Parent Meeting (4.16.13) Recap

Thanks to all the families that were able to make it to the Parent Meeting last night! We are so excited to walk through this process together, and know that God is going to show up in amazing ways throughout our preparations and the trip. We will continue to post valuable resources to the blog after every meeting to help you stay informed and connected. Please make sure you are also signed up for the appropriate text list so that we can send you meeting/deadline reminders and other announcements. You must resubscribe to the blog every year, so please make sure you are on the list!
Parents, text the word NICAPARENT to the number 41411.
Students, text the word NICASTUDENT to the number 41411.

First, here is the Parent Meeting Powerpoint that we walked through at last night's meeting. The powerpoint contains information on deadlines, contact information, and other practical resources.

Next, I've attached the checklist from the meeting: Checklist #1. We will give each student a checklist at every meeting with important information about upcoming assignments and deadlines. Please make sure you read over the checklist and return the listed documents. The following documents were included in your packets and/or listed on the checklist and are due at the next team meeting on May 14th:

• ORPHANetwork Trip Application. 
• A copy of each student's passport 
• A WCC Parental Consent Form (Many of you already have this one on file from either HS CBA Day or the HS Ski Trip. Email Alexis at akincaid@wcchapel.org if you are unsure whether or not you have one on file for this year.)

Finally, I have also uploaded the Support Letter Instructions. This document has important information on how to write and send support letters. Please read over the document carefully. You must turn in your stamped, addressed letters by Sunday, April 28th and the Student Ministries Staff will put them in the mail for you. If you have already sent your letters, please let Alexis know how many you sent.

Our next team meeting is Tuesday, May 14th from 6:30-8:30pm in the SM Worship Room.

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Alexis at 941-1241 or akincaid@wcchapel.org. Thanks, everyone!

ala casa!

everyone is home safe, thanks for all your prayers!

Landed

Nica team 2013 has just landed in dulles and is en route to williamsburg!

Nicaragua Team Departure

The Nicaragua team's flight is on time and expected to land in Dulles at 1am as planned.

Last Full Day In Nicaragua

Today was our last full day in Nicaragua. It was a great last day to our trip! We started this morning with breakfast and got prepared to continue our digging project for the last time. Our hole, which we thought was required to be 8 feet deep, was actually 8 meters, so we realized that we had our work cut out for us!  We got busy digging, and some of our Tribe athletes took this as an opportunity to get competitive, timing how long each of us could shovel for before passing it on to the next competitor. This passed the morning quickly, and before we knew it the digging was done for a lunch break!

Lunch consisted of pizza, which we were excited for a little less rice and beans! After lunch, part of the group went back to continue digging the hole, and the rest of the group went to the orphanage to help with English class. It was so interesting to see how the children faced the language barrier as well, but in the reverse direction. Many of the students were nervous to speak in English, but after us asking questions, such as their favorite color and where they lived, we are able to get them to start answering us in English. After the English classes were over, we were given free time to spend with the children. Whether this was spent playing soccer, talking, or just enjoying each other’s presence, it was a great last afternoon to spend just a little more time with the children.

We all headed back to the team center around 6pm for dinner and to prepare for porch time. Worship tonight was awesome, with a lot of great music and bittersweet moments reflecting on experiences throughout the week. Evan spoke on how things are going to be different when we get back home, and encouraged us to not forget what we saw and experienced here but to cherish it, and share as much of our story as we can. We are all planning to stay up late tonight to enjoy our final hours in Nicaragua, enjoying each other’s company. We look forward to our last morning tomorrow, where we will spend the time taking the children to the pool. Please pray for safe travels tomorrow as we return back to the United States and that the rest of our trip will be just as amazing as the days behind us

Day 5 in Nicaragua

Day five in Nicaragua was an extremely busy one for the college mission team.  We dove into our usual morning devotionals and were served our last delicious meal at Hotel San Juan.  We checked out of the hotel at 9am and headed on our way to drop off our gifts for the women at feeding center at Leon.  The workers were definitely appreciative of the gift baskets and the prayers we spoke over them.  They expressed their gratitude and we departed from the feeding center with a multitude of hugs.

Our next stop was the Posoltega feeding center, where we were scheduled to play two soccer matches against the local kids of the community.  The girls from the mission team played their match first, and won by a score of 2 to 1.  It was a fierce competition, but the girls pulled out the victory and also bonded with the Posoltega’s girls team.  The guy’s team, which was not as successful, lost a close match with a score of 1 to 0.  However, fun memories were shared and both teams had a great time together.  After the games, the mission team prepared for the children’s lunch to begin.  Similar to our time at the other feeding centers, we helped the children wash their hands and we served them a nutritious meal.  We left the feeding center around 1:30pm and gave gift baskets to the women of Posoltega as well.

Our bus ride back to Casa Barnabe was long, but we had a lot fun listening to music and bonding among teammates.  We were surprised by our leaders, and stopped at POPS, which is a chain icecream store in Nicaragua.  We were definitely happy about having something cool and refreshing after our hot day of serving at the feeding center. 

Our day concluded with dinner, and then a porch time full or worship songs and small groups.  Today has been a very busy day, but our time here so far as taught us a very valuable lesson.  We have learned to appreciate the concept of hard work as we see that, while we are only here for a week, the people we have met here deal with the struggles we have faced thus far every day of their lives.  We have all witnessed God in a new and refreshing way, and look forward to what the Lord has planned with our remaining time here.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, and please continue to do so.  

Day 4 in Nicaragua

Day four in Nicaragua began after a great nights rest at the hotel.  After morning devotionals we gathered for breakfast at 8:30. We then departed for the feeding center in Leon, at which we arrived around 9:30.  We were welcomed immediately by the pastor and his wife, who explained how grateful they were to us and to chapel for funding their new feeding center.  He described how the need was great  in this area for a feeding center, and how God provided through Chapel’s donations.

The rest of the morning consisted of children finishing their shifts at school and arriving at the feeding center. There were well over 100 children who were energetic and excited to eat. We started by helping them to wash their hands, and played with the others that were waiting to eat. All of the children were so happy and full of life, which brought each of the team members so much joy. We wrapped up our time at the feeding center by performing a hygiene puppet show and playing soccer.  On our back to the hotel we stopped to buy gifts for all of the volunteers that help to run the feeding center to thank them for what they do day in and day out for the children.

The second part of the day consisted of a surprise trip to the nearby beach. As we arrived, the Pacific Ocean stretched out before us in all of God’s glory. Many of us ran right into the water, loving the cool relief that it provided us. We were able to stay there long enough the watch the beautiful sunset, collect sea shells and take group pictures

We then climbed back on the bus after a wonderful day, looking forward to dinner and a low key night of small groups and the sermon ahead. We cannot wait to head back to Posoltega tomorrow morning and be able to spend one more morning with them before heading back to Casa Bernabe. Please be praying for us in this last part of our week!