had an amazing first month. The last month has been filled with many changes, transitions and new normals. We've had to learn how to navigate through the streets of Managua and the creek bed roads of the villages along with how to "navigate" the Policia when we get pulled over:). We've had to learn to shop in open air markets ( the fruit and veggies are amazing!).  We have had to learn how to communicate in a language that is not our own..... And we have learned again and again that our God is faithful. From the support that allows us to be here, to the protection that he provides to direction, He has proven again and again that He is constant and unwavering.

Travis is working with Marvin and the Furia Santa men.  Along with their block making, they have spent much time in prayer together, worship songs and discipleship.  I have seen my husband flourish amongst men who need a father figure and mentor. He had also been working in the office with Maurice and with Michel in team preparations. If you travel down here this year, he will the one who will greet you at the airport!

Taeller began volunteering at Blue bird Special Needs orphanage. She continues to thrive being here and loves the challenge of cultural differences and language barriers. I continue to be amazed at  her heart! Today, she spent the day painting at Furia Santa..I'm not sure what got more paint..her or the walls BUT what I do know is that her smile is never ending...and when she serves is when her beauty shines the greatest.  She is also such a wonderful help with Slaton..not sure what we would do without her.

Slaton is adjusting to school and I believe has just realized that this is a permanent sort of move..... to those back home, he misses each of you. Buster has been a lifesaver with Slaton.  Slaton was diagnosed with Aspergers a couple of years ago. We knew coming into this that the constant flux in schedule, the lack of structure and change itself would be a challenge. We had been in contact with his teacher prior to coming here and she had to leave due to her husbands illness before classes started.  This has resulted in Slaton having 5 different teachers since school started.  This week, Mary Poppins literally taught his class. She had a wonderful British accent and is quite simply amazing. Her control of the class is perfect...... Keep praying that this change is finally becoming set.

To our dog lovers out there, Buster is doing wonderful.  I've never been much of a dog person until I have seen the amazing way he is with Slaton.  He is his constant companion here on base.  Where Slaton goes, Buster is always right behind..and if he isn't Slaton whistles and Buster comes running...he knows his master's call.

I am living my dream.  Daily, I am able minister to those that are hurting, lonely or impoverished taking to them not only needed food/clothing but also the gospel of Christ.  I have began a women's study at the Cuidad Sandino dump on Wednesdays. 25 women came the first day! The day after Valentine's Day, we began the book of John. We talked about what love is, why we fall in love, what makes us fall out of love, what breaks our hearts (Wonderful to share woman to woman!) and then we talked about God's love...the love that will never forsake us, never hurt us and will always LOVE us.  We had over 40 adults there (6 men! and lots of children running around!)  We ended with making cross necklaces that glow in the dark.  To remind them that night of God's light that will penetrate through the darkness of this world just as the glowign of their necklace will penetrate through the darkness of the night in the dump...only God's light will never wane or fade.  Nothing better than studying and sharing God's word amongst what some consider the most desperate of this country. The doors that God opens continues to amaze me.

Much thanks to the Home Gardners!  Our house closed yesterday!  What a wonderful relief and closure to the transition to our new home. 

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Please continue to follow us on our blog or by Facebook at (Tammy Conner Stearns).

In His Hands,
The Stearns

Almost One Month!

It is difficult to believe that we have been here almost one month.....  In a way, it seems like we've been here much longer (we are so very settled in our new home) and in other ways it seems like the time has flown by!  Slaton has settled into his new school. Thank you for those who continue to pray on his behalf!  He has a little friend, Mateo, who they have become fast buddies.  I do believe that they are partners in crime on alot of things...but they seem to have so much fun!  Taellor is flourishing just as we knew she would.  She has been working closely with Dr. Melba, spent a week with the medical team and going with Eduardo in the children's ministry when she is able.  She is hoping to be able to do some volunteer work in the "Blue Bird" Orphanage...a Special Needs Orphanage down the street.  She has such a gift with crossing all barriers with love.  So very proud of her!  Travis has been working with Marvin and the Furia Santa guys.  One of the boys (Fidel Castro :0) graduated from the program and is doing barber work.  Travis has been getting his haircuts from him and they look wonderful. He has also been working closely with Michel, Javier and Alejandro preparing for the upcoming teams.  I have been...not sure how to put it all into words..but having quite literally the time of my life here.  Yes, it is busy. Yes, it is hot.  We still don't know the language.  BUT, it is the adventure of a lifetime! And to be able to share it with my family! I can't ask for more.  I have been spending time with all of the different ministries that Project H.O.P.E. has going year round and working with Claudia on language, team logistics (translating schedules) and working on what will become our women's ministry.  We already have Bible studies scheduled to begin in March for the girls at House of Hope and the first Wednesday in February at 4:00 at the dump in Ciudad Sandino...a place I have been praying for since I first saw the women and children foraging for food amongst the waste from the city. 

Thank you so much for the prayers and support. I will be posting at least weekly beginning in February.  Our family was given the grace of taking January to settle into our new "world"...however, we have been blessed with the ability to dabble in this wonderful ministry during this month.  If we aren't friends on Facebook, friend me at Tammy Conner Stearns.  I do daily (sometimes multiple daily) updates with pictures from the field.  (Technology is AMAZING!)

Love you all,
The Stearns

A Look Back at Our First Week in Nicaragua

I have started this post I think a million times....at least.  How do you put into words a gift that it so precious?  Yes, the journey here has been difficult. Yes, it was hard to say goodbye.  Yes, it is a transition that will define our lives. But, this past week has been one of the most amazing weeks of our lives. 

The staff at H.O.P.E. Central has welcomed our family (and I mean, our whole family) with open arms.  We arrived in the night with all of our luggage and a four-year old and a dog (Buster) in tow...and the staff, our team, did not flinch once. We quickly were able unpack and get settled.  This past week has been spent learning the roads in and around Managua, finding the grocery stores and then the market (it is cheaper) , exploring the base and learning how to do our lives in a difficult culture.

During this time, we have been able to spend time in the communities (movie night and children's time in Mateare), looking at homes in the other communities that teams will do work in this year and meeting our staffs families and learning the ebb and flow of the country.

What have I learned this week?  I've learned that God answers prayers that sometimes we never voice..... Travis and I hadn't spoke of this dream since 2002 when we first stepped foot on Nicaraguan soil.  I can look back over the past ten years to see how God has prepared us for this time.  I've learned that our God is not a God of waste.  He only gives us what we need when we need it...otherwise we would be holding it until we need it. I have learned to be comfortable in waiting on God's provision....(not that I am always calm but I know where to go to gain the calmness).  I have learned that my daughter (Taellor) is such a lady of grace.  I love how she easily moves from culture to culture from person to person.  I have learned that when you leave certain people (those at home) you literally feel as if your heart is being torn in two...but that God provides the salve for that hurt, if you allow him.  I have learned to look through the eyes of Slaton and see a world that is incredible. 

This Sunday, I sat next to a lady who has been a missionary in Nicaragua for 25 years..she came here alone...just her and God.  She said it was the most difficult 25 years of her life but she has never felt more alive.  In the movie "The Hobbit", the hobbit, while contemplating whether or not he should go on the journey,  asks Argon, "Can you promise that I will return?" and Argon replies, "No, but I can promise if you do that you won't be the same." 

We had a wonderful staff meeting today at H.O.P.E. Central. I am excited about the staff and the work that will be done through Christ's name.  We pray that when we work in our communities that the people will see Christ and not ourselves.

Please continue to pray that our house will sell in the States.  Slaton had a wonderful good first day...and I think that we have found our babysitter!  So excited!!!  Pray that we all can stay healthy and that we can be the servants that we were called to be.

Love to everyone.
The Stearns

Departing from the Airport!

This was us leaving the airport in Springfield, MO....

Happy New Year from Nicaragua!

Happy New Year! 

We start out the new year at H.O.P.E. Central in Nicaragua.  Our travel yesterday started with a minor hiccup at the airport but once all was taken care of (Thanks to everyone praying!), we were on our way...myself, Travis, Taellor, Buster (Slaton's dog), and no less than 16 bags of luggage (counting carry-ons).  Slaton's first airplane ride was quite an adventure to him...of course, we had to push the blue stewardess button to ask her a question...his question was, "Why are we in the air?" which led to about a 5 minute reply from her regarding how airplanes are like cars. Slaton loved it!  She was awesome.  In Miami, we were able to see Buster unloaded from our plane so we knew that he had made it to Miami.  On the flight from Miami to Nicaragua, Slaton's seat was behind a little girl that was his age.  They played almost all the way there.  As soon as Slaton saw the lights of Managua, he yelled (and I mean yelled!), "Look, it's Nicaragua!!!) and his friend started cheering and before we knew it the whole plane was cheering.  Arriving into the airport, we had a easy trip through immigrations and customs...even with Buster (which was a nightmare of mine!)  (I have to brag on Buster for a bit.  We have never crated him and he is mainly and outside dog but he hadn't gone to the bathroom in his crate for the whole trip!  Now, he went to the bathroom forever once we got to take him!)  Maurice and Eduardo (a surprise for us!) were waiting and quickly we were on our way to H.O.P.E. Central.

As we drove the way from the airport to the base camp, I asked Slaton what he thought...his reply was, "I hate it."  This was quite a surprise for us because he was so excited...so I asked why and his reply was, "There are bars everywhere and it looks so sad."  I realized that we hadn't really prepared him for what he would see here in the way of poverty.  We had completely prepared him for his new world, new home, new school, new teacher....but what about seeing those that live without, seeing homes that are not what he is used to, seeing those going without food.....this we hadn't prepared him. 

However, from the moment we pulled into H.O.P.E. Central, he fell in love, literally, with it all.  For those that have been here...remember the plants in from of the houses?  He calls them his own jungle.  The guard...he thinks they have the coolest job ever and I think he thinks that they are his new best friends....Thankfully, Dennis is trying to learn English so he doesn't mind that Slaton wants to constantly ask him questions!  Buster and Rayna are getting along and Slaton loves Rayna!  This morning after he awoke, I got him dressed and he went outside with Travis and then next thing I knew he's running around with only his shorts on and having a ball. 

Today was spent going to the grocery store (which was a success), unpacking and making our home...our home.  As I write this, Slaton and Travis are taking a nap (both are completely exhausted-Trav was just laying with him until he fell asleep!) and Tae and I are making cookies for the staff who many will return back to work tomorrow.  We are putting the verse Jeremiah 29:11 in each of them.... "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."  This verse was in Trav and I's devotion today...quite fitting for a new year!

Thank you again for all of the prayers and encouragement during this adventure.  While it is so very hard to leave those that we love, we are so very excited and will keep you posted as we go.  I will also be posting under Tammy Conner Stearns if you would like to follow there or our email is stearnstammy@ymail.com.

Specific prayer requests are that our house would sell and that our transition here would continue to be good.

What is Project H.O.P.E.?

We've been asked several questions lately regarding where we will be staying and who we are affiliated with regarding our mission work in Nicaragua.  We will be serving with the organization Project H.O.P.E. In 1998, Project H.O.P.E. was established after a group of friends felt God calling them to help the poor in Nicaragua. The founding directors had been traveling to Nicaragua for a few years, but felt obligated to do more than build homes and return to the United States. There was a need to share the gospel with the people of Nicaragua. Project H.O.P.E.'s very humble beginning consisted of the founding directors and their wives traveling to Nicaragua and slowly others joined. Some of the early trips consisted of camping in the mountains and bathing in the river. God has greatly blessed Project H.O.P.E. over the years. A full-functioning base camp, H.O.P.E. Central, was built in 2006 and serves as headquarters for our Nicaraguan staff and hosts incoming teams. Approximately 500 people will travel with Project H.O.P.E. to Nicaragua during a calendar year.

The H.O.P.E. stands for "Hear Our Prayers Emmanuel".

These humbly beginnings along with a genuine Christ-centered focus has continually drawn us to serve with Project H.O.P.E.   We've watched as the directors of the PJH serve with open hearts since our first trip in 2002.  We will be living at H.O.P.E. Central which is located just outside of Managua in the "suburb", if you will, called Ciudad Sandino.  Our base camp consists of two homes, a medical clinic, short-term mission dormitories, a kitchen with cafeteria attached, a small library, offices, warehouse and an outside cabana.  For those who have experienced Nicaragua with PJH, the cabana brings back memories of sweet worship and fellowship in the open air of Nicaragua.  We will serve alongside a staff of Nicaraguans that walk a servant's path.  

One of Project H.O.P.E.’s main ministries is home construction for the impoverished people of Nicaragua.  Project H.O.P.E. works closely with the Nicaraguan government to access areas of need within the country.  The mayor suggests specific areas in which the government will donate land to the building project.  The areas that are suggested are make-shift groupings of people living in unimaginable conditions.  Leaning on recommendations from the staff at H.O.P.E. Central along God’s direction, the sites are chosen for the upcoming year.  At the site, a community is developed.  A representative must be selected from within the community that assists Project H.O.P.E. with the logistics such as a census.  

During the building phase of the community, each family receiving a house is required to have one representative from their family working within the construction phase.  During this time, approximately 10 teams from across the United States come together to build homes in hopes that their actions will be a reflection of Christ’s love.  At the completion of the community, each family has worked with the “gringos” in order to build their new house on which they have ownership of the deeded land and have experienced the meaning of the gospel.

After the building phase is completed, the staff from H.O.P.E. Central continues to minister to the communities long after the "gringos" have returned to the States.    

We are so very excited as we moved into the month of December!  Our tickets are set to leave on December 31st.  We are still awaiting Slaton's passport, however, it has been processed and are eagerly waiting for our house to sell. (If there are any investors out there, we have been told this would be a good "flip" house!  ) It was actually quite freeing to see the For Sale sign go up in the yard!  I can't say enough wonderfully good things about Rick and Pam Gardner who have come alongside us during this journey to sell our home.  We've lived there for 18 years...so you can imagine the process that it has been. I was worried about the kids at first regarding leaving the only home they've ever known but they are all about it!  Slaton is loving the wide open spaces of our house as furniture and things start leaving.  

Please continue to pray for our transition specifically the selling our house and my car along with receiving Slaton's passport in the mail (hopefully before the 30th!!!)