Evelyn and Roses

Evelyn:

We have a great new study. The best kind, the kind that comes to you. Parents send their kids to sell things from door to door. Kind of a shame because they should be in school. One girl, Evelyn, sells us tortillas (Sad confession: we don't actually eat the tortillas. The sisters here said its not safe to eat food when you don't know what the kitchen is like.) Whether we bought her tortillas or not, she liked to hang around at the door watching whatever we were doing. When her brothers and sisters would come to get her, they'd point at us giggling and laughing and then all run away. One day while she was hanging out, we grabbed the bible and asked if she knew God's name. Of course, she did. “It's Jesus.” Then we asked if she could read, kind of doubting it since she looked like she was 6. Yup, she could read and she's 10. So, syllable by syllable she read Luke 1:31, 32. that Jesus is the name of the Son of the Most High. And then Ps 83:18 for the name of the Most High. When we asked her God's name again, she got it! Ryan suggested we get the Great Teacher book. So, now whenever she comes we read from that together. (She comes everyday.) Yesterday, she brought 4 other kids. But she wanted to be the first to blurt out “Jehova,” Even before we asked them what God's name is. We were pleased to see she had already taught them all too. In the picture Evelyn is the 2nd from the left.

Roses:

October 3rd was our 5th anniversary. Shane thought to buy me roses. And the story is funny. When he gave them to me he said there were supposed to be five, one for each year. Which is so incredibly sweet. But there were only four. He bought them from a woman selling on the bus. The “Bus General” ( The Bus General, as we call him, is not the driver. The driver only, well, drives. This man is in charge. He collects all the fares, keeps order and scales the outside of the bus while its moving to get down peoples chickens and bicycles before their stop.) had already told her it was time to get off. So Shane quickly asked how much they were. Five cordobas each. Shane opened his wallet and the General and the lady 'whoa'd. He only had 100's. The General quickly made change and the lady asked how many. Hurried, Shane tried to say five. But the General shouted “four,” paid the lady and kicked her off the bus. Leaving Shane bewildered with 4 red roses in one hand and a pile of change in the other. That definitely makes these the most special roses he's ever got me.

Andrew and Jenny:

Due to recent demand by our readers, it has come to our attention that there is a great lack of information on this blog about the Lathams. We are happy to oblige. Andrew and Jenny are an amazing couple. We see them on the sidewalk holding hands headed to service morning and evening. In the meetings he's giving like 5 parts while she's translating it all into sign language. In their off time, they're teaching us Spanish, making lasagnas with homemade pasta, and volunteering in deaf schools. Thanks to Jenny's preparedness we've been able to borrow just about every kitchen item imaginable. And Andrew is great too 'cause you just cant make this guy a bad meal. All this, and they still have time to watch Horatio Hornblower episodes with their friends!

Jinotega, Nicaragua