DAY 4: WORK DAY 2

Team 1:
From Alex Leonhardt, Junior:
Today team one worked on the Rancho, we made good progress on that and had a blessed time working with the local church on this building. We worked on this for five hours… about half of this was trying to get their chainsaw working. We had to use these to cut the beams according to the beams that were standing upright on the ground. After we finished our work at the Rancho, we went down the road to a little town were we had lunch, rice, beans, fish, and vegetables. After we filled up, we split up into four teams of five or six; we were door to door evangelizing to the local town. The way that I saw God working the greatest during this time was with a man we encountered. Kristi shared her testimony with this man and I saw God flow into his heart. This man is an alcoholic, he knows that he needs to stop drinking, but he has not known how to stop this sin. The answer has been right in front of him, he had previously heard about God and believed that He existed but did not follow Him with his life. After Kristi had told about how she ran to God when she was faced with her problems, he realized that he was running away from God. Pastor Edwin talked to him for a few minutes and after we had finished praying, he had tears running down his face. Mr. Kemp offered him his Bible and he gladly accepted this gift. As we were walking off to go evangelize to other families, I looked back and saw him praying and reading the Bible with serious intention. God truly put us in the right spot at the right time. We could have never done this just by ourselves; it was God speaking through us. After we had completed this, we played tag with some of the church ninos, a very fun time, and then we jumped in the back of the truck and came back to Balgue to eat dinner and go back to the compound. This was a very God blessed day!

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Working on the church at Merida

Team Lunch

Team 2:
Taylor Remely, Junior
This day was AMAZING! We started out with another devotion from Pastor Edwin about Nicodemus from John 3. He shared with us that, although we have always had the perspective that Nicodemus went to Jesus, Jesus actually talked to Nicodemus about his real need (Jesus loved him instead of trying to please him). I was very encouraged by the fact that Jesus looks for us and knows our heart. We need to look for Him, obviously, but He looks for us as well. He wants us to be His children and that was awesome to hear and have this new perspective. After the devotion we went to breakfast and then split up into the teams, and my team went to the farm. We filled up small black plastic bags with dirt for the Nicas to plant coffee in. We did this for about an hour and a half, and then heard our translator’s, Manya, testimony. It was encouraging to hear her story and just the many ways God shows us our sin and need for a Savior.

After hearing her testimony, the real fun began! We got to kill chickens!!!! I had been looking forward to this for quite a while, and it finally came! After killing them we had to pluck them, wash and rinse them, and the Nicas cut all of the meat off of the bird and left the guts intact in the membrane. I have decided I am going on “Survivor” since I know how to kill a chicken (just kidding :)).

We then went back to the camp to change into our team shirts and then to lunch. After lunch we walked to Petra Bible Church and unloaded instruments from Managua for the concert tomorrow night, and then went door-to-door inviting people to come to it. We met a man named David who was from Washington and came to Nicaragua for the winter since he does not like the cold. Levi shared about the evangelism concert Friday evening, and he responded very coldly that Jesus was his first teacher, but he was an evolutionist now. We started talking with him more and asking him why he was an evolutionist, and he responded by saying he believed Jesus was a good teacher and he(David) lived a good moral life, but he did not like the judgment that the Church placed on people who were not Christians as well. As the exchanges went back and forth, we slowly saw God start to soften his heart. He went to being very direct and stern about his beliefs and acting like he wanted us to leave, to softened and open to talking about Christ and His work. It was amazing to see how fast his heart was softened and changed to the gospel (thank you, Lord!). We also shared John 14:6 with him – that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. May he come to salvation!

After going door-to-door, we went and had dinner and worked on the plays, and then came back to the camp for showers and devotion time. The devotion time with the team was also very encouraging to my heart. Mr. Goede asked us to share in groups about how we saw the Lord working throughout the day, and all you could hear was everyone sharing about the Lord’s provision and goodness. It was so neat to hear everyone sharing about how God was working in their lives and during the day. May the Lord be glorified through us here! Buenos Noches!

The camp and farm where we are staying

Heading into the farm

Filling bags on the farm

The boys working on the road

Team 2 by the chickens

Konnor sharing his testimony

Peyton and Konnor pulling feathers off chicken

Elena and Taylor helping with the chickens

God's creation is amazing

Going door to door praying with and inviting people to

evangelism concert tomorrow night

Going door to door

DAY 3: WORK DAY 1

Today our team split into two groups ...

Team 1 -

Today Team 1 worked on the La Roca farm in the morning that helps support the church plants and other ministries of the Petra Churches. We filled small plastic bags full of dirt that will be used to plant coffee. We filled 800 of them! We also helped one of the ladies from the church who is a mother of four and a single mom. We were making a water trench so that she can have running water in her house. Additionally, we built a covered structure for where she cooks and does laundry. The men also were also completing a cinder block wall at her home. And we wired electricity into her home so that she can have light inside. .

Filling bags on the farm

 

Filled bags

Working on the house

The trench

Maria and her kids in the completed structure

Alex, Logan, and Stephen

Team 2 – Kristi Kollar, Senior

Hola amigos! As much as I would love to type in Spanish, I don’t think that would be very helpful to most of you. Today has been the best so far (in my opinion). We started the day waking up on the beautiful island of Ometepe and a devotion by the local pastor, Edwin, on his testimony. God’s work in his life was very encouraging to hear, and I was especially touched on his demonstration of how we as people can do nothing apart from Christ.

After, we enjoyed breakfast and split into our two groups for the day. I was on the group that worked in Merida, where a local church plant is. The girls dug holes and talked to the women while the boys carried, stripped, and lifted logs to build the structure of a temple for the church. It was great to hear testimonies from the women and teach them English while practicing our Spanish.

Work at Merida Church

Work at Merida church with some of the church members

Work at Merida church with some of the church members

After, we had lunch and prepared for VBS. Kiana and I led the gospel message presentation in Spanish, as well as crafts, while Konnor led sports activities. Working with the ninos is always a highlight for me, and I absolutely loved speaking and teaching them in Spanish. The other team spent the day farming and building a kitchen for a local single mother.

VBS Music Time

VBS Game Time

Nicole, Ki, Kristi, T and Elena sharing the gospel

Craft Time!

Craft Time!

Peyton with the ninos

Amber with Pastor Edwin's wife Eslee and 

their kiddos Abi, Caleb and Samuel!

Tonight, we are relaxing and enjoying dinner together before returning to the camp for the night. So far this trip has been amazing and I cannot wait to see what else God has in store for us. Our team is fantastic because of our unity and purpose in Him. For me personally, God has really been teaching me how to see the differences in people as gifts, as we work together as a body in Christ. Often, I try to be completely capable on my own, but this is not God’s purpose for us. And honestly, this is good news because others have so much to offer in every situation and I don’t need to work in my own strength. Thank you for your prayers! Adios por ahora! (Bye for now).

DAY 2: VAMOS A OMETEPE

From Elena Oard, Junior:
Today, after breakfast we went from the hotel to the Petra Church in Managua and had orientation with Pastor Hamilton. Afterwards, we played volleyball and soccer on the compound with a couple of the church members, organized bins and had lunch.

After that we departed for Ometepe Island. I was really excited to see what the lake looked like and what the island would be like compared to Managua. I thought the ferry ride was super fun and I loved looking at the volcano.

This is my first mission trip. I came on this trip to get braver at sharing the gospel especially with people I don't know very well. I am looking forward to meeting the kids in the children's ministry and making balloon animals for them.

I feel like He is teaching me to trust in Him more especially because I am here without my family. And also being more bold to speak up with other team members.

Petra Bible Church, Managua

Orientation

Orientation

Volleyball

Soccer

Packing bins

Lunch at Petra Managua

Quick stop on the way to Rivas to board the ferry

Quick stop on the way to Rivas to board the ferry!

From Levi Finch, Junior:
I thought it was cool what Pastor Hamilton talked at orientation about because it really applied to our situation. He was talking about how only we are going to be here for a short time but how God can really use us to make a difference in the lives of the people here.  It was also cool to see Amber and some of the other team members talking to people on the boat about the Lord so early on in the trip.

I am really looking forward to building relationships with the Nicaraguans as we go through the remainder of our time here!

From Janelle Johnson, Foothills Christian Parent on Vision Trip with Heritage team:

I really appreciated Pastor Hamilton’s explanation of Paul’s visit with the Thessalonians at our orientation this morning and how the Gospel is powerful to change people’s hearts even in a very short amount of time. I came on this trip to seek the Lord about whether He would have Foothills Christian send a team down to Nicaragua next year. It has been so amazing to meet brothers and sisters in Christ and know that we are all part of God’s family, even though we don’t all speak the same language. I am excited to see how He will continue to work, as our teams go out tomorrow and the rest of the week.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

On way to Ometepe!

On the way to Ometepe!

On the way to Ometepe!

On the way to Ometepe

Stephen and Alex's titanic pose :)

On the way to Ometepe

DAY 1: TRAVEL DAY

We made it to Nicaragua! Each day different team members will be sharing their experiences and where the Lord is at work!

From Stephen Ethridge, Junior:

Today was the first day of the trip and we did a lot of traveling. In the morning we said bye to our families and departed at 6 a.m. from the Bozeman airport to Salt Lake City. We had roughly a two hour layover in Salt Lake to grab some breakfast, and then we headed to Atlanta and arrived at about 2:15 p.m. Then we had a four hour layover in Atlanta, and departed for Managua, Nicaragua at about 6 p.m.

Team pic in the Atlanta airport

Kristi, Taylor and Peyton

Carmel, Nicole and Kiana

Sunset heading out of Atlanta for Managua

We are all very excited for the trip and the opportunities we will have. I personally am looking forward to the conversations that I will be able to have with the believers and unbelievers in Nicaragua. Having been on a mission’s trip to India twice before, I know a little bit of what to expect, but every mission’s trip is different and filled with their own pleasures and hardships. It is a good reminder for all of us to be flexible and just to go with the flow and let God take care of all the little things.

I feel that God has called me to be a leader on this trip and shine His light to the unbelieving people of Nicaragua. I look forward to spending time with the kids and showing them magic tricks. One of the biggest things I am looking forward to is growing in my relationships with my classmates and serving the Lord with them. God is going to do great things on this trip, and day one was a great and safe day of travel.

Alex, Konnor, Stephen, Noah and Peyton in Managua

From Carmel Sipes, Parent:

Carmel was asked to share the testimony of how God led her to come on the trip!

I had thought about going on a mission trip before, but never really heard from the Lord about it. I prayed about going to Nicaragua but did not hear from the Lord until the day the application was due. When Ki asked if I was going, I first answered “No.” Then I felt the Lord say “Yes, you are going.” That brought me to tears…tears of joy and fear! I was so excited about the trip, talking with others, and praying with my small group. Then in December, the fascia in my left foot tore. The doctor assured me it would be all healed by the time we were to leave for Nicaragua. It did not heal as the doctor said, and I felt pangs of doubt about the trip. I continued to pray and asked others to pray as well. I still had doubts about coming on the trip. In my mind, I planned on telling Mr. Goede I needed to back out; but that never happened. God was faithful to His yes to me, and here I am, typing this to you as we fly south to Nicaragua! :)

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." Psalm 138:8

From Team:

We were greeted with an amazing Nicaragua welcome at the airport by Pastor Hamilton and his family along with many of the church members! Carmel remarked, "It was so heartfelt that it brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart! It was so welcoming and we feel right at home here!"

Alex, Daniel, and Noah

At the Managua airport

At the Managua airport

We made it to the team hotel and are really looking forward to team orientation and then heading on to Ometepe Island! We thank the Lord for a smooth day of travel!

Thank you for praying along with us!