Nicaragua
I (Jason) am heading to Nicaragua next week to assist in setting up our new EMI Office for future impact in Central America. This is the third location that we’ve planted an office in Central America.
Our first location was in Guatemala, but with it having one of the highest violent crime rates in Central America it made it difficult for EMI missionary families. Imagine feeling imprisoned in your own home, where you couldn’t leave the walls surrounding your house until your husband returned home from work to escort you to the store. As the violence continued to increase, including a staff member being at gun point during an attempted carjacking, it became clear that an EMI office needed to move for the safety of its staff and families.
The second location was in Costa Rica where it was much easier for staff families to raise their children. In the end, however, EMI decided that there weren’t as many local ministry needs. Many of the physically poor were still an airplane ride away since Costa Rica was so economically stable.
Three years ago, Jason, Jalina and Blake served the EMI Costa Rica Office before it closed down to be relaunched in Nicaragua. While Jason assisted the EMI Project Leaders there, Jalina served in a local orphanage with Blake only 9 weeks old.
This led to the decision to finally move the office to Nicaragua where there was safety for family livability, a multitude of local ministries to serve with our design, and a growing number of Christian design professionals which we hope to help disciple professionally and spiritually.
The office has just opened and already their first project has been a success. In Nicaragua’s desperate poverty, the handicapped are especially disadvantaged. David (pictured) is one of 115 disabled kids receiving Christ-centered therapy, professional services and lots of love at the center. But there are many more on the waiting list. It’s time to build! EMI designed their first priority; an arena for the Equine Therapy program. Using horses as part of therapy has proven to be a huge success in the lives of these kids; physically, relationally and emotionally.
David came to the ministry (God’s Treasures) at only 8 years old, never before having had any opportunity for education. Now, using the skills and confidence he has been given, David is about to graduate from the 10th grade! His family and teachers have been trained by the dedicated staff at God’s Treasures. In spite of his overwhelming physical disabilities, David is finding a very real hope for his future!
It is always a privilege to work at EMI where we are able to make a true impact in the lives of people like David through the work of God’s Treasure. It is as if we can witness the act of God’s love at work on the broken hearted.
Reinhardt Boys Update
Life in the Reinhardt house is full of joy and commotion as our 3 active boys like to keep us busy and entertained.
Drew
Drew is enjoying school and is already starting to learn how to read. He is a diligent student and we are proud of him as he perseveres through his struggles to learn things like rhyming due to his auditory delay. The school decided to put him back in speech therapy language group. Drew is also memorizing Bible verses at Awana’s which again won’t be easy for him but we are encouraged by all the effort he is putting forth.
Drew is looking good on his first day of school and he is getting the hang of soccer in his first season of play.
Blake
We just celebrated Blake’s 3rd birthday and boy was he excited. His favorite part- the birthday cake! This kid is a sugar fiend. After a failed first attempt at potty training a year ago, we are trying again with quite a big success. Blake likes to show off his ‘accomplishments’ too.
Cole
We were surprised to find that Cole was slow to learn how to crawl, and even now insists on pulling one of his legs in sideways- we call it his limp crawl. However, all Cole wants to do is walk. He was pulling himself up at 8 months and is ‘cruising’ the couches. He is doing whatever he can to keep up with his older brothers. Sadly he still wakes up at least twice a night to nurse which means Jalina is still sleep deprived.
Thanks for All You Do
Your partnership with our work at EMI has a tremendous impact on our family and on the people throughout the world that are touched by our ministry. Thank You!
the reinhardt's update 