May Update

Hello to all. Happy June and welcome to the May monthly update. The month of May began and ended with a full calendar. Both of our boys birthdays are in the first 10 days of May. Zane turned 15, and Nolan turned 13. I took Zane for a father/son trip to Raleigh, NC for his 13th birthday a couple of years ago and followed suit with Nolan this year. Currently Nolan is into motorsports. I took him to Atlanta to experience motorsport career opportunities outside of being a race car driver. We had a great time riding in supercars, being toured around a track day, and trying our hand at racing go-karts at a country club for motorsports enthusiast.

The next weeks were filled with preparing our home, of the last seven years, for the market. This meant cleaning out, straightening up, completing minor projects, putting extra effort in the landscaping and trips to Salvation Army. Last week our realtor, shout out Bailey Breen, came out with a photographer to take the listing photos. Thanks to Holly and the boys for knocking out the final pushes of the home preparations while I was traveling to Nicaragua for a Ride Nature board meeting.

San Juan del Sur is 2.5hr south of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, by bus. Located on the west side of the country and just north of the Costa Rican boarder. I did not expect to feel and see so much of God’s hand stirring in the local people. I have heard about what is taking place in Nica, but to see and feel it was impactful.

I don’t need to shuffle through all the facts of my trip to Nicaragua. The fact that is most important is the clarity in which God is moving. From the outside looking in, there is so much to see.

Tuesday - We traveled to a local skatepark to experience the local outreach effort of Skate Church. A local intern shared to approximately 30 local youth skaters. The devotion was translated because of the number of expats that call San Juan del Sur home.

Wednesday - We first watched as Alanya got baptized at the beach, a block from the RN coffee shop. Her older sister got baptized last week, at the same beach. Her father, who was there, owns the local party bar. God has gotten a hold of this father’s family. They are expats from Austria. After the baptism I led a Men’s bible study in the RN coffee shop that was attended by 23 local men ages 18-45. These men were hungry for the Word.

Thursday - The women’s ministry meets in the RN coffee shop and it was karaoke night. The board members walked home from dinner and we heard the sound of women singing worship karaoke in Spanish. Most buildings in San Juan del Sur are open air, as is the coffee shop, and that allowed the praise to saturate the whole block of the city.

• I traveled home on Friday and did not witness the weekend outreaches, but I would still like to include them to show what God is up to.

Saturday - Will be Surf Church. Every Saturday, just like Skate Church, RN leads a devotion time with the athletes at the beach.

Sunday - Since there is no church in the city, RN has taken the responsibility to lead a gathering on Sundays. Worship is sung and preached. Last week there were 90 people in attendance.

Monday - A short term mission group will be housed in the RN hostel called, La Casa de Ride Nature.

My trip to Nicaragua was for board meetings, but it turned into God showing all He has been doing in this Latin American city for the last 4 years. Through the coffee shop, through action sports, through people “Going to make disciples”, God has started to bring redemption to the people of San Juan del Sur.

We have a few feedback metrics on this email platform but at the end of the day I am not really sure if everyone, or anyone, is really reading these newsletters. If you are one who does read the newsletters, thank you. Secondly, everything that is happening in places like San Juan del Sur is directly tied to financial supporters. My family and I are sitting below 50% of our fundraising goal. Being 100% would affirm our calling to be apart of what God is doing through Ride Nature. Would you please consider how even a small monthly gift of $20 can help my family be sustainable and healthy in our ministry effort? If the Spirit is stirring in you to give, please follow the “Partner with us” link on the bottom of our bio. Thank you.

Prayer request for June:

• Our home is coming to the market very soon, please pray for a smooth sale.

• Our future Florida address is still unknown, please pray for clarity.

• June will be full of travel, please pray for safety.

• We will be leading a camp in the Outerbanks of NC, June 16-20, pray for campers hearts being changed.

• We will be involved with FBC Jesup, GA VBS June 22-26, pray for opportunities to share what God is doing through Ride Nature.

• Zane will be in New York for camp June 29-July 5. Pray as he travels independently and for his Spirit to be impacted.

• Continued prayers for our family to be in the Father’s will.

To the glory of His grace,

Ed, Holly, Zane, Nolan