Prayer for 2017…

As this new year is beginning down here in Nicaragua we really do covet and appreciate all of your prayers.  In Nicaragua the school year starts in February, so this time of year is full of excitement.  Vacation has come to an end and all our ministry sites are kicking off the year.  There is “back to school” propoganda everywhere, in the Farrington house too!  Krista and the kids opened of their box of books and school material for the year last week…it was lots of fun!  On the back of our Christmas card that we sent with our paper newsletter we included this prayer card…

…we hope this digital version can be a reminder to pray for us as well!

Prayer for our family specifically.  Protection from any evil that may set its sight on us.  Guidance for Krista and I to be great parents to our kids, and to keep each other as a priority.  Prayers for Aliyah, Mason, Isabella and Juliette as they grow and as they learn.  Mostly that Jesus would be what forever captures our eye and our hearts and that everything about our lives would be focused on His good things.

Prayer for our rescue homes Casa Robles and Casa Havilah.  Each of these kiddos has a special place in our hearts and 2017 is going to be an exciting year.  Naydelin has been staying with the Buzbees for part of the vacation and it has been so fun.  Aliyah’s been running off and playing with her and her aunts the last few days.  It’s so fun because they make each other’s English/Spanish better.  Vacation can be a tough time for all of the kids at Robles and Havilah, because everyone has been in their home setting which have some very difficult realities.  So our prayer is that the Lord brings all of them back to us with a great joy and excitement for the coming year.

Prayer for Walakitang.  We ask that the Spirit of the Lord would continue to blow along the Rio Coco.  Pastor Victor and his family can be a focus of all of your prayers.  He is the point of the spear bringing the Gospel to all those communities.

Prayer for Ruby Ranch.  This year plans are being drawn up for the long term vision of the Double R.  A new cabin is being completed and we pray for the Lord to provide one, two or even three more.  Please pray that Ruby Ranch is a place that has such a heavy presence of God upon it, that wether someone is coming for a day camp or a weekend retreat, they feel God’s presence and are drawn closer to Him!

Prayer for Club Esperanza in Managua and for Club Imagine in Los Brasiles.  These community outreach centers touch hundreds of lives everyday.  We need the Lord’s guidance in all of it…the feeding center, the early childhood education, the Bible Studies, the tutoring program, the Lacrosse program, the High School scholarship program, C.E.L.A. our support for pregnant and nursing mothers, marriage retreats, Program for Special need students, future youth group, future constructions, and future dreams.

A reality of the darkness of the community surrounding Club Esperanza hit us last week.  This story is very sensitive but I want to share it to give perspective on the needs, so you can pray.  Marina, who works at the Club, stopped me last Thursday because she was so upset about what her two granddaughters had seen the night before.  Around 10:30 at night there was a commotion outside their house, they found a baby inside of a trash bag on a pile of trash.  A mototaxi driver had noticed a dog nosing the trash pile and realized with shock it was a baby.  Marina rushed down with the neighbors, the baby was still alive.  They brought her to the hospital and Praise Jesus, this little baby girl has survived.

The incredible harshness of the story, is that this baby was placed in the trash by a seventeen year old girl who had just given birth in secret in her shanty house across the street.  The baby belongs to her step father, and it was the second time she bore his child.  Marina shared more details that are heartbreaking, but this picture of darkness is so tragic and overwhelming.  The police have gotten involved and the Ministry of Family have as well.  This all happened two blocks away from the Club.

Even in writing this, I need to take a deep breath.  How does this happen?  Where is God in all of this, how can any sort of hope come to this young ladies life now?  How can this baby be protected?  There are so many questions, and we do not know the answers.  But, we are here.  We have offered to help in any way possible, to provide refuge for the mom and baby, really offering anything that we can do.

Life can be incomprehensible, this is why we pray.  Jesus we pray against all evil lurking near by and we ask you to destroy it.  We ask you to shine a light on places of need. Jesus, help us to help.  We ask you to make things good and right.  In all of our lacking of understanding, we lean on you.  Lord bless this year!  Amen.