Amber and I were looking at the team roster yesterday and realized that we know — actually, we’re very good friends with — 7 of the 18 people on the team. This week is going to feel more like a reunion than a mission trip!
We pick up the team from the airport this evening and begin medical clinics tomorrow. We’ll serve at a local Christian school tomorrow, then at a church in the Loma Linda section of Managua all of next week.
Although we don’t feel like a tough week of work is about to start, it is. We could use your prayers — specifically for safe travels, good health, and six successful days of medical evangelism. Thank you in advance for praying.
Be on the lookout from great stories, pictures, and videos from the upcoming week soon. Que Dios le bendiga.
Amber’s busy with last-minute details for the Seacoast medical team, but I have a few minutes to post her pictures from the Grace medical and construction team last week. From what Amber tells me, they did a great job serving the people of Via El Carmen, Nicaragua…and had a wonderful time doing it! Here’s a peak:
Yesterday we said goodbye to the youth mission team from Seacoast Church. Fabricio, David, and I served with the 14 members of the team, lead by Youth Pastor Josh Ray, in the coastal community of Madroñal and then at a youth retreat in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua.
I must say, we had an amazing time:
The Seacoast kids were great — awesome attitudes, spirit, energy, and willingness to serve.
The families of El Jordan Church in Madroñal were so kind, open, and loving to us “cheles.”
And I’ve never seen Nicaraguan teens and young adults as open to learning, meeting new people, or acting “campy” as the retreat attendees we stayed with over the weekend.
From start to finish it was a wonderful experience.
Here are some pictures from the trip — first a handful from one of the team members, Caroline. (As you’ll see from her photos, she’s well on her way to becoming a professional photographer.)
And now the rest of the pictures from the mission trip:
After serving with young people from our sending church, I’m prouder than ever to call myself a Seacoaster! And although I’m still recovering from sleep deprivation, I can’t wait to serve with the next group from our home church, a medical team arriving…this Friday!
You read the title correctly. Christ for the City International and the Nueva Imagen ministry are looking for someone who can devote one year as a missionary in Nicaragua — serving as a hair stylist. The person must be…
A Christian woman…
Trained in styling hair…
And Spanish-speaking
What will this person be doing? She’ll have the amazing opportunity to minister to current and former prostitutes in Managua, Nicaragua — training them to style hair, giving the women a skill, a tool to strive for a better life — off the street. This missionary will also participate in Bible studies and discipleship programs with the ladies.
The second wave of our “summer tsunami” of short-term mission teams starts today with the arrival of the youth team from Kirk of the Hills Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Carey will lead that team along with Alcides and Paola. They will serve in Rivas, Nicaragua doing children and youth ministry.
The medical mission team from Grace Church in Greenville, South Carolina arrives tomorrow. Mary and Amber will drive that team as they serve in Via El Carmen (about 20 miles outside of Managua). The sleeping conditions will be rough for the Grace gang (they’re sleeping in hammocks for four nights), so please pray for them next week!
Finally, Fabricio and I lead a youth team from good ol’ Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We’ll be doing youth ministry in a beach community near Pochomil (including a community soccer tournament), then leading a retreat for Nicaraguan youth leaders in Ciudad Sandino. It should be a blast!
It goes without saying that the blog posts will be sparse over the next couple of weeks. But I promise to fill you in on all of the amazing things God accomplishes through these mission trips. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Que Dios le bendiga. Hasta pronto!
With the “summer tsunami” of short-term missions, we’ve accumulated a pile of pictures. Be sure to check out the Flickr photo albums from the Emmanuel Youth Team, the Grace Youth Team, and the Mosaic Youth Team. Thanks for your prayers and support for CFCI-Nicaragua!
The “summer tsunami” of short-term mission teams continues in Nicaragua. We completed three youth teams in June and July. CFCI-Nicaragua hosts four more (two youth, two medical) in the next few weeks. Read about all that’s going on in Nicaragua –- including an article on why politics in Nicaragua makes the American campaign season look civilized –- in this edition of “Field Notes” (page 1, page 2).
Thank you for reading –- and thank you for supporting the ministry! Que Dios le bendiga.
[Note: If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter via email, please email me to let me know.]
Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua. Amber and I “celebrated” the occasion by going to the beach with friend and CFCI intern David. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the drive from our house to the beach is only 32 miles. And it was well worth the trip. A nice, relaxing day.
We understand that in many other parts of the country, rallies and counter-rallies were taking place. Here’s a write-up on the anniversary holidday from vianica.com:
The 29th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution is celebrated in different parts of the country through activities of cultural and politically propagandistic nature. The revolution brought an end to the dictatorial dynasty of the Somoza family on July 19, 1979.
The ruling party, the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), led by incumbent president Daniel Ortega, organized celebrations in several cities. They are currently preparing for the main event, which will take place tomorrow afternoon, on Saturday, July 19, on the Juan Pablo II square, located in the old center of Managua.
Another massive event will take place in Leon, and is organized by the dissident and opposing party: the Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (MRS).
Despite the heavy political connotation that these celebrations have assumed in recent years, the anniversary of the revolution is celebrated by a large part of the national population, regardless of their support for one party or another.
We’re taking advantage of our last weekend before “wave two” of the “summer tsunami” (of short-term mission teams). Relaxing at home, dinner and game night this evening.
Check out our newsletter tomorrow for more news from Nicaragua!
Just to prove that the Emmanuel Fellowship team didn’t goof off the whole time they were in Nicaragua, Episode 008 of Missions Minded Videos shows what the mission really was about: serving the First Baptist Church of Diriamba and providing a fun, Jesus-focused vacation Bible school for the kids there.
I finished this video just in time for our “debriefing meeting” with the church families in Diriamba. They’re going to love laughing at their “chele friends” — and enjoy remembering the fun times had by all! I hope you enjoy the video too.
