Random thoughts

August 17th after the 2nd service at Spring Branch we will be gathering to share laughs, and stories from our trip. You are invited to joing us. We will share some more details later but pencil that into your plans.

The team is on their plane to Miami, they left at 930am (your time) and should be arriving in Norfolk around 930pm.

Last Day

It is hard to believe but Thursday is it for the team. We leave really early Friday so we squeezed every drop out of this day. We finished our portion of the painting of the orphanage, got shower curtains up in the girls bathroom, hung some doors in the bathroom stalls, all while having fun with children by our side.

A couple of our team members spent time in the school where they were grateful to see that the kids are being well led, but also found the school lacking some basic resources. A great connection was made here between the science teacher and Gillian (our science teacher). They have decided to stay in touch and to encourage one another in the work for growing children!

We had a farewell party late in the afternoon where a crazy clown led us all in some fun games as we ate popcorn, cotton candy and watched the little kids (and stephen, caroline and matt) bounce around in a moonbounce that was rented. It was a great way to end our time with the little children in particular.

In the evening we took staff and most of the older kids to the boys soccer game. While they didn´t win they did have about 80 more fans than their opponent! Having one last time to encourage and cheer for them was great. We hadn´t planned on being at any of these games and this proved to be a special treat for us and a great encouragement to them.

After the game we had our final porch time where we shared what we were feeling, what our experience has been like and we looked to the parable of the Good Samaritan for guidance on what to do with it. In this parable we find a man who crosses cultural boundaries, disrupts his plans, and pays money all to care for someone he saw that was in need. He also promised to return. We talked about the ways that we might return. Maybe that means to this place physically, but we talked about how to honor the relationships that were born while we were here. We were challenged to not allow this to be a trip or retreat that we return from to consider just the ways that we have been impacted but to consider how to honor these kids that we love.

We are not sure where all of this will lead but we are certain that He will be there with us as He has been this week.

Final thoughts for you. We have experienced a culture where everywhere we went and everyone we met was open and accepting. It has been moving to see the care and community that exists here. As we talked this out, we believe that there is something that rests in this community and it is something that is beautiful. We believe that in this place with great needs, there is also great need for one another. Being welcomed into that, and being able to meet many of the needs, has led us to a deeper understanding of what community can look like.

We have been forced to consider all of the ways that our culture tells us that we don´t need each other. We realize we have neighbors we don´t know that live right next door. The poor are rich in community! Rich in their relationships with each other and with God.

We are glad to be a part of a community at Spring Branch that by trips like this, and through A2 in particular, is committed to this same ethic.

Last thought and most important one! The kids at Casa Bernabe are growing! They are growing spiritually, they are growing in their knowledge of the Lord. They are growing physically. They are growing in their education and in their desire and hope for a brighter future. We are humbled to have been able to participate in our small way toward this growth.

Sorry for the delay

We had some internet problems that prevented posting for the last couple of days, so we have some catching up to do.

On Wednesday we began the day with a trip to a marketplace for a little culture, shopping and an excercize where the team was divided into groups, or families of 4. We were then given $10 dollars ($190 cordovas) and told to go shopping to purchase enough food for our family for a week as many families here do. In addition to simply navigating through the marketplace and dealing with the language barrier, it was hard to make choices about what to buy. Make it taste good? Make it stretch? Get vegetables or just rice and beans, how much oil to cook it in, can we afford chicken or not? It was a good experience to walk, however briefly, in someone else´s shoes. We later gave all of our ¨family´s¨food to the security guards at the orphanage for their families.

After the marketplace we went to lunch with Bob and Myra (sp?) Trolese. They are the couple who started all of the ministries we served in this week. They moved to Nicaragua right after the revolution in 1979 and have had an incredible impact in this country and on us. They shared their passion for the people of Nicaragua and a hope that rests in Jesus that was incredible. Their message to us was that doing things within the context of a real relationship is the best way to serve and that churches must find ways to address peoples real needs (food, jobs, health), while bringing Christian principles to all of the issues.

We spent the evening in what we call ¨Guys night/Girls night¨. The guys went to the Sportsplex to play soccer and then went out for pizza. We gave it our all on the field but ultimately we have a ways to go to approach their level in soccer. It was fun to compete with them, to see their passion for soccer and to be with these incredible boys.

The ladies spent the evening at the Ranchon at the orphanage where they had dinner and spent the night getting to know one another better. Make-up, nails, new clothes, dancing, Cindy Lauper´s ´Girls Just Want to Have Fun´, and a craft project were all of the ways that the women were joined together this night. (it was great to see that the following day one of the staff members was working with the girls on the knew craft technique that they learned with our team, in addition to fun, there was a skill learned that they can carry with them) (good job God, thanks for putting Eren and Laura here!)

At porch time we talked about how this was another day that was full enough to be 3 days.

No title is able to capture another great day!

   Tuesday began with Lee Layden leading the morning devotional for the older girls. It was definitely one of the highlights of the teams service here. She shared her testimony and scripture with the girls telling them that they are not defined by their circumstances nor by their past, but by the fact that they (and we) are children of God who have moved from darkness to light. The staff for the older girls were grateful and felt this word from God had great impact. Good job God! (thanks for putting Lee here)

(by the way the last picture is how a pinata ends)

As the day moved on we spent more time painting and cleaning in the main orphanage building. It is an honor to be able to do these small but meaningful things here. The kids and staff deserve so much.

After lunch the team went to a community called Nueva Vida (new life) to play with and serve food to some children there. We go to support Pastor Berman and his teenage team of volunteers who serve younger children in this place. As we arrived the children were all seated in chairs, clapping for us. We sat down with kids on our laps as the volunteers began a time of worship. We clapped, they sang and the sounds must have been pleasing to God. We played games with the kids and the kids beat us soundly at everything. (Steven gave it his best)

In what was a nearly indescribable moment Pastor Berman gathered the children around us and they laid hands on us and prayed thanks to God for us and for His continued blessings upon us. You'll have to ask a team member about this.

After this we served the kids snacks and hung out with them. It was a little difficult to see that there were children who couldn't get a snack. There just weren't enough. 

There is much need here. Learning to offer what we have and what we can has been difficult but good.

We spent some time with the Pastor learning about the community and about his ministry there. His energy, joy and  care for children in this very tough place were striking.

The evening took an interesting twist as we learned that the older boys had a soccer game at 7pm. We adjusted some of our plans so we could be there as they played their second game in a soccer league in Managua. We were hosting the staff members for a dinner to appreciate their service and to get to know them better. (They were excited to be able to go to the game as well)

The dinner was great as we learned things big and small about them. They shared themselves, we shared ourselves and then we shared our common relationship with the Lord as we prayed together. Dinner was Great!

After this we went to the soccer game. It was just a soccer game but it felt like a perfect picture of what is happening at Casa Bernabe. The kids were able to enter the world not as orphans but as people. As the staff, ORPHANetwork, and Spring Branch came alongside them to encourage, support and provide physically (the cleats and shirts and shorts they were wearing) they were able to win! (not only did they win, but they play in a league that is all company sponsored, so they beat 20-35 year old men!) It's was just soccer but it sure was a beautiful sight!

Because we took most of the staff to the game, some of our team had the blessing of staying at the orphanage to help feed, clean and prepare the kids for bed. One staff member has an 8 month old daughter and Gillian was able to provide a working mother a much needed break by rocking and feeding her baby until it was bed time. Gillian has been particularly connected to this mother and her child (Fransuela) and in the context of that connection especially this service was very sweet and perfect. Tucking children into bed and providing a last bit of love before they fell asleep was a perfect ending to a full and productive day!

Being in relationships that matter and serving through them is indescribably great to be a part of. Thanks to all for your support in this and praise to God for His perfect will!

What a day!

What a day. 

The morning began with some of our team leading a devotional with the older girls before they went to school. We then went to work painting the dormitory where the younger kids sleep. It looks pretty good so far and we should be able to finish the painting tomorrow.

We then went to La Chureca which is a community inside the Managua city dump. Our bus fell silent as we entered the gates to the dump. The sights and smells were powerful, but it was the amazing people we met that were more impacting. We all felt the weight of the poverty lift as we got off the bus and met the children that we would spend the afternoon with. We went for a walk around the amazing school that sits in this place and met some wonderful people. In particular we were welcomed into the home of a remarkable woman named Ramona who gracefully let us tour her place. When we asked her what was really important for us to know about her community she told us that we were blessing them by coming and giving to the kids what they are not able to, she said they would pray that we would be blessed by God and that we could use that to provide for them. She also asked that we not forget them. 

We promise not to.

We toured the school and prayed for the place, the children, the staff and the school that is such a refuge and source of hope in this place.

Then we took 21 children out for a wonderful lunch and playtime at a local restaurant. We were struck by several things in particular. They saved most of their meals to take home to the rest of their families. We actually had to convince them to eat the ice cream right then! Secondly, as we played with them, drew pictures with them and talked with them it seemed entirely normal, easy, light, joyful and meaningful. Friendship and connections were fast and strong. 

These children understand community in a powerful way and it was an honor to enter into it with them. The staff of the school have asked that we encourage the children and talk with them about the future, about hope and about possibilities. We were obedient to this and it was an amazing experience.

Tomorrow another day with God and these amazing people!

a

Sunday in Nicaragua

Church was awesome today. There was this really amazing moment during the worship time where the power went out, but the worship continued without skipping a beat. To hear the voices singing praises to God from a dark stage and from the people in the crowd standing and dancing in a dark church was really powerful. We all felt it was a beautiful and authentic worship experience and it seemed to actually add to the energy of the worship for the electricity to go out. There was a translator on stage who helped us to understand the message the Pastor shared about how to view your finances in a God honoring manner and how not to conform to the standard or the world but to rely on God and to be content as a source of strength.

After church we had lunch at a park overlooking Managua where we had a history lesson about Nicaragua by one of our translators. We learned some of the amazing obstacles that the people of this land have had to overcome. Hurricanes, earthquakes, corruption, wars, and there is still an amazing spirit of hope that we have felt in our new friends here.

Our night ended with a "club" time with the older boys and girls where we played some games (we learned that the maximum number of jumbo sized marshmallows that one person can hold in their mouth is 9) and during this time one of the girls at the orphanage shared with us her recent experience of serving in one of the poor communities just down the road. The staff of the orphanage led the children in gathering some of their clothing and taking some of their food to give to give to the people of this community. She shared that she had never thought about what she had to give someone else but now she will, she said it felt good to serve God and to know that they had helped people in need.

We want you to know that we agree with her and that she said it better than we can! We are learning a lot from these children and we are making a contribution.

Thanks for reading this. 

It is 11 p.m. and we are all exhausted.  The amazing kind of exhausted when you known you have done a good days work.  So, for tonight just a few quick photos.  Tomorrow, we are off to church Nicaragua style and lunch at the park with the kids and whatever else God has in store for us.  One thing is for sure...when HE is with you its always an adventure.

Pancho

Xolchit (Solshee)

Ok, it just started raining and we are sitting outside the orphanage on picnic tables, so more photos tomorrow.

We are here!

After  a long day of travel and some minor delays we made to Casa Bernabe. After an awesome dinner we played ridiculous games with the kids and were amazed at how affectionate and welcoming they were to us. The ice cream was good but the smiles on the kids faces and on the faces of our team members were even better.

We ended the night with a brief Porch Time where we simply shared where we saw glimpses of God at work in and around us. He is with us!

We are grateful for our family and church support in this and look forward to sharing more of what we see and learn about God at work here.

As Long As I Can Remember

I have wanted to take a trip like this for as long as I can remember. I've been to tons of charity events, made donations to various organizations I support, but never did anything that felt like I was directly making a difference, a connection. Whenever I would see someone on Oprah talk about their experiences on such a mission trip I would think, "I wish I could do that." I suppose now that was God speaking to me, sending me signs, putting the desire in my heart. Whatever the circumstances of my life, however, I felt it wasn't possible for me to go. I had small children. I felt I should wait for them to to be grown, out of the house, on their own, before I could ever attempt something like this.

In January I was going through some challenges in my personal life and was considering all sorts of weekend getaway trips to renew my spirit. I looked at spas and yoga retreats, talked about getaways with girlfriends. I somehow ended up at Spring Branch one weekend and saw a posting about the mission trip to Nicaragua. As my always encouraging girlfriend, Shannon, reminded me, this was my year to say, "Yes!" to all great opportunities that came my way and put my worries and fears aside. At the first meeting I met Eren and Amber, who also have small children, and it was just in meeting them that I was really able to make up my mind and commit to going. If they had children and could go, so could I! Thanks girls!

As it turns out this has already been an amazing learning experience for my children. The girls now know all their countries in Central America (which is more than I knew a few months ago) and are really getting into finding things to send to the children in the orphanage. We have talked on and on about service to others, in our families, our communities, and in the great big world in which we live. They keep reminding me that I have so much love I just have to share it around. Plus they are practically pushing me out the door at the chance to spend a whole week with their dad who is taking off of work to be with them so I can go! Thanks Bill!

I am beyond excited about the trip. I am going without too many expectations. I am trying to break my Type A personality and I really like how Joe keeps reminding us not to rely too much on plans, but to wake up each morning and ask God what he needs of us. I am trying to live my life here, too, with that in mind.

Peace,

Caroline

Hey Friends

At this point I'm not sure who will read this posting if anyone, but here is a thought to be shared.

Today, the group of people who will head to Nicaragua to serve and be with orphans on Friday met. And today, that group of people grew closer to each other and closer to the God who has led them to this trip. If you are a friend of one of the team members, family of, or a Spring Branch-er, or whoever might fall into reading this, please know that there is a God who cares about the orphans at Casa Bernabe in Nicaragua enough to draw this group of people to Spring Branch and then to call them to serve on this trip. Hearing this team share where they are coming from and how they arrived at going, in spite of money and time, with the love and support of family and friends, regardless of how long they've been attending Spring Branch or how well they know each other is all a wonderful snapshot of God at work in our midst.

We can't wait to tell you about the experience that lies before us. But first, know that God has already been at work in this, and is right now!

Getting Ready!

We've got one week until we leave. In preparation, as a team we've looked at Mark 8 where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ as a beginning point for us. Knowing and acknowledging that He is who He says He is we thought would be a good start. We used this as point in time that we could mark and say we are beginning this journey to Nicaragua with Jesus as the Christ in the lead and us as His children following His lead.

We also talked through Philipians 2 to learn about the attitude of Jesus Christ, and we will use this as our mindset heading into this trip. Conversation also turned to the section Mark 14 with the story of the woman who pours perfume on Jesus' feet. The context of the discussion was that this is a story where the woman does this great act of worship and service to Jesus but doesn't speak. Many of us will struggle with the language barrier while in Nicaragua and this scripture really was a great answer to that concern!

We will update this blog as often as we can while we are there. (July 11th-18th) Please keep checking for the updates and post a reply to your team!