NC Update - Day 5

WHAT A DAY! God has shown up in amazing ways this week, and today was no exception.

Today began a little differently than the rest of the week. After breakfast, instead of morning worship, we all headed out to the flag pole and had a group prayer with all the other mission teams here this week. After the prayer, we loaded up the buses and headed to the work site for one final day on the job.

At the site, the students worked hard all morning. Around noon, the families that live in the three houses surprised the group with a pizza party in their yard! They wanted to thank the kids and leaders for all their efforts this week. (FYI, Alexis has the name and address of one of the ladies on the street, in case students want to write or send a thank you note. Simply email Alexis for the address.) After the wonderful lunch, the team went back to work on the trenches and digging the large holes for the septic tanks. We were working really well, when a rain storm came over the mountains and soaked us (and all of our trenches!). After the rain showers, we persevered through the mud and the muck, and were able to finish all 12 trenches (which amounts to almost 400 feet of trench!). Although the septic holes were dug, we weren't able to get the tanks in and cover them up - the weather had finally gotten the best of us. Nevertheless, the professionals we worked with said that the team did an excellent job and that everyone should be very proud of what they accomplished.

After a messy bus ride back to ReCreation headquarters, we all cleaned up and sat down to a well-earned dinner! IMPORTANT NOTE - All students had to put their work shoes into plastic trash bags to avoid trashing the vehicles. When you pick up your student, please make sure you grab their shoes from the pile or they will be thrown out on Tuesday!

After dinner, we had a final worship session led by the ReCreation staff. Several students were moved to tears by the service and the presence of Jesus. After the service, we spent about 20 minutes packing and cleaning, before heading downstairs for Porch Time. Students shared some powerful examples of where they saw Jesus throughout the day and the week, which was followed by a moving worship set. After lifting our praises through song, Alexis shared a message about finding God and being found by God on this trip, and encouraged the students to take all that they have learned and experienced and translate it into a tranformed life back in Williamsburg. This group has bonded in a special way, and it has been a blessing to watch them draw closer to each other and closer to Jesus on this trip.

After Porch Time, each grade and gender gathered for their final small group. Again, Jesus was all around us! Each small group leader reported back the same: small group was amazing, and our kids' lives are being changed! Praise God for how he has shown up this week.

Lights out was called a few minutes ago. This will be the last post for the NC Mission Team. During our drive home tomorrow, you can call Luke's cell phone at 757-570-0292 for travel updates. We will still wake up at 6:15am, breakfast at 6:30, and hopefully a quick cleaning/packing job before we hit the road (our goal is to get out around 8am!). We will stop for lunch in Durham, NC, and still expect to be home around 5pm. Again, please keep checking the hotline (757-570-0292) for the most up-to-date arrival time. If you have an emergency, please call Alexis on her cell phone (919-260-0719). Please pray for safe travels. The students are sad to leave, yet excited to come home and share their experiences with all of you. Thank you again for all of your support and your prayers!

DC Team Update #5

Our final day in DC can be summarized with one word, "Amazing!"  It is impossible to detail each instance throughout the day where Jesus showed up, however I offer this one story as an example of how God has pursued our team all week long.

One of our groups was completing an activity called the "city survey."  It is another tool the organization with whom we partner uses to help teams understand the complex dynamics involved in the homeless epidemic in DC.  We were asking various people in and around Union Station to talk about their thoughts on homelessness and how it affects their daily lives.  One of our assignments was to talk to a street vendor.  We stopped a man selling newspapers and asked him his opinion on the homeless and how it affected his daily life. 

At first the man did not want to talk  but soon he stammered out the words, "I am homeless."  Our group was shocked.  We thought that because he was employed that he would not be homeless.  However, he described to us the plight of the "working poor" in America.  He shattered many of our stereotypes and caricatures of the homeless.  He was hard working and well spoken.  It seemed so out of place for him to live on the streets at night. 

We learned two important lessons from our friend Tony.  The first lesson was that you never really know what is going on in some one's life until you engage in relationship with them.  We could have walked by Tony and never thought twice about who he was or what he might be struggling to deal with in his life.  However, our team took the time to stop and engage him on a personal level.  Tony's response of opening up to us confirmed in our minds the deep need people have for relationships of mutual support.  We have been privileged to pursue those types of relationships all week.

The second lesson we learned from Tony is that we don't find God on mission trips, God finds us through men like Tony.  Of all the street vendors we could have picked to complete our exercise, we picked the one man who was actually homeless.  There is no doubt in my mind that God went before us and intentionally put Tony in our path in order to teach us more about Himself and how He is always at work in the world around us.

This relates to our Porch Time theme for tonight.  We once again sat on the steps of a beautiful church (The National Shrine Catholic Church) and talked about where we saw Jesus, worshiped Him and opened His Word together.  The idea that we landed on was that we did not find God in DC, but rather God found us through the people we served here in DC.  We asked every student how God found them and how they hoped being found in DC would impact their life back home.

You can expect some of your kids to return home with lots of thoughts, questions and hopefully changed attitudes toward the world around them.

To God be the glory.  Great things He hath done in our midst this week.  Thank you for for partnership in prayer while we have been away.

We are expecting to return to the Chapel around 2pm.  Please call the hotline tomorrow for regular updates on our progress toward Williamsburg, 880-6429.  We will be stopping for lunch in Richmond to eat and continue processing what God has done in our hearts here in DC.  We are excited to see you all tomorrow.

NC Update - Day 4

In the home stretch . . . the NC Mission Team completed another fun-filled day at the work site, getting a significant amount of the trenches finished!

Our day began as usual, with breakfast, worship, and a brief message. This morning's topic helped students and leaders remember that "it's not about us!" We are here to serve God by loving and serving others. The message must have really resonated with several students in the group, because the team put in another full day on the job site.

To set the scene and give you a better mental image of what we've been working on, I'll describe the work site situation in a little more detail. The three homes we're working on sit right next to each other off a narrow gravel road. Although there's not a ton of space between the houses, they each have long and steep back yards, in which we are putting the septic systems. From the back of the houses, we get a great view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

On the first house, all the way to the right, most of the 8th grade boys have been diligently digging (along with a few other students from different grades and small groups). They dug 4 trench lines, put the pipes in, re-filled the holes, and connected each trench/pipe with mini-trenches and connectors. Tomorrow they will dig the final hole for the septic tank, as well as assist with completing work on the other properties. The second house, in the middle of the row, was started a little late, so there's still a significant amount of work to be done. However, the lower trench has been completed, and the largest hole for the septic tank has also been started. Several eighth grade girls completed the lowest trench, while lots of seventh grade boys and girls, along with a few eighth grade boys and sixth grade girls, helped make some progress on the other three trenches and the septic hole. The third house, all the way to the left towards the end of the road, is in a very similar situation to the first house. All the trenches have been dug, piped, filled, and connected. Only the large septic hole tank is left to be dug. The sixth grade boys, along with a few sixth grade girls and other helpers from various grades and genders, have been working hard on that property for the entire week.

After working diligently for the entire hot and humid day, the group headed back to ReCreation headquarters for showers and dinner. At 8pm, we again had Porch Time. After a long round of "I saw Jesus in . . ." (a time where the students and leaders share with the group where they saw Jesus during the day), we had a slightly extended worship set, and a message about being a conduit of God's love. Small groups followed the Porch Time, and we are now currently enjoying some "sweet fellowship" and free time before lights out.

Tomorrow will be our final work day, so please pray for the strength and energy to finish the projects we've started. God has definitely shown up in many ways, and we look forward to seeing Him work in us and through us tomorrow, as He has throughout the week. Please pray that our eyes would continue to be opened to experiencing God in new ways, and that we would really be able to process this experience and take the lessons we've learned back to Williamsburg.

DC Team Update #4

God continues to show up in unique ways as we serve here in Washington DC, aka Banniker's masterpiece (that's a little piece of DC trivia for you).  Today was another full day of engagement in the lives of some of DC's poorest residents.  

Group 1 went to Union Mission to experience life at a homeless shelter and serve the residents who seek refuge there each night.  We partnered with their ministry to serve Latino families with food for a week and clothing for the summer season.  We played with the mother's children to give them a much needed break while they searched for clothes for their family.

We spent the whole afternoon at the "Fishing School."  The Fishing School is a summer camp program for inner city kids that focuses on teaching them principles that will help them maintain employment throughout their lives.  We helped with both educational programs and outdoor games.  

Group 2 spent the morning at the "Wider Circle."  This is the ministry that provides furniture for people  who have recently left life on the streets and are trying to get into a home of their own.  They spent hours loading trucks that were headed out to help get people back on their feet.

In the afternoon they did their "Urban Plunge."  They ate dinner with a homeless man named Wayne. During their time together Wayne told them that he had be trying to relocate to Northern Virginia where he had the prospect of employment.  Our team helped Wayne obtain the necessary means to get to the other side of the Potomac.  

Group 3 was our first group this week to word with the elderly.  They spent the morning spending time with elderly people who were extremely excited about interacting with our young team.  I get especially excited about this type of work because I think the students can easily translate what they did with the elderly in DC to what they could do with the elderly in Williamsburg.  

They spent the afternoon working at a summer camp at a local church.  The energy and enthusiasm of our team is always high.  They are able to show up in any situation and create fun for the kids that are present.

Thursday is our last day in D.C.  Please pray that God will begin to press the lessons we have learned this week deep into our hearts as we prepare to go home and continue to serve Jesus in Williamsburg.

More to come...

NC Update - Day 3

God provided a beautiful and restful day for the NC Mission Team! Because the organization we work with, ReCreation Experiences, always has the work groups take Wednesdays off, we took the opportunity to explore the surrounding area, serve a local retirement home, and enjoy the beautiful views of the North Carolina mountains.

First, a recap of last night's activities. Porch time again went very well. The students have been attentive during the talks and have participated well during worship and small group time. God continues to make connections between students and their leaders during structured activities and free time.

This morning began as usual, with an early wake-up call, a solid breakfast, and a time of worship. After the worship, our group headed out to a local park to enjoy the morning and play capture the flag. After a few rounds, it was time to head over to the Brian Center, a retirement community located near downtown Weaverville. The students broke up into smaller groups and spent some time visiting with the residents, sharing stories, and re-filling bird feeders. Both the residents and the students were truly blessed by the experience.

After our visits, we ate lunch at the picnic tables outside and spent a little "Time Alone with God" (TAG), before again loading the buses and heading to our afternoon location. The team headed down the road a bit to Brevard, North Carolina to enjoy the fun of Sliding Rock, a natural water slide (with lifeguards, of course!) found off the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. After a few runs down the slide into some pretty chilly water, the team went a few miles down the mountain to Looking Glass Falls where a few brave souls waded in the cold water, while the rest of the group marveled at their bravery and the beauty around us.

After the Falls, we took pizza up to an overlook spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy a gorgeous view of the mountains. While at the overlook site, we sang a few worship songs and had our Porch Time talk with our most beautiful background yet. After the talk, the team loaded up the buses and headed back to ReCreation headquarters for showers, small group time, and some free time before bed (lights out in 15 minutes!!). It's been a full day, and the students are excited to continue work on the septic systems tomorrow. We are almost finished with all the ditches and are hoping to install the pipes/tanks tomorrow. Please continue to pray for safety in travels and on the work site. We truly believe your prayers have made a big impact on our experience!

DC Team Update #3

God blessed the Washington DC mission team with another full and fruitful day.  Again we had several groups going to do ministry in a variety of settings.  I will do my best to include details from all the group projects.

Our first group set out in the morning to work with a ministry called, "The Wider Circle."  This ministry provides furniture for families who are transitioning from living in homeless shelters into homes of their one.  We put furniture together, picked up donated furniture and searched the University of Maryland campus for mattresses the office of residence life was giving away.  With every mattress we found, the representative from the organization would say, "that is one less kid sleeping on the floor."  The passion of our team was met with equal passion from the staff at The Wider Circle.

In the afternoon we began really engaging in the lives of kids in DC.  We worked in a summer camp program hosted by a local church.  I use the term camp very loosely.  This program was under-staffed and severely underfunded.  The staff was over joyed to see our team show up.  We were able to give them a much needed break by playing with the kids all afternoon long.  We even taught the kids a song or two.  One of the songs we taught was called, "Do You Love Your Jesus?"  To hear their little voices shout, "yes I love my Jesus, deep down in my heart" was the sweetest sound I have heard all week.  

The second group did their Urban Plunge this afternoon.  The Urban Plunge puts you right in the center of poverty and asks you to get to know the faces of homelessness first hand.  Our team came back with great stories of learning about poverty first hand as well as sharing their faith with the people with whom they also shared a meal.

The third group went back to a day care center where they had worked a day earlier.  They did such a great job building relationships the day before, they were able to jump right in and continue the good work God had already started.  Their were reports of the team remember every kids name at the center and many of the kids remembering the team member's names as well.  God has blessed our team with the ability to build wonderful relationships in short periods of time.  However, what an even greater blessing to be able to spend extra time taking those relationships to an even deeper level.

We ended the day with Porch Time on the steps of the National Cathedral.  It was wonderful to sit in the shadows of such a grand building, but still realize that God lives in our hearts and not in man made structures, no matter how ornate or beautiful.

We are looking forward to seeing God show up on Wednesday.  Continue to pray that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear all that God is doing around us on this trip.

More to come...

NC Update - Day 2

The Lord has blessed us with wonderful weather for the first half of our week in the mountains of North Carolina, and our team continues to work hard and build relationships.

Last night's "porch time," our daily debrief and Bible study time, went extremely well. Students eagerly worshipped, identified places where they saw Jesus throughout the day, and listened attentively to the evening message. After a final prayer, each grade and gender separated for some small group time. After small groups, students and leaders spent some time relaxing at our housing site, building relationships with each other, and meeting new friends from different teams across the region.

This morning, as we do every morning, we started off the day with breakfast, a high energy worship session (while "Porch Time" is something that we do as just a Chapel team, the morning program is put on by ReCreation Experiences and includes all groups that are here for the week), and a brief talk about servanthood and what it means to wash each others' feet. After the program, the teams loaded up the buses and headed back to our work site for another day of digging.

Yesterday, many students had expressed interest in meeting some of the families we are serving this week, and today we got the opportunity to meet several of the women and one of the men who live in the three houses we're working on. Many students got to chat with the ladies, ask questions about life up here in the NC mountains, and build relationships with them.

We also began work on the third and final house today. We are currently working on approximately 12 trenches, and our supervisors say that we're ahead of schedule. After all the hard work, we're excited about a "day off" tomorrow. During our day off we will be serving at a local retirement home, and then exploring some of the beautiful scenery that this region has to offer.

We just finished dinner and have a little bit of free time now before our second "Porch Time" begins. Students are currently using this time to shower, rest, journal, and enjoy each other's company. Tomorrow's post will likely come a little later in the evening (closer to 10pm), after our adventures in the Asheville area.

Please continue to pray for safety, that we would be rejuvenated during our day off and able to come back to the work site with strength and determination to finish. You can also pray for relationships to deepen: relationships between students and their friends, relationships between kids and their leaders, relationships between our team and the people we are serving, and (most importantly) the students' relationships with Jesus!

DC Team Update #2

We just returned to the church where we stay after a great day of serving in DC.  We did so many things today, it actually feels like we have been here for several days, not just one.  It puts things into perspective to look back on one short day and see how much God was able to do with 40 people whose only qualifications consist of servant hearts and willing hands.  Here is what we did...

In the morning we served at two ministry sites.  At the first, Food and Friends, we packed and delivered food to families who have at least one family member suffering from a severely debilitating disease or physical condition.  I loved watching our team partner together to serve the families meals.  Some packed food and some delivered the food, but we all were the Body of Christ coming together with our different gifts to serve families in DC.

The second ministry sight was Vision DC.  There we sorted through donations that will be distributed to people throughout the city.  The team sorted so many items one team member claimed they began to get blisters.

In the afternoon the team again served in many locations throughout the city.  We built relationships with kids at a day care center and at a summer camp for inner city kids.  Another part of the team set out to complete their "Urban Plunge" activity.  We were given a little amount of money and told to go and share dinner with homeless people downtown.  This unique opportunity gave us first hand experience with homelessness.  It put faces to statistics and allowed us to move beyond stereo-types.  

We capped off the day with "Porch Time," which is our nightly debrief and Bible study, in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  Much to our surprise Brad Paisley was in the process of shooting a music video. 

We can't wait to see how God shows up tomorrow.  More to come...

NC Update - Day 1

Our first day of the work project went very well as we began the process of digging 3 separate septic systems. The hard, clay-like dirt of the North Carolina mountains made for a slow process, but by the end of the day we had almost completely finished three trenches, each 18 inches deep and around 3 feet across. But there's still plenty to do over the next few days! Several more trenches need to be dug, lines need to be laid, and holes must be refilled. We are currently enjoying a little post-dinner rest/shower time before we have our evening activities: worship, a brief message about incarnational ministry, and small groups.
Please pray for safety and perseverance as we continue our work project tomorrow. We were not able to meet the people whose homes we are working on today, but we are hopeful to build relationships with them as the week continues. The team is working well together and spirits are good. Check back tomorrow after dinner-time for another NC team update!

DC Team Update #1

The DC team just returned from our prayer tour of Washington DC.  We witnessed first hand the contrasts and contradictions that exist in the city.  One minute we were praying for some of the most powerful people on planet earth and the next we were praying for a nameless homeless person tucked away in a shelter.  The disparity between the powerful and the powerless is massive here.

All Chapel Student Ministry mission teams follow a process on their respective trips called, "expose, engage, impact."  What this means is that we spend a great deal of time learning about and getting exposed to our ministry setting, before we attempt to impact those we came to serve.  Tonight was the perfect beginning to our trip.  We were exposed to all that is Washington DC.  We learned its history, viewed its monuments, prayed for its leaders and learned about its struggle with poverty.  This time will prove invaluable when we begin to engage in the lives of those living in DC tomorrow and as we ultimately hope to have an impact on this city to God's glory.

More to come Monday night...

NC Team - Safe Arrival

After many bathroom breaks and lots of re-fueling, the NC team has arrived safely in Weaverville, NC! We are all settled in and about to head to bed in preparation for a fun week of service. Our work project for most of the week will be to dig septic systems for three separate househoulds. Although the three families are pretty closely related, there seem to be some broken relationships between the homes. Please continue to pray for our team, that we would be able to share the light of Jesus through our service to these families, and that God would be working in us and through us this week.

DC Team Travel Update

The Washington DC mission team has arrived safely in our nations capital.  We just finished our orientation for the week and are heading out to dinner.  Each night we will be eating at different family owned ethnic restaurants in order to experience DC in its fullest cultural expression.  

Later tonight we will take a "prayer tour" of the city.  We will drive all around DC learning about the city and praying for the people we will be serving.  Please join us in prayer tonight for DC and for our team.

More to come...

Returning Home Update #2

Everything is currently on time for both travel groups.  However, please continue to check the hotline for the most up to date information because I may not always have internet access to update the blog.

The seniors and sophomore boys will arrive in DC around 10pm. They will arrive at the Chapel between 1 and 2am tonight.  Please call the hotline, 757-880-6429 for up to date information on their arrival in Williamsburg.

The juniors and sophomore girls will arrive in DC around 12:20am tonight.  We will arrive at the Chapel between 3 and 4am.  Please call the hotline, 757-570-0292, for up to date information on our arrival in Williamsburg.

We are all excited to see you and share will you about everything God accomplished in us and through us on our mission trip.

See you tonight!!!

Returning Home

The Seniors and Sophomore boys have boarded their flight bound for Houston.  The Juniors and Sophomore girls are at their gate and will begin boarding any minute for our flight to Miami.  Refer to the previous blog post regarding travel info for your child's travel information.  We will be updating the phone hotline as our estimated arrival time becomes clear.  Please call the hotline for your child's group for the most up to date information.

Our time at the debrief site was wonderful.  It was awesome to hear the students process their trip and watch the lessons they learned on the trip sink deeper and deeper into their hearts.  God always showed up on our trip at just the right time.  He was faithful to reveal Himself to throughout our entire experience.  In light of God's faithfulness, last night at our final Porch Time, we discussed how we did not find God in Nicaragua.  Rather, God found us through orphaned and abandoned children in Nicaragua.  What a trip!!!  To God be the glory great things He has done.

Trip Update # 6

Tuesday proved to be an incredibly powerful day on our trip. We returned to our sites from the day before to pray with those who minister full-time, year-round at the locations. The groups returned to the church in VeraCruz, the dump, and Nueva Vida, the refugee camp and stood along pastors in prayer for the lives that are reached in these places. We lifted up the children and the leadership, praying for strength, grace and for the fulfillment of God's promises.  The team had an incredible time experiencing partnership with these ministers and the power of God connecting his people across the globe.  It was such a great day - and a tremendous way to start wrapping up our time here.

After lunch we threw a Goodbye Party for the children at Casa Barnabe - complete with pinatas and lots of good times! We then loaded the buses and headed out to the Debrief! We are currently at the Debrief, safe and healthy and processing what has been an amazing trip. 

Please refer to former blog posts for the return travel information for your student. We leave the Debrief Site at 9am tomorrow morning and will begin updating the Hotline as arrival times approach. 

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in this trip! We can't wait to see everyone and share our experiences!

Team Update #5

We are coming to an end to our time here at the Casa Bernabe Orphanage.  The trip has been wonderful.  Every single team member's eyes have been opened to see Jesus working in our world in new and often profound ways.  Join the team in giving thanks to God for what has has done in and through the Chapel's high school students this week.

Monday was an amazing day.  The team split into three groups as we set out to serve the poorest of the poor here in Nicaragua.  Here is what each team accomplished through their service.  We built a wall at a church in the local village of Veracruz which will help fence in a play area they are preparing for their Children's ministry.  The play area will serve as an evangelistic tool for the church.  Neighbors inviting neighbors to church can assure their friends that the church really wants to minister to their whole family.  

As we built the wall many people from the community came out to help us.  This gave the team the chance to continue to engage in the lives of people living in Nicaragua as they walked for one day in the shoes of some of Nicaragua's poorest people.

Another group went to the Managua city dump to serve the families that call the dump home because their livelihood revolves around scavenging for recyclables and valuables in the trash.  The people living in the dump are subject to deplorable conditions.  Their houses are often not water proof and the rainy season is just beginning here in Nicaragua.  The team, armed with plastic tarps and nails, began water proofing the house for the upcoming season of storms.  Their work for these families living in such desperate conditions was amazing and beautiful.  God's light seemed to shine a little brighter in the dump as our team reflected Jesus' light to the families they were serving.

The final group went to a hurricane refuge camp call Nueva Vida.  The camp lies just outside Managua and serves as a make shift Village for the tens of thousands of people who lost their homes when Hurricane Mitch struck Nicaragua.  At the camp the team participated in a feeding program which serves lunch to 350 kids Monday through Friday.  The team was exposed to the commitment necessary in order to help people who live in such terrible conditions.  The kids that participate in the program come from very poor families who do not have the means to feed their own children on a regular basis.  The team's presence offered hope to the pastor who struggles to maintain the feeding regiment.

The day ended with our Porch Time.  This allowed kids the time needed to process through all they had learned and experienced during the day.

Tuesday has been a great day as well.  I will write Tuesday's update when we finish our time with the orphans and head to the debrief site.  Thank you for your prayers.

More to come...

Team Update #4

On Saturday the team shared a wonderful day at the beach with about 115 orphaned and impoverished children.  The day was extremely meaningful for both the team and the children.  For the team the day represented an opportunity to spend quality time with the children we are serving in an environment that helps create shared experiences and good times.  The team certainly took full advantage of their chance to bond and build friendships as I never saw anyone laying down for rest or to take time with themselves.  They used every ounce of physical and emotional energy they had to pursue the kids that God had placed in our care for the day.  The team's pursuit of the kids reminded me of God's pursuit of us.

Saturday night we all sat down for our "porch time" which includes sharing, worship and getting into the Word.  We discussed our time with the kids and the lessons we learned from the day.

On Sunday we went to church with the children from the orphanage.  We tried to encourage them to continue to pursue their relationship with Jesus as the number one priority in their life as we all sat together, worshiped and got into the Word.  The pastor's sermon was very relevant to what the team has been learning here in Nicaragua.  He preached on Luke 7, the story of Jesus being anointed by a sinful woman.  He taught us that God has not called us to live for the approval of man or to live for the comforts of this world, but to follow God to places of discomfort when God calls.  

In the afternoon we finished our work projects which are one of our "gifts" to the orphanage.  We finished planting 1500 plantain trees which will serve the orphanage for years to come because of the residual income that will come from the sale of the plantains at the local market.  

Sunday evening was our best event so far.  We threw a birthday party for 100 kids from two local orphanages.  This has become a Chapel tradition as the team buys presents for the kids back in Williamsburg and brings them to Nicaragua just for this party.  The kids at the orphanage are rarely celebrated, but for the past 5 years the Chapel team has given every kid at the orphanage a special present to help them feel special on their birthday no matter what day it was during the year.  We danced, sang, and ate birthday cake.  It was truly an evening to remember as one student remarked, "That was better than prom."

On Monday we will be serving at three different location throughout greater Managua.  Please pray that the team would have a lasting impact as they go out and engage these communities with Jesus' love expressed through tangible acts of love.

More to come...

Team Update #3

On Friday we set out early in the morning to take the children that live in the Dump on an educational field trip. We spent the day building relationships as we came to know the struggles of the poorest of the poor in Nicaragua...

Tonight we our spending intentional time with the older girls and older boys at the Orphanage. The girls are holding a bridal shower and talking about what to look for in choosing a future spouse. The boys are playing soccer and talking about what it looks like to be a man who follows Jesus 

Tomorrow we leave for  a day at the beach with both kids from the orphanage and kids from The Dump.  We will have a day of shared experiences and memories as we continue to build relationships.

Everyone is doing great - we will update more tomorrow!

 More updates tomorrow...

Team Update #2

On Thursday the team began their work projects at the orphanage. They began planting 1500 plantain trees which will be a sustainable farming project for the orphanage. They also painted the new team center which doubles as a hotel the orphanage uses for consistent income.

 After we finished our work projects we ate lunch and headed out to into town to do some exercises in order to understand poverty more. We did a poverty simulation at the marketplace which helped us understand wealth distribution in Nicaragua. We then  went to a local park and learned more about the history and culture of Nicaragua. Afterwards we returned to the farm, ate dinner and had Porch Time (Bible Study.) It was exciting to see the team begin to open up and process their experiences together. This was a great first full day for all of us together!The group continues to be positive, energetic and intent on pursuing all that God has for them to learn in  Nicaragua.

Team Update #1

What a trip!!!  We have hit the ground running here in Nicaragua. 

The senior and sophomore boys group spent some time getting to know their surroundings and Nicaragua culture as they waited for the other group to arrive.  They toured the orphanage grounds, met the leadership and learned about our plan to make a sustainable impact here at Casa Bernabe.  Then they ventured into the local village of Veracruz to learn more about third world poverty and the living conditions in which many of the kids at the orphanage grew up.

The team united during lunch when the juniors and sophomore girls suddenly arrived.  As soon as they got off the bus the Rancho was filled with laughter and excitement as the teams swapped travel stories and shared a meal with their friends.

After lunch we left immediately to start our work building relationships with the kids from the orphanage.  We took them out to Lake Nicaragua where we all swam, laughed and played together.  The team and the kids are already bonding.  It is beautiful to watch the relationships develop and grow.  It is also special to see the returning team members spend time with kids who seem less like orphaned children and more like old friends.

We returned from the lake and ate dinner and then had "Porch Time" which is our Bible study we do each evening.  Then we got to bed early to give the team plenty of rest so they will be ready for the rest of their trip.

More to come...

Travel Update #3

The Juniors and the Sophomore girls have arrived in Nicaragua!!!  

We are in the airport waiting to clear customs and will be at the orphanage shortly.  

As soon as we get to the orphanage we will be eating lunch and then diving right in to the mission experience by taking the kids from the orphanage to Lake Nicaragua to swim and begin building our relationships with the kids.

I will post a new update tonight reporting on the whole day.  But for now just know that EVERYONE made it to Nicaragua, safe, healthy, happy and ready to serve.

More to come tonight...

Travel Update #2

The Juniors and Sophomore girls are all snug in their beds in a beautiful Radisson hotel in downtown San Salvador.  The hotel is very luxurious and the kids should get a great night sleep here.  They fed us a great dinner and will feed us breakfast in the morning.

The service at the hotel was above and beyond what we could have hoped for in our situation.

I will continue to post frequently to keep everyone updated on our progress in Managua tomorrow.  We should arrive at the orphanage around lunch time and be able to take the kids to the lake for a swim with the rest of the team.

More to come tomorrow...

Travel Update

The Seniors and Sophomore boys have arrived safely in Nicaragua.

 They will spend the rest of the evening settling in to their rooms at the orphanage in preparation for a full day of activity tomorrow.  In the morning, they will be getting acquainted with the orphanage and the surrounding town of Vera Cruz. After getting exposed to the area and the culture, they will take the children from the orphanage to Lake Nicaragua for a fun afternoon of playing, swimming, and building relationships. Please continue to pray for our team, that God would show up in the big moments and the little details.  

The other group composed of the Juniors and Sophomore girls experienced a little more difficulty in their travels to Managua.  Everyone is safe and healthy, however, there were a few weather-related delays to our travel.  The delays we experienced trying to wait out weather over the Managua airport caused us to be diverted to re-fuel in El Salvador.  While re-fueling in there was another storm which forced the airline to cancel the flight for the evening.

We are currently on our way to a nearby hotel where we will get a night of much needed rest.  Our flight leaves at 10am on Wednesday morning. 

Let me re-iterate that everyone is safe and healthy.  The students have high spirits and are growing in love for one another as we experience life today.  God has been good to us throughout. We have already begun bonding as a team overt delicious airport food and various card games.

Please pray for our travel schedule tomorrow.  We are hoping to meet up with the Seniors and Sophomore boys at lunch and take the kids from the orphanage to the lake as one big Chapel missions team.

Stay close to the blog for updates...

NC Team Checklist #3

If your child missed the meeting on 6/17, please stop by Alexis' office to pick up the final packing list (there is a folder on the corner of Alexis' desk with packets from the evening that have the teaching time information, as well as a full pack list).


June 17th Checklist - NC

q Make sure all Money & Forms are in:
o All 3 ReCreation Experience forms:
- Registration
- Experience Activities Consent & Medical Consent
- Covenant of Behavior
o WCC Parental Consent
o Total Cost of Trip $475 ($150 deposit + $325 balance)

*Call 941-1241 ASAP if you have questions about final paperwork or trip balance!

q Be packed & ready to go on Sunday, July 12th:
o We will leave right after church on July 12th in the Chapel Minibuses.
o Bring a packed lunch to eat on the trip there and $ for fast food on the way there and on the way back.
o PACKING LIST – on the back of this page. Only ONE bag per person! Other items we are asking each student to bring (please put your name on your items):
- Work Gloves
- 2 Paint Brushes – (1) 4-inch brush, (1) 2-inch brush
- Hammer

o Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/
The blog has current administrative information for all Chapel SM Mission trips, and will also be updated while we are on the trip.

Trip Dates: Sunday, July 12th – Saturday, July 18th

We will leave Weaverville after breakfast on July 18th and it is a 7 hour drive, so we will arrive back at the Chapel around dinner time. The hotline # for updates on our planned time home is 919-260-0719. Please check often on the day of our return.

Nicaragua Team Checklist 6/15

Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/

Support Letters
o Turn support $ into Jess as it comes in.
o Write thank you notes to the people who send you monetary support immediately.

Passport
o Bring a copy of your passport IMMEDIATELY!

Forms, make sure you’ve turned them in DO IT IMMEDIATELY!
o ORPHANetwork form
o WCC Parental Consent notarized (if you do not already have one on file for this school year)

Buy Birthday Gift
o $10-$15 gift for the kid you were assigned
o Wrap your present and make sure your kid’s name tag is on it

Pack your bags!

Next meeting…at the Chapel to go to Nicaragua!!!

Group A- Junior Girls, Junior Boys and Sophomore Girls will meet at 6am at the Chapel on June 23rd.
Group B- Senior Girls, Senior Boys and Sophomore Boys will meet at 7am at the Chapel on June 23rd.

DC Team Packing List

Washington DC Packing List:

[ ] Sleeping Bag
[ ] Single Bed Sheets (fitted and top sheet)
[ ] Pillow
[ ] Bath Towel
[ ] Hand Towel
[ ] Wash Cloth
[ ] Personal Toiletries (Toothbrush, toothpaste, contact stuff, deodorant, face wash, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, feminine products, sunscreen, & bug spray)
[ ] Bible
[ ] Journal
[ ] Pens
[ ] 2-3 Pairs long pants or jeans
[ ] 5-7 T-shirts (no shirts that expose your shoulders and are long enough to not expose midriff when you raise your arms)
[ ] 3-5 pairs of Knee length or longer shorts
[ ] 1 pair closed toe athletic shoes
[ ] 1 pair flip flops/sandals
[ ] Bathing suit (modest one-piece for girls)
[ ] Water bottle
[ ] Hat
[ ] Flash light
[ ] Sunglasses
[ ] Money for fast food on the drive home

Do not bring:
Cell phones
Ipods/MP3 players
Video games
Hair dryers, straighteners, or curling irons

DC Team Checklist 6/10

Make sure that you have a WCC Parental Consent form on file (we have one if you went on ’09 ski trip)

Total Trip Cost $475: Most people have already paid the deposit of $150, leaving the remaining balance at $325. Final payment was due on May 29th, please turn it in ASAP.

Pack: Packing list enclosed—reminder do not bring cell phones or Ipods

Lets Go!: We will leave from church on Sunday, July 12th at 1:00 pm. Please bring a bagged lunch to eat on our way to DC, we will not be stopping for food.


For emergencies while on the trip please call Travis Simone at 757-650-9120. For updates on our trip please check the blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/

We will leave for the trip at from the Chapel at 1:00 pm on July 12th. We will return between 3:00 & 4:00 pm on July 17th to the Chapel. Please call the hotline on July 17th for exact time of arrival home (757-880-6429).

Nicaragua Donation List

Below is a list of ideas of things that can be donated to take down to Nicaragua this summer. The items donated can be new or used, however if they are used, please make sure that they are still useful and in good condition! We want to honor these people with the things we give them, instead of making them feel like they are getting our trash.
If you have other ideas for things to donate, that is great! Please just check with the student ministry staff to see if that item would be useful to the people in Nicaragua!

Here are the Casa Bernabe Orphanage needs:

• Knee high White socks for school uniform
• Spandex shorts for young girls (under school skirts)
• 10 Training bra (4 number 32A and 6 No. 34A)
• Young boys and young girls Tennis Shoes for all (according to the list and sizes).
• Metal brushes for older girls
• Young boys combs
• Older boys combs
• Lice Shampoo
• Soap for 58 kids to use in the Shower
• Toothpastes
• Toothbrushes
• Vitamin C
• Sheets (Twin size)
• Educational games
• Vitamins
• Insect repellent
• Cortisone cream
• Hear clips
• Pony tail
• Educational movies
• Dolls (both male and female dolls.
• Baby dolls as well
• One nebulizer (nebulizador) for asthma
• Under wear/boxers
• Socks for boys
• Sandals
• Lotion

Other Items to donate:
Clothes: (for all ages and sizes!)
Shirts/t-shirts, spring/summer
Pants/jeans
Shorts
Skirts
Underwear, bras, socks
Shoes, flip flops
Socks
*Black kid dress shoes that lace up (the kids need these to go to school!)
Bathing suits
Tank tops
Hats and sunglasses

(While long sleeved t-shirts and long pants are fine, we don’t want any fall or winter clothing like sweats or sweaters or coats)

Toiletries:
Soap
Shampoo and Conditioner
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Diapers
Tampons

Toys:
Spanish books
Any games that you can play without English – puzzles, pick-up sticks, marbles,
Checkers, etc.
Soccer balls, Basketballs, wiffle balls and bats (not inflated)

Other items:
Towels
Washclothes
Sheets
Vitamins
Medicine

Nicaragua Team Travel Plans

Junior Girls & Sophomore Girls:

Please meet us at WCC at 6:00 am June 23rd to ride bus to airport

June 23rd Flight to Nicaragua:
Departing DCA at 11:35 am
Arriving in Miami at 2:05 PM
American Airlines flight 2137

Departing Miami at 6:15 pm
Arriving in Managua at 6:50 pm
American Airlines flight 985

July 2nd Flight Home from Nicaragua:
Departing Managua 12:45 pm on July 2nd
Arriving in Miami 5:25 pm
American Airlines flight 970

Departing Miami 9:55 pm
Arriving at DCA 12:20 AM
America Airlines flight 1012

We will arrive back to WCC between 3:00&4:00 am on 7/3, please call hotline for official arrival time 757-570-0292


Junior Guys:

Please meet us at WCC at 6:00 am June 23rd to ride bus to airport

June 23rd Flight to Nicaragua:
Departing DCA at 12:55 PM
Arriving in Miami at 3:25 PM
American Airlines flight 1287

Departing Miami at 6:15 PM
Arriving in Managua at 6:50 PM
American Airlines flight 985

July 2nd Flight Home from Nicaragua:
Departing Managua 12:45 PM on July 2nd
Arriving in Miami 5:25 PM
American Airlines flight 970

Departing Miami 9:55 PM
Arriving at DCA 12:20 AM
America Airlines flight 1012

We will arrive back to WCC between 3:00&4:00 am on 7/3, please call hotline for official arrival time 757-570-0292


All Seniors & Sophomore Guys

Please meet us at WCC at 7:00 am June 23rd to ride bus to airport

June 23rd Flight to Nicaragua:
Departing DCA at 2:00 PM
Arrive in Houston at 4:12 PM
Continental flight 1059

Departing Houston at 5:50 PM
Arriving in Managua at 8:12 PM
Continental flight 1774

July 2nd Flight Home from Nicaragua:
Departing Managua 12:15 PM
Arriving in Houston 4:33 PM
Continental flight 1073

Departing Houston 5:45 PM
Arriving at DCA 9:55 PM
Continental flight 1558

We will arrive back to WCC between 1:00&2:00 am on 7/3, please call hotline for official arrival time 757-880-6429.

Nicaragua Team Checklist #3 (from overnight)

Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/

Support Letters
Turn support $ into Jess as it comes in.
Write thank you notes to the people who send you monetary support immediately.

Passport
Bring a copy of your passport IMMEDIATELY!

Forms, make sure you’ve turned them in DO IT IMMEDIATELY!
ORPHANetwork form
WCC Parental Consent notarized (if you do not already have one on file for this school year)

Prepare to do Share Time @ remaining meetings
Last Names R-Z June 15th Mtg. (6:30-8:30 pm)

Go over travel plans with your parents
Change of plans, due to a generous donation from the missions committee we will provide
transportation to and from the airport for everyone.

Collect donations
Gather donations from family and friends in army bags, please bring those bags filled with
donations to our final team meeting on June 15th.

Final team meeting is June 15th from 6:30-8:30 pm in SM Worship Room

DC Team Checklist #2 (from overnight)

May 29th Checklist

Make sure that you have a WCC Parental Consent form on file (we have one if you went on ’09 ski trip)

Total Trip Cost $475: Most people have already paid the deposit of $150, leaving the remaining balance at $325. Final payment was due on May 29th, please turn it in ASAP.

Testimony: prepare your 2 minute testimony (for the date where your name is located below) on what God is doing in your life right now, what He is teaching you/challenging you, etc.

6/10 Last Names M-Z

Final team meeting is June 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm in SM Worship Room

NC Team Checklist #2 (from team overnight)

May 29-30th Checklist - NC


q Fill out and return the 3 ReCreation Experience forms (Forms MUST be in by last team mtg. on 6/17)
o Registration
o Experience Activities Consent & Medical Consent
o Covenant of Behavior

q Make sure that you have a WCC Parental Consent form on file (we have one if you went on ’09 ski trip)

q Pay your Trip Balance: Total Trip Cost $475: Final payment is due at the June 17th meeting.
o If you already paid the $150 deposit, your balance is $325.

q Testimony: prepare your 2 minute testimony (for the date where your name is located below) on what God is doing in your life right now, what He is teaching you/challenging you, and why you want to go on this mission trip.

6/17
Kappesser - Watkins

o Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/



Our next & last meeting is June 17th from 6:30-8:30 pm @ Chapel in Ross Hall (Room 221)
Trip Dates: Sunday, July 12th – Saturday, July 18th

Middle School NC Mission Trip Meeting #1 Checklist

April 29th Checklist

Trip Dates: Sunday, July 12th – Saturday, July 18th

- Read Over ReCreation Experience Literature

- Fill out the 3 ReCreation Experience forms (bring to the office or to the next team meeting)
o Registration
o Experience Activities Consent & Medical Consent
o Covenant of Behavior

- Make sure that you have a WCC Parental Consent form on file (we have one if you went on ’09 ski trip)

- Total Trip Cost $475: Most people have already paid the deposit of $150, leaving the remaining balance at $325. Final payment is due at or before the team overnight on May 29th.

- Testimony: prepare your 2 minute testimony (for the date where your name is located below) on what God is doing in your life right now, what He is teaching you/challenging you with, and why you want to come on the trip.

Testimony Dates:
5/29-5/30
Anderson - Jones

6/17
Kappesser - Whitehead

Our next meeting is our team overnight on May 29th-30th from 6:30 pm - 2pm at the Chapel.
Please bring sleeping bags, pillows, and athletic clothes/shoes.

Final team meeting is June 17th from 6:30-8:30 pm in Ross Hall (Room 221)

Missions Night Reception
Sunday, July 26th, 6:30-8:30pm in the SM Worship Room

Questions? Call Alexis at 941-1241

HS DC Mission Trip Meeting #1 Checklist

April 29th Checklist


Read Over CSM Literature

Make sure that you have a WCC Parental Consent form on file (we have one if you went on ’09 ski trip)

Total Trip Cost $475: Most people have already paid the deposit of $150, leaving the remaining balance at $325. Final payment is due at or before the team overnight on May 29th.

Testimony: prepare your 2 minute testimony (for the date where your name is located below) on what God is doing in your life right now, what He is teaching you/challenging you, etc.

5/29-5/30
Last Names A-L

6/10
Last Names M-Z

Our next meeting is our team overnight on May 29th-30th from 6:30 pm - 2pm at the Chapel.
Please bring sleeping bags, pillows, and athletic clothes/shoes.

Final team meeting is June 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm in SM Worship Room

Nicaragua Packing List

Nicaragua Packing List:

[ ] Undergarments—16 pairs
[ ] Sneakers
[ ] Sandals or flip flops
[ ] 7 pairs of socks
[ ] 7-9 T-shirts
[ ] 5-7 Shorts
[ ] 1 Long-sleeved Item
[ ] 2 Pants
[ ] 1 Set Church Clothes
[ ] Bathing Suit (1 Piece suit for girls)
[ ] Hat w/ Brim
[ ] Wash cloth & Hand towel
[ ] Flashlight
[ ] Sunglasses
[ ] Journal & Pen
[ ] Bible
[ ] Camera (optional)
[ ] Chapstick
[ ] Water bottle
[ ] Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, contact stuff, deodorant, face wash, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, feminine products, sunscreen, & bug spray (in 3 oz or less bottles in a 1 liter Ziploc bag—if you have items larger than 3 oz or too many to fit in a 1 liter bag you can bring it in a gallon Ziploc with you name on it to check under the plane
[ ] optional: No more than $50 cash (for souvenirs and food in airport)

This must all fit into your carry-on luggage
(maximum of size of 45” [height+width+length] and 40 lbs)

Bedding and towels are provided at the orphanage, and they do laundry for us once midway through the week.

Please also bring these items the day of departure to put in bags to be checked (more details to come on this):
[ ] Bday present for orphan: $10 gift, unwrapped, but with card attached
[ ] 1 package of underwear: to distribute while in Nicaragua (we will need men’s, women’s and children’s)
[ ] Girls bring items for girls night in (shoes, purses, undergarments)

HS Nicaragua Meeting #2 Checklist

May 11th Checklist

Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/

Support Letters
o Need to be completed, proofed and sent by now.
o Turn support $ into Jess as it comes in.
o Write thank you notes to the people who send you monetary support immediately.

Passport
o Bring a copy of your passport to team overnight on May 29-30th.
o If you don’t have a passport, begin the application process IMMEDIATELY to ensure that you receive it in time for our trip
o If you already have a passport, check the date to make sure that it does not expire on or before July 2009

Forms, make sure you’ve turned them in by team overnight
o ORPHANetwork form
o WCC Parental Consent notarized (if you do not already have one on file for this school year)

Prepare to do Share Time @ remaining meetings
o Last Names HàQ Overnight May 29-30 (6:30 pm-2:00 pm)
o Last Names RàZ June 15th Mtg. (6:30-8:30 pm)
o
Go over travel plans with your parents
o Keep in mind this year you are responsible for your transportation to and from the airport


Team overnight on May 29th-30th from 6:30 pm - 2pm at the Chapel. Please bring sleeping bags, pillows, and athletic clothes/shoes.

Final team meeting is June 15th from 6:30-8:30 pm in SM Worship Room

HS Nicaragua 2009 Meeting #1

Here is our check list from our April 20th meeting to be completed by our next team meeting on May 11th:

April 20th Checklist

Blog: http://wccstudentministriesmissiontrips.blogspot.com/

Support Letters

o Email Rough Draft to Student Ministry Staff ASAP (jduff@wcchapel.org) extension deadline April 22nd (we will proof it and email it back to you asap)

o Turn in final support letters (in addressed, stamped envelopes, with self-address stamped envelopes enclosed) due today (extension deadline this Sunday 4/26)

Passport

o If you don’t have a passport, begin the application process IMMEDIATELY to ensure that you receive it in time for our trip

o If you already have a passport, check the date to make sure that it does not expire on or before July 2009

Forms, bring completed to May 11th Nicaragua Meeting #2

o ORPHANetwork form
o WCC Parental Consent notarized (if you do not already have one on file for this school year)

Prepare to do Share Time @ remaining meetings
o Last Names A-G May 11th Mtg. (6:30-8:30 pm)
o Last Names H-Q Overnight May 29-30 (6:30 pm-2:00 pm)
o Last Names R-Z June 15th Mtg. (6:30-8:30 pm)

Team Has Arrived

The team's plane just touched down in D.C.  around 10:50pm.  Everyone is safe and healthy.  Thank you to all the faithful blog readers for your prayers for this trip and the team.

It will take some time for the team to clear customs and then many of them will head back to Williamsburg while others stay in Northern Virginia for the remaining day of spring break. 

The estimated arrival time back at the Williamsburg Community Chapel is 3am.

Team Arrival Info

The team has had an amazing trip to Nicaragua.  They are currently debriefing their experience on the grounds of the Casa Bernabe orphanage.  The debrief serves to provide an opportunity for team members to reflect on their experience in Nicaragua and cement the lessons they learned into their hearts and minds.

The WCC College Mission's team will arrive back in the United States at Washington's Dulles airport around 11pm Saturday night.  

Growing Relationships and a Day of LIGHT

Wednesday's attempts to give the orphanage workers a rest by hosting a vacation bible school for the kids, making them dinner, and tucking them into bed were a huge success. Both the children and the orphanage workers felt cared for, while the spring break team got a small glimpse of what it must be like to care for these children day in and day out as the dedicated staff does.

On Thursday morning, the team finished up their work project at the orphanage, creating a wonderful retaining wall to keep the orphanage buildings nice and dry. In the afternoon, the group spent more time with the students at the orphanage, playing games like tag and volleyball, as well as making crafts together. One huge theme that is emerging from this week is just the simple joy of giving hope and building relationships with all the children and staff at the Casa Bernabe Orphanage.

Today (Friday), the group plans to go into the little town of Vera Cruz and spend some time with the local people there. The rest of the day will be spent at La Chureca, the city dump, enjoying the "Day of Light" with the people who live there. "Day of Light" is a concert put on IN the dump to give hope to its residents. In years past, this has been a huge highlight of the trip, and the team is excited to return for such a meaningful event and to build relationships with the people who live in La Chureca.
In the evening, the team plans to return to the orphanage to throw a goodbye party with all the kids and to celebrate the fun they've had and the relationships that have been grown all week. After the party, the team will spend time de-briefing as a group, discussing their experiences and reflecting on all that God has done IN and THROUGH them.

The team is scheduled to depart tomorrow (Saturday), and we will update the blog once again when they land (which should be around 11pm) in DC. The entire group would like to thank you for all of your support and prayers. Continue to pray for these final days, that God would meet them in a big way, and for safe travels as they return home.

Work Projects, Parties, and Compassion

The college spring break mission team has already done so much in such a short amount of time! On Tuesday, team members continued their work project at the orphanage in the morning. Later in the day, the group threw a party at Verbo Church for prostitute women and their children, feeding and loving dozens of people. In the evening, the team returned to the orphanage to play and spend time with the kids there.

Today (Wednesday) has been called the Day of Compassion. In order to sympathize with the lives of many Nicaraguan people, the team has been eating a simple diet of rice and beans for all their daily meals. The group also split up into smaller units to take part in an activity at the marketplace. For the activity, each "family" unit was given only a small amount of money and several different scenarios for what food and goods they could purchase to care for their "family." Everyone on the team also participated in a food distribution, delivering the food purchased at the market to local families in need. Tonight, our spring break crew will be taking care of all the kids at the orphanage and running a youth program there, which will allow the dedicated orphanage workers to enjoy an evening off to rest easy, knowing that the children are well cared for.

The team thanks you for your prayers and asks that you continue to pray for supernatural energy and love as they embark on the last few days of the trip.

Update on First Two Days

What an action-filled few days it has been! The team has done a really great job entering the world of the Nicaraguan kids and really building relationships with them and with each other. On Sunday, the team, along with the kids from the orphanage, attended a great service at Verbo Church. After church, our college kids and the orphans got to hang out together and build their own teddy bears! The group's work project for the next few days will be to build a retention wall outside of the orphanage rooms to keep water out. When we spoke to the team last night, they were having fun hanging out by Lake Nicaragua. Continue to pray for the relationships that are growing and for success for the work project!

ALL team members have arrived

Since there were multiple flights and several team members coming from different locations, we just wanted to clarify that ALL members of the team have arrived safely and that they are all together now at the Orphanage. Continue to pray that there week goes well, that they stay safe and healthy, and that their relationships with each other and with the Nicaraguan people are strengthened.

Safe Arrival

The WCC College Spring Break Mission Team has arrived safely in Nicaragua and has settled in to Casa Bernabe. They are all feeling well and are excited to get started with the week's activities. More updates to come soon.