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