The Mustard Seed Blog

Is it really July....already?!?!?!...nope, it’s August!

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:43:32 -0600

Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that we were celebrating Ellis’ birthday, signing Kaia up for school, and making the transition from diapers to big boy underwear with Samuel. We have been truly über busy, but in a very good way. Where to start?

One of our first groups this summer was a small group from Oklahoma. They came down to share God’s love and be of any help...they worked in a poor community near Leon lending a hand in the community garden, spent some time playing with the kids from our feeding program in Aduanas Dos, honored the moms living at the House of Hope with a night of dinner and fellowship on our farm, and put the wheels in motion for a Girls Shelter Home..... The “resident” is a young girl named Julissa who lives in her Grandmother’s bar/brothel. The group got to know “Julie” from past trips and wanted to help out and find a living situation that would keep her safe and allow her to feel like she was part of a family. They partnered with a local pastor and his family who have a home large enough to accommodate Julie and other girls, and who are able to make sure the girls receive an education and learn of God’s love. Can you believe they were able to do all this??? Ok, they had help. God opened the doors and thanks to their obedience, there are now 6 young girls living in this new shelter home!

We had the privilege to host a Pastoral and Leaders conference on our farm. Duluth Bible Church from Duluth, Minnesota and various Pastors from El Salvador spent a week teaching from Romans 1-6 and sharing about GRACE and salvation. It was powerful, challenging and for some, very disturbing. Pastor Dennis Rokser and his team tore down a lot of long held beliefs teaching verse by verse...about how we must work out our Salvation and there is something that we must do to assure our salvation, but they showed how the price was already paid...there is nothing we must do but to believe. In many local churches here in Nicaragua (and maybe even in your hometown), many Pastors are teaching that members must fulfill many duties before they cab sure of their salvation, kind of like a check list. And there was always the threat of losing your salvation and LOVE from God if they (or we) did something wrong..... So here comes a group of North American and El Salvadoran leaders teaching directly from God’s word about how all we must do is believe and there is NOTHING that could separate you from God’s love and acceptance. Talk about a crisis in theological thinking...for many of these teachers and Pastors, they have been teaching their classes or congregation bad theology! It was hard at first, many barriers needed to be broken down, but in the end, there was such a liberating feeling by those who stuck around and listened to the teaching. It was also very cool to witness the partnership between the churches from Latin America and North America. Duluth Bible Church has been working in El Salvador for over a decade and had just recently graduated a group of Pastors from the Grace Bible Institute, a 5 year course for Pastors and Church Leaders. This trip marked the first joint venture of teacher (Duluth Bible Church) and student (El Salvadoran Pastors). It was wonderful to see how God changed and liberated many from the legalism that is so prominent in local churches, and to see the friendships that had formed and that bridged many denominations, languages, social and economic backgrounds.

Southern Hills from Georgia came and blessed Nicaragua and our farm at the end of July. What an amazing and fun time everyone had. They re-roofed a home for a women with 9 kids, built a roof for the feeding center in Aduanas 2, put up all the walls for Lucia’s add on and completely rewired her house. Held a “tropical spa” day, painting nails and washing hair for many kids. The team put on a children’s fun day here at the farm for over 75 kids. What a great and positive church body!! SHCC rocked the house!

We, La Familia Perkins will be taking a long overdue break. Praise God for His provision and enabling us to go to the States for six weeks. It has become a very expensive undertaking now that we are five. God is good and the way has been cleared so we are taking it! We are looking forward to spending time with grandparents, friends, our home church, camping and Disneyland! It has been two years since we have been home as a family and we are all very excited.

Please continue to pray for the safety and protection of La Quinta Beth-El while we are away.

We also need prayer for Kaia and her attitude toward school. She is so gifted and very smart and does very well at school. The problem is our lifestyle and she really enjoys working with teams, translating, and working at the House of Hope with Lisa. The school schedule gets in the way of her ministry and causes a lot of conflict in her heart. Please pray for peace in her heart toward her education. She has not let go of her previous homeschool life and schedule, and has not allowed herself to immerse herself at the German- Nicaraguan School. Academically she is doing great...but emotionally, she has a very, very difficult time. Please pray for her, for us, and that God brings friends in to her life at her new school.

Until we return.................

More Perkins News!

Mon, 24 May 2010 11:17:56 -0600

I am getting farther and farther behind. I think I will take advantage of the random power outages as an excuse for my laziness. But really, I feel like I have been going 100 miles a minute. Moving so fast that I am moving backward!!

Life is good. No, God is good. Actually great! I started the month off with the return of my adventure seeking motorcycle man who whisked me off on the new bike for a much need break to Costa Rica. We had a great time and we were able to share one of our favorite spots with our friend Dave from Central Oregon. We had a great time! The weather was perfect, the ride was a little tough for my non existent Asian “pompi”, but was so thankful to soak in the thermal hot springs of Tabacon at the base of Arenal Volcano. It truly was amazing! It was also the first time Michael and I had left our kids for a respite just for mom and dad. Have I mentioned that it was great and amazing?!?! We have to do that more often! We were also treated to Root Beer and CinnaBons in Costa Rica! Thank you Lord for the gastronomical treats and the time to refresh!

We have a group coming to stay with us this Friday. That means we are running around doing all the stuff / improvements we have been putting off since the last group we had. Seeing how we are in the beginning of the rainy season, we bit the bullet and put in much needed sidewalks leading from the guesthouses to the Rancho (dining and meeting area) so that our guests wouldn’t have to walk through the wet grass and mud.

We have plans to put in a fountain and some lighting, but that will have to wait.
But for now, we are extremely pleased

with how the sidewalks turned out. Michael also patched the holes in our palm thatch rancho....they were beaten and blown off by the wind. We are still in need of replacing the whole back side of the Rancho, but that too will have to wait.

Our English classes to some local kids have been going really well. It does get hard because of the difference in ages as well as family situations. I feel super blessed to be a part of these young kids’ lives and getting to know them. We were able to celebrate the birthdays of Selena who turned 11 and Maria who turned 7. They were introduced to chocolate cupcakes...and LOVED them! The oldest of the group, Francis, was in a motorcycle accident this past weekend when she and the driver were hit by a drunk driver. The driver of the motorcycle and the driver of the car are both in jail, and Francis was just released from the hospital pretty scraped and banged up. But praise God, it could have been a lot worse! So please pray for her recovery and for the young men who are sitting in jail. We took the kids to the National Theater for a play this past weekend to watch a local university drama clubs rendition of “Alice in Wonderland” and for pizza. They all had such a fun time, and it was great to enjoy an afternoon with them. But we sure did miss Francis!

Our work at the House of Hope is going really well. We have started a little contest between the tables to see whose work is “the best” and we have seen some improvement with the quality of work. The prize has been homemade cookies! I think they are enjoying the chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal butterscotch cookies! I love sharing with them and seeing them get all excited for themselves and each other!

We have decided to try to enroll Kaia back in school. She is very sad about it because she LOVES working at the House of Hope and translating for groups, but we think it is the best decision for her. Tomorrow she will be starting at the German~Nicaraguan school. No, she cannot speak any German, and yes, by the 5th grade all students are required to know German. But she did well on her entrance exams and we are hopeful that she will pick it up in a few months. I will continue to work with Kaia at home on Math, English, Spelling and Bible to supplement her schooling at the German school. It will be an intense time for her, but we believe that she has an ear for languages and can pick it up with some hard work and dedication. Please pray for her! Please pray for us as it will cost a little more than we have, but are stepping out in faith and know that we are doing what we think is right. Our current needs for schooling is $400 for matriculation (one time fee), $200 for books (one time fee for this year)and $210 for her monthly costs. Please pray with us for this financial need we are facing...thank you mucho!

Ellis is doing well. We are praying about enrolling Ellis in to the German school for next year. He is doing really well in his school at NCA Nejapa and just received his grades with a 95% in his overall grades! Yeah Eller! He would much rather be outside climbing a tree, so we are extremely proud of him!

Samuel is talking...a lot! He mixes up his Spanish and English, but we understand what he says! :-) He loves to work with his dad and eat eggs! We still haven’t figured out what to do for shoes (adding a lift for his little leg), but will look in to more options in the States. He is also wearing his big boy undies now! He still like to wear his underwear backwards so he can sport big Buzz Lightyear on the front. Who knew that babies could wear thong underwear??? and pull it off!! LOL

We are planning on going back for a few weeks in August-September for a much needed rest and visit with friends and family. My mom is finishing up her second round of treatments for cancer so we will spend some time visiting with my familia in California. It has been two years since our last visit. We are all so excited to enjoy some cooler weather and to visit with our favorite peeps!

I have another prayer request.... I (Lisa) have an opportunity to travel to India in 2011 with a group of Pastors and leaders from Central America. I will be going to help translate and to serve for 2 weeks. I have always wanted to visit India and this opportunity is like God is giving me “the desires of my heart”. However, this trip will be totally a gift from Him because I am depending 100% on him to provide for the trip financially, emotionally and spiritually. I am scared with the prospect of traveling without my family (I have only left them for 2 days by myself....) and I doubt my ability in Spanish. I am praying through it and know that if He wants me to go, all the doors will fly open and He will order and prepare all the necessary steps. The trip will cost $3500 (yes...three thousand five hundred dollars!!! GULP!!!!) for the plane ticket and in country expenses. I am scared silly, but excited to see what 2011 holds. Like I said, I haven’t spent a lot of time apart from my family, so it will be a very tough time emotionally. So please pray with me that God’s hand would upon this whole process from obtaining the VISA, raising the necessary funds, and to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepare me to be used by Him in a way that leaves me totally vulnerable!

These next few weeks will be super busy for Michael. We are hosting a Pastoral conference here on our farm and Michael is visiting with Pastors and local leaders inviting them to the conference. He is also super busy trying to keep the farm up and running, as well as going to different meetings for other projects. We have prayed about starting a Hospitality / Culinary Arts Program and the NCA Nejapa is currently trying to implement vocational classes in auto mechanics, blacksmithing and modern welding. They are hoping to complement these programs by offering the Culinary Arts class. The hold up?? There is no kitchen!!! So, please pray with us about the necessary funds to put in a kitchen on the NCA Nejapa campus. It is kinda funny to hear about all these rather “impossible” (or highly unlikely) situations and seeing what God will do with them! We serve an awesome God!

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

I will sign off with this verse and a hearty AMEN! and as Samuel says, “Hallelujah!”

In His grip,
Lisa and familia

BTW, remember this little guy? Chinder was brought out from the Rio Coco in January to receive treatment for malnutrition and tuberculosis. After a few visits to the hospital, he is doing AWESOME! He has been with Susanna Sheats and is thriving. Enjoy these photos of Chinder!

Moto trip to Central America 2010 pt.1

Mon, 3 May 2010 13:24:58 -0600

It took the better part of a day to fly to Phoenix, and 19 days to ride home.

We were hosted and cared for be a great CMA chapter in Mesa, AZ. Thank you! The main purpose of these bikes in Nicaragua is to use them to reach and evangelize outlying regions.
CMA with it’s heart for evangelism is a natural fit.

A beautiful SONrise service on Easter morning at a campground in Mesa

Dave and I trying to sing the worship

The Lord has used CMA in mighty ways. Many bikers from around the world have come to know the Lord through CMA. Several of us here in Nicaragua have created the first Central American chapter and are prayerful that the Lord will use us in mighty ways also.

So many perfectly twisty roads with gorgeous scenery all throughout Mexico.

This was an “oh, oh.....now what?” We were several miles from Creel on that same beautiful twisty road when one of the team lost it in a corner an hit the guard rail. We have spare inner tubes, but nobody thought to bring a spare rim! “Eric...can you fix it?”
“Maybe if we build a mini forge.........then bang on it for a while.....maybe...just maybe”

Amazing job. I have read a lot of blog reports and ride reports, never have I come across this one! Eric’s ingenuity and everyone else’s faith and tools and this bike made it a few hundreds miles into the next real town to buy a new rim.

Into the Copper Canyon

The Latin people are so gracious, everywhere we went people would go out of their way to accommodate us. Imagine a group of 15 Mexican Bikers pulling into your small town and asking you if they can ride their motorcycles through your house into your backyard for the
night. Many of us would be on the phone to 911 right after you chased them off the lawn with our 9mm.

A beautiful ride out the next morning.

Would you believe they sold donuts? Well they were almost donuts, still really good on a cold morning
.
We found the best food at the little hole in the wall joints
.

Stay tuned for more to come.........

Fun Photos!

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:37:23 -0600

Okay, here are some fun pictures from the past little bit...from the top:

Water Balloon Fight!!
Byron, Jose Miguel, Kaia, Ellis, Yeneri, and Escarleth attacking the balloon bucket.

Selena getting in a good catch! (Yeneri and Selena won the water balloon toss)

Maria, Francis, Samuel, Selena and Jose going for the other team!

Easter Sunday- Samuel with his basket

Grace Community Church Medical and Construction team came to serve in Los Cedros!!!

Ellis on Easter Sunday!

Isn’t she beautiful? Kaia with her curls on Easter!

The Elmer’s Good Bye Fiesta:
Mike Elmer is a little too large to ride in a Tuk-Tuk!

Lauren, Esther and I with our little ones!

Ellis fixin’ to do his “futterwacken” dance (you have to see Alice in Wonderland to understand this....)

Samuel and I joining in the festivities!

Random:
Apple Bananas from our farm!!

Michael and I at the motorcycle rally...had to post one of my hubby! I miss him!!

April News

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:39:28 -0600

It rained today. Glorious, refreshing, earth cleansing rain. It was wonderful. It cooled the temperature down a bit and gave the dry earth a little much needed nourishment. Thank you, Lord, for this rain.

Now, I guess we better get ready for the rain. With every season in Nicaragua comes a new set of problems....
So with this rain, our “to do” list just grew...time to repair the Rancho roof, put on the cumbrera on the roof of the second apartment, figure out ceiling sin the apartments, and of course, watch for any new leaks. But we are thankful because we have endured the heat and dry heat for such a long time, and could use a change of pace.

I have been a very busy single mom. Michael left April 2 to bring more motorcycles to Nicaragua with a group of men from the States and a fellow missionary from Nicaragua. The group has splintered in to three groups, one group traveling throughout Mexico, another group visiting other missionaries in Mexico, and Michael and Dave who are hurrying back. They should have passed in to Guatemala today, tomorrow will travel to Copan, Honduras to see some ruins, and on Monday arrive in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Si Dios quiere, they should be back home on Tuesday!!! Yay! I am so ready, and the kids are beyond excited to have their Dad back. Thank you all for your prayers for all of them. Please continue to pray for them as they all continue their journey home to their families.

Samuel has had a week and a half of poking, prodding and testing. He had his ultrasound of his abdomen done the other day and they found that his kidneys are retaining liquid. We have to see a pediatric urologist, but the doctor is out if the country and will return April 20th. Because of the ultrasound, we had a urinalysis, a stool and blood test done. Everything there came back pretty normal, just a bit of anemia. I also took him to a local man who makes orthopedic shoes and shoe lifts. I was hoping to get a lift that we could change with his shoes, but the disparity between his leg length is too great for the shoe lift to work. His heel keeps coming out of the back of the shoe. So, I am scouring the internet to see how we could make this work without having Samuel wear the black leather orthopedic shoes. I am racking my brain trying to figure out a way we can remanufacture a pair of Buzz Lightyear tennis shoes to add the 2 cm. lift he needs on his right shoe. Any ideas or suggestions, please email me with them!

We have also been potty training Samuel this week. I forgot how demanding it can be...when he says “pee”, I have to stop everything to take him to the bathroom. We have even had to leave for school a few minutes early just in case we have to make a pit stop. And yes, we have had a few pit stops! Good job, my little man!!!

Ellis and I are now sporting eyeglasses. I had glasses, but had lost them and never replaced them, and Eller has never had glasses. He looks so smart!

Kaia has been a tremendous help to me! She pretty much taught the English class today while I was busy filling up water balloons for the kids. To lure the kids to engage in conversation and study their vocabulary, we have been rewarding them with treats, and this week with balloons. For every correct answer, they earned another water balloon. So, today we had a water balloon toss and an all out war. What does water balloon wars have to do with learning English? Not a whole lot, but it was a lot of fun and a great way to cool down!!

I am still enjoying my time at the House of Hope. April took a few much needed days off to go to the beach with her family. I pray that it was a time of refreshment for this woman who carries such a huge burden for the ladies who pass through her gate. This week she shared with me that three new young girls arrived (14, 11 and 8 years old) and were staying at the House of Hope. One of the girls has her arm in a cast because her pimp threw her to the ground and broke her arm. Another of the girls was chained by the neck and was abused... even her father took advantage of her! It is all so heartbreaking, and to hear that there are still other young girls who are living in the same conditions these three young girls came out of... just when I think it can’t get any worse....it does!
However, this week, April introduced me to Angela who is a very vibrant, talented mom. Sitting next to her was her beautiful daughter who was in her 20s and is now married to another young man from her church. The daughter (I forgot her name! Sorry!!) is going to college with a scholarship that April Havlin and the House of Hope offered to her. Angela, the mom, has done a wonderful job with her daughters (she has a few) and has broken the cycle of prostitution in their family! Praise God! There are many generations of prostitutes who live or have lived at the House of Hope. Please pray for this beautiful ministry that Kaia and I are able to join, and that we may continue to serve the women there with an open heart.

My mom has completed her second chemo treatment. She has been in a lot of pain, but is continuing to fight. Thank you all for your prayers for my mom. Please keep them coming! The treatment is VERY hard on her and when she is in the throws of the pain, she has alluded to not continuing the treatments. So thank you for supporting my family in prayer.

Thank you all for your generous support and prayers for our family and ministry. We appreciate them more than you would ever know! Please, we would love to hear from you!! Email: mustardseedmissions@yahoo.com

Blessings,
Lisa y familia

PS- Since I can’t seem to figure posting pictures very well, I will just put in another page of just pictures! Stay tuned! Love you all!