little angels from "hope center." (www.hopecenterhonduras.com)

back in NY (wish i was back in honduras)

I have been back in the US for almost two full days. I miss my family... I miss Honduras. I had an incredible time with my family! It was so good to be home for a while, after being gone for two years. Everyone is growing up so fast, I can't believe it! My "little" sisters aren't so little anymore! And the guys... well, they just keep getting uglier:)! Seriously, it was such a blessing to be with them. I was able to participate in several avenues of ministry while I was there. I preached at a Bible study, at church, and at 3 school chapels. It was such a blessing to be able to share with the different groups of people. I was also able to share, one morning, at teacher devotions. It wasn't a very restful time, but what can you expect in a house of 12 people! The joy that filled my heart, from being with my family, made my need for rest to vanish! Seriously... I think i gave out over 45,675 hugs and kisses in the two weeks I was there. I loved it! Overall, our trip was a huge blessing. Memories were made that I will never forget.

heading home

I will tell you all about my honduras trip in a little while... for now a quick update.  Andrew and I are making the last leg of our journey this morning.  We flew into Chicago late last night.  Our plane left Miami and hour and a half late, due to mechanical problems (which means we arrived here late).  We waited an hour for our hotel shuttle, only to find out that when we came out of the airport, we missed the last one by about 5 minutes!  We finally got a cab, and we just enjoyed about 4 hours of great sleep at the local Holiday Inn Express.  Our plane leaves at 9:35am... we are almost "home."

-nick

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you and yours the merriest of Christmas days! May we never forget how special this day truly is. May we never cease to praise Jesus for all he has done for us. LUKE 1:20

-nick

30 minutes in heaven (at "centro de esperanza")

HOPE center. it truly is a place of hope for the little honduran kids. my little sister (elisabeth) volunteers time and love at a little orphanage, outside a tourist town called "valle de angeles." it is about 45 minutes from our home. i tell her there is not greater place to give her time and your love. we went shopping at "valle de angeles" today, so we decided to stop at the orphanage for a few minutes. what an amazing few minutes it was!
i cannot begin to explain to you how great a joy i experienced from being there. to hold them. to love on them. to hear their incredible stories. it was amazing.
i have to tell you one story. the girl i am holding (in the picture album about the center) in the first picture (the one actually wearing clothes!)... her name is kimberly. kimberly came to the orphanage when she was only 3 months old. at the time, she was living underneath a bridge with her mother. when they found kimberly, she was covered in shoe glue. her mother was addicted to shoe glue and did a poor job taking care of kimmie. it took the workers quite a while to clean her up from the glue she was covered in. they had to use turpentine. when i heard this, my heart broke. i held her tighter as i heard her story. the whole 30 minutes was like this. i did not want to leave!
i don't know how or when, but I do know God is going to use me to help orphans. i know this very well. i want to adopt 5 kids into my family and I want to help so many more. i love them so much.the ministry i am with (encounter revival ministries) is going to india, in april, to help at an orphanage there (1500 precious ones... 3 of whom i am very honored and blessed to sponsor).
i believe God used my time a the orphanage today to prepare me even more, and to deepen my love for orphans.please pray for "hope center" and for all those around the world that are doing their part to take care of the fatherless. pray for them everyday.

visit "hope center" at: http://www.hopecenterhonduras.com/

"religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father is this: TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION, and to keep oneself unstained before the world." - james 1:27

-nick

You are God alone...

So, I was going downtown with a fraction of my family members, and as we were going down the mountain we were listening to "You are God alone" by PC&D. What and absolutely amazing, God-centered song! In the midst of the traffic, in the midst of the people, the hustle & bustle of the disorderly way of life here in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and in the midst of dodging gigantic, man-sized potholes... I stood in awe of how great God is, and how small and undeserving I really am. God is so amazing, and He truly is God ALONE!

8 "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
(Isaiah 46:8-11 NIV)