Landed in San Salvador

The journey home has begun and the team has landed in San Salvador! We will update again when we depart for Washington. Text "nicaparent" to 41411 to get our travel updates to your phone.

Nicaragua Day 8 - June 28, 2016

After a rejuvenating night's sleep we had a delicious breakfast buffet to start our full day at our debrief site, Apoyo Resort.  We ate breakfast halfway up the side of the mountain which gave us a gorgeous view of the lagoon while we ate.  Following breakfast we split up into our small groups where we had our first small group of the day.  During our debrief small groups we return to the character Jacob who we had studied before the trip as a model to help us process our experiences in Nicaragua.  Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32 and that idea of wrestling has been a great image to describe our own encounters with God because we have all had to wrestle with the realities of poverty and faith.  Then we took some time before lunch to be alone with God.  We have found that it is important to learn how to not only worship God together in a group, but also by yourself through His Word, the Bible, and nature.

At lunch we all enjoyed a tasty quesadilla and then had the entire afternoon to spend some free time in and around the lagoon.  We jumped off the dock, swam, played pool volleyball, kayaked and had a great afternoon together as a team.  It has been a beautiful picture of God's community as we all gathered with the same faith having fun together.  People have made new friends and the entire team has developed a wonderful spirit of unity that has transcended school and background.  After our free time we ate dinner and headed to our final porch time.

Porch time tonight was held overlooking the lagoon, with the stars as clear as could be. Admiring the sky, listening to the water, and feeling the wind, it was a wonderful environment to sing praise and examine God's Word. Luke spoke about the things we try to put in the throne of our lives. Is it popularity? Success in school? Sports? Do we put ourselves in the throne, and do whatever we want whenever we want? Luke asked us three questions: 1) What are we doing? What are sinful choices or behaviors in our lives that are based on what we want, and not what God wants? 2) Where are we building a temple for God when we need to realize God lives in us? We cannot confine him. 3) Who are we? What, or who, is our identity in?

We concluded that fear is a powerful motive in causing us to put anything besides God on the throne of our lives, and after the message, students had an opportunity to reflect on an assignment they had worked on prior to the trip. They wrote on a card some of the fears and uncertainty in their lives, and slowly, one by one, they made their way to a small fire to symbolically burn those fears and doubts. In closing, we all sang "No Longer Slaves," reinforcing again that we not slaves to fear, but are children of God. Small groups are discussing more of Jacob's story and his encounter with God in Genesis. We hope that after wrestling this week, God's blessing is made clear in our lives.

We'll get a few hours of rest before making our way home very early tomorrow morning! Our flight is set to depart Nicaragua at 6:15am on flight TACA 314. We will text you with our travel progress.

Nicaragua, Day 7 - June 27, 2016

Today was our final day in Leon. We left the hotel for the last time and headed into the city's square. There, we visited one of their cathedrals and even got access to the roof for an amazing view of the city and surrounding countryside. It was beautiful. After the cathedral, we spent some time at the market. Imagining what grocery shopping might look like here, or how some people make their money, was a neat experience. Vendors are tightly packed together in an open market, selling anything from bananas or rice to t-shirts or hammocks.

From the square, we rode to Verbo Leon for our final opportunity to participate in their feeding center. It was once again a great reminder of how grateful we should be as we watched these kids at the same rice and beans and bread for the fifth time. It has been a challenge all week wrestling with the differences in our lifestyles, but at the same time, it has been motivating and inspiring to continue our support and partnership for the ministry in Leon.

After their lunch, we were able to spend a final hour or so playing tag and soccer with the kids we had built relationships with all week. Many people on our team left sad knowing this may be the last time they see some of these kids for a long time, but we're thankful for the leaders at the church who are accessible and who can care for these kids long after we've left. It's been a life-altering experience for our team this week, and we're excited for you to hear personal stories from our team when we return.

On our way to our debrief site, we had a team lunch at a local restaurant with some of the church leaders. Then we packed up the bus and traveled back through Managua to Apoyo Resort. This resort rests on a lagoon that was formed by an old volcano that is now inactive. We use this resort as "middle ground" for the team to process all that was seen and experienced before returning to the affluence of America. We will use our time here to have multiple small group discussions, worship music, alone time, and some fun as we let our encounters with God shape us for the future.

During our first evening here, the team did not struggle to appreciate the beautiful view of the water. Dinner was served as the sun set and we got settled down before Porch Time. Abbey shared about what we call "the secret of the poor," and how we often choose competition or comparison over compassion. With a challenge to grow in gratitude and generosity, Abbey reflected on the lack of possessions but the strength of relationships between the Nicaraguans. Our desire for more possessions can often distract us from the relational investments God is asking us to make. Small groups met to reflect on the joy they witnessed in those who have so much less, and we got ready for bed. We're excited for a full day at the resort tomorrow, and we'll share more then! Please be praying for our final Porch Time, and that God would solidify the lessons in our hearts and minds that He may be trying to teach us.

Nicaragua, Day 6 - June 26, 2016

Sunday has arrived! A beautiful day to worship, we attended church in both Leon and Posoltega. Arriving in Leon at roughly 9:30am (11:30am your time), it was awesome to imagine Izzy, one of our Student Ministry Summer Interns, getting ready to preach in Williamsburg, and how we were also getting ready to praise Jesus miles and miles away. God is one, and we all got to worship Him, as one, together this morning. The services at each site were very musical and very energetic. With birds chirping in the ceiling, fans blowing beneath them, the keyboard and drums playing music, and the congregation clapping along, it was a different experience than the ones we're used to at the Chapel, but it was awesome to be a participant in how another culture worships Christ. Luke shared Psalm 117, and the idea that all nations will praise the Lord. Despite singing songs like "All Creatures of Our God and King" at home, it's a humbling opportunity to be able to stand alongside people of a different tongue and different nation still praising the Lord. 

After church, we had our soccer tournament at Posoltega! It truly was a beautiful day; not often you're playing soccer with a volcano in the background. Some cloud cover and a steady breeze made the afternoon delightful (despite our American team losing both of it's games), and it was clear the teams of Leon and Posoltega were excited to play. One of the Nicaraguan teams was actually sporting some Jamestown Eagle jerseys, which was an encouraging picture of partnership, as they were clearly jerseys donated in years past.

Back at the hotel, we had an extended time of worship this evening. Songs like "Heart Runs" reminded us that everything we want is found in Jesus, that what we want really is Jesus, Himself. "How He Loves" and "How Deep The Father's Love For Us" left an imprint on God's heart for His creation, and "In Christ Alone" and "No Longer Slaves" enforce that we God's children, co-heirs with Christ, and that we stand and live in His power, the power that overcame the grave. 

Nicaragua, Day 5 - June 25, 2016

Our Saturday has been full! Today we had two big events in store. First, we wanted to offer our partners in Leon and Posoltega (the leaders, staff and volunteers) a little break from their service to the kids and take them out for a day at the beach! Knowing they work hard, we hoped to encourage them and have some fun playing games and swimming. We played group charades, pictionary, and finished with a nail biter of a relay race. After crowning a champion from the winning team, we had some time to jump in the water. Being in a different country, swimming in an entirely different ocean, it was neat to appreciate God's creation in a new way - His sun, His waves, His shade under His trees. We have access to those things in Virginia, but being joined by a staff who might not go to the beach with the same ease we're afforded, the team enjoyed our time on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. 

Our second big event was the Talent Show! Earlier in the week, we had walked through the communities, handing out fliers for a Talent Show that would be held at the church in Leon. Well, tonight was the night for it. Pastor Philippe of Verbo Leon hosted the event, and welcomed everyone who joined us. He prayed for the show, that God would take control of the acts, and he kicked it off with some of our team who had entered the contest. The judges and the crowd sat to observe singing, guitars, keyboards, drums, even hand stands. Our judges eventually determined the winner to be a little girl who had everyone standing and clapping along as she sang.

Pastor Philippe then took a moment to share from the Gospel of John. What struck me was how we had just witnessed a talent show, where people broadcast their joys, and then Philippe shared John 3:16, where we learn that God took His joy, His Son, and gave Him as a gift for us. We were challenged to consider if we would ever die for the person beside us, or our enemy. Able to reflect on the depth of God's sacrifice for us, Philippe asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus as their Savior, and everyone celebrated with those who came forward! It was a simple invitation, and yet one we sometimes struggle to extend, the invitation to accept Jesus in to lives, that He might transform them.

Returning to the hotel a little later than usual, we ate dinner and quickly prepared for Porch Time. There were some funny moments at the beach that people reflected on, and powerful times that Jesus was seen throughout the day. We sang a few songs reminding us of the idea that our response in every circumstance is praise. And after that time of musical worship, Luke shared about suffering in the world. Why is there suffering? Where is God in the suffering? We learned that we were created in His image (Genesis), but that along the way, we suppressed the truth of God and worshipped other things (Romans), and that our selfishness always leads to suffering. Still, there is hope. God wants to use us, wants to empower us through His Spirit, to offer ourselves as living sacrifices for Him. Living selfless lives, dying to our selves that He might live in us.  Small groups discussed what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, what things we find ourselves tempted to worship besides God, and how we can offer ourselves back to God, who offered Himself for us. Please pray for clarity and understanding, as our team studies what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!

Nicaragua, Day 4 - June 24, 2016

Our day began with another great breakfast from the Hotel staff here in Leon as we got ready to head to the two same churches as yesterday.  Once again half of our team stayed in Leon and the other half went to Posoltega.  Each team got off the bus excited to continue the relationships they had begun the previous days.  In both locations our teams first gathered with all of the staff at the churches to discuss the challenges and vision involved in leading a church.  It is impressive to see the staff at these churches eager to learn and improve.  They truly desire to serve their communities and bring the Gospel to as many kids and families as possible.

After the discussions on leadership, both groups went out into the surrounding community to hand out flyers inviting people to a talent show in Leon tomorrow night.  The pastors of these churches hope to use a fun talent show as an opportunity to reach some new members of the community that they would not have normally reached.  In addition to the invitations for the talent show, everyone had another opportunity to see the actual living conditions of these families.  Most of the buildings are just single story homes made out of cement blocks without any doors and only a few rooms.  Oftentimes, there were three generations all living under the same roof which made for tight living conditions in spaces that were already small by any American standard.  

Upon returning to the churches, both groups were welcomed by kids that came running excited to see our teams.  We have started learning the names of the kids and they have learned our names, so the relationships have become much more personal and meaningful.  Our teams helped all of the kids wash their hands and sit down to eat lunch.  We ate our own lunches and then prepared for our final VBS lesson of the week on Jacob and Esau.  We watched an animated movie that documented the story of Jacob and Esau and then talked about forgiveness.  Then, each team had a couple people share stories from their own lives about times in which they either received forgiveness or extended forgiveness to someone.  We ended our VBS lesson with some discussion on the topic of forgiveness and then got ready for our celebration with the kids to celebrate their participation in VBS.  Our celebrations mainly involved a big piñata filled with candy for the kids to bust open and enjoy.  It truly was a celebratory moment for all the work God has been doing over the past few days at these churches.

After both teams re-united, we all headed back to our hotel for the evening.  We enjoyed another delicious meal and then got ready for our evening "porch time" gathering.  Tonight, Tommy Vereb spoke to us out of Matthew 13 about the parable of the sower.  He challenged us not to simply think about what it means to sow seeds in others, but to take seriously the "soil" condition of own hearts.  Life is filled with different "rocks", "thorns", and other things that hurt the health of our soil, but until we take seriously the condition of our own hearts then we will never be able to sow healthy seeds in others.  Finally, we ended the night with another time in small groups to keep processing all that God is doing and then headed to bed.

Check back tomorrow for more stories about our with people from the churches in Leon and Posoltega.

Nicaragua, Day 3 - June 23, 2016

Good evening, family and friends! Day three of our time in Nicaragua has been outstanding. From Hotel San Juan de Leon, we left for our first full day in our respective service sites. Split into two groups, one team returned to Verbo Leon, and one team visited Posoltega.

At both sites, each respective team exchanged greetings with the leaders of the church there. From youth leaders to head cooks to security guards to singers, it was incredibly encouraging to see the church, the body of Christ, working throughout the world. It is motivating to be reminded that we are are all children of God, and that we are united in Jesus Christ. Our leaders shared a little bit of our roles at the Williamsburg Community Chapel and how it was a privilege to be able to visit Nicaragua and worship and serve alongside them.

After a brief devotional, teams toured the community that surrounded the church, gaining a better sense of the daily lives that are led there. Exposure to their homes and their streets really put into perspective a new reality; though we see them at the church or the feeding site, enclosed by people who care for and love them, they live much of their lives in areas that are not as safe or as friendly. It really affirmed the necessity and blessing of the local church, and made us all the more joyful to know that these kids do have a place to go for physical, emotional, and spiritual provision.

Following the tour we assisted in serving lunch before another VBS lesson. Much like yesterday, we helped kids wash their hands, and relayed trays of cups and plates or bowls from the tables to the kitchen and back. In our VBS lesson we shared the story of the prodigal sons, emphasizing that no matter how far we run or how far away we feel from God, He is always there pursuing us, offering forgiveness and love.

Returning to the hotel for dinner, we washed up and settled down and got ready for Porch Time. Abbey shared from her past experiences in Nicaragua, and how surprising it had been for her to come here and see Jesus already alive and active. This idea of incarnational ministry, that Jesus is alive and can be seen in us and in the Nicaraguans, can be a challenging one to grasp. How do we live in Jesus? How does Jesus live in us? Small groups discussed the preconceived notions of how we might be serving the children here, and how our expectations have been challenged. We also discussed what barriers exist that prevent us from seeing Jesus in others on a daily basis. Please be praying for us this week that we can walk faithfully and confidently in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, and that our eyes would be opened to the work He has already begun here!