Graduation

  On October 19th I graduated from the 6 week Advanced level Intensive course at The Spanish Language Institute. It was and intensive 6 weeks but I learned so much and it was a blessing to have the opportunity to go. I still have a lot to learn but I feel like I finally have a handle on Spanish.
 For graduation I had to give a 10 min speech about my year in Nicaragua, and what I plan to do in the future. I spoke for 13 whole minuets :)

Giving my presentation.

Receiving my Diploma.

I think we were all feeling pretty accomplished.



All the Intensive students.

With Dixiana our conversation teacher.

Sandra our grammar teacher.

After graduation Kirsten, Amber and I went and had one final Pops ice cream.

Finals Results

 Thanks to all who have been praying for me and my finals.
I got the results back yesterday and I must say I was very happy. After my other tests my hopes were kinda low. My problem is I can speak Spanish fine its just that on a paper it gets really confusing for me. You would think it would be the same as speaking but somehow it isn't for me and I can't understand why.
 Anyway it was a wonderful blessing to get my tests back and have a pretty decent number marked on them.

 During my grammar test I had a surprise. We had a 5.3 earthquake. The whole building started moving underneath me. Needless to say we left class rather quickly in case the building collapsed and I finished my test on the outside.
 It didn't last long and there was no damage.

 And today I am graduating from the Advanced Spanish Intensive Class!!!!!!  My God is amazing!!!  I know that I could not have done this on my own. He is the one that brought me through.
 I have to give a 10 min. presentation in Spanish during Graduation.

Tomorrow morning I will be on a 10 hour bus ride back to Nicaragua.

Finals!!

Just a quick note for everyone, I have all my final tests tomorrow. 
If you think of me please pray that my mind will stay focused.
 I am studying my grammar book and praying that I won't forget a thing.
I am also preparing a 20 minute oral presentation. Only problem, I won't be able to use any notes so it will be 20 minutes of just talking. Definitely not my favorite thing to do.
 

On the bright side I will be voting in the morning :)

A Little Sunshine

 

Every time I walk to school I walk right past this beautiful rose and it always brightens my day.  "

A rose"? Yes, it is just a simple but beautiful rose but it is always blooming so brightly even in the rain. It always reminds me that regardless of how dreary, damp and wet my life feels at the moment I always have the choice to bloom brightly through the rain of life and brighten someones day.

And suprisingly enough it always brightens my day when I brighten someone elses :)

♥"Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts."♥

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Last weekend I had the privilege to go to La Paz Waterfall Gardens here in Costa Rica. It truly was beautiful and refreshing after spending a couple weeks couped up in the city. What a wonder to enjoy Gods creation with a new appreciation.

After growing up in the country I never realized truly how blessed I was to see all the the green fields the hills the open space and the opportunity to breath clean untouched air. 

Since being here in Costa Rica I have really had a problem with feeling caged up like an animal. I live in a pretty house with a nice family but we only have a 6x12 ft yard with grass and everything has to be locked at all times.

Defiantly not what I would prefer to have my child grow up in :) I keep thinking "Oh these poor kids, they have no idea what they are missing, what a boring childhood".

 

Anyway all that being said, I'll let you see for yourselves the pictures of a beautiful day in a gorgeous place :) It was a blessing from God in every aspect and very refreshing, Enjoy!!!!

All along the mountains they grow coffee and 80% of it goes to Starbucks.

Lots of beautiful flowers. And for those who know me know I love flowers :)

With a poor mans umbrella :)

With most of my classmates. Us that are in the Intensive course.

The beautiful mountains.

Driving through clouds.

A Toucan.

And the pretty painted birds.

Lots of butterflies.

So pretty.

Flowers.

They even had two sloths. They just slept :(

More pretty flowers...

cool frogs...

...and a monster Jaguar. Don't worry he was behind glass.

And best of all lots of waterfalls.

This is a 200ft waterfall. It is so beautiful. It looks so small in the picture.

Me :)

Above the 120 ft waterfall.

On the top looking down.

With a couple of my friends halfway down.

Halfway down.

Absolutely gorgeous!

And the beautiful walk back to the bus.

I was such a refreshing day for me. Hope yall enjoyed it:)

Where in the world am I and What in the world am I doing?

I have been asked this a  couple times recently.
Yes I have been in Costa Rica studying Spanish and I am in Nicaragua for a couple days.
 My Dad called me Saturday evening to let me know that I need to come to Nicaragua. He has been working on our residency's in Nicaragua for about four months now and he finally got it all turned in on Friday, only missing mine because he didn't have my passport.
 We had expected that I could just do it after I finish school. Unfortunately they need it now or I am going to have to start the process all over which includes going back to Miami and getting more paperwork.
 So I am in Nicaragua for a few days to get mine turned in as well :) I think God loves to watch us make plans and then do something totally different just to see how we will respond.
 It is so much fun to live with God moment by moment never knowing what is going to happen next. I am His vessel after all :) I should be available to whatever He decides and not what I plan and decide is going to happen.
Please pray that the process is smooth and I will be able to get it all turned in tomorrow so I can go back to Costa Rica on Wednesday so I don't miss to many classes. And that I remember who is in control. Thanks
Any way just wanted to let everyone whats going on.

A Life Update

 Just wanted to let everyone that my family is in Puerta Cabezas Nicaragua and are really enjoying the new culture. The first week and a half they stayed on a pretty little farm just outside of Managua while working on all of the legal documents that are required to stay in Nicaragua long term.
 A week ago they flew to Puerta Cabezas. They are renting a small house from a ministry there. On Monday they started Miskito lessons. They will be taking them for 3 month.
 My Dad had to fly back to Miami again with some more paperwork. Please pray for him. He has done so much paperwork already a still has a mountain of it in front of him.
 Next week Dad and Chris will be going upriver to where our ministry will be based from. Please pray for that also as they work with the village elders. They are going to ask the village if we can have a ministry there and some land. The Miskito law is that no one can buy or sell land because it all belongs to God. So please pray for favor there.
Here is a map of Nicaragua so you can kinda tell where they are.

OK as for me,
 I am in Costa Rica studying Spanish. The Spanish Institute is a Christain based school and has a lot of missionary's that are going to go all over South and Central America.
 I am living with a host family about 10 min walk from the school. I am in the Intensive six week course and it is very intensive. I have been doing pretty good in my classes so far. I have another test coming up this Friday. I will have to give a 15 min speech :( Not looking forward to it.
 One thing I have learned about Spanish is that it is a very confusing language. They have the rules, then they have the exceptions to the rules and then they have the exceptions to the exceptions. And we are trying to cram 6 weeks into what is usually a 3 month program.
 I am blessed to have this opportunity to learn Spanish. And I am very glad I took the 6 weeks instead of the 3 month. It has been a little hard for me being here while my Family is getting settled in Nicaragua.
 So far I have had pretty much nothing to do in my spare time. I have been used to working hard all my life and this has been a little hard on me. Maybe God is trying to teach me something.
 This weekend I might be going to a volcano that has a beautiful waterfall coming out of it. It is called La Paz. The pictures look amazing.

Here is a picture I found.

I am really looking forward to the possibilty of going.
 If I go I'll try to upload some pictures so yall can see it as well.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

We are Heading Out!!!!

I am excited to let everyone know that I am heading back to Nicaragua in about 10 days!!!!
Yep, We are finally almost there. The journey has been long and exciting and I know the path waiting for us in Nicaragua will be on steroids :)
 The past 3 month has had a lot of ups and downs and a lots of waiting  but I know God is still in control of time. We sold our house, we have our paperwork, and we have our tickets!!!!!

When we arrive on the 30th we plan to stay in Managua (the capital) for about a week or so to work on our residency's so we don't have to leave the country every 6 month.
On the 5th or 6th I am going to go to San Jose, Costa Rica to a language school to study Spanish. I am planning on taking the 6 weeks intensive course. Please pray for my mind :) I am also going to be living with a host family and I'm pretty excited about that.

My family is planning on staying with another ministry on the east side of Nicaragua while they negotiate a land deal and work on building a house up river on Nicaragua / Honduran border.

Our coordinators tell me that I need to clear some things up regarding my status as a missionary! They have requested for clarification on your checks to put either Mary Lee or The Lee Family Ministries as our financial support is separate. If you have any questions please contact our coordinators Gary and Joretta Doyle at
 417-967-4615 or leefamilyministries@yahoo.com
Also my mailing adress changed to:
345 PO Box Houston, Mo. 65483

This Sunday  (August 26) my church will be sending us off. My  Dad will be sharing at the 9:00am and the 10:45am service. After the 10:45 service there will be cookies and fellowship. It would be and honor to have yall there :)



Me with my wonderful Sisters :) I love them so much!!!

Griffin 8 Month Later

Many of you have been following Griffins story. It has been 8 month now since we found him in Waspam. A couple days ago they sent a couple more pictures of him. It is so amazing to see God bring him back to life when there was almost no life in him.
No one can tell me that my God does not still work miracles. Because I know better ;)
 Here are a couple pictures:

Walking,

Learning to write,

And the most beautiful smile and the sparkliest eyes ever! 

Thanks again for all your prayers for this little guy,

Home!!!!!

Hey everyone,I'm back in the States for a while agian. It was especially hard for me to leave this time as I won't be living at El Crucero once I go back. My heart hurts and I seem to be constantly on the verge of crying. Every little thing I see reminds me of something that one of the kids did or said.

Goodbye party from my 1st and 2nd grade class.

Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things for me to do.

:)

My wonderful friend Camille.

A few of us just before I left. They are such a blessing in my life.

Some of the workers that I supervised.

She is such a sweet baby. Before I left she came and sat on my lap for a while. She is one that usally dosen't want to be cuddled. Such a blessing.

All that said I'm enjoying my time back.
 The past 3 weeks I have been working at Camp David of the Ozarks. It is a camp for the childern that have a parent in prison. It is a blessing for me to be able to work there. It keeps me busy and keeps me from thinking to much about Nicarauga and how much I miss everyone.
  God bless yall,