Lakeshore Community Church

11/17/09

I am truly sorry you´ve heard nothing from me for quite awhile. Sadly it will be a while more before anything of lengthly substance comes your way: my computer died, with everything on it, and virus completely corrupted my jump drive - so I lost most of that.

Fortunately, I met some computer missionary gurus in N. Guinea, where I am going for Thanksgiving, so they may be able to do something about it. One can only hope.

So for a brief summary:

Harvester´s group came in October! They were wonderful and a refreshing taste of home. We spent three nights on the river in Alambikambang - so we were all pretty wiped out! The pigs living under the church where we slept was not the most relaxing lullaby, to say the least. The men worked in rain and sun to drill a well to serve two communities that are relatively near. The ladies put together a women´s workshop where we made purses and scrunchies. Both projects had their glitches and both ended smoothly, thanks to God and hardworking people.

After they left, I headed to Nueva Guinea, where I stayed with another missionary family for two weeks. They are sent by Calvary Chapel in California. They are wonderful and their place is an oasis! Hot water, baked goods, washing machine, flushing toilets! Good times. I was there to observe in a public hospital. It was an interesting two weeks, one of which was spent in the ER. Let us say they did the best they could with what they had. I hit it off with Tiffany, the wife half of the missionary couple. I am glad to be going back for Thanksgiving.

I am now back in Tipitapa for my last full week before a whirlwind of final activities. I am speaking at one seminar, having Thanksgiving, helping with another seminar, and then heading to the beach! I will crisscross Nicaragua in the next two weeks before coming back here, to my Nicaraguan home to see the schools graduation. I´ll spend my last Sunday here with my Nicaraguan church family, finish last minute errands on Monday, and head out Tuesday.

Time has flown and it is bittersweet. While I am glad to see my family and friends at home, I´ll miss those I´ve come to know here. How difficult it is to say, ¨I don´t know¨, when someone asks when I´ll be coming back. Most assumed, of course, that I´d be back in January. It has come as a surprise to some, at times myself included.

Please continue to keep the people and projects here in your prayers. Valeria is coming along in her pregnancy, though she needs to learn to take it easy! Marcus and Ann are working hard, as usual. Continue to pray for encouragement and refreshment for them both. The school is thriving and has opened registration. Looks to be a busy next year.

I pray you are all well and that you are enjoying the approach to the holiday season. God bless you and keep you all!

Ami

7/21/09

Hello to you all, friends near and far. Some of you I have known for years. Some are seredipiditous meetings on flights to St. Louis or at a show in Branson. I thank God for you all and pray that you are well.

I am sorry that I have been so long in writing - first with being back home for a wedding (which was simple, elegant, and wonderful - Yeah Amy and B.J.!), then a longer stay than planed, and traveling like crazy once I did return. I hope that this will update you well on what has happened and what is coming up.

I hope God is blessing you, your families, and your ministry - until we meet again, then.

Ami

click here for the July edition.

3/19/09

Hello all. Here is the update on the Library, with pictures. I was delighted to hear from some of you and hope to hear from more.

click here for the March edition.

Take it easy until I see you next!

Ami

2/12/09

Hello one and all. It has been nearly a month and, while I waited for something signifigant to occur (so I might have something more interesting than dust to write about), a lot happened! Please forgive its length - read in segments if you must:) Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Take care until I see you again.

Ami

click here for the Feb. edition.

11/15/08

Hello one and all. Barring some great event, this should be the last of the correspondance for 2008. I head back to the States soon for a winter visit. I hope that you are all well. I haven´t heard from most of you in quite sometime - so I hope you´re all still kicking.

Take care and I may see you soon -

Ami

The Centurion

10/8/08

I apologize. I realize that this was not so quick in coming as the last. I hope you enjoy it with a forgiving heart. I wrote it rather quickly in hopes to mollify some of my more vocal audience demanding some account . . . so here it is!

Thank you to all of you who have been so kind in prays and encouragement. A special thanks to my family who helped make my birthday special, even far from home.

I am healthy and well, learning everyday more about this place I am now calling home, and thinking of you all.

Take care of yourself and I´ll see some of you in December!

Ami

8/8/08

For those who asked:

Yes, I can receive mail and it is pretty reliable. There is about a two week delay on letters and a 3 week delay on packages.

Ami Wilson

Hi all! Short version: I am well and enjoying Nicaragua. Teaching (and learning) has improved since I decided to ignore predesigned curriculums (using them just for reference, now). Things happening, things to prayer for, and praises to be had. (more details in attachment (click here), but it is a bit long;)

Also: For those interested, there is a shipment heading down to Nicaragua at the end of August and I have a strange request. While I am blessed to have a small refrigerator here, it is just barely holding what it needs to (and there is a dilemma with storing meat between those living out of it). Do any of you have an old refrigerator (the college student size, about hip high on someone 5´3¨ or whatever you have) that you would be interested in selling or donating? It would be a great blessing. Please let me know soon so we can get it on the shipment. It will be going through Harvester Christian Church via Dennis Dowdall.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

--Ami

oops, forgot to tell you

Books can be sent to Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Mo.

All is well. I am as prepared as I can be for classes tomorrow (yes, here we go!). Marcus and a woman named Valeria are trying to work out my residencia requirements and all that jazz. Apparently there is a small hiccup, so they are checking options. Continuing praying for the students - their understanding of the gospel and, while you´re at it, English. Pray, too, that I continue picking up the language. We are looking at putting together a women´s study of sorts, so pray for God´s leading there and in all our endeavors.

From Nicaragua,

Ami

7/9/08

Hello all! For those who don´t know, I am in Nicaragua. I will be here until Christmas, when I will return to the States for about three weeks. I return to Nicaragua from Jan to May (best friend´s wedding) and May to Dc 09. From there, only God knows. You are included in this newsletter because you asked to be or I thought you might be interested. Please forward this to those who would like that I have not include (like the rest of Lakeshore, please). Thanks to you all!

Below is the first email, attached it the second (click here). The second repeats part of the first, so feel free to skim!

Ami

Asunto: Greetings from Nicaragua

Hello all!

I am sorry it has taken so long to let you know that I have arrived safe and well. Aside from a nearly missed connecting flight in Houston (my arriving flight arrived when my departing one was scheduled to depart -- it was a very Home Alone 2 moment as a tore through the airport), the journey was uneventful. Really, the story begins at the end of the second day when I was being moved into the house where I will be staying for the next year and a half, give or take a few visits home. The house is concrete with iron bars in a kind of paisley arrangement. There is an iron door in front of what surmounts to a porch, another in front of a large, heavy wood door, and another at the back of the house, where another heavy wood door also resides. The floor, walls, and counter tops are concrete. It really is a nice house here, but so very different from home. I was expecting this, but I found being faced with the reality of living here, every day, pouring buckets of water down a toilet to flush it, having no water during the day, every day, and having the electrictiy being a rare visitor, my courage faltered. As I struggled against all to obvious fears, the two women with me (Nadio, whose house it is, and Ann, the missionary living here) gracefully ignored it. I would be sleeping on a folding bed in the living room, rather than trying to force it into the single bedroom with its wardrobes along one wall, bunk bed and table on the other, and four German Shepherd-Doberman mixes on the floor. There is no privacy, really. Thank the Lord for the summer living in San Diego with 7 girls in one room: it prepared me. After the two women left, Ann to return home and Nadia to go to church, I was left to unpack and cry. Dogs can be a great comfort, even if they only speak Spanish. Having unpacked. I settled in with my Bible and turned to Ecclesiastes, my favorite ´woe is me´book. God gave me an entirely different message. My Bible opened to Eccl. 8: 4maybe?. The passgage talks about trusting your king and know that no harm will come to you when you abide by his guidance. It closes with, ëven if his [that would be me] despair weighs heavy on him¨. How wonderful to be comforted and validated. Even in my fear, I knew I wanted to be here. That is a great assurance.

Other things, in brief. The school in Tipitapa where I will be teaching has grown much. The director is wonderful, loves the lord, and loves children. She will be a joy to work with. The other teachers are very nice, and I believe there will be a few with whom I will become friends. The children are friendly, eager, and patient, teaching me Spanish as I teach them English and crafts (which they love). They are now on vacation for the next two weeks, so I am using the time to become familiar with Tipitapa and the surrounding area and to prepart for class. I have three classes equivalent to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Yeah Middle School! I think it will be trying and wonderful. Nadia is a great blessing. While I spend the days struggling to converse in Spanish (exhausing), she speaks English at night (most of the time), allowing her to practice and giving me a break. She is also a teacher, so she instructs me as a student of Spanish. She, too, loves the Lord and is a great blessing. I am also blessed by the four dogs who are wonderful companions and excellents guards. I am not afraid with them nearby.

That is all I have time for at the moment! I hope you are all well. We are still determining the best way to send packages and the like, for those who asked. I will try to get that info to you shortly. Thank you for all your prayers and support. They have been felt. Contintue to pray that I will learn the language quickly (the gift of tongues would be nice, if you´re of a mind), that hearts will be open to the Lord, and that both the Nicaraguans and I will be listening for and heeding His voice.

I love hearing about the details of home (thanks Kate for the story about gas at $1.40!). If they are longer stories, send them as attachments. Know that you are missed and that I am thinking of you often.

From Nicaragua,

Ami

If you want to be a part of the library and activities at The School of Little Benjamin, go to Amazon.com to see the school´s wish list under ¨Nicaragua:Little Benjamin¨.