Summit View Missions

"I wanna set the world on fire, till it's burning bright for You."

2011-01-24T13:26:00.001-08:00

Maybe it was the coffee, but this morning I felt so led to write about Nicaragua that I couldn't wait to get home from where I was driving.

Yesterday I had the priviledge of being able to tell our small group of 6th & 7th graders about why people live in a dump, what life is like for them, and the girls at the Villa. Their interest and maturity amazed me. It inspires me to think how the girls I mainly spent time with at the Villa are the same age, and their stories are so much different, but they all love to pray to our Father and thank Him for everything. They are sisters though they've never met.

I remember playing with the two smallest girls at the beach, whose older sister is also at the Villa. When a big wave came, they would climb into one of our arms for protection. I didn't want to let go. I felt the same way exiting La Chureca one day when I saw a teenage girl on a cart with two men (probably going to work in the landfill). I saw ache in her eyes. I don't know if she knew Jesus. I wanted to reach through the window and hold her hand.

Last year I was so excited to finally see La Chureca in real life after a few years of watching news clips and seeing pictures. It's dirtier than anything you could ever imagine. The residents are looked down upon by the outside world, and sometimes even inside the dump.

John 16 says that grief will turn to joy and that we will have trouble, but to take heart because He has overcome the world.

I enjoy being at the dump because that's where I feel God's presence the most. I see Him in little boys playing soccer in the landfill, in a man who devotes his time to serving children and the church. I want to give more hope to more readers and missionaries. I think La Chureca exists to show people that Jesus cares about his people. He used to wash the feet of the downtrodden and touch the untouchables. People can find pure joy in Him whatever their circumstances. We must draw closer to Him when we have nothing else, and even when we do have a lot, to break for those nearest His heart. God created places like La Chureca to humble the proud and bless the righteous so that they may enter His kingdom and sing.

Thoughts for the day. So many more I can't put into words.

- AD

2011-01-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Renewing a School

2011-01-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Babies . . .

Praying for people in the dump

and more babies

Painting the school

Using machetes

Meeting Parents of the girls

Touring the dump

Today we spent back in the dump renewing the school for a new school year. The kids are out of school for the month of January and start back up soon so the school in the dump needed some painting and cleaning done to get ready for the next year. Working in this little oasis of hope is such a blessing. It gave our team a new perspective on the work being done in the dump. It was almost easy to forget there was a dump outside, just feet from where we were working. Some of the girls from the Villa took the opportunity to come with us and spend some time working in the school. We had a lot of fun painting and enjoying each other as a team. Once back at the Villa we cleaned up, had dinner, and then spent our evening with the girls in their youth group that Katie and Dwight McGrew, missionaries here, facilitate for them every Tuesday night. We so appreciated how Ana, one of the younger girls living at the Villa, shared with us from Psalms 6 and how God has saved her and is changing her. We love seeing God work.

2011-01-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday:
You've seen the photos. And yes, the slip 'n slide was as awesome as it looked. Rick and some of the hombres at the Villa worked on it while the rest of the team went to El Faro church yesterday. It was amazing to worship together with people of a completely different culture and language, but to the same God. The hearts of Pastor Ramon and his wife Miriam are amazing. It's one thing to go serve the people of the dump for a week, knowing you are going home to your soft bed and warm shower, but these amazing servants minister in the dump day in and day out.

Last night we had a blast just hangin' with the girls. They learned a phrase from the last group that they love to repeat over and over... "oh, wow." They are such a blessing to us. From the get go, they accepted us, wanted to play with us, teach us their games and learn about our lives. They are so patient with us and our lack of Spanish skills. Seriously, we may have come to serve them but their smiles and extended hands have probably meant more to us than what we have been able to give to them. It's so awesome that it's only Monday and we still have four days left to spend more time with them.

Today:
Garbage everywhere. A stink that makes you want to hold your breath. Mutts and muddy feet walking around. Smoke rising from combusting garbage. Dust, dust and more dust. Homes made of tin and garbage sacks. Honestly, this does not even give and accurate picture of the experience of La Chureca. It is so much more than what could be typed or spoken. You just have to see. The poorest of the poor, it's mind-blowing. And yet the smiles of the children are some of the most beautiful sights you will ever see. Fear was the enemy, at least for me. The lice scared me away at first, but I kept saying to myself... "Jesus would touch them, Jesus would hold them." Once you let go of the fear and dive in like Jesus would, the joy overflows. Instantly, you are their best friend, even their hermano or hermana (brother or sister). We became their horses and their jungle gyms. We would chase them and they would chase us. Some of us simply got to say to them, "Jesus te ama" and watch the hope well up in their eyes. We gave them a meal: rice, a slice of banana and little slice of chicken. Their only meal of the day and they were glad for it. Can't wait to see them again tomorrow.

Later today we did some work projects around El Faro, painting, raking, pulling weeds and sweeping. Some of us got to use a machete, which was pretty cool. Tonight we got to play with the girls again and they were a blast. We played kijabe can can and spoons, both fun games that can easily overcome the language barrier. They made us fall in love all over again. Have a feeling we better get used to that. They really are wonderful.

Friends and family, we cannot tell you of the emotional roller coaster we've found ourselves in. So much heartbreak. And yet, so much joy. We can only imagine the emotions of our Father. We've been here two days. He's always been here.

"ohh wow!"

2011-01-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

Slip and Slide Nica Style

2011-01-16T14:51:00.001-08:00

The Team

Spencer and a clown from El Faro church. I know that sounds wrong but they were there for the pastor's birthday The slip and slide that was planned and mapped out by Rick for months
Add soap and you have instant fun

Our good friend and translator, Mario, gives it two thumbs up

War wounds on Natalie, a missionary that came to play with us

As you can see the girls had lots of fun and so did we.

We are Here

2011-01-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

We arrived yesterday afternoon after a smooth flight to Nicaragua. We enjoyed church at El Faro today with the girls and look forward to an afternoon of playing on the slip and slide Rick and the McGrew family spent the morning building. Don't worry pictures will soon follow.

10 days in Nicaragua

2010-03-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

After all day Sunday on planes we are tired but come home with great memories and new ways God is challenging each of us to seek and glorify Him. We are so grateful for such a great team -- willing to work, to laugh, to cry, to share and to hear God's voice. We are amazed at the work God is doing in Nica and in each of our lives and are resolved to seek God more and more.

Words are not sufficient to tell you our experiences. We saw two, very different sides, of an amazing country. It is amazing how God is working in people's lives in Nica despite the poverty and struggles. We love these people's stories, these people who are connected to us, across land and ocean, by our united love for Christ. We are all sinners, saved by the grace of God, and we all struggle in the same ways. These people are our people and despite language barriers and culture differences we love that we will see these people surrounding the throne of God together with us, singing praises to the almighty God. What a great future!

We break for those who don't know God's power to bring joy and peace into the darkness they live in. Pray for those who don't know Christ's healing and for those who continue to work to shine light into the darkness -- Forward Edge, Pastor Earl, John, Verbo church, Susie, Jeff and Chris, Wilbert and Gloria and so many others

More Pictures

2010-03-16T11:32:00.001-07:00

The aquaponics project we have been working and getting sunburned for. Hopefully the food grown in this system will help pay for the expenses of the Villa to keep the girls. It is a work in progress but we have high hopes.

Chris painting panels for the aquaponics

Rick ziplining

Larissa ziplining

Georgia being Georgia

Chris with Naomi, Gloria and Wilbert's daughter

Perla, the oldest girl at the Villa, posing for the camera. She and Rick shared their testimony last night and the team had a wonderful time of prayer and worship for what God has done to save us all from "the dump" in our lives.

More aquaponics

The aquaponics cement pond was constructed before we got here which helped greatly. We are still working fast to get projects done before we go to the East Coast. It is so wondeful that we have such a great team of hard workers.

Relaxing at the Villa

Are we dirty yet?

Playing with babies at the dump

Tonight is our last night at the Villa. We plan to see the orphanage this afternoon and then have dinner with the girls and kitchen staff. We are deeply grateful for their time and energy they have put into feed us. Tonight we hope to give back to them. Tomorrow we leave for the East Coast. Suzie is coming with us. She has never been so it will be great fun for all of us to have this experience together. Our team has been fairly healthy and we hope to stay that way on our way to the East Coast. We don't know if we will have internet so we may post pictures when we get back into the States. Sunday we return to "real" life but we know that Nicaragua will stay in our hearts. We have cried and laughed together and we are so grateful for our time here and thankful to God for his power to continue to move here and connect this country to us in so many different ways. We leave friends here, friends that we will pray for and long to see again.

Pictures

2010-03-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

The team just before we ziplined.

A view from a home in the dump. We met a man who is a leader of a home group in his house within the dump. The church has a microfinance program that has also loaned him money to buy a freezer with which he sells ice, ice cream and other frozen goods. He also sells skirts. It was a moving experience to see this slice of hope in his life. We were privileged to pray for him and his family.

At the Rancho in the Villa

Georgia is ready for a water landing.

We are here

2010-03-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

We are here and having a great time. The internet has been down for a while at the Villa but it looks like they have fixed it. In a few more days we will be headed to Puerta Cabezas and we don't know if we will have internet access. Our team has been working hard and been having a good time with the girls. We will try to post pictures if possible otherwise we will post when we get back. Adios for now.

A New Team A New Adventure

2010-03-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

Today we leave for a 10 day trip to Nica. We will be flying out tonight to Managua and then in six days moving on to the East Coast of Nica to spend four days there. Our goal at the Villa in Managua is to put in a aquaponics system that will help bring income and food to the Villa. It's been challenging to get this project organized and all the system parts placed in luggage so it's been hard to remember that God has it all worked out.

Please be praying for the team as we leave on a new adventure. While many of us have been to Nica before it still can be stressful to prepare for and every journey is different. We desire to do God's will and pray that we will be flexible enough to do whatever He throws our way.

One last roller coaster ride

2009-02-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's only appropriate for God to throw one more emotional roller coaster at us before we left. For most of the team, Thursday was the hardest day. The team visited a temporary "orphanage" facility that is run by the Nicaraguan government. It is known as HAT. It's very hard to describe this place using words. You pull into the gated complex, drive passed the guards, and park in what seems like an abandoned elementary school parking lot. As you get off the bus the piercing echoes of children yelling and screaming saturates the air. It's been 4 weeks since these children have seen anyone other than the few people that are assigned to HAT. As you walk through all of the buildings, everything is barren and surreal. There are no toys. There is no color. The beds are either filthy or destroyed. There are holes in the walls and broken glass lining the walls from the windows that have been shattered by the children. There is one dim light bulb, if any at all, in each of the dark and dreary rooms. The only thing that comes to mind when trying to think of a good comparison is the orphanage that Oliver Twist lived in.

Currently there are 21 children living at HAT. They range in age from weeks old to 26 years old. Many of them suffer from a handicap such as down syndrome, psychosis, etc. Many of them are runaways or were taken from their families because of abuse. Although HAT seems like a terrible place (and it is) it is a far better place for these children than the alternative (living on the streets). HAT really has a lot of potential to do great things for these children and the countless others that have yet to go there. The problem lies in the Government. Unfortunately they don't feel it necessary to provide funding for food, adequate shelter, toys, or anything else that children deserve. With a little TLC, HAT could really be great. They have enough space to house hundreds of children, have classrooms, a playground etc. if only they had the funding. Fortunately, the government has asked for Forward Edge to help. The extent of that help is unknown, but it is our prayer that HAT will be turned over to an organization like Forward Edge so that it's potential can be realized.

During our day at HAT, our 3 electricians were busy installing adequate lighting in 4 rooms, which drastically improved the living conditions for these kids. The rest of the team spent time raking leaves, picking up trash and broken glass, and played with the children. We gave them the few toys we had brought with us. The children loved them but we still felt like it wasn't enough. There has to be more that we can do. The team also donated a couple hundred dollars so that HAT could buy some food for the kids. There has to be more that we can do for them. Something that shows these children that they're not forgotten.

Before we left, we had a little fiesta. There was dancing, a pinata, and ice cream. The happiness that was created by those small gestures was amazing. It was a truly humbling and awe-inspiring day. God is obviously at work there, but we need to ask ourselves, what does God want us to do? Why did he show us HAT?

Now I'd like to shift gears a little bit. Did you know that Nicaragua is the second most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere? The team got a glimpse of this poverty last week. I'm sure that everyone experienced a high every time they got a hug from a little girl with a dirty face, and a low every time they realized there was nothing they could do to keep that child from having to sleep in the dirt that night. Now that we have experienced those feelings and those connections with the people of Nicaragua, what do we do?

Forward Edge International is an organization that has repeatedly proven their commitment to helping the people of Nicaragua. We witnessed the beginning phase of the dream that is Villa Esperanza. We saw the fruit of that labor in those 16 girls that have been rescued from the confines of the dump. Even better, Gloria, Wilbert, Susie and the other employees and volunteers are teaching those 16 girls how to show Christ's love, just as they have been shown. Villa Esperanza translates to "The Village of Hope". That's exactly what it is. You can't help but have an overwhelming sense of hope when you see La Chureca (where the girls came from) and where they are now at Villa Esperanza. It is a beautiful thing that can only be described as a gift from God.

Vida Nueva, the other orphanage the team visited, is also an Oasis. It is a private organization that is run by an American family. That place is such a blessing to those 30 plus kids that live there. Without Vida Nueva, those kids would probably be in HAT, or a situation similar to it.

El Faro Church is a blessing to the people of La Chureca. It gives them an opportunity to get out of the dump and intermix with other residents of Managua. It gives them a place to take their children while they work, so the kids aren't at risk of being hurt inside the dump. They feed the people of La Chureca every day. They pour out Christ's love on anyone that will accept it.

What I'm getting at with all of these examples is, God is on the move in Nicaragua. He's working through Forward Edge, Vida Nueva, El Faro and even HAT. God is radically changing the lives of so many people in Nicaragua as well as the Americans that visit. What is God calling you to do? Maybe it's time to plan a trip. Every team that goes to Nicaragua plays a part in God's plan. When you make a connection with those kids, they remember you. You're not just another Gringo! They really remember you, and are excited to see you again. Maybe God wants you to sponsor a little girl that lives in the Villa. It's a small monthly donation that will completely change the life of a beautiful little girl. It will give her a chance at a better life, living outside of the dump, away from fear and danger, in a place that is full of love. Maybe God is telling you to sponsor a whole house. The cost of one house that will house 8 more girls is a small sacrifice when you compare it to saving 8 more children from living in despair. Maybe God is asking you to donate some diapers, or formula, or money to Vida Nueva. It takes about $10,000 a month to operate that orphanage. However, that facility takes care of 30 plus kids that have been abandoned or even left for dead by their parents. Maybe God is calling you to donate money, your talent, or your ideas to HAT. It is so full of potential to be a haven for the unwanted children of Nicaragua. It just needs the time, money and "know how" to get it there. Maybe God is asking you to pray. The most important ingredient, and the most powerful tool. None of these projects are possible without prayer. God is on the move. God wants us to join him. What is He asking you to do?

We would like to thank each and every one of you that has prayed for us and supported us. Thank you for making this trip possible. You were all just as much a part of this team as those who were actually there. We just pray that you will search your hearts and find what God is asking you to do. Why did he make you a part of this team?

For more information on how you can help visit: www.forwardedge.org

Play day!!!

2009-01-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

We've fallen a day behind due to exhaustion and random power outages. So to those of you that have been faithful in checking the blog, we apologize.

Yesterday was our "day of rest" (if you can really call it rest). Personally, I was exhausted by the afternoon. It started as usual with a fantastic breakfast prepared by the wonderful Flor. Then we packed up the bus and headed for Mombacho (a volcano about an hour outside of Managua). The Nicaraguan countryside is absolutely beautiful, the small towns are quaint and full of character. As you drive thru, you want so badly to stop the bus just to experience them. Finally we made it. We unloaded the bus and proceeded to fill a Land Rover for the slow drive up the mountain. At the top, 5 Nicaraguan men were waiting for us with harnesses and helmets. We were going on the zip lines! The Mombacho Canopy tour consisted of 13 separate zip lines, 5 eager and energetic guides and 4 different ways you can defy gravity as you zip along under the canopy of the jungle. Many team members experienced the "Superman", dangling upside down while praying the harnesses hold, and flying spread eagle and upside down while the guide twists you from side to side. Everyone has lots of pictures to share so they can prove they were really there.

Everyone made it thru safely. Once again, we only had one injury. Any guesses as to who? Yes.... you are correct... the designated injured party for this trip is Amy. Luckily, she hurt the ankle that's on the same leg as the knee she injured previously. She made it all the way through the course without injury, and then to show her appreciation, proceeded to collide with the guide when she landed.

After we left Mombacho, it was a short 20 minute drive to Catarina. It is a beautiful little town that sits atop a hill overlooking a beautiful crater lake. It's quite windy and ridden with hungry dogs, but an experience that is breathtaking.

On our way back to Managua, we stopped in Masaya. Masaya is considered to be the heart of Nicaragua. There is a large market that sits inside an old fortress from the 1800's. Anything Nica that you could possibly want, that's where you're going to find it. We shopped for a couple hours buying souveniers for ourselves and our families. If you're reading this and you don't get something, it's in the mail. =)

Then we headed home to the Villa. Just before dinner we were blessed with a visitor. Many of you may remember the story of Baby Nancy. She was at the orphanage last year and several of our team members fell in love with her and plotted to sneak her home. Well since then she has been living with a foster family from South Carolina that lives here. Cindy, her mom, was gracious enough to bring her by so we could see how she's grown. She's still our baby Nancy, just a little bigger. She's been doing therapy quite often and she's showing signs of progress. She laughs, is able to pick her head up, and close her mouth when we tell her too. Her mom has also taught her how to say "Hey" with a little southern twang! She's beautiful, and the family taking care of her is an answer to MANY MANY prayers.

I'll catch everyone up with the last day of the trip tomorrow. It's 11 pm and we haven't even started tonights round of skip-bo. Even though everyone will be back stateside, I hope you'll read the next entry and share it with everyone you know.

See you tomorrow!

Day 5 in Nicaragua

2009-01-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

Today Team 547 packed up right after breakfast and headed to Vida Nueva Orphanage. Vida Nueva is run by Tim and Chris Bagwell. The Bagwell’s gave up their lives in South Carolina to make a life for malnourished children in Nicaragua. Currently there are 30 children in the orphanage, ranging in age from 2 months to 6 years old. Team members delivered boxes of clothing, diapers, formula, and toys. We spent our time there weeding, raking, pruning flowers, cleaning walls, moving stuff to storage and most important, loving on the kids. Since September, the donations that Vida Nueva receives has decreased by 50%. This equals $5000 per month. They have had to cut staffing by 25% and food by 20%. Because of the decrease in staffing, it leaves little time for anything but caring for the children. When the team was ready to depart Vida Nueva, they gathered around Tim, laid hands on him and prayed for his financial situation.

After a bit of free time, we ate dinner, had a debriefing and then gathered at the playground for the long awaited dedication and ribbon cutting. The girls have had to see the playground since Saturday, but have not been allowed to play on it. Tonight was long anticipated and exciting. Gloria’s family joined us for the dedication, as the playground was dedicated to her father, who passed away in November. As Wilbert said, God decided that it was time for her father to be home. Rick told the girls that as in life, they would experience pain, joy and happiness on the playground. The girls and team members played with all their hearts. Screams of laughter and joy could be heard throughout the Villa.

Heather and Trevor help with feeding time at the orphanage.

The girls getting ready to break in the playground.

Julie cleaning up the backyard at the orphanage.

The long anticipated day...

2009-01-26T21:09:00.001-08:00

If twenty strangers walked up to your front door at 10 AM on a Monday morning, would you invite them in? Most of us, if we answered, would feel annoyed and quickly find an excuse as to why your guests should not come in. Whether it be “my house is dirty”, “I haven’t showered yet”, or “the kids are napping”, a majority of the population would not graciously invite those people in.

Today we visited La Chureca. For some of our veterans, it was a long anticipated and joyous reunion. For the rest of the team, their eyes were opened. As we unloaded the bus we were immediately greeted by Wendi, the young girl that touched so many hearts last year. Pastor Ramon, from El Faro (the church we visited yesterday) and his assistant Marcos, gave us a tour around the dump. He introduced us to several families, who graciously welcomed us into their homes. As many of us found last year, these people don’t have much of anything. What they do have, however, they are proud of. The families showed us their homes, introduced us to their families, and shared their stories with us. How many of us show that same grace to strangers at home?

For many families, the only source of income is sifting through acres of garbage for recyclable products that they can sell to the merchants. However, with the shift in the economy, the value of recyclable products like plastic and aluminum has plummeted. In most of the homes we found huge bags of plastic and metal that probably took weeks to gather. They are holding onto it in hopes of the sale price going back up. They said that one bag, the equivalent to a regular sized dumpster, would sell for about 50 cents right now where in the recent past they would have sold it for a whole $2.00. The average family living in La Chureca earns about $2.50 per day. Imagine if your whole family worked an entire day just to be able to make the amount it would take to buy a large cup of coffee from the local Starbucks.

This information may shock you. Frankly it should. However, more importantly, what every one of the team members saw today (once they got passed the initial shock to the senses) was a village of people that work hard to provide for their families, just like we do. They live in despair according to our standards, but they don’t realize it. The children run and play all day long. They have an enormous sense of pride for their homes, their families and their friends. In ways it is beautiful in others it is terrifying and absolutely heart breaking. There are generations that live within this dump and the prayer is that this cycle can be broken. The hope is in the children. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.” If we focus our attention on the children and teaching them that there is a better way of life and that God has more in store for them, we can save them from the Hell that awaits.

When we came out of the dump we all went to El Faro church to eat lunch. We ate PB&Js and ham sandwiches. Afterwards, Georgia, Trevor, Heather, and Jeremy all went back to La Chureca to feed the children and hand out pink lemonade. Kris, Jen, Dan, Julie, Paul, Rick, Amy, Wayne, Kelli, and Ben all painted inside the El Faro church outside the dump and played with the toddlers and babies. During the weekdays the church has a daycare where children from La Chureca can come while their parents are working. There they are sure to have a good breakfast, lunch, nap and play times. El Faro’s ministry is not just taking care of babies. It is a true example of what loving the unloved is. They are providing opportunities for residents of the dump to come out and intermix with people that they otherwise wouldn’t ever talk to. It provides opportunities to show them life outside the dump.

The people of La Chureca need prayer more than anything. More than food, more than clean water, and more than a nice pair of shoes. God can and will change their hearts. He will show them that there is a better way of living. Pray that those people will listen when God calls and that they will turn and run towards Him.

Just for you Judy....

A day of worship, a day of rest

2009-01-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

Two nations that speak two different languages came together under the same roof today and worshiped the same God. Many members of our team were reminded today that God doesn’t care that we speak different languages. God doesn’t care that we don’t look the same. We are all brothers and sisters that He loves equally. The church may have been packed with residents of La Chureca and team members, but even more so, it was filled with the overwhelming sensation of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Unlike the stereotypical Christian, our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua are reckless in their worship and their praise. As team members stated tonight, “they have their priorities in order.”

Sunday at church is also a “Family Reunion” for most of the 16 girls that live at Villa Esperanza. The girls were so excited to drag team members by the hand around the church to introduce them to their family and friends. For some it was an emotionally straining time, and others a time for joy.

The rest of the day was spent finishing the playground. We filled in the holes, painted until we ran out of paint, and cleaned up our mess. Then, for hours, we played like we haven’t played before. Rick enjoyed learning how to jump rope. Dan got so caught up in a game of duck, duck, goose that he just about got “clothes lined” by an actual clothes line when he was “it.” And Kris was leashed and walked, like a dog, by a nine year old.

The night ended with an emotional roller coaster. After dinner Susie shared a devotional that she prepared for the girls at the Villa. She talked about the fruits of the spirit and related all of them with examples that fit with the daily lives of the girls. Tears of sorrow, sympathy and joy fell from most of the eyes in the room, as Wilbert closed with a further explanation and the laying of hands on all of the girls and house Mom’s. After we prayed and hugged everyone goodnight, the team gathered for the debriefing. Once again, the Holy Spirit moved through everyone’s heart, which led to a raw and vulnerable conversation. Once again, the tears of sympathy and joy fell from many of the team member’s eyes.

In closing, we ask that you pray for each of us and each of the girls, that God would help us to exercise the fruits of the Spirit. We also pray that each of you would open your Bibles and open your hearts to Galations 5:22-26. God has wonderful things in store for each and everyone of us. As we begin this new week, let’s reflect on Him and strive to be more like Jesus.

Team 547... reporting for duty.

2009-01-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

After six months of preparation fifteen people put on a brown shirt, left for the airport, and boarded a plane headed for the unknown. Although many members of this team were here before, none of us have any idea what God has in store for us this week.

The trip began flawlessly. The flights were smooth, the layover was rather short and seamless, all of our luggage made it here, and everyone made it through customs without a problem (except Rick, but we’ll pick him up from the airport holding cell on our way home).

We were greeted by Summitview’s own Susie Miller (FEI’s field coordinator) and her sidekick interpreter Mario. (For those of you that came last year, we have the same father/son bus drivers, the famous Juan Carlos and his father, Don Juan Carlos. They say “Hola!”)

As we drove through the streets of Managua on our way to Villa Esperanza the eyes of many of the team members were opened to a whole new world. Eyes filled with tears and mouths fell open as we passed by garbage filled streams and children selling whatever they could on the side of the street. As Americans, when we view these things for the first time, we often can’t see passed the despair, but for many of us our eyes have already been opened. We pulled off the main road, onto a small rural road, and a block later we pulled up to a gate and Juan Carlos honked the horn. The gate was opened to what seems like Heaven on Earth. The Villa has completely changed since we were here a year ago. There are 4 team houses completed (which are probably rated nicer than many hotels back home), a Rancho (which is the huge common area for meals and team meetings), and 2 amazing homes for 16 beautiful girls. As we got off the bus some eyes were once again filled with tears, and every heart was filled with joy as the overwhelming sense of peace rushed through the group.

After claiming our beds and getting settled, we all came together in the Rancho and received our orientation and a tour of the grounds. Everything here is so beautiful. The plants are lush and green, the homes and buildings are beautiful and filled with love, and the laughter of 16 little faces fill the walls of this compound. After the unpacking party (which involved a LOT of organization, and then repacking) we took some of the toys we packed and spent some time playing with the girls. Many of us worked on puzzles, and played games with many of them. Then we cleaned up and were blessed with a wonderful meal where we each sat with one of the girls on each side. After we ate, several of the girls got up in front of the whole group and recited poems, written by Nicaraguan poets). The night ended very early for most of us except for those diehard skip-bo players. (You know who we are)

Breakfast was at 8. Many of us didn’t make it until a little later. (I guess they didn’t get the memo) We ate pancakes, bacon, and fresh cut pineapple (I don’t even eat that well at home in the morning!) Then we retreated to our secluded spots for a few minutes of devotion to prepare ourselves for the day ahead. The agenda for today was to build the playground (It’s larger than what most of us call a city park back home). The pieces were already assembled, we just had to dig the holes, pour the cement, and paint the cement walls and planters in the playground. We worked alongside 5 local workers who mapped out where our holes would be and made sure they were level. About an hour into today’s project our team suffered it’s first casualty. Amy accidentally tripped and fell into a hole (that David dug in the wrong place!) and hurt her knee. She limped around for quite a while, trying to help where she could, but once the swelling had more than doubled the size of her knee we decided it was best to go to the hospital and have x-ray’s taken. She’s okay! Don’t worry, they didn’t amputate! The rest of the team, after mourning the loss of Amy, continued on. A lot of the girls excitedly helped the team members paint, move wheel barrows and mix cement (They were better and faster than most of us!). All of the painting is done, all of the holes dug, and all of the cement was poured. All that’s left is moving a little dirt (old team members know that we’re the best at that!) and a little grooming. Then the girls will finally have the long anticipated playground that has been teasing them for weeks. (It was put together but they weren’t able to play on it) Then we all played for hours. Jeremy held a private concert for a few of the older girls (he’s like a rockstar), Trevor was a big hit when he pushed 4 girls at once in a wheelbarrow, and Rick got his butt kicked in a water fight. Then it was the long awaited SHOWER TIME! We all got cleaned up and started to wind down from our busy day. We shared another great dinner prepared for us by the wonderful Flora (Wilbert’s sister).

Most of the thoughts already expressed here were gathered by tonight’s debriefing (I took notes since you missed it). The debriefing seemed to open several hearts to a new level of vulnerability. As one team member shared, “the joy I felt today skipping rope and playing Frisbee with the girls we just met has reminded me that we have the same thing at home with our own families, but we get caught up in the daily tasks and don’t always see what is right there in front of us.” For those of you that don’t like country music, I’m sorry, but a great song writer wrote “You’re gonna miss this, you’re gonna want this back, you’re going to wish these days, hadn’t gone by so fast. These are the good times, so take a good look around, you may not know it now, but you’re going to miss this.”

That leads us to our message for all of you. Don’t miss what’s in front of you. Don’t get so caught up in providing for your family, that you miss our on enjoying your family.

Some of the favorite things we heard today were from the youngest members of the team. Jeremy said, “It felt so good to work so hard and accomplish so much for somebody else.” And Trevor said, “How am I ever going to leave this place?” (That’s one for the scrapbook Mom’s!)

Thank you

2008-02-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

Before this blog winds down for a season I want to say “thank you” to all of those who supported our teams to Nicaragua through donations and prayers. You may not have physically been with us but your spiritual and financial support encouraged, fed, protected, clothed and witnessed, to not only the team members, but also Gloria and Wilburt, Susie, the children and families of La Chureca and many other voiceless strangers who felt and will continue to feel and hear about the love of God through your prayers and donations.

As I continue to reflect on Nicaragua and what I learned I have come to realize that as an American I have two great blessings: freedom of religion and financial blessings. Two blessings that I take for granted. Nicaragua has opened my eyes to the privilege of being able to a part of God's work because I can pray and because I can give. I can only imagine the thrill of meeting people in Heaven I don't even know because I was able to pray and support people like Gloria, Wilburt, Janell, Dan and Susie and organizations like Forward Edge who serve God faithfully and share the Gospel with hurting and lost souls. The many blessings that have been poured out on me and my family are meant to be shared. God doesn't need me. The God who created the universe has the whole world in His hands and He can carry out His perfect plans without me. But what a privilege to be invited by God to join in His work and be a part of the soul harvest in Nicaragua and beyond!

You all, strangers and friends, have been a part of that – so thank you for sharing this experience with us and being privileged givers who have joined God's call.

Val

Psalm 113

(The Message)

Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!

Just to speak his name is praise!

Just to remember God is a blessing—

now and tomorrow and always.

From east to west, from dawn to dusk,

keep lifting all your praises to God!

God is higher than anything and anyone,

outshining everything you can see in the skies.

Who can compare with God, our God,

so majestically enthroned,

Surveying his magnificent

heavens and earth?

He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,

rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,

Seats them among the honored guests,

a place of honor among the brightest and best.

He gives childless couples a family,

gives them joy as the parents of children.

Hallelujah!

25 seats...38 people

2008-02-01T21:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Fernandez Transportacion! We had kids sitting on top of adults sitting on top of kids, etc. We'll get back to that in a second.....

Diana and I (Chris Kainu) are going to do our best to recap today and the week. All day we served at the orphanage, Vida Nueva (New Life), a rented house of perhaps 2200 sq. ft. that houses 28 babies/toddlers and eight older kids. Holding babies, chasing toddlers, playing with children, raking leaves, washing exterior walls and more. I must admit that I did not quite understand why people would sweep a dirt floor or sidewalk; they do it all over the place down here. I now understand why..it really does look better! I believe that God has placed it in the hearts of people to beautify and cleanse their homes, whether they are in the US suburbs, the houses of Managua, or the tin shacks of a dump.

We met Tim & Kris Bagwell, missionaries from South Carolina who have overseen the orphanage for over two years. Very impressive, likable and down-to-earth folks. It was a great privelage to pray for them and hear of their plans to build a new center on some already purchased property. This will triple their capacity to house these kids that are all 'wards of the state', which means they've come through brutal circumstances to "qualify" for the center.

Our team was a small part of a dream fulfilled for Lina, who is the director of Vida Nueva. For the first time ever, toddlers were taken on a mini-field trip. Hence the title of this blog. We packed into Juan Carlos Fernandez's 1974 Toyota shuttle van (which is immaculate) to take the kids and toddlers to Tip Top fast food restaurant.

Tonight, Susie circled us up to reflect on the week. We have hope that our presence has one been more link in the chain of God's people who are giving these kids an option. The poverty and oppression is intense, but some will take the chance they are given, and live to tell of miracles. One such miracle is Perla. If you were at Summit View when Susie spoke of her, you know that she was in grave danger of falling into a provokative lifestyle at just 14 years old. We got to see her at the Verbo Church Sunday morning, and again playing soccer with all of us on Wednesday night. She is a miracle, who laughed, danced and worshiped right in front of our eyes.

Hope does outweigh despair.

Scrub David scrub!

Please pray for Nancy

2008-02-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends. First of all, thank you all so much for all of your support and prayers over the last few months. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for all of the Love you've shown me. I'm leaving tomorrow, in about 12 hours I'm leaving for the airport and I have to admit, it's bittersweet. A lot of me doesn't want to leave (as you all know) but part of me knows I have to. I've been touched by a lot of people here and I want nothing more than to continue to help them in anyways I can.

One of these people is a little princess named Nancy. Nancy is about a year old. She was found in a gutter, under a plastic bag. Nancy has suffered severe brain damage. Whether that was from being abandoned or the reason she was abandoned, no one knows. All I know is that I fell in love with this little girl. I had several opportunities to visit her, love her and be loved by her. I experienced joy with this little girl. How can someone just throw her away?

Today, I received some bad news. I was talking about how I would love to take Nancy home with me, with Chris Bagwell, founder of Vida Nueva. During our conversation she informed me that the Ministry of Family (Family Services down here) wants to move her to another orphanage. They are under the impression that Vida Nueva is not meeting her special needs. This is devastating. Vida Nueva is the best orphanage in the area. Ultimately the best solution is for Nancy to be adopted. If I could, I would in a heart beat.

My request is that everyone will pray for Nancy. I know that God doesn't want me to have this child. But I know God let me fall in love with her for a reason. Please pray that a family will find Nancy and love her as much as I do. Yes this little girl is special needs... but the thing she needs most is love. Just pray that someone will adopt her. Someone will find joy in her as I have. Pray that someone will love her the way I wish I could.

Thank you again for your love, support, and prayers. See y'all tomorrow.

Ziplining Through The Jungle

2008-01-31T20:42:00.000-08:00

6 days down and 2 to go! The time is going by very fast. I think most of
us will be ready to come home on Saturday but we will surely experience a bag
of mixed emotions. We travelled about 2 hours outside of Managua on very bumpy
roads to get to the forest. It was beautiful. We saw coffee bean plantations (and even ate a few) as well as monkeys hanging from the trees. For many of us, the idea of "ziplining" was easier to swallow than the reality of getting strapped in and climbing up to the platform. Then we had to take the first step off the platform before flying above the jungle to the next platform. I reflected on how this process was a lot like our walk of faith.....we know we are "strapped in" by the Lord and His love for us, but we so often hesitate and/or fear taking that first step. Our feet stick to the ground as fear and lack of trust prevent us from moving forward. If we would simply take that first step of faith, we would enjoy the ride (although it can tend to cause butterflies in our tummies!). I long to live my life "between the platforms" of the zipline. I know it is scary and I don't have much control-but I'm also learning that there is a lot of freedom (it can be a lot of fun, too).

We completed our day shopping in a market, buying local coffee that beats anything Starbucks can brew up, and finally shared a meal out at a local restaurant. The highlight was watching Chris and Diana dance to the local music played by our own guitarest/vocalist.

Hasta Manana!

Vicky

PS The people down here are some of the friendliest people I have ever met!

The whole team... on one very small platform...

Go Scotty Go!

Bruce has a new entourage he met at lunch. At one point their were 7 dogs. He could start a pretty good following down here!

The newly weds!

Tina shopped so hard she needed to rest a while in the market.

We had a pretty sweet game going at the market while everyone shopped!

Vamanos a la playa!

2008-01-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today was the day we took the kids from "La Chureca"(the dump) to the ocean. We had so much fun as we swam with our "buddies" and rode 4-wheelers and horses. The water was very warm for a nice change from the Pacific NW coast. It was difficult to leave our dream-like day and return to reality. It is very difficult for our team to process the reality that we see. We seem to jump to conclusions about the lives these children live....mostly we believe our children are so better off in the US. In reality, a lot of those kids get to go home to families that truly love them and who spend a lot of time with them. They are probably better-loved than many kids living in a typical suburban home in our country. Without all of the distractions of our wealthy, materialistic country, they seem to carve out a life that is simple yet poor. This is one of the primary reasons Forward Edge and other mission organizations exist-to minister and help address the poverty. Education seems to be the primary way to bring hope!

Our day was also a series of subplots-comedies of errors of sorts! Rob noticed more than half way thru the day that his buddy was not actually one of our kids but joined in from another family. He shared it was the most "rotten" day ever. We all laughed at this unfortunate occurence and Rob became the target of jokes and jabs the rest of the night.

Shari discovered the lagoon she had been swimming in with the kids that seemed to be the perfect swimming hole was actually dirty with garbage and debris. Although she was concerned at first, she quickly readjusted and said "Oh well, too little too late for me."

Vicky's head was spinning because everywhere she looked was a sign with her name "Victoria" as an advertisement. She later found out it is a brand of beer down here!

There were plenty of others but it's late and I've run out of creative juices. Hasta manana!

vicky

We're on our way!

Wave jumpers!

Wendy and Fabiola got swallowed up quite a bit by waves.

We found a ridiculous amount of sea shells...

Villa De Esperanza (The Village of Hope)

2008-01-29T19:44:00.001-08:00

Today we had our fabulous breakfast and then headed out on foot to the Villa De Esperanza. WOW! What a stark contrast to what we saw yesterday at the dump. As you head down the road you notice the large brick walls that surround the village. Then when you enter the gate you instantly see this beautiful building which is the administrative offices for the Villa as well as Forward Edge.

Beyond the office is where all the hard work is taking place. They are currently building two houses for the first 16 girls that will stay there who come out of the dump. These two houses will be sort of a trial run as they prepare to build even more houses. They are also building missionary housing to house teams like us in the future. The name "The Village of Hope" couldn't be any better. After seeing what we saw at the dump this place really is a place that will be providing hope to so many. They won't just minister to the girls they house, but they will be reaching out and ministering to their families as well and trying to show them how to do better.

The couple that had the vision of this place and put it into action are Gloria and Wilburt. We got the chance to spend time listening to Wilburt talk about their heart for the Villa today. His prayer is that EVERYONE who walks through those gates would be touched by God. The children, the missionaries, the workers who are building the Villa. In fact the workers get together once a week for prayer and once a week for a devotional time. During one of the breaks today we served the workers some soda and snacks and Chris Kainu shared his testimony with them. After he shared he then asked Tina Mabry to share her story about finding freedom from 20 years of drug addiction. It was a very honest and real moment and you could see that it was touching their hearts. Afterwards at least 3 men approached her and wanted to know more about her story. It was very moving to watch how God used her to reach the hearts of those men.

It was a great day for the team as we strenghtened our bonds with one another and some formed bonds with the workers. Chris Kainu spent a lot of time with a man named Felipe. Felipe taught Chris how to build a wall and together they worked to overcome the language barriers. At the end of the day Chris got to pray with Felipe for some of his specific health needs and strength for his continued sobriety (40 years and counting!).

Did I mention yet that we worked REALLY hard today. We were so dirty, so tired, and I'm gonna guess REALLY stinky at the end of our work day.

We rushed home to take showers and then loaded into a bus to go and meet up with a group of kids from La Chureca (the dump) to play soccer and have pizza. Oh my goodeness we were sooo tired and now we were going to play soccer! While playing soccer even a few of our younger men were heard saying, "I think I'm about to have a heart attack!" We played hard and it was fun.

At pizza it was neat to be able to sit next to the kids and just share in a meal with them. They were all so polite and had such proper manners as they cut their pizza with a knife and ate it with a fork. The language barrier was difficult but at one point the little girl, Flora, that I (Shannon) was sitting next to asked me if I went to church and had God in my heart! WOW! What boldness. We can learn a lot from these kids. It was hard to put them on the bus after the meal and know that they would be sleeping in one of those little shacks on a dirt floor just a little while later.

Tomorrow we get to take a group of 23 kids from La Chureca to the beach. Please be praying that God would help us to overcome the language barriers and connect with these kids. Also pray for strength for the team as we will most certainly all be very tired because of the hard work from today.

This is one of the 9 homes that will house the girls from La Chureca. They are each 3 bedrooms/3 bath and all have living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas. They are absolutely gorgeous!

Jenn and Julie between loads of cinder blocks.

Works not as much fun if you don't get a little dirty!

I know my people from Team 1 are missing this face! He says Hola!

sidenote: Vicky wants Jenna and her family to know that they were praying today for her at 11:00 am. Thanks for sending the update. Praise God!

A quick note from Kris...

2008-01-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all!

Thank you all so much for the prayers and the comments! Echo de menos mi gente de equipo 1! (I miss my people on team 1!) And so does Nathan... he's standing over my shoulder right now to ensure I say hi for him!

We spent the day at La Chureca... as Shannon posted! I just had a few personalized hola's from the kids.

Iceman... Wendi say's "Te quiero tambien" She left me temporarily today for another man. He's younger, bigger muscles... but I'm still taller! Let me know if you need prayer for anything! And good luck with your presentation (I think you said it's tomorrow)

Judy... Ana lit up when I mentioned your name. She said Te quiero tambien, tambien!

Wee Wee-Alex was talking to Chris about you today. He says hola tambien! (that means also)

Glenn-I say Encantado!

Kara-Your messages are inspiring. I've read each of them to several people here and they seem to really sink in, thank you!

Rick-Thank you so much for the encouragement. I really, really appreciate it. You're an awesome man of God and a great leader. God has, and is going to do great things thru you. I'm blessed to be a part of it. And by the way, no joke, I was laughing out loud before it even said "Kris this is where you laugh"... people just turned and stared.

Mom-Pack your bags... I don't think I'll be coming home.

We miss you all so much! You're in our prayers everynight... I expect all of you at the airport, banners, balloons, you know the drill! (just kidding!)

I'll just leave you with my favorite picture from today... Love you all!

Kris

The one, the only, Antonio! (I had to bribe the kid with candy for this picture!)

La Esperanza (The Hope)

2008-01-28T20:49:00.000-08:00

First off let me just start by saying that today is really hard to put into words. But here it goes....

Today we went to the school which exists in the middle of the dump. The name of the school is "La Esperanza" which means "The Hope". That's exactly what it is. It is the beginning of hope for so many of those children.

Many of us were surprised to find that the dump was right near the town. One minute we were on the bus in a busy street and the next minute we turned a corner and there we were at the entrance to the dump. The bus suddenly became silent as well all began to take in the reality of what we were seeing.

We went to the school first and then proceeded to go out into the "streets" of the village that exists within the dump. Within the garbage. From the moment we got there children who saw us gravitated towards us. One 13 year old girl made a direct b-line to Jenn, a member of our team, and immediately hugged her. This 13 year old girl walked with us the entire time as we walked through the village and all the while she carried her little diaperless, naked, sibling.

Jenn with Joanna and her siblings

Along the walk we saw many children. In the eyes of a few of those children we saw pain. In some we saw nothing at all, but in others we saw JOY. It was amazing to see such joy in the middle of such despair. I, Shannon, knelt down down to say hi to a little 2 year old girl and she immediately reached up for me. When I picked her up she barried her head into my shoulder and clung to me. It was gut wrenching to have to put her down and move on. Tina was invited into one little girls home and was shocked to find out that everybody slept on the dirt ground each night. In the house there was a pig, a chicken, and a dog, along with a seat from a car and a refridgerator. We don't know if the fridge worked or not. However you may be shocked to know that they do actually have electricity in the dump.

This is a house. In many of the houses three families live inside.

Another group of hous.es with a horse tied off outside the home. There were many wild dogs, pigs and cows roaming around the village inside the dump

There were many little girls, like this one, who gravitated towards the younger girls on our team.

After we took that all in (as if we could REALLY do that) we headed back to the school to get to work. We spent the day painting the school both inside and out. Throughout our time there many kids came to see what we were up to and were happy to receive any candy we gave them. They were also happy to receive love and attention from all of us. We wanted to do more. But we know that the school does so much throughout the year, and so by serving the school we were serving those kids as well.

Painting the school

Playing at the school with some of the kids

When it was time to leave it was a mixed reaction from the group. Some had to say goodbye to kids they had formed a connection with. Some left weeping with broken hearts, and some left still processsing and waiting on God. As Val said in the post from team 1 after they went to the dump....it's hard to put it into words.

Tomorrow we will be heading to the Villa de Esperanza which is the Village of Hope. That is where they are building homes to house young girls from the dump. It will be a place that will bring hope and new life to those girls. We've heard that we are in for a long, hard, dirty day tomorrow. So please pray for our strength and renewed spirit. Oh we also found out tonight that tomorrow night we get to go to an outdoor complex and play soccer under the lights with a group of kids. That will be fun. We'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

(Ok Dan... this is just for you! Sorry mom, not in this one either! -Kris)

Vida Nueva

2008-01-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hola mis amigos! Como estan? (pardon the lack of accents!)

I thought I would fill you all in on a little place called Vida Nueva. You've read about the orphanage, but no one really knows anything about it. Like no one knows that it's called Vida Nueva (New Life). That is exactly what this amazing organization does. It provides children with a new life!

The Bagwell's, originally from South Carolina, moved down here 6 years ago. 2 years ago they opened the Orphanage. When they opened, there were 6 babies. Now they have 36. There are 4 full time employees that love these children around the clock. These babies (with a few exceptions) are the happiest babies I've ever encountered. They are so well cared for, so loved, and for so little compensation. These women work so hard and in my opinion it is because God loves them and they want to show these kids the same love.

The children range in age from infants to 13. Several have disabilities. You can imagine the amount of patience and energy this job takes.

The other amazing thing about Vida Nueva is that it gets absolutely no money from the Nicaraguan Government. It is 100% funded by donations. With 36 children you can imagine their need for more funding. I hope you'll enjoy the pictures I've posted below. I hope that you will keep the orphanage and these children in your prayers.

Love you all!

Kris

This is Carlos. He is 6 years old and lives in the orphanage. He is one of the happiest little boys you'll ever meet. He likes to play with bubbles (bulbujas) and color. This little boy has truly touched my heart.

This is Anixia (Nixie). Nixie is about 15 months. She also stole my heart. She has big brown eyes, loves to smile, and is the happiest toddler I've ever encountered.

Ok... this is Nancy. I'm sorry, you can't have her. I've got dibs. Nancy was found in a gutter, under a plastic bag. How could someone just throw this little girl away? Nancy has brain damage, the extent of which is too early to tell. She'll hold your finger tight, and giggle if you call her Princesa. If I could, she'd be coming home with me.

Team 2 - Day 2

2008-01-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

Our day started off with another muy estupendo breakfast!

Then it was off to Verbo Christian Church for a great time of worship and teaching. As our team talked when we got back from church people commented on the differences. The main difference was how FREE they were in their worship. They were truly CELEBRATING God. There was one man who was literally drenched in sweat because he was dancing up and down the aisles as he worshipped the Lord.

We were given translating headphones so we were able to actually listen to the message and understand it, which was an unexpected blessing. Oh and here's a fun and random thing that happened at church. Sadie was wearing a Switchfoot T-shirt and the mother of the lead singer from Switchfoot was there. She was on a mission trip too.

After church we came back and we were humbled by our host family. Our rooms were cleaned and our beds were made. It felt a little strange to be served when we came to serve. But we gratefully accept their blessings. Have we mentioned yet how great the food is!!!

Our bellies were full so it was time go get to work. We began the huge task of sorting through the 40+ suitcases that were carrying supplies needed for the villa esperanza, the orphanage, the church and the kids at the dump.

After completing our task we got some time to hang as a group and have a devotional time followed by some individual quiet time with the Lord.

Then it was off to the orphanage. We were greeted by Lena (the director) and Gloria who oversees the Villa. We spent the next couple hours just loving on the 30+ kids who live there. Most of which are under the age of 2. We held them, fed them, loved them, changed them, and played with them.

When asked what stood out to us the most here were some of the responses:

"It was really depressing because you could tell how much pain some of the kids have gone through because of the sadness in their eyes. You want to tell them everything is going to be ok, but you can't."

"It's so sad to think that people don't want them, because they are all so beautiful."

"You can tell the kids who have been there for awhile because you can see the hope and love in their eyes."

"I'm so humbled and amazed by the women who work there and care for those kids." (sidenote: There are 4 women who work there and care for the kids and they each get paid what would be equivalent to $100 per month)

Tomorrow we are going to La Chureca (the dump) where we will be helping to paint the school which will be opening in February.

Dan the Man....this pic is just for you! (Victory!!)

Hey Y'all!

2008-01-27T05:17:00.000-08:00

Last night I (Kris Blais) had the pleasure of sitting, talking and praying with Ricardo (The Pastor we're staying with) Layda, y Lina. Ricardo helped me by giving me encouragement. He told me to read John 14. While doing so I felt I needed to pass along encouragement to mi otro equipe.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me... I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things thatn these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14: 1, 12-14

I love you all so much. I wish we all could have stayed another week. Today as you go to church, and as you reunite with friends, and revisit your week here... remember the kids in La Chureca. Remember the kids in the orphanage. Remember the Villa. Pray for all of these things in Jesus' name. You all are in my prayers. I'm glad you made it home safe.

-Kris

PS...

Val-Yeah I can bring you your nuts... but like I said about everything else you want me to bring... remind me. I'll forget. Thank you both for your leadership last week. I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend so much time with you.

Paris-Happy Birthday. I'm proud of you and I'm proud of the growth you experienced last week. You're in my prayers.

Judy-I miss you presence.... who's gonna fix my boo boo's? Just come back and we'll live here. We can pitch a tent in the yard or something.

Jeff-You have a great heart and a great passion for God. I love you and you inspire me.

Kara-You were an unexpected blessing. Thank you so much for your heart and your willingness to come. I'm so glad to have met you. Thank you for sharing everything. Can I get that poem that you recited the other night?

Terry-(Little Terry) Your heart and motivation inspired me. Thank you for reaching out to me. You taught me the value of a little hard work.

Terry-(Big Terry)-You are a great leader, and fearless. You are a true example of a disciple of Christ. Let your light shine my friend.

Rick-Get to work! We've got a lot to do for Young Adults! Thank you for your leadership this week.... more importantly thank you for your vulnerability and your friendship.

Glenn-Encantado! I miss your humor and your energy Glenn... thank you for being an example to me.

Suzanna and Marsh(?)-Como esta Indiana? Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone and joining our team. It was great to meet you and I can't wait to see where God takes you in life.

Shelly- Thank you for your heart. You are an amazing woman of God.

Randy-You also taught us the value of a little hard work. Your passion is inspiring. Don't hide your light Randy. You too can change the world with God.

Ben-You are also missed. Your genuineness (if that's even a word) was a blessing and truly inspiring. Thank you for raising such wonderful kids as well. I'm blessed to know your family.

Mom and Dad- (Joe and Suzy) Thank you for everything this week. You guys are amazing! I can't wait to go eat at fun restaurants with you.

David-You are such an awesome man Senor! Your humor, and heart are such a blessing. Watch out for that TV!

Ice man-Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story about Val with us. He's in our prayers. And you are too. Remember as you find yourself surrounded by darkness to let your light shine bright. You have a great heart and God has and is going to work miracles thru you. Read the CD again. And you can have your coffee back on the 13th.

Passing the baton...

2008-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

Team 2 anxiously awaited the arrival of Team 1 in the Houston Airport. We actually did get to see each other but we were separated by a single pane of glass. Team 1 wasn't really expecting to see us and they seemed a little disoriented as they looked at us through the glass wall (they had to go through customs). They looked tired and as they passed by one member got close to the glass and mouthed, "have a great time."

Soon after that we boarded the very plane they had just gotten off. The flight seemed to go by quickly and there were like 2 or 3 other mission groups on the plane as well.

We arrived in Managua with all of our luggage.......except ONE suitcase! But we consider that a HUGE blessing of God's provision considering the fact that another group on the plane was missing EIGHTEEN suitcases!

We got here at night so it was kind of hard to see the surroundings. Some immediate differences we noticed....
A random fire on the side of the road
8 people riding in a small little taxi
People riding in the back of pick-ups STANDING up
People riding motorcycles without helmets

We are sure those little things will pale in comparison the what we will see throughout the rest of the week.

Ok, gotta go.....Chris is calling the group together for prayer!!

Team 2 Hits Houston

2008-01-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

Well, we are on our way. We all arrived at the airport in Portland around 3:30 this morning and we are in Houston just hanging out during or 5 hour lay over. We are excited because there is a possibility that we might see team 1. If we do it will be through a glass wall, so that will be a bit comical! We'll let you know how that plays out.
For now we are just hanging out, talking, eating, playing games, comparing malaria pill regimens, and even playing a little football in the airport!

We will get into Managua at around 9pm tonight. We thank you in advance for all the prayers that we know will be covering us this week. We look forward to what God has in store for us and are excited to share it with all of you.

We leave you with pics from the airport.....

Vicky doesn't want to get malaria, so she is taking her pills!

Derek playing football near our gate.

Chris, our fearless leader, enjoying a down home texas BBQ sandwich

Playing spoons!

Just hanging out after lunch and making sure Diana gets her caffeine jolt!

Hi Emily and Colt! We miss you already....love mom & dad

Adios team 1!

2008-01-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

And then there were 3. Team one just left about an hour ago. This house feels so empty without them. I can actually walk into a room and be alone.

Team 1... we just want to let you know that it was an absolute pleasure and honor to serve with you in Nicaragua. Each and everyone of you touched someone's life this past week. Whether that be a little girl in La Chureca, the family we stayed with, or one of our team members, you impacted someone's life. This week was an emotional roller coaster for a lot of us. From the laughs, normally inspired by Glenn's accidental comedy (encantado Glenn!) to the low's of weeping as we pulled out of La Chureca last night, it was an amazing week.

We've come to love you all so much. Your hearts inspire us, and we are blessed to know you.

Remember the feelings you had and the things you saw as you arrive home and dive back into your normal, everyday lives. We may not be able to save these children, but God can. As I heard it said many times this week, "We are the hands and feet of God's plan." Without him (God) we can't, without you he won't.

We hope that you won't let yourselves be consumed and distracted by the busyness of home. We pray that you rise up against the enemy. He wants you to forget what you saw here. Don't. He wants you to go right back into routine. Don't. He will use people very close to you to extinguish the feelings you have in your heart. Rise against him. Stand together and fight. Pray that you will be able to see when the enemy is plotting against you, and then turn to God for strength and direction.

You are all amazing. Your heart is good. I knew that coming here last week. But you showed it time and time again. Thank you for inspiring us. Thank you for loving us.

You're in our prayers.

Love,

David, Julie and Kris

What we did on Thurs

2008-01-25T22:19:00.001-08:00

Okay for all of you waiting with baited breath for what we did on Thursday here it is. I am hoping that most of Team 2 is asleep, which if you aren't you should be -- you have an early flight and why are you reading blogs? Get to bed!

We went ziplining through a Nicaraguan rainforest. Yes that is right. It was awesome fun. There were 15 stations and we ziplined from tree to tree 75 to 100 feet or more above the ground. We saw a troop of howler monkeys and had an awesome view of the country's natural resources. Even those of us afraid of heights LOVED it! It was a great experience. And for those of you wondering about Kris in a tree he was climbing a tree, in flip flops, to get that perfect picture of a monkey. There was some blood involved but Judy patched him up. He'll learn to walk again soon. Just kidding, mom.

Then we went to a little town with a beautiful view of a crater lake and a volcano to eat lunch. Very cute little town. And then onto shopping. We went to an old fort that had been transformed into an indoor market.

And then onto buying coffee -- the best around and for only $4 a pound I think we pretty much cleaned them out.

See ya all soon.

Our Last Day

2008-01-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

The dump looked different today than it did on Wednesday. Maybe it was the hot fire at the gate, maybe it was the added activity or maybe it was that we were bringing our kids back to La Chureca after a beautiful day at the beach. We will never be the same.

We didn't shut down La Chureca today. We didn't stop people from living there. We didn't take away their poverty and poor choices. The children went back to the dump and back to the tin houses and smoke filled air. But we loved them. We took our children on pony rides and flew across the sand on quads. We built sandcastles, played ball and swam in the ocean. But the end of the day was bittersweet. We returned them to La Chureca and to a place that is beyond description. A place that today looked a little like descriptions of hell.

We have learned a lot about ourselves here in Nicaragua. Some of us understand what we have seen better than others. Some of us have seen it differently. Some have a vision of hope and some see what there is still left to do.

What did God teach us?
What did we learn?
How are we going to continue the vision when we return to our regular lives?

We are still processing and may be processing for years. We hope to return to this place sometime and see the continued work that God is doing. God is here. God does care. God is merciful. And God weeps for these people, this life which is so far from His original plan. Yet Earth is still just a shadow. Heaven is the real thing where all this will become right again and everything will be new. We do know this -- we must continue to be intentional. We must continue to make small steps to help others understand God's mercy and God's love for them so that they can experience God's greatest gifts. Today we may not have changed the world but we showed God's love to beautiful children and gave them a brief glimpse of God's Heaven.

Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

So Happy Birthday Paris Victoria!!!
What an awesome and emotional day to have a 16th birthday. But one that you will remember for the rest of your life.

For Team 2

2008-01-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

Here are some suggestions for what to bring before you leave in the morning.

1. Bring lower denominations of cash -- $1s and $5s. They will take US dollars but you will get change in cordobas. It makes it easier to buy. And you will have opportunity to buy stuff. Cash is better than credit cards though some places will take credit cards -- it's just is a long process to go through. And they won't barter with credit cards because of the processing fee. Also bring clean cash. They won't take torn or written on cash.

2. Can't really say it enough - hand wipes are a must. Purell may kill the germs but it doesn't remove the dirt just moves it around.

3. For going to the beach if you have a chance to go -- Nerf balls for playing baseball with the kids -- they love baseball but we didn't want them to kill each other with the hard balls. We did give them some for going home but at the beach it is something to do. You can only swim for so long. We had a cabana to stay in and tables so maybe some easy card games. Just a thought. Nothing to stress over. We managed without all this stuff and each group will have a different experience with their kids. And to be fair there are horses and quads to ride but those cost and you can only ride horses and quads for so long.

4. Also for the beach maybe kites if you have some small ones laying around. The kids would love it.

5. A small spanish - english dictionary might come in handy when trying to communicate with the children. Most of us got along fine but for those of you who don't know spanish (like me) or are limited it would help to get past a few hurdles without running to someone to translate.
Your call.

Kris Blais' Prayer...

2008-01-25T16:15:00.001-08:00

Why? Why God? Why did we just spend the day falling in love with children, only to let them go back to "Hell on Earth" at the end of the day? Why did a beautiful and perfect day end in tears? Why? I think I know how you feel God. I think I know how you feel every time you have to let your children go. Wendy is a part of me now. Her smile, her eyes... they are embedded in my mind and in my heart. God please hurry. Please hurry and rescue them before the enemy gets them. I saw the enemy when we pulled into La Chureca tonight. Through the flames I saw children sifting thru garbage looking for clothes and food. I saw what the enemy did to an elderly man... he showed me burns and disease on his arms, legs and back. How can I help these people God? I know you're working... but how can I help? What can I do? Please save them.

Today was moving. We took 18 kids from La Chureca to the beach. We had a cabana all to ourselves, horses to ride and an ATV. We played in the water, ate together, and experienced joy together. I fell in love with these kids today. I think that's what God wanted. God wanted me to fall in love with them. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have felt anything when we dropped them off. Falling in love with those kids made it so that when I am called to do something to help them... I will do it with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my strength. God I want to help these kids. Thank you so much for everything God. Thank you for the struggle of letting go. Thank you for the bus ride back where Wendy slept in my arms. Judy said to hold her tight because that could be the last time she is safe in a man's arms... unfortunately she was right. Thank you for delivering those kids from hell, even if just for a day. Thank you for giving them and us hope. Thank you for your Grace, your mercy, and your love. Please God, deliver those kids from La Chureca. Deliver them from the enemy's grasp. I pray that images and memories of today, and this week, will not fade like photographs. I pray that they will stay burned in our minds and in our hearts... so that we might act when you prompt us, that we may seek you in order to help them, and that we can join in your efforts to save these people. I love you God, and I saw your love today. Thank you.

PS... Val will write later.

Kris Blais Sees La Chureca

2008-01-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

The other day walked through the dump. Yes the work area was dirty, dusty, and smokey... but it was a work area. The homes were dirty and made of scrap metal, plastic, wood and dirt... but they were homes. The children had dirt on their faces and most lacked shoes and shirts... but they were playing. As I walked through the dump today, I didn't feel sad. As I walked through the village and met the children, I felt joy. The only thing that scares me, is what will happen to these children. The enemy is waiting outside the village, ready to pounce. He's after their joy. As followers of Christ, we can't stand back and watch that happen.

Kris Blais' thought of the day

2008-01-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

Kris says,

"Turn your cell phones off for the day and see how it feels. "

A Very Fun Day

2008-01-24T19:22:00.000-08:00

So far the only scary thing about Nicaragua is the driving. There is really no explaining the Nicaraguan style of driving. It is part Californian, part Evil Kneivel. It really has to be experienced -- words are just not enough. How people stay alive in this country is a mystery but somehow it all works. FEI and Suzie have taken wonderful care of us and we can't sing their praises high enough. They know how to put on a party in foreign country.

For those who are coming on Team 2 (and are procrastinators and haven't packed yet -- you know who you are) here are some things 15 out of 21 team members wish they had:

Hand wipes are great -- to get the dirt off and to wipe dirty faces when we occasionally worked -- when not lounging by the pool
Lots of soap
More shorts
More clothes to lounge around in at the end of a hard day
The homemade chocolate chip cookies went fast -- hint, hint
A small towel to get wet for those working days (put around your neck to cool you off).
Canister of Costco nuts
Kris says "Blueberry Tea"
A journal
Tide with bleach (or alternative)
The cool super bubbles that stay around forever
Games
A super attitude ready to experience a great place that will constantly surprise you

What we didn't need:
A bottle brush
$200 for the trip through customs (though cash is good to have for other reasons)
Vicks (the dump only smelled of smoke -- only our eyes burned on occasion)
A ton of bug spray (we have had very little bugs -- though good to have SOME)
A fear of dogs (there are dogs just about everywhere - some places more than others but they are not dangerous just a constant presence)

I can't say much today because we want Team 2 to have a great surprise. I will blog later with pictures once they are safely on their way.

All I can say is that it involves a bumpy road, monkeys, Kris in a tree, butterflies, coffee, an old fort and MUCHO fun -- really really.

Well time is just zipping along and soon we will be home. It is hard to believe that most of us have only one more day here and then we are leaving on a jet plane. While we are ready to see our families again we will miss this country and its people. And we will miss our Team. God really put special people on our team and I know that God put together Team 2 for a special reason that will include lots of laughs and a deeply profound experiences that are unique to them. We are excited to hear about their week.

Tomorrow I am sure we will have lots of great experiences to share. We are taking 20 kids from La Chureca to the beach and we are excited about having this one-on-one moment.

Please pray we don't drowned any of the kids
Pray for our stamina -- we are winding down and are getting tired -- though no major sickness at all -- yeah
Pray for a safe trip to the beach
And pray that we make a small connection to these children and open their heart a little more toward God

For Dan

2008-01-24T05:45:00.001-08:00

Okay Dan here is your photo. Live long and be happy.

And Kris says " Sorry Mom I don't want to come home. But you can come visit!"

There is Hope

2008-01-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Psalms 10: 1-2, 8, 10 - 18

Why, O Lord do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account?"
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the
afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen
to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the
earth, may terrify no more.

Four years ago Judy Hill experienced a La Chureca that was terrifying, dangerous and oppressive. Armed guards were at the gates, few children under 6 worn clothes, girls acted provocatively, houses were temporary and there was little hope.

The La Chureca that we saw today was a simple walk down a dirt road, there was no feeling of danger and sometimes the atmosphere was friendly. The air is filled with smoke from the constant spontaneous burning but the children had clothes, the tin and scapmetal homes had a silent dignity to them. The people have water and electricity. Some front yards were swept clean, some children washed. A clinic sits open for a few hours for medical care. And a school sits as a wonderful oasis to teach hopeful children. God is here and working. He is defending the fatherless and oppressed.

As we painted the school before session starts in February, children joined us grabbing paintbrushes and helping us work. One boy, Antonio, took great pride in his school, carefully wiping up paint and teaching us the right way to paint his school. Wendi, a little girl about 6, had an infectious laugh. We hugged them, laughed with them and will hopefully pray for them.

Our feelings after leaving La Chureca are so hard to define. We can see hope, but we also understand the things that still happen here. Wendi, in a few years, may begin a life of prostitution. Antonio, a smart boy who can quickly figure out how to use a digital camera, may become drug addicted and old before his time working in the dump. But things are happening. Small movements toward hope. God is on the move. Students are graduating from the school and going to night school in hope of a better life outside the dump. Others are returning to become teachers. And another decided to marry her boyfriend with whom she has two children, a flicker of hope in a seemingly hopeless place.

There are churches in La Chureca and Verbo has just started a new ministry in the dump in December. The first Verbo church service had 60 people show up. People are hungry for God and God is answering.

Pray for Verbo church as it starts this new ministry
Pray for our hearts as we process what we saw
Pray for the children of La Chureca -- that they will have a heart filled with a desire for God
Pray for the school that it will stay constant in its ministry there

For Shannon

2008-01-23T20:06:00.001-08:00

Alright Shannon here is what you are dealing with. Don't know if this helps or hinders. Sorry if it hinders. You can kill me later.

This first guy we found on the job site. He was a real slow mover and kinda cute in a weird way.

This flew in and spent some time on the ceiling. Very nice. No one was hurt.

Now this guy was on his way somewhere. We don't know what he is or if he is poisonous. He was the biggest we saw and so far we have only seen three spiders that really mean anything -- as in big or poisonous. All the rest were very small like we have at home. And we have had NONE in the bedrooms or in the main living area. All outside where spiders belong.

Judy and Victor's Story

2008-01-23T16:19:00.001-08:00

Judy Hill is an amazing woman and if you ever meet her you must ask her about Victor. Here is my attempt to tell her story.

Several years ago Judy came to Nicaragua on a medical mission. While in a clinic Victor's mother entered her room. Victor was 17 months old and about 10 lbs. He was going to die. His trachea and windpipe were one tube and when he was fed the food would go into his lungs and he would get pneumonia. A feeding tube was inserted into his stomach but the food was still going up his trachea and entering into his lungs. He was only being fed thin watery liquids with very little nutrition. His cry sounded like a kitten meowing. He couldn't sit up on his own. Victor was beyond Nicaraguan medicine and he was going to die.

Judy felt God very clearly telling her that she needed to tell Victor's mom that she would get Victor to the states and take care of his medical needs. Judy didn't know how that could possible happen but she took a leap of faith.

When Judy returned to the US she started a round of calls to find out what she needed to do. It was complex. She needed doctor to do it for free. She needed a hospital that would do it for free. She needed free airline tickets. She needed free housing for Victor and his mom for the duration of their stay. She needed the US to tell the Nicaraguan government that they would be responsible for Victor's care. She needed a miracle.

After about 2 months and 60 phone calls to about 60 hospitals Judy still did not have medical care for Victor. Then her miracle happened. In a short time through a random act (otherwise known as God) she had a doctor, a hospital, two airplane tickets and housing.

Victor and his mom flew to the US to begin the surgery, but Victor was too weak. He needed to gain some weight so there was a wait. When he was strong enough he went through the surgery but he developed complications. Victor was in the US 10 months and his medical care cost $2 million. All provided by God for free.

On Monday Judy met Victor for the first time in 4 years. He is a beautiful happy boy. His mother became a Christian at the medical clinic's chapel. Judy has seen the end result of being in God's will. We don't always get a chance to see the end of what God has asked us to do but when we do it's amazing.

God gave Judy a beautiful Nicaragua rainbow over her reunion with Victor and his mother. Victor's mother still has difficulties. Her husband left not believing that Victor or his wife was coming back. But he still sends money to support his family -- unusual for Nicaraguan men. Continue to pray for her and pray that little Victor will grow to be a strong man of God.

The lives we came to touch

2008-01-23T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a preview of what we saw today. It is so hard to put into words La Chureca. So let these photos give you an idea of our experience until we can formulate some words for what we saw.

Learning to Pray

2008-01-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

First, Kris' message for the day is -- "the toilet paper thing is really hard".

Prayer is a relationship, not just a religious activity. My kids fight over who gets to pray yet as adults we forget to pray. We forget to fight for our time with God.

Today we go to the dump and today we may learn to pray as we see a lifestyle that is so foreign to us. Please pray as we enter into a place that is depressed and heart wrenching. May we learn to pray and see people as eternal beings, loved by God and created for a grand purpose. May we be His hands and feet.

What we've learned

2008-01-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

The last two days we finally got dirty and I mean filthy. We have been working at the Villa Esperanza doing anything they tell us to do. The Villa Esperanza is beautiful and will be a wonderful place for the girls to live. They are close to being done with 2 of the homes and hope to be done by possibly March (the rumor on the street). Construction is done a little differently in Nicaragua -- no codes, no mortar mixers (the ground works fine), very little machinery or tools. Life moves a little slower. The heat has not been horrible and there is always a breeze which is a blessing and a curse in the dry season.

So here is what we have learned:
1. The dry season should be called the dusty season.
2. Eating unripe mangos with salt makes you a "very good Nica" (Victoria has learned).
3. Geckos can and DO fall off ceilings onto peoples heads (Suzanne had a hard time getting to sleep later).
4. They do have tarantulas and great big beetles with horns and big moths the size of bats.
5. Earplugs are a good thing (geckos chirping tends to be annoying when sleeping).
6. Showers are very good things.
7. Nicaragua dirt is harder to get off (Team 2 - bring lots of soap).
8. The Nicaraguan food is amazing! And our hostesses cook very yuuuummmy food.
9. Fresh hand squeezed orange juice is better than anything.
10. Nicaraguan coffee is the best in all the world.
11. We could live here.
12. A pair of gloves can bring joy to a man's face and joy to the giver's heart.
13. Nicaraguans, who are very poor (the workers at the Villa make 80 cents an hour), are a very generous people.
14. Yesterday we were working with Nicaraguans. Today we were working with friends.
15. And while sometimes our labors seem small we don't know how God can use our simple act to change a life
16. And God sometimes lets us see the end result of our labors (ask Judy Hill --a beautiful story to be posted later hopefully with pictures).
17. Nicaragua can change your life.

Finally Pictures

2008-01-22T16:49:00.001-08:00

The internet has been down the last day or so but finally here are some pictures of the beautiful children at the orphanage.

God of All Cultures and All Times

2008-01-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

Romans 10:14b
How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written," How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

As we sat in church today listening to 200 Nicaraguans praise and worship God it became amazing clear to us that God's Word in alive and living and transcends all culture and time. We are so isolated as Americans from so much of the rest of the world that we sometime think of God as OUR God and His language as OUR language. To sit and listen to people praise God and feel the presence of God in that church was powerful and inspiring. Can we be as free to worship God with such passion with all of the blessings that God has given us as Americans as the people of Nicaragua who know they are poor?

It is hard to put into words how inspiring these people are despite their poverty and difficult living conditions. We are connected to these lovely people through our relationship with God and that is something that is truly profound.

Later as we went to the orphanage and loved the beautiful children there the women who serve there daily inspired us to reevaluate what servanthood is. "Nicaragua is built on the backs of women" has been a often quoted evaluation and we experience the dedication of the women at the orphanage who daily care, feed, bath, play and love the abandoned children of Managua.

The orphanage was conversely both an emotionally uplifting and difficult place to be. The more than 30 children range in age from 3 months to about 11. Many of the children have disabilities due to malnutrition but they are so CUTE! We spent the whole afternoon playing, loving, laughing and feeding babies, toddlers and children and had a hard time leaving. Each child had a tragic story but we hope that our day of love will give them an open heart for God's love as they grow.

Pray for the children at the orphanage that they will have a heart open to God
Pray for the orphanage workers who serve so faithfully
Pray for our continued health -- we are all doing great we would love to keep it that way

Are we there yet?

2008-01-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

We are HERE! Our flight from Portland went smoothly and we made it to our connecting flight in Houston -- we better have we had 3 hours! The flight to Managua was not so smooth. After taxiing on the runway for about 30 mins we returned to the airport due to a engine issue. Apparently one of the engines was not starting -- seemed important so we let a mechanic look at it for a few hours and then about 11:30 -- one engine repair and lots of paperwork later (according to the pilot) we took off 2 hours late.

I can't begin to tell you how beautiful our plane ride was. We had a beautiful sunny day and the water was sparkling blue and turquoise and the clouds looked like corral reef formations. Coming into Nicaragua the volcanos rising up into the clouds were awesome!

We got through customs just fine -- for us it was very easy and we had an adventure filled ride to the pastor's house we are staying at. The people sell things in the streets -- and I mean the middle of the street. Children were trying to sell us fruit and wash car windows and stand between the car lanes and work. The poverty is very real in a strange way. Tin houses are everywhere but many of the cars on the road are newer Toyotas and Kias. We watched people picking through garbage along sections but also see Xerox, 3M and Curves (yes Curves) in other parts.

The pastor's house is great. Very comfortable and full of great new sounds -- birds, dogs and bugs. Mostly birds (don't worry too much Team Two). The family cooked us an awesome dinner, we sorted through all the stuff we brought, prayed and we are now ready for bed. Tomorrow we plan to go to church and then hold and feed the kids at the orphanage after lunch.

Pray for health and energy for the team. While it is not really hot it is humid and it tends to wear on our energy.
Pray for all our teams fears and struggles because we all have them.
Pray for wisdom as we move through the next couple of days.

Moving Closer to God in Obedience

2008-01-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

Well, here we go! In a few hours Team One will be leaving on an adventure with God! Please be praying for health and peace as we adventure out of our comfort zone and learn what God has for our lives. God has moved people in amazing ways -- to teach us about trusting Him, learning about praying hard, creating relationships and giving back to God in huge ways. We pray that we will learn to love people more and to see others as eternal creations, loved by God. Even if our actions are small we are pointing people to Heaven and I pray that we will all learn how to become tools for God. What greater purpose is that?

Thank you God for this opportunity to grow each of us as we journey towards You in obedience.

Please be praying for our upcoming teams

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Under the direction of Forward Edge International, Team 1 leaves for Nicaragua on Saturday, January 19th. They will return on Saturday, January 26th which is the same day that Team 2 leaves. Team 2 will return home on February 2nd.

Here is an idea of how the teams will be serving while they are in Nicaragua:

Assist in the relocation of the first 16 high-risk girls from the landfill to homes currently being constructed at the Village of Hope.
Visit a 40-child orphanage.
Visit the school inside the landfill.
Help with the construction projects.
Take the children from the dump on an outing to the coast.