Travels to Nicaragua, Missions Trip

Never in my life did I think that God would take me to so many amazing places! When I found out about my church’s missions trip to Nicaragua, I was excited to learn more about the ministry down there. Our missions trip was led by the non-profit Missions Door, and I really recommend about prayerfully considering donating to the amazing missionaries down there.

I didn’t know much about the ministry before we left, but seeing it first hand, I know it’s 100% changing lives! The missionaries run a school on a farm, that takes kids in from the street. Many of these kids have been abused and they have no hope as many of them get addicted to substance abuse. That’s where the ministry steps in and brings some of the boys to the school where they are fed, given a place to stay, they do devotions every day and are taught a trade so they can hopefully get a job once they graduate the school.

While down there, several of the boys decided they wanted to get baptized in the ocean! I’ve never seen anything like it before, especially since there was a thunderstorm and lightning bolts all around! It was so emotional and amazing to see how God is working in the lives of these boys!

We also got the opportunity to go to several villages and do VBS (Vacation Bible School), where we taught the children a lesson about how much God loves them, by dying on the cross for their sins and how Jesus commands that we all repent and put our trust in Him. We also gave them toys, hygiene products and candy! Overall, it was an amazing experience! God really grew me and I am so grateful for the time there and meeting such amazing people!

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”- Matthew 28:19

The farm was set right next two several active volcanos. The one above was called San Cristobal.
The boys had to pull their own water from the well and then carry it to various places to use.
This is our short term missions trip team in front of the volcano

Above is a photo of several of the boys working on the school to build living quarters.

Nicaragua allows “free grazing” where the cattle can go on anyone’s land and eat.

Here is a group photo of them digging trenches for the new building

Down the road to the farm, we stopped at several houses who were friends of the missionaries. Above is the son of one of the missionaries friends and his eyes were so piercing!
We met this mother and her two sons in the village. Some of the kids in the village nearby

This was the day of the baptism. The storm rolled in and I was absolutely terrified! There were lightning crashed every couple of seconds and I was even able to capture one of them!

The above photo is what the clouds looked like before the baptism started

Above is Mari who works at the farm and professed her faith in Jesus and got baptized. It was one of the most emotional moments of my entire life. 

Above is Kevin getting baptized. Of course the best photo of the entire trip was not taken by meThe above photo was taken by the missionaries with their iphone

Above is a photo of all the people baptized that day in the ocean! Please continue to pray for them!

The panorama photo above was taken in the first village we did our VBS at. We gave away over 90 gift bags!!

The above photo is of a boy named Fernando. He was working and we invited him to the VBS program. He came in and had a really fun time with his little brother! 

Here are the boys getting the water out of the hand made wellThe bull in the above photo fell into the well! Some of spent a long time trying to dig him out. He eventually was able to get out and I captured that on video! 

Some more children in the nearby village This little girl was SOOOO cute! The above photo was of Everett! An amazingly talented ceramics creator! He teaches kids in the village how to make them as well. Needless to say, I bought a TON of them! The left photo shows the boys working with machete’s to cut wood. The pot on the above right was 100% hand made! Every design was etched in. 

I am representing the 80s in my above photo!

Leon, NicaraguaSome instagram photos!!!