Looking Back...and Ahead

Kaleb Biladeau
I really enjoyed this trip. I got to know the seniors a lot better and became good friends with them. The trip was a real blessing because I got to see a different culture. It was cool (and sad) to see how simple the people live. God really put the people on my heart. God also showed me that I am not alone; I have people who care about me around me all the time. And Mr. Madill was a real encouragement to me. I had a fun time, and it was a real growing experience for all of us. I am sad to go; I will miss Project H.O.P.E., the Nicaraguan people and Nicaragua – it is such a beautiful place. For my first time out of the country and alone (without my parents), I am so thankful it was to come here with my friends.

 

Kallee Brownlee

On this trip God has shown me how much it means to care for other people. At the start of the trip, I was very self-focused and then I began to try to be more others-centered. Being others-centered really heightens your mood and helps you feel better when you are feeling down. You would think it would make you feel worse, but loving others is a huge joy-booster.

Anthony Gossack

I really liked the trip. It was so much fun to develop better relationships with the team and the people in Nicaragua.

Something the Lord taught me was to not let anything hold me back from putting my whole treasure in Jesus. Not possessions or things I like to do. My treasure is in Christ, no matter what I have – like the Nicaraguans, who are a great example of that.
The trip was wonderful and I do not regret it at all!

 

Alethia Heide

What an amazing trip! God grew me in so many different ways, but I think the main one was humility. During the trip, there were a lot of different situations where it was tempting to have a prideful or selfish attitude. It would have been easy to complain, not step out of my comfort zone, and not reach out and encourage my teammates. We talked a lot about putting to death our sinful desires and this challenged me to look for ways to serve others and be an encouragement to those around me.

 

  

 Daniel Moore 

The most important thing I will take back from this trip is patience. After hours of airport security, layovers, and waiting for materials at the construction site, God has taught me to make the most of this extra time without becoming anxious or annoyed.

God has also taught me humility through a variety of experiences. First, I did not speak Spanish well enough to communicate well in Nicaragua, so I had to rely on translators. This dependence helped me stay humble. I was also sobered by the fact that the Nicaraguans are so content, even with so few possessions. I realized that many things I take pride in are nothing in the grand scheme of things, a concept that humbled me and helped me focus on the only thing that really matters: Christ.

Cara Robertus

Over the course of this trip, God has shown me that I need to shift my focus heavenward. So often, I find myself getting wrapped up in things of the world, such as activities I’m involved in or plans I have. Being in Nicaragua and seeing how God is working in the lives of the people there has shown me the importance of living with the goal of storing up treasures in heaven! As I return to reality, I will seek to live wholeheartedly for Christ, putting my efforts into adding to God’s kingdom. This trip has changed my life, and I am excited to see how God will use the things I have learned to impact others.

 

Michelle Simpson

It was such a blessing to be a part of this trip! God has been very good to me. I specifically worked on humility during this past week. It can be so easy to be prideful just because I can speak the language. The reality is that I am only a very small part of this trip. Everything I have is a gift from God, and I am to use those gifts for His glory. I was able to learn a lot about translating this week by spending time with Project H.O.P.E.’s wonderful translators.

I strengthened my relationships with my classmates and was able to serve the people I love. God has blessed me by allowing me to go back “home” for a week. Thank you for your prayers and support! Chao pescao!

Mackenzie Stromberg
Through the trip, I have seen God’s handiwork in the way we were united as a team and ready to serve. God showed me how much bigger the world and His church is. I was very blessed by this experience and saw so many happy, joyful people, even though they have nothing. It really enforced the idea that earthly things are idols for many Americans and the things of this world are passing. Joy and satisfaction don’t come from earthly goods, but rather Christ in us. It was the best week of my life and was a time of fun, excitement and being stretched. We were able to learn new skills and meet some amazing people in Project H.O.P.E. who have a great love for the Lord, and are welcoming and fun.

Although I couldn’t speak Spanish, I could still communicate well through my poor Spanish and facial expressions. I am so thankful for this opportunity and wouldn’t change it for the world.

Matthew Tofslie 
On this trip, God has really shown me how to love. Not just one person or people I like to be around. He has shown me how to love people I don’t even know. He has shown me how to love people on the team that I have spent years with in school.

This trip has also opened my eyes to the poverty here in Nicaragua, and how little these people actually have. Yet, their love for the Lord, and their love for those they don’t even know, is so amazing!

I thank God for allowing me to come on this trip. I am also thankful I was able to go with people who love the Lord and seek to show God’s love in everything they do.

Baylee Van Winkle 

Writing down what this trip has meant to me is not physically possible. There is no way to describe the enormous heights of joy, love and peace I have experienced. There is no way to explain it, no way to make you understand how in one week you can become so wholly devoted to a people that you can barely communicate with. Part of me doesn’t even think it fair to ask us to try.

There is, however, one thing I would like to share: this trip has brought me closer to the Lord in a way I never thought possible. My heart has broken, and in breaking my heart, God was able to fill it with Himself. I feel His love, His compassion, and His presence. This trip shows you nothing so much as the holy hand of God over all eternity, working in all places and all times, for His perfect and pleasing will.

 Ryan Westlake
When I think about this trip we just had, I see that it was an incredible experience. Traveling out of the United States for the first time, and witnessing a completely different lifestyle, was eye-opening. I enjoyed every single moment. Whether it was playing with the children, hammering nails, putting the roof on, or fellowshipping with the group, it brought me joy.

The Lord showed me numerous areas in my life that have been wrong. The biggest thing was where it is that I find my satisfaction or comfort. It is very easy for me to find comfort in my standing before men or what I “have”. However, those things will pass away and be no more. My comfort needs to come in the knowledge that I belong to Christ. Many of the people we served this past week have very few possessions, yet have great joy. Finding comfort in the things of this world will always be something I will fight against, but I realized how in the midst of having so little, you can have great comfort.

I will never forget this trip. I am so thankful for the Lord providing this opportunity for the team. My friendship has grown with multiple people. I am excited to see what the Lord has for me in the future, and how He will use the experiences of this trip in my life.

 Mrs. Kneeland 

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to on the Junior/Senior mission trip twice. I love Nicaragua, I love the people, I love the work, I love seeing our kids grow and I love what the Lord does each time!

This trip made clear to me the great need for discipleship and Biblical training in Latin America. We attended six church services and saw first-hand the people’s enthusiasm for the Lord, along with a lack of depth. I spoke with four Nicaraguans who work for Project H.O.P.E. and none had a home church and only one knew the Bible very well. I have reached the conclusion that investing in missionaries to disciple believers in Latin America is a very worthwhile endeavor! At House of Hope I was able to see how beneficial long term ministries can be!

This trip teaches endurance, dependence on the Lord, intense discipleship, putting others first, focusing on the Lord and love for others. I am deeply grateful that Heritage does this trip and I am always eager and willing to go, and encourage all HCS staff to take part in this amazing opportunity at least once.


Mr. Robertus

 


What a blessing it has been to both serve and minister with the Nicaraguan people! Despite poor livng conditions, they are so joyful and appreciative of our gifts and service to them. And their enthusiastic worship services are truly inspiring! I also enjoyed serving with and building relationships with the members of our team. It was exciting to see such quality young people serving others. This was certainly a lfe-changing experience that I shall always remember.

Mr. Goede 

What a great gift that God gave us this past week. I saw God answer prayer by protecting us, giving us hearts to serve and love others, and developing relationships with many people in Nicaragua. I will remember and miss Pastor Dennis’ 7-year old granddaughter, Lydia, who always had a smile on her face and loved playing with all of the team working at their house.

God showed me how He can work through all of us as a team to show Christ’s love to many people. I was personally challenged to consider if I really am willing to serve God anywhere, doing anything at anytime; even if that means serving the Nicaraguan people by living in a 15x18 foot home with a dirt floor and no plumbing. I look forward to how God will lead me and all of us to apply what He has shown us this week.


Mrs. Goede
It was so encouraging to watch the students throughout the week as they focused on serving the Nicaraguan people and each other. I saw them working, with joy and glad-heartedness, in the heat and the dust. I saw them sitting in the dirt with children, running in the dirt with children, and singing and laughing with each other. I was blessed to watch this group bond together in the unity of the Spirit.

Having been to Haiti once and Belize three times, I knew that God could use this trip in any way He wanted to change my heart in order to bring Him glory. He never disappoints!

There were several things that Jesus touched my heart about. Briefly, a couple of them: 1) I need to be more of a “social outcast” in our society…in the opposite way of how we usually think of it. Because our society is becoming increasingly anti-Christian, my life needs to be such that I stand out to the point of being an outcast for Christ. 2) I was reminded that denying self and serving others begins in the little things.

Home2Serve

Tuesday, March 12
Hola! The missions trip has come to an end. Our team had great time in Nicaragua; we awoke this morning at 3:30 and had some delicious cinnamon rolls at 4:00.

After our last meal on compound we loaded up the bus and bid farewell to Roger, our amazing host, and said goodbye to Pablo, the funniest man you will ever meet. As we rode to the airport some of us sang, others slept, and yet others played the last game of twenty questions with Freddy and Morlon (they are translators who are 19 and 20). Upon the arrival at the airport we said some tough good byes to our new friends.  It is amazing how close you grow to people who were once strangers and are now friends.

The flight to Houston went smoothly. We had a five hour layover in Houston.

The customs process went incredibly well. After going through security for the second time of the day, we said another hard good bye to our awesome team leaders Seth and Annie from Kansas City.  They did a wonderful job and were a blessing to have in our group.  In Houston we ate lunch, played Mao and talked. So far, the flight to Denver has gone well. We will be seeing you all very soon.

After getting boarded at Denver and ready to take off, we had to deboard to change planes because of electrical problems. Surprisingly, we made it home only an hour later than originally scheduled.

This trip has been a blessing to us all and it is sad to see it come to an end so quickly. Project H.O.P.E. is an incredible organization and does a phenomenal job at helping teams feel at home, work hard, be a blessing to the locals, and have a blast in the process. The people working for them deserve the credit; they awake between four and five every morning and do not go to bed till eleven or later at night. Thanks to them, we had a wonderful trip that went smoother than imaginable.  We must also thank the chaperones who accompanied us; they were awesome role models and kept up with us teens exceptionally well. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support as we spent the last eight days in Nicaragua. The people who live there are so sweet and wonderful and it was amazing to see their love for Christ and witness the world wide church family we all belong to.  We would most importantly like to thank God for blessing our trip.   Adios and see you all soon.

Mackenzie Stromberg, for the Team


CHECK BACK IN A DAY OR TWO FOR ADDITIONAL POSTS OF TESTIMONIES.

Los turistas!

Monday, March 11

Hello! Today was the most exciting uneventful day of the trip. We got to be tourists! For some of the group, being a tourist was not that exhilarating. We had a great breakfast, the first best part of the day. After that we jumped on the bus and headed off to Granada on Lake Nicaragua.

 We were planning on going to a volcano, but after we found out the road was under construction, we had to change our plans. The bus ride was like normal; laughing, singing and sleeping.

When we got to the lake we were entertained by swinging on vines like Tarzan until our boat was ready to leave. It was the most fun thing ever!

We split up into two groups and jumped on two different boats for a little cruise.

We weaved our way through many little islands with extremely nice houses on them.

 

We arrived at a little island called Monkey Island. We were told that a rich man did not want his monkeys any more, so he dropped them off at the island. As we looked up we saw four little monkeys swinging from tree to tree. We then turned around and headed back to shore. 

 

 

 

On the way Pablo picked a very cool flower that “makes” people fall in love within five minutes. I don’t think it worked. J Once back on shore we jumped back on the bus and headed to a fine lunch on the lake.

 

 

Something the Lord has been teaching me this week is that I cannot let anything hold me back from giving everything to Christ, especially possessions. These people do not have anything and yet serve the Lord with all their heart and with amazing joy. I cannot let anything hold me back from giving my whole heart to Christ.

Well, I am bummed to be leaving so soon, but I am excited to be coming home to apply the lessons I have learned. See you soon!
For the team, Antonio Gossack

 Que onda salvaje? We ended our scenic cruise with lunch.

 The team ate at a very nice outdoor restaurant conveniently located right next to the sparkling lake. We had rice (my FAVOURITE), steak, papas fritas, salad, and I got to drink guayaba juice. 

 Then we took a lovely group picture. I thought we looked pretty good! 

The team then headed to the market in Masaya to do some touristy shopping. I am not exactly what you would call a big fan of tourism, as I would much rather spend my time with the Nicaraguan people.  However, this was a big chance for me to value the interests of others and be understanding. 

 Everyone split up into about four or five groups, each having a translator, and we entered the market.  I got to translate and barter, so it wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would have been.

The tiendas were full of brightly coloured knick knacks of all sorts, plenty of jewelry, hammocks, odd mask things, and…raspadas! Raspadas are little frozen delicacies that I haven’t had in about three years.  They scrape ice off of a huge block of ice and put the fine shards into a cup. The cup of ice is then doused with a sweet, caramelly sauce and served to you. I think it was the highlight of my time there.  It was fun to see the others enjoy the many wonders of the world of los turistas.

We got home and had soft tacos!! I accidentally dropped my fork in the trash and frantically tried to fish it out, but after five minutes of dismal failure, I was told that it was okay to leave it in there. I was very relieved.

A final team meeting ended our day. We got to spend time in God’s presence through worship and were able to encourage each other.  This mission trip has allowed me to build better relationships with my fellow classmates, and it has been a blessing to work alongside them every day. I can see their hearts for God and it encourages me to see how willing they are to serve and share Jesus with los Nicaraguenses!  The Lord has been gracious with me this week and helped me to be humble. Being able to speak Spanish is a blessing from Him, but it does not give me any reason to be prideful. Having other translators around has taught me so much, and it has been a privilege to get to know them. God is so good to me.

Well, I think I’m going to go and join in on some blonde jokes with my team now.  We fly out at 6:40 tomorrow morning, so please be praying for a safe flight!
 Michelle Simpson...out. (as always, for the Team)

Sunday...a day of rest

Hola!

Hello! This morning we had the best cinnamon rolls for a small breakfast. We then hopped on the bus and headed to a church service at International Christian Fellowship. 

 It was a place full of people with love for the Lord! A man from New Zealand spoke about solidarity, which means union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests, as between members of a group. It was so cool to see missionaries from places like Missouri, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Korea, and Japan. It is a church comprised mostly of missionaries or families adopting Nicaraguan kids, and we learned that the adoption process from this country is very tedious and could take up to six months. Adoptive parents must live in the country for 5 months during the process.

After the service we returned to the compound and enjoyed a brunch of eggs, pancakes, sausage, rice and beans, and fresh squeezed orange juice. After this delicious brunch we had a team meeting during which we sang songs and shared things that God was showing and teaching us through the devotions we do every morning. Something that really struck me was the very first devotional that we did; it was about literally being slaves and serving others and showing God’s love to the Nicaraguans. It was very convicting! It showed me that I need to make myself a slave in order for others to see God through me.

 

Soon after, our bus driver’s son came with many bracelets and jewelry for purchase. Later on, some ladies came with some pottery, bracelets and some cool whistles shaped like different birds.

Time to relax! Some of us played games like Mao (pronounced “mau”) and Uno and some just sat and talked. Although we have been so busy and have had so much fun working, it was nice to relax and spend time with the team and those we weren’t able to work with. What a fun day!
Matthew Tofslie, from the Team.

 Hola Amigos!

Today has been another wonderful day spent in Nicaragua! Although I have loved being busy serving the people this week, it was so refreshing to spend time with the people from Project H.O.P.E as well as the team. We ate delectable cinnamon rolls for breakfast and headed to the church for morning service. After church the team enjoyed brunch at the compound. We met together for the first time in a few days, and it was wonderful to sing together and share what God has been doing in each of our hearts this week. After a relaxing afternoon of card games, ice cream, and theological discussions, the team headed to the evening service at a Baptist church in Managua.

 All of the people at the church were so friendly. Each one of them wanted to shake my hand (at least three times J ) and talk to me. It is so uplifting to see how friendly the people in this country are! They treat Gringos like family even when they do not even know them.

Our team presented the “Chains” play drama to the congregation, and after worship and a brief message, we came back to the compound for another delicious meal thanks to the full-time cook who works at Project H.O.P.E. I have so appreciated the delicious meals she has made for us each and every day.

Tonight is another late night; staying up and watching the movie “Courageous”.

 Duerme Bien Amigos!

Brittnee Madill, por el equipo.

Construction Wrap-up (and an Addition to Tuesday)

Hola! We arose early this morning and each one of us enjoyed a personal quiet time in the Word. The sun is always brightly gleaming long before we get out of bed, and a sweet wind blows through the palm trees, intermingling with the scent of flowers, the trilling of the birds, the sound of impatient car horns, and the faint smell of smoke. Nicaragua is so beautiful! Eating an absolutely delicious breakfast at 7:30 fueled us for the day. We then gathered as a group to converse about how our week was going, after which we loaded the bus.

Unfortunately, today was our final day working on the houses. I was on the repair team. We finished putting up the siding this morning, and added a hinged window to the house.

There wasn’t enough work to keep everyone going steady, so we took turns walking with Michelle to visit people living in the surrounding houses.
I accompanied her on the second trip, and we visited two groups of houses. At the first house, we met a lady and her relatives. Right after we met her, she told us about her arthritis, and we prayed with her. She had several children living with her, and her brother’s family lived in a house beside hers. Additionally, she was caring for two orphans residing near her. She told a pitiable story about how their parents died in a car accident nearby, which was all the more meaningful because we had seen a car accident earlier this morning while driving to the work site.

 After taking a picture with the family and writing down our names at the request of the mother, we strode over to some other houses and introduced ourselves. The people were making a fruity mixture intended for processing into various drinks. A multitude of children were playing near the house, and one of the ladies showed us her baby, who was reposing in a hammock.

Baylee held the baby and thought that she was very cute, as did I. We had to depart far too soon in order to be back in time for lunch.

After lunch, we gathered the containers overflowing with gifts for the pastors and carried them to the houses.

We conducted a lachrymose (tearful) farewell at each of the houses during which we took pictures of the family in front of their new houses and then of the team with the family.

Then we clambered onto the bus and drove to the church, where we now await another pleasurable VBS.
 

Marilee Kneeland, for the Team.


Hi everyone!  The past five days in Nicaragua have been incredible.  We have had so many opportunities to serve and bring joy to many children.  It has been hot and dusty, so we have been covered in sweat and dirt.  The vast amount of dirt that comes off of our faces after we get on the bus is eye opening.  I am sure we look rather funny after a long day at work. 

Speaking of work, this was our final day working on the new home.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to work on the new home for the pastor and his family. As a member of the new construction team, I have had the privilege of working alongside friends with the end goal of providing a new home for a gentle, quiet, and kind pastor and his lovely wife and daughter.  As we reached the work site this morning (a little late because of a long line of traffic on the “highway” which was caused by a car crash earlier in the morning),

 we were ready to finish what we had begun.  The blocks were all laid, the roof was on, and the floor was ready for the finishing touch—concrete. 

 We finished putting the wood siding on the walls and began the process of laying the concrete for the floor.  Unfortunately, because of the lack of time and multiple forms wherein the cement is laid, we were unable to finish the floor.  It would have been fun to see the house come to its complete form, but we were quite close.  We are thankful the Lord provided us safety and efficiency as we worked.

Part of the process of preparing to come on this trip was gathering materials and gifts for the people here.  Today, we gave multiple tubs of gifts to the pastors whose houses we were working on to keep for themselves, share with the members of their church, and give to whomever the Lord may have to receive them.  Both of the pastors were immensely thankful for both our work and the tubs of materials.  It was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of the children.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the gifts.  The tubs were received graciously. 

The thing that has made the biggest impression on me is the poverty.  Many houses are made of scrap metal, tarps, and other such materials.  Even in the midst of the extreme poverty, many of the Nicaraguans are joyful.  Receiving something as little as a Jolly Rancher, braided hair, or an animal balloon, brings smiles and laughter like you cannot imagine.  Seeing joy in the midst of these living circumstances has convicted me of my reliance on my earthly possessions.  Our comfort should not come from our standing before men or materials because those will ultimately pass away.  As believers, our comfort should come in the knowledge that we belong to Christ.  This is not to say that earthly belongings are evil.  However, if my comfort is found in those things, then my reliance is in the wrong.  We should not trust in what we “have.”  This is one of the lessons that the Lord continues to press upon me. 

We just finished VBS and church will be starting any time.  Church services are a little different here, but the members of the churches are very involved and seem to really appreciate going to church, considering they have a church service every evening.  That is all for now.  It is such a blessing to be on this trip!

Ryan Westlake, for the Team

 

Visit to House of Hope in Nicaragua

Warning: Not appropriate for all ages.  Please use discernment with your children.

On Tuesday, our first day here, Marilee and I had the opportunity to visit the House of Hope.  It is a ministry in Managua for prostitutes.   Each Tuesday they have a time of worship and preaching, followed by an opportunity for the ladies to work, making jewelry.  They are paid for their work, so many come from all over the city.  House of Hope provides buses to bring women who wish to come.  We went with a lady from Project Hope who is beginning a Bible study for the younger ladies, ages 10 to 17, so they will be able to have their own lesson instead of sitting with the older ladies.   Many of the women (some estimate 80%) are no longer practicing prostitution, but others are.  The House of Hope has several programs for these ladies.  Besides the Tuesday lesson and work, they provide job training, short term loans to start a legitimate business, a dorm for children and a 7 year program for women to begin an entirely new life.  In those cases, they pay off the woman’s debt, which is usually around $40, and is the way the “managers” keep them trapped.  They also bring in medical teams several times a year to minister to these women.  They have found that their numbers increase after the team has been on site and ministering.  Their primary goals are to preach the gospel, show women there is another way to make an income and help them leave their life of sin. 

Marilee and I immediately began attempting to talk with the young ladies who came in the gate.  Most did not seem interested in too much conversation, but we were able to spend our time there with three girls in particular.  Amelia and Gladys were both 14, and Seleste was 10.  They were all very friendly and eagerly interacted with us.  Gladys took some time to warm up, but eventually responded warmly.  I braided their hair, and used the bands from my hair to hold the braids since I didn’t have anything else with me.  A few minutes later, they put barrettes on both of our heads.  We exhausted our limited Spanish in conversation.  I told them that I loved Jesus, and they lit up and smiled and responded with the same.  We then made cards with them, and they made cards for us while Marilee drew many beautiful pictures for them.  We played games and they had a Bible story from Tammy from the House of Hope. We also received a brief tour of the facility.

We do not know their individual stories, and Seleste came with her mother, so hopefully that was her only connection, but it was emotionally overwhelming to think about the life these girls have outside the House of Hope compound.  While prostitution is illegal in Nicaragua for anyone under 18, the reality is that many of the girls are under 18, and some as young as 6.  Their payment is approximately 40 cents, and they are social outcasts.  Even churches will often not allow these women to attend their services.  As we talked, laughed, played and hugged them, I kept remembering how Jesus was accused of being a friend to those whose sin was publically known.  It was so easy to love these girls and so hard to leave them, especially when they asked if we were coming back next Tuesday.

 What encouraged us so much is that House of Hope has provided an opportunity for hundreds of women to escape that life.  During the worship time it is obvious that some of the women are only there for the financial opportunity to make jewelry, but others really love Jesus.

 “The Lord is loving toward all He has made, the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in Truth!”  Ps. 145:17-18.  I praise God for all the US and Nicaraguan believers who minister Truth  each day to these women!

Mrs. Kneeland