Satisfied Wages for Nicaragua

  Valley views After four years of searching, and a full year of negotiating, we have purchased land for Avodah Farm! The property is located about thirteen miles (thirty minute drive), north of the city. The area is know as the hot lands. Where it is drier during the year and a bit warmer than the rest of the Jinotega department. The property is part of a large cattle ranch, where the family was willing to sell us a portion.  I first saw the land in the start of 2022, when Darwin and I were on our way to a community where we heard there were hard working bean farmers. We had never driven into this area before so we unknowingly took the scenic route. It was a rough and winding road. About 3 km (1.5m) in we saw a flat open grass land, with fenced off pastures. I said "Look at this land, it is beautiful! There is no one around here, not a house in sight. Is anyone selling this, at least a portion?" Then we saw some pink underwear hanging on the barbed wire, and joked about that...

I have not been able to write on this blog in the last five months. Our family has grown and with the growth come new challenges for us! The biggest challenge is managing time and returning to work in the mountains! It has been difficult to keep this blog up to date. The concept of writing doesn't seem like a hard thing to do, but it is! Especially if you are not a writer, like Jari and I.  Either way, here we are February of 2025! A month has passed already for the year and we still have some strategic planning to do. We also have to update or accounting records and budgets! Afterall, we cant teach financial stewardship classes and not practice what we preach! These are some of some of the behind the scene things that keep our ministry work in operation. We are a small operation, three people dedicated to helping the Nicaraguan Church make disciples in their communities. Sending out marketplace ministers!  I made a trip to Jinotepe to meet with our Ministerio la Semilla partn...