It has been a long time since many of you have heard from us. A lot has happened here in recent months and we would like to take this opportunity to share some of the news with you.

Tim and Angela are both teenagers now. Tim is 16 and a junior in high school. Angela turned 13 in October, and is in 7^th grade. Between school, sports and social activities, they both stay busy. They both love Nicaragua, and at the same time still miss and correspond with their friends from Guatemala. Such is the life of an M.K.!

Any one who has been related to the International Mission Board (IMB) in the past couple of years is very familiar with the term "New Directions". This refers to a very broad based reorganization within the board and a strengthened focus on the still unreached people groups in the world, with the purpose of bringing the message of salvation to and starting church planting movements among these people.

Keith is now field coordinator for Spanish speaking as well as non-indigenous language groups in Nicaragua. He has been stretched in many directions in the last months as he has worked to implement new strategies, lead missionaries on the field to form teams, and work with nationals, missionaries and volunteers to minister so many Nicaraguans who were victims of Mitch.

For the past two years our family has had the joy of working with the Gonzales family planting a church in Villa Reconciliación, a resettlement community for former soldiers from both sides in the recent civil war in Nicaragua. In July God provided a pastor to live and minister in the community. Bro. Roger and his family quickly won the hearts of the people at the Fuente de Vida mission. He is doing a wonderful job in leading the people in spiritual growth, leadership and reaching out to the lost around them. This work no longer requires our presence. This is a wonderful bitter/sweet time as we break away just at the time they can begin ministering to us. Now we and the Gonzaleses are praying and seeking God’s direction for new church planting opportunities.

The day after Christmas our family joined with members of the Nicaraguan Bible Society in a massive Bible distribution to those who had lost Bibles in the area of Somotillo. Our close relationship with the head of the Nicaraguan Bible Society presents an excellent opportunity to partner with them to ensure that everyone has access to Scripture. Keith recently had the joy of receiving the first copies of the new Miskito translation of the Gospel of John marked for evangelism. This began several years ago as a dream his father, Stanley Stamps had. Keith was able to help move it along in coordination with the Bible Society. Now Jim and Viola Palmer will be able to use it as they work to share Christ and plant churches among the Miskito people of Nicaragua and Honduras.

Hurricane Mitch hit hard the area in which the Buen Samaritano (Good Samaritan) Baptist Convention has its geographical strength. Until that time we had had no relations with them. Knowing they were in great need, Keith reached out to them with aid. They have reacted with great warmth. Having contact with them will enhance the work of all of us. One of the leaders from there shared with us this moving story of the witness that evangelicals were able to have in that area during the hurricane:

A young couple became stranded in their tobacco shed as water quickly rose all around them. When they saw that they were surrounded by water, they climbed to the top of the shed in an effort to escape the rapidly rising waters. But they soon realized the water was rising so quickly that they were about to be swept away in the swift current. As the people of the town looked on, men from the volunteer fire department and local Red Cross tried desperately to reach the couple and bring them to safety. Finally the rescue workers gave up as they saw that there was no hope of saving the stranded couple. But then a Baptist pastor and Assembly of God church member felt they must try to save this couple. So they built a raft of banana stalks and two inner tubes tied together. As many people watched and prayed, they fought their way through the current and finally reached the couple. But just as they delivered the couple safely to solid land, the raft was swept away with the two men still on it. The people of the town mourned because they knew there was no hope that the men would come out alive. However, some time later the two men emerged, walking through the brush. They had been swept downstream for several kilometers before they were finally able to row to the bank and escape the water! Praise God for rewarding the great faith and love these two men had for their fellow man and for the positive witness this gave to their community.

Jimmy Eager is forming a team which will focus specifically on the people in the Urban Marginal communities. Over the past couple of decades thousands of people who have been victims of war, economic crisis and natural disaster have migrated to the cities of Nicaragua. Many of these people have come from isolated rural communities where there has been little evangelical witness. These people make up a large percentage of those in the urban marginal communities. The flooding caused by Mitch around Lake Managua resulted in the sudden growth of a new marginal community, just as Jimmy arrived on the scene. Jimmy has jumped into this work with both feet, without looking back. As he has helped in construction of simple shelters he has been able to develop good relationships with the block leaders. Over 30 adults and that many children have received Christ. He has already begun several Bible studies in that community. Penny is working with Jimmy’s wife, Harriet and Lana Kynast to reach out to the women of Nueva Vida.

Keith is working with leaders from Tennessee and Virginia Baptist conventions to form a partnership to work in hurricane reconstruction.

The partnership will work in construction of shelters, agricultural projects and medical clinics. Sam Harper, a missionary to Peru, presently living in the US, is coordinating a small animal project. Harold Watson, recently retired from the Philippines will be teaching his SALT technology of planting on sloping land. This will give us the opportunity to impact many rural communities with the Gospel.

Safety, good health and strength in recent months.

New opportunities to share His love with the people of Nicaragua.

The arrival of the Eager family in December and the way God is using them to reach out to the people in Nicaragua.

The safe arrival of the Art and Dottie Dennis who will be coordinating volunteer in reconstruction efforts.

Tim and Angela as they finish out the school year and become involved in summer activities.

Keith, that he would continue to sense God’s direction as he leads in the formation of church planting teams and ministers to those he comes in contact with on a daily basis. Pray that he would have time for rest and renewal as well.

Penny, as she balances time for the ministry opportunities God has set before her and caring for her family.

Art and Dottie Dennis as they become oriented to the culture and language to Nicaragua and prepare to lead volunteers in reconstruction projects.

The urban marginal communities church planting team.

New teams that will be forming as new missionaries arrive in Nicaragua this year:

That God would raise up someone (or a couple) to come and work among gang members in the cities.

Keith, Penny, Tim and Angela Stamps