Day #8 Update

A stop at V*rbo Chr*st*an School for coffee began the day for Dave again.  While he was waiting for Regan to pick him up, Dave got to take some pictures of the 2023 senior class (see below) as they were taking their official class photos.  Their last day of school will be November 20th and graduation will be December 1st.  The returning students will then be on their break until the first week in February, 2024.  Angel, that I've mentioned before, is pictured below, 8th from the right - one of the two smaller boys, on the right.

Faris, one of the V*rbo/VEA students that One By One (OBO) supports, stopped to talk to Dave while he was waiting at the school's outdoor cafeteria.  He is 16 years old and has one more year of high school left.  He shared with Dave that he has feelings for a young lady who we also know (she is a 16 year old VEA student as well and they have known each other since they were small children).  The feelings are reciprocal and so they talked a bit about their "friendship” and Faris agreed to continue to be a good friend to her, and continue to honor God in all they do.  Dave was encouraged that he wanted to talk about it, and he could see that Faris cares about her.  When Regan and Blanca arrived to pick up Dave, they agreed to continue the conversation later.

From there, the trio went to pick up Carol at her home and made a quick stop at her parent's road-side tortilla shop (see below) to greet her parents.  

Then they went to pick up Melisa and her mother, Anjelica.  The group went shopping at Huembus market, and then had a great lunch at PriceMart (like a Sam's or Costco).  The girls were home by 12:30pm, in time for their school which begins at 1pm.  “Reddy”, Regan's van, was now ready to be picked up from the mechanic after getting new bearings in the rear wheels and a tire replaced.  Usually in Nicaragua, one has to pick up the parts and take them to the mechanic since they don't have auto parts delivery like we have here in the USA, but because the guys were short on time and they have a good relationship with him, the mechanic went to pick up the tire and wheel parts for them and then made the repair.  These types of things (picking up parts, getting a haircut, etc.) are all day events in Nicaragua.  The parts totaled $98 and he asked for $16 in labor and time; so under $120 later, Reddy was back on the road.  

Following that, they went to pick up Jeysi, Jairo, and their parents for an outing together.  The siblings have been OBO-sponsored students at VEA for about three years.  Jairo is a very good baseball player and the first of his best-of-seven championship series is in the morning.  They had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings so they could watch MLB.  Dave said they watched Houston’s come-back and some of Arizona's win.  As Dave noted, "that was crazy special for him".  They do have a TV in their home, but no cable and the screen is broken, so it is hard to watch anything.  And the opportunity to eat out with their family at a nice restaurant with air-conditioning and TV is a very rare and special experience.  

The students that we are mentioning in these updates are students that OBO sponsors (quite a few of them for numerous years) and so you can see that sponsorship goes far beyond them simply learning English (which by itself is extremely impactful in their lives).  Together, we are able to come alongside the family to provide encouragement, friendship, and to make a difference in their lives in multiple ways.  When they ask "why?", we get to share the Great News of God's amazing love for us and the hope and peace that can only be found through Jesus Christ.  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus through your partnership in this ministry!  We are encouraged by the number of people who read the updates.

V*rbo Chr*st*an School Class of 2023 (above) 

Carol, in between her mom and dad beside their road-side tortilla shop (above)

Pictured L to R: Regan, Blanca, Jarito, mama, Jeysi, and Jairo Sr.