Day 6 - House #2 Complete!

(Note: Long day - pictures will be posted Sunday morning and evening.)

Construcción estaba muy difícil.

This was all Jacob wanted to write because philosophy is too hard.

(That was evidently Mr. Goede taking over for me in my temporary absence) But to reaffirm my previous statement (the one is Spanish), construction was very difficult except for Ryan and Mr. May of course. They were certainly in their element. To my embarrassment however, our general inexperience was blaringly displayed with how it took five people to successfully hammer in one nail and how the siding was very decorated from all the times we missed the nail while hammering.

Our Nica construction crew, including Mr. Kukulski.

Perhaps each of us in the back of our mind wondered whether or not the Nicas could build faster without us or not. Regardless of such thoughts or inabilities, I know that the pastor and his family will be tremendously blessed. When we prayed over the finished house, gratitude was unequivocally expressed in their faces—a communication in no need of a common language.

After failing miserably in pounding in a nail, translator Michael approached me and presented his usual question, “What’s up?” This is a really hard question to answer anyway (I mean, does it mean “how are you doing” or “what are you doing” or both? Idk), so I told him exactly what I said in opening this blog: “Construction is very difficult.” Even though he would have no reason to disagree with my review of how I was doing or what I was doing, my comment might have been inconsiderate. Michael reminded me that in Nicaragua, the men learn how to do construction well because they don’t have a choice; survival for the family is priority one. He told me to appreciate the privilege of choice which I receive back in the U.S. Sadly, there are many things of the U.S. for which I continue to be ungrateful, and so I accurately responded by saying, “This helps me appreciate it.” 

At VBS in the latter half of the day, we allowed the three foot tall children to become seven feet tall for the afternoon, and with the children on our shoulders, we ran and ran and ran. With muscles giving, bodies sweating, and dust collecting, I think it is fair to say that we had never been so filthy, smelly, and tired at once before.

But it was worth it I think, the children enjoyed themselves, and they heard the gospel in their own language without any dreadful mistakes this time. Last time, I accidently said that Adam and Eve became God in Spanish instead of Adam and Eve became separated from God; I did correct myself.

There is no regret inside me for coming to Nicaragua. New perspectives are gained, old friendships are deepened, and a focus of God and His work is propounded.

Enjoy life back in the Bozo, and Happy birthday Ian Gillis!

~Jacob Oard

Hola! Here in Nicaragua, we accompany that word with smiles, and as a result, we get bombarded by niños. Today was voted the most tiring day, full of building, praying with locals, VBS, and a church service. We were in a poorer area than past days, and thus the niños seemed to be even more excited to see us. For me personally, this was my favorite day, and I didn’t want to leave.

I wasn’t on the building team, so my day started with evangelism in the neighborhood. I enjoy praying and practicing my español. I talked to a translator today and I think it would be really fun to come here for 3-6 months. I need to study a lot at home in order to do that, which also excites me. The translators are a great blessing, and a lot of fun to be around.

After walking around and praying, we returned to the church where we would be doing the VBS.

With the niños, we made crosses,  play with bubbles, painted nails, did hair, and played outside a lot. Almost everybody got sunburnt. Niños enjoyed riding on the gringos’ shoulders and their joy was relentless despite our constant remarks of: “Yo estoy muy consado/a” and “Abajo, abajo.” (“I am very tired” and “down, down”). We raced, played futbol (soccer), and danced to English and Spanish music. I was so elated to be 

surrounded by their adorable laughter and wit.

Following the VBS was a church service where we presented the chains play.

I did “Via Dolorosa” in sign language, and Mr. Goede preached about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. I have been teaching Kalen how to do “Via Dolorosa” and he might join me the next time I do it. When the service ended, we continued to run around and play with the niños. It took a long time for us to actually say our goodbyes, for none of us wanted to leave the niños we loved so much.

We then went to the house that we had finished today and blessed it with prayer. The pastor and his familia seemed so full of joy and I remember seeing tears in their eyes as we gave them parting gifts and hugs.

Last time we dedicated a house, I had been the one crying. It is a beautiful reminder of how the work we are doing is so important. It really does have an impact, and God is being glorified.

Finally, we went to a chicken restaurant here in Nicaragua called Tip Top.

 Washroom Line at Tip Top

"This is what love looks like."

I am currently on the bus ride back to the compound. Project Hope has been an amazing partner/host during our trip, and I have been so grateful for all they do for us. The joy that radiates from the team is undeniable, and it has been amazing to see God’s hand in all we do; He has blessed us with many gifts that complement each other so well. He is good. I am in love with this team and the Nicas. We are excited to see what God still has in store for us.

Adios y gracias! Stay tuned.

~Kristi Kollar

Day 5 - Location Two - Pastor Jose

This week has been filled with many blessings, and I am having so much fun on this trip; both by playing with the niños (children) and sharing with other people.

  

I am sure you have been reading about what we have been doing thus far, so I will share with you my experiences today. 

Today, we ate an amazing breakfast of eggs, sausage, beans and rice, fruit and sopapillas.  After this, we all got ready to begin our mornings of either constructing a house or evangelism.  I was on the team that evangelized today.  We arrived at the small church where later we would hold a VBS for the niños, and organized ourselves into groups to split up and talk to the community.  While our team leader was doing this, Ryan and I helped some women pump water from a well into buckets. 

I, with many others, then went with a guide and talked to fifteen or so families and invited them to the VBS and to a church service which we will host tomorrow.  Also, while we were reaching out in that community, our small group ate Nicaraguan crabapples and tamarind from pods off the trees.  We did this for a couple of hours then took a break for lunch.  Our construction team came to the church a bit later, and then we ate chicken salad sandwiches, chips, dulces (sweets) and other things.  Most of the construction team returned to the site of the house to continue work while those of us remaining helped with the VBS.  We helped the kids do crafts, games  and blow bubbles.

Personally, I felt that this was the dirtiest yet most fun VBS so far.  I helped some of the niños with their bracelets which we supplied them with and played futbol (soccer) with others.

After an hour or so, many of the kids wanted to climb up on my shoulders and be spun around by their arms.  I had three niños with whom I spent the majority of that time with and soon they all wanted to be picked up at once.  This I could do, however two more came over and wanted to be lifted up with them.  Needless to say I needed Ryan’s muscles to fulfill that. 

I had the chance to talk to a local hombre (man) and I was able to have a conversation with him completely in Spanish (thank you Señora Heys).  I am currently covered in Nica dust because the wind swept it up and spread it literally everywhere.

I especially enjoyed today because I was able to connect with the niños better than in previous days (and yes, I am showering the niños with love).

God has kept almost all of us healthy and has truly allowed His message to shine through us.  Thank you for all of your prayers and please continue to do so as we all are struggling being tired from strenuous days and lack of sleep.  Although this time here has been amazing because of the entire landscape of the country, the food, and the experiences we are seeing, I am excited to go back to the States.  By the way, if you have not yet thanked God today for clean water and national health standards, do it!  This trip has really opened my eyes to see how much we take for granted and how hard these people work to stay alive.  Dios te bendiga!

Gabe Jackson

My experience on this Nicaragua mission’s trip has been tremendous. Although the team and I have personally been challenged with spiritual and physical battles, when the Nicas interact with us, when the kids tug on us, and when the staff continually shows love to us, our hearts and minds are distracted from the infirmities we are facing.

Pastor Jose and his family

Day dos of the trip, sickness got the best of me. One word, kiddos! But God revealed to me that sickness gives a time to step back and see the big picture. Being up all night gave me a quiet time to not only talk to God but listen to His work for me. As most of you know, I absolutely LOVE kids.

Nicaragua has a completely different view on relationships. Most parents just make an effort to assist their kids to survival. My heart felt broken by the love they are seldom shown in the little things, and my heart was overjoyed at the view of extreme happiness in the eyes of kids who felt and learned about the love of Jesus. I realized, yes, I am the one physically doing this, but I am not the one doing this. God enabled me to move, to talk, to run, to love, and to bring the love of Christ He never fails to show me.

Okay, okay, the kids are just stinking adorable, but I’ll tell you about that later. Today, the building team began to construct the second house for Pastor José. On both houses, Timothy, Konnor, and I pounded nails into the roof.

Hammers make people strong… and my favorite quote of the trip so far is Tim saying, “Whoa guys, do you feel like we are getting ripped?! I can feel it.” The satisfaction of achieving the level of sweat, dirt, concrete, and cuts, makes it feel worth it. The wish for food on the bus ride for lunch was unbelievable. Gourmet crushed peanuts and strawberries, with a lightweight whole grain wheat bread never tasted better.  Nothing like a hard day’s work with some good ole peanut butter sandwiches.

After this, we went and held a VBS for another church where Pastor José ministers.  As always the kids warmed my heart with holding hands, giving hugs, tackling each other, and loving me without knowing who I am. In VBS, several of the team members performed a skit representing what sin does to someone’s life. I was able to take a role in this, as a distraction sin uses in someone’s life. Later on we crafted bracelets, blew bubbles, and played futbol.

Everytime it comes to an end and we have to say “Hasta la vista”, my heart breaks knowing I will probably never see those kids again. The bus rides home always have surprises such as singing crazy songs, sleeping, or getting to know silly things about the interpreters.

I am so excited to share the adventurous stories that my team experienced and give advice for future teams.

Stephanie Springer (Junior)

BIOS

1) What one thing has impacted you so far on the trip?

2) What do you hope/pray to see God work/change in you?

Stephanie Springer

16 yrs, junior

1) How well we can relate to people even through the language/communication barrier. I also loved how the kids opened up to us

2) I’ve already seen Him open my eyes and help me to want to do this at home. Stand up and be real, genuine and humble. I should be overjoyed even when things don’t go my way. 

Day 4 - Kids!

Today was a bright and sunny day, with a warm breeze. We started out with a hearty breakfast of beans, rice, eggs, and tortillas. Shortly after breakfast, we left the compound and headed to a preschool that was started by one of our translators named Eduardo.

That's Eduardo in the blue shirt

Eduardo is a 30 year old man who grew up here in Nicaragua. God gave him the desire to start a preschool that would allow children nearby to develop the skills necessary to enter the first grade. Currently the preschool is run entirely by volunteers and materials are supplied by donation.

While we were at this preschool, we sang songs, made crafts, and played games with the kids. Most of the time was spent carrying children around on our shoulders, so that they could hit each other with balloon swords.

Kalen was attacked by a ruthless child with a balloon. The balloon cut his back badly, and he fell on the ground in agony (this was only pretend).

After this, we traveled to a feeding center in a community near the dump. The conditions were dismal, but the children were still joyful.

We performed a skit, and bought jewelry from some young ladies. This feeding center had a program that taught these ladies how to make jewelry so that they could sell it and make a living. This was crucial because the girls were being pulled out of school by their parents so that they could make money and support their families.

After this, we returned to the compound for a meal of chicken salad sandwiches and Oreos. Soon after lunch, we walked down the street to a school started in remembrance of a young lady who has since passed away. The name of this school is “Taellor’s House”. From what we have heard about Taellor, she seems to have been a great individual who deeply loved the Lord. Here, we played duck, duck goose, flapped the parachute, and had another balloon sword fight.

During the sword fight, Ryan was being swarmed by a group of young children with balloon swords. He fell on the ground, in order to add to the effect of the battle. Daniel saw this, and saved Private Ryan with his balloon sword. Later on, Daniel was overcome by the Nicaraguan children, and was forced to the ground. When all looked helpless, a young Nicaraguan ran into the fray and saved him. Daniel thought that it was neat to observe how the children watched what our group did, and copied it. Hopefully, they will do the same with our love for Christ.

We left these children and went back to the dump in order to take part in a youth group at the feeding center. This youth group was comprised of teenage Nicaraguans who worked in the dump. Naomi gave her testimony. Both Daniel and Kalen were impacted by the hardships that she had overcome in order to get where she is at now. 

A skit was also performed, and Kristi performed “Via Dolorosa” in sign language. When Kristi is not performing, she spends some of her time teaching Kalen how to sign it also. Hopefully, Kalen will be able to sign it soon.

Daniel has been impacted by the helplessness of the children living here. Their parents allow them to roam the streets in search of food or something to do. Often times, the father is absent from the household, either by necessity or choice. The mother is left to provide for the children. The mission team can only do two things about this. We can show love to these people, and pray that God protects them.

Kalen was impacted by the Nicaraguans’ living conditions and the fact that they are still joyful. He loved seeing how many people loved God over the past few days and had a lot of fun at the VBS’s. He also enjoyed meeting new people.

We look forward to seeing all of you very soon.

Thank you for reading

Daniel Gray and Kalen Grinnell

Today we will begin posting some personal bio's for the students.  Each will answer these questions:

1) What one thing has impacted you so far on the trip?

2) What do you hope/pray to see God work/change in you?

Daniel Gray

18, Senior

1) The helplessness of the children as they wander the streets.

2) I pray that God will help me to rely on Him for everything and to focus on Him 100% of the time.

Kalen Grinnell

16, Junior

1) Seeing people remain joyful in spite of their conditions.

2) I pray that God gives me the ability to talk with people.

More pictures from our VBS day:

Mrs. Smith enjoying hugs..a big improvement over bites.

Kalen makes "una espada" (sword)

Check out those cheeks!

Besos (kisses) from Naomi

Cuddles from the Kukulskis

Who will last the longest?  Stay tuned...

Chu Chu Gua