6 months of marriage

Ryan and I have been married for 6 months.

When I look back and think about all that has happened in my life and look at where I am today all I can say is "Thank You". To think that God had all of this planned out before I was even born, knowing my faults and my flaws, yet still with His mercy, grace and love, taking time to plan and so carefully choose the perfect person for me is amazing. God has given me the most beautiful life and I am so undeserving. 

In the past 6 months we have finished out our home in Jacks Creek, we've been in Jamaica, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and all over Nicaragua. We have survived an earthquake, a volcano eruption, and a tsunami (Not as bad as it sounds but still interesting facts about our first few months). Ryan has toughed out a food bacteria and loved me even after I gave him a shot. 

 We look forward to spending the rest of our life adventures together.

On Friday morning Ryan bought me a puppy for our 6 month mark(which is September 17). We found him the day before at a veterinarian's near a friends house. He is half Siberian Husky half German Shepherd. He will be a great protector and friend for us as he gets older. He has the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever seen and he makes you want to say "HE'S SO FLUFFY I COULD DIE"(Despicable me, anyone?). Andd I love him so much it is sickening.We tried alllll day to figure out a name that would be easy and fun for the Nicaraguan children but also something that would not be difficult to pronounce in English. We settled with "Pancho" which means "free" and is also a popular nickname here. It suits him. He is already a "free" spirit taking high dives off the bed and such. Pancho and Ody are going to best friends when we finally get Ody down here! PANCHO not to be confused with PONCHO. When Isaac (my brother) met him on skype the other night he said and I quote, "He is SO cute I just want to take him outside and hold him over my head in the rain". Took me a minute to get it. Yeah. 

I try to make Saturdays my day of cleaning but thanks to the new member of our family it seemed a bit harder than usual yesterday. Ryan had to go take care of some things at one of the churches and so it was just me and little Pancho. I am sure you know this, but puppies like to chase brooms, and step in the dirt pile, and pee right after you mop... So I ended up letting Jaden next door take him for a little while. During the time that Ryan and Pancho were gone and it was just me at home, I turned up ZoeGroup, which unexpectedly made my cry(which also prevented me from cleaning). For me, I have discovered that one of the hardest things about living down here is not being able to worship with people in my native language. Don't get me wrong, I love worshiping God with my Nicaraguan hermanos but that is always going to be something I am going to long for and look forward to when we can come to the States for a visit. So, sing a little louder for us this Sunday!

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made. Your boundless love for me portrayed. With patience for my learning curve by holding back what I deserve. 

How Wonderful your mercy is, How awesome are your ways. I come, I come to worship you for all you've done. 

Oh Cleanser of the mess I've made. With everything at your feet laid. I watch as all my cares erode. And from my soul these words Explode. 

How Wonderful your mercy is, How awesome are your ways. I come, I come to worship you for all you've done. 

We are ever so grateful for the amazing people God has placed in our lives in Nicaragua. There are some incredible faith-filled families down here that we are really looking forward to spending the next years working along side. We are also grateful for those who have encouraged us, prayed for us, and supported us in some way. Thank you, thank you, thank you. God is watching over us. He knows what we need and I smile when I think of our future here. 

You, God, are my God, Earnestly I see you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 

Psalm 63: 1-5

In all all things Lord, we thank you.

El Camino Missions 

One month and a day..

One Month and a day. We have been in Nicaragua for one month and a day and so much has already happened. I cannot believe how much time has already gone by. We have had many fun experiences a long with some not so fun.

We just got home from two weeks of language school in Laguna de Apoyo. Here are some fun facts:

• We had a tarantula in our room about a foot from our bed one night during school. 
• We studied Spanish for 4 hours each day
• We slept under a bug net. We had no air and took cold showers. 
• We had many critters hanging out in our bathroom such as toads, spiders, geckos, centipedes, etc. 
• We had monkeys swinging from tree to tree above and usually were the sound we went to sleep to and the sound we woke up to.
• We had four pet dogs and two birds. 
• We were one with nature.
• We ate beans and rice with all 3 meals for two straight weeks.
• We had internet for what seemed to be 30 minutes every other day.
• We learned how to use a Potter's wheel at a little town called San Juan de Oriente, where they are known for their pottery. 
• We climbed in caves formed by lava from the Masaya volcano and were swarmed by bats. 
• There was at least 10 different countries represented (coming and going) where we stayed by the time we left.
• We are thankful for our church family in Leon!

God works in mysterious ways and we learned a lot about him... in a lot of mysterious ways. haha

 It was a great experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat... but would probably take some extra bug spray...

We have a big challenge ahead of us. Learning a new language is not easy. Yes, we learned a lot the past two weeks. And yes, I learned a lot last year just from living here. And yes, Ryan took 2 years in high-school. But neither of us are anywhere near where we would like to be. We plan to start this week at a language school in Leon for at least 3 days a week 4 hours a day. It is very important to Ryan and myself that we first learn the language. We do not know how long we will be here and we do not want many years to catch up with us and us be unable to speak. Please keep this long road of studying/practicing our spanish in your prayers. We look forward to the day that it just "clicks" like they say. 

Other than working really hard on our spanish, Ryan and I will be working on learning the "ropes" around here. I could tell you just about anything you need to know about the school but when it comes to directions/using the bank/paying the electricity bill or how to turn on a water tower I am helpless. 

Please keep praying for us as we transition in to this new way of life.

If you are interested in receiving a monthly E-newsletter let us know by sending us an email at Bush@nicaraguachristian.org with subject: "Monthly newsletter" Thanks! 

Fernando David Salazar born August 17, 2012 

to Sergio and Daysi (Our on campus preacher and his wife)

A picture taken right outside the kitchen at Language School 

Ryan and Summer at the Masaya Volcano

Dios Te Bendiga.

August 1, 2012

I am thankful to inform everyone that we arrived in Nicaragua without a glitch. We had no problem in customs, we had no gate changes, and we did not lose any baggage. That is a first. And not to mention that my house was mice free. God has been watching over us.

Three days in and I can't even begin to express all of the emotions I have been feeling. Confusion, fear, excitement are some big ones.

Confusion mainly comes from the fact that neither Ryan or I can wrap our heads around the fact that we aren't going back to the states in a few days or a month. I am sure that it is all part of the "culture shock" experience and I do remember having these feelings last January when I moved to Nicaragua the first time. This time it is different though, we are trying not to put a period at the end of it, we want our time here to be planned by God. During our meetings with the preachers, staff, and parents we have had this week we would hear Mr. David say things like "They came down here to work with you for many years" or "They gave up being with their families to be here with you" it kind of stings a little but it also seems so surreal that God would choose us to work with such amazing people. What a blessing this is going to be.

Fear is a selfish feeling that comes from us choosing to give God complete control. I am always trying to do things myself. But we have to have faith that God is going to take care of us. That funds are going to come in so that we can be here. That we will be able to help those who need us. That we will see the need. That we will always show God's love even if we are having a bad day. The fear of missing something back home with family or friends. But what I am trying to realize is that if I allow God to be in complete control of my life that he will never leave me or fail me. He loves us and he knew years before we were born that Ryan and I would move to Nicaragua together on August 1, 2012. Our God is so big!

Excitement has been all over. Seeing my old friends. Seeing the precious children at Nicaragua Christian School (If you ever want to feel special, come play with the children in Nicaragua they really know how to put a smile on your face). Seeing how much they have grown. Seeing the new playground and new preschool buildings. Having children from the church run and jump in my arms. Seeing all the parents greet Ryan and tell them how thankful they are that we are here. Seeing everyone love Ryan. Going to language school in a few weeks. Hearing all the good things that are happening. Hearing all the bad things, because that will be when God is most glorified. And the biggest excitement comes with finally being here with Ryan. My heart is full.

Other than visiting at the school and having meetings with the preachers and their wives, the NCS staff, and the NCS parents, we have just been resting, visiting, and trying to unpack.

Tonight we are playing games and spending time with the youth of Vida en Familia Iglesia de Cristo.

On August 20, we will begin language school in Granada for a month.

Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, comments, and support during this time. I am thankful that I am experiencing all these emotions because that means we are here. Finally.

We are waiting patiently for you all to start booking your flights to come visit.
In the meantime, please keep us and all the work in Nicaragua in your prayers.


If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalms 139:9-10

Better late than never

Mr. and Mrs. Bush 

Photo Credit goes to Storyteller photography

Ryan and I are going on 4 months of marriage and are preparing to move back to Nicaragua in exactly 3 weeks. Our flight leaves August 1st and we will not be returning to the states until our visit for Christmas on December 4th. We can hardly wait to be there.

We have spent our 4 months of marriage finishing our home (so we can rent it out), raising money, and traveling around to visit with family and friends for the last time for a while.

God has blessed us tremendously and there are a lot of big things going on in Nicaragua right now.
-Please keep the work in Nicaragua in your prayers- and hopefully we can share these things soon!

Our wedding was perfect. Not only did we have all of our loved ones in the states there with us on our special day but we also were able to skype in all our friends in Nicaragua. The children at the school surprised us with a song (in spanish) that was played during our ceremony. It could not have been more special. We spent our honeymoon week in Runaway Bay, Jamaica and it was beautiful. We are very excited about all the traveling we are going to be able to get in this year!


In August, we will spend the first two weeks in León and then we will head to Apoyo Spanish school for a month.


Thanks for keeping up with us and for keeping us in your prayers. We are so thankful for all the love and support we have been given over the past few months. 

We are looking forward to starting our lives together in Nicaragua...

Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰ 

If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

¹¹ 

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² 

Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

(A Better update is coming soon!) 

One year later.

January 20, 2011....
On this day, one year ago, I left for Leon, Nicaragua. I thought I was going to stay for two years but God had other plans.  Wonderful plans. Plans that exceeded anything I could hope for or imagine. I spent so much time dwelling on the past, so much time trying to control my future, so many years saying "no, I think this sounds better." I had been hurt, I had been lost, I had made the wrong choices. Let me say that good can come when you feel hopeless and broken. God had something big planned for me and when he saw that I was finally willing to let him lead, he took me on the greatest adventure of my life.

It started in 2009 when I left for a mission trip to Nicaragua Christian School. I had been on several mission trips but this one was different. This one changed my life. This one haunted me everyday after, in a good way. It redefined and reminded me of the woman God wanted me to be and where my real passion lies: Children in need. After graduation in May of 2010 I decided there was a reason nothing made sense to me anymore, a reason my "next plans" no longer appealed to me, a reason I was beginning to feel real uncomfortable with myself. But, I knew something was coming. I felt a stirring. God had laid something on my heart and I did not know what to do with it. I didn't think God would really want to send ME? Why would he want me there? I couldn't do anything to help? As I struggled to understand what I was being told, I began talking to my parents and praying about this idea. I then set up a meeting with the US directors of Nicaragua Christian School. Still not sure if this was even possible, I asked if I could move to the school and work.

For the next six months I watched in amazement as everything fell in to its perfect little place, as I prepared to move to Nicaragua in January of 2011. I sent out my letters in August and by the end of September I had all the money I needed for the two years I had planned to work down there. When November rolled around, due to some obviously God-planned happenstances, I went on a first date with Ryan Bush. Although I was excited about the opportunity to get to know him, I could not help but feel confusion about the timing. I felt like I had finally accepted the fact I was going to do this alone.   I never thought a man would care to date someone with countries between them. Meanwhile, during all these thoughts, God was saying, "Oh ye of little Faith.. Watch this."

January 20, 2011 comes along quickly and I am saying goodbye to everything I know and love to head toward my new life. Landing in Nicaragua, I was quickly reminded of the reason for my passion.  I was there to let God show me how I could help the poor, innocent, abused, broken, dirty, beautiful, hands and feet of God's little children.

For the next 9 months I began a healing process. I wrestled with God, I was broken and he healed me, I was lost and found, I learned from him, and I fell in love with God along with 206 precious children. I learned and was filled with God's never ending, faithful, and ever so redeeming love. I was able to watch first hand as he transformed lives and I saw him make beautiful things out of the dust.

During my time in Nicaragua I also fell in love with a man. Although it was very difficult for us to be so far apart, I am thankful for these unique and incredible chapters God wrote in the beginning of our love story. God allowed Ryan and I to get to know each other in such a special way. Ryan was my constant encouragement and support system, as well as my reminder that God's plan is the only plan that I want to be a part of. Not only did God send Ryan to help me through this past year, but God gave me a man who shares the same passions and dreams as I do.

In July of 2012, Ryan was able to spend a month with me in Nicaragua. After his trip we couldn't stop talking about it which led us to discuss doing mission work together some day. My heart was so full. I was in a country I love, surrounded by children I love and whom I learned from daily. I also had so much love and support back home that my two worlds (or countries) couldn't have felt more perfect.

In October I came home (and at a perfect time I might add, just another sign of God's faithfulness) to work a golf tournament my father and I were doing for the school in Nicaragua. It was awesome to see all the people involved in the tournament and the money raised for the school. I also really enjoyed visiting with my loved ones.. Especially with Ryan..

On November 2, 2011 Ryan asked me to marry him. We decided that since we both wanted to be doing work in Nicaragua, we should get married and then I could complete my last year and (Lord willing) many more after, working together, with Ryan.

And now, here I am, one year later, healed, preparing to take on a new journey, as a wife, and starting a new adventure where God is calling US, in Leon, Nicaragua. I look forward to being back in my new country with the ones I love, sharing a desire to serve the people of Nicaragua with the man I love.
I could never have dreamed how perfect my love story was going to turn out. I am thankful that God is the author, and that he had a plan for us that was greater than we could have ever imagined. It has been the best year of my life and I can not wait to see what God has in store for the future, Mr. and Mrs. Bush.


I have found the one whom my soul loves. Song of Solomon 3:4


Thank you for always thinking of me. Thank for forgiving me daily even though I do not deserve it. Thank you for Ryan and for the blessing he is in my life. Thank you for the best family and friends anyone could ask for. Thank you for the children in Nicaragua. And thank you for the opportunity to see your love and beauty in every day life. You are the creator and the sustainer. Thank you for being the bread of life to those that are hungry. Thank you for blessing a sinner like me. I love you.  

Quick note

What a blessing this trip home has been...
God is so good to me and I am thankful for all the wonderful things happening around me.
The Golf tournament was a great success. We raised a great sum of money for the start of our multi-purpose building at the school. I am looking forward to having this golf tournament annually and watching the doors that it will open for the people of Nicaragua Christian School.
Elections in Nicaragua are over and I am ready to get back to see the children. I will be going back for Graduation which is the week of Thanksgiving and then the kids will be off for their "Summer break" so I will be able to spend Christmas with my family and my Fiancé. Yes, you read that right :)
A better updated blog will be posted in the next week or two.

For now, Please go to www.youtube.com/nichristianschool and check out some of the new videos!

Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement. I am a blessed beyond measure.

Life Interrupted

I have started a new book by Priscilla Shirer called "Life Interrupted" and let me just say it is absolutely amazing to me that God can work on my heart through the ink pen of someone that I do not and probably will never know. 

" So just go with it. Follow Him -- Impossible as it may seem. Let him take you places, even to places you honestly don't feel all that great about seeing firsthand. You may not grasp what He's got in mind for this, but if you'll follow where He's leading, You will walk yourself right out onto the stage He has set for you. You will locate a significance bigger than you are because it's not based on your own smarts and planning and goal stratagies but rather on your utter submission to the Father's eternal, all-wise plans-- plans that are "higher than your ways" (Isaiah 55:9), beyond anything you could "ask or think" or imagine (Eph. 3:20)."

There has been many a day that I have been completely confused on what God's plan is. Sometimes I just can't understand why he would want me to do something that is interrupting what I saw my future to look like. But when I look at the "big picture" I am absolutely blown away at what God has brought in to my life and ever so thankful for what he has taken out. Seriously, I am the most undeserving person to the most beautiful gifts. God's plan is SO MUCH GREATER than anything I could have imagined for myself. His grace is amazing and it covers me daily. The things that I imagined would have never been close to the amazing-ness of every part of my life right now. He has a plan for each of our lives.. There are billions of people in the world and he has a specific plan just for me.. I love being His child and I look forward to seeing what it is he has in store for me next. 

Speaking of God's plan and him knowing me so well... My mother and Sherry Brooks surprised me last Monday.. This is how it went... We were suppose to go pick up Mr. David and Mr. Tim from the airport in Managua so we decided to make a fun day of it. We went to the big mall and to the nice grocery and then to TGI fridays. After all of this, as we were heading to the Airport, I told the Brackens that this was a much needed day and "one of the best days ever(of course I was being a bit dramatic)". I had no idea what was about to happen but Kim and James sure do keep secrets well.. We get to the airport and are waiting and I was just so excited to see Americans that I was desperately looking in the window with excitement. I guess James was worried he wouldn't catch my reaction on camera or that I knew they were coming because he said "what are you so excited about, it is just two old men!?"(which was a fun joke for the rest of the week). Boy, you should have seen my face. God really knew how badly I needed to see those two. I was a basket case. They snuck up around a corner and jumped in front of the glass wall and I started screaming and crying.  I then had to wait 15 minutes for them to get through customs during which time I had 300 nicaraguans looking at me like I was crazy and trying to piece together what just happened. 

It was a wonderful surprise. I mean wonderful. Being able to see two people who have been absolutely awesome at keeping me strong during this past year, working with my babies, was Heaven to my eyes. It really gave me the courage to keep going. 

Thank you Jesus for that time with them.. 

If you are sponsoring a child at Nicaragua Christian School and have not yet considered making a trip down to the school, start considering. I know that this trip was such a blessing for not only Mama and Sherry but also for the sweet babies who they help receive a chance at a better future.

Here are some pictures of their trip... 

Mama and Rosita happy to see each other after three years. Seriously, you have never seen two happier people than these in this moment in time. 

Pedro and and his sponsor (and my dear friend) Sherry meeting for the first time! He was so blessed by the time he got to spend with her and can't stop talking about her.

Some precious moments with the children

Visiting Pedro in his home. Another awesome experience you can have with making a trip to NCS.

If Daddy, Isaac and Amelia were there we would have had a completed family. So very thankful for this moment.

Sherry at Pedro's house with him and his brother Daniel and their new soccer ball!

Every time I look at this picture I cry. The most amazing woman with the most amazing children.

Sherry with all her little notes and love from all the students. They love visitors :)

I wish I could hold these moments forever.

Mr. Tim with the little girl he sponsors.

Sherry with some of the preciousness of NCS

Mr. David feeding this little boy his second cup of Icecream.. Ever.

Mom, Sherry, and I went to Surfing turtle one night while they were here. It was a lodge on the beach. We were the only people their other than our guard and our cook, for miles. We had a great time. We stayed in a cabana that was only screen so we could listen to the ocean all night. We also got to watch a Paslama turtle lay eggs on the beach. It was a great trip.

Sherry, myself, and mother on the swings at Surfing turtle

This was the only way to get to Surfing turtle

Also, during the time my mother was here, Cristina had a hernia removed. I went to the hospital with her the morning before the surgery and this is her at her house the afternoon after surgery. Always smiling

Mr. David and his homemade baptistry. He had to demonstrate for us.

If I can be half the woman she is I will be happy. I am so thankful to have such an incredible mama inside and out that supports me in everything I do.

Mom and I with Sergio and Daysi (Preacher at the school) 

It was perfect timing. God is so good to me and I am very blessed. 

On other note, I leave for Honduras tomorrow with Sergio, Daysi and 4 other members of our new youth! We are going to Baxter (the preacher school) for a youth rally. The theme is "The Battle Belongs to the Lord". I have NO idea what I am getting myself in to for the next week but I am really looking forward to seeing God work. Please keep this trip in your prayers. 

Also, Please check out my previous blog about some opportunities to help out at the School. 

Come and see what is being done in Nicaragua.