I'm not sure where to start in describing or telling about our first mission trip. It is something that both of us would do again.
On Saturday morning we meet the other mission team members at the church to load the bus and travel to Miami International Airport. We flew out of Miami at 1:05 p.m. and arrived in Managua, Nicaragua at 1:40 p.m. (they are two hours behind us). Once in Managua we went through customs and then to the Best Western Las Mercedes. After checking into our rooms we hired a taxi (actually 3 of them) to take us to a local restaurant. The food was great but very expensive and we were there for 4 hours. We return to the hotel after dinner since we had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to get in line at the airport to fly to Puerto Cabezas. We learned early on that getting up at 4:00 a.m. would become a routine. After standing in line for hours we finally got 10 tickets to Puerto Cabezas. The flight was 2 hours long and very cramped. Once in Puerto Cabezas we were met by Pastor Rafia who took us to the compound where we had lunch and loaded our supplies onto the bus and traveled another hour to the village of Sin-Sin. Once in Sin-Sin we set up our campsite and cooked dinner. Then it was lights out.
Monday morning came early (yes, 4:00 a.m. the generator kicked in and sleeping was not an option). We served the men breakfast , had a morning devotion and then they headed to the work site to begin building. Later in the morning, Angela, Barbara and I went to the work site and helped the men for a while before going back to camp to cook lunch for them. After lunch we relaxed for a while and then went back to help the men again. During the week we had many opportunities to spend with the children that lived in the village. The men would stop working around 5:00 p.m. each day so they could take showers before nightfall. After showers we would eat and have evening devotions before bunking down for the night. That became the routine for the entire week. We enjoyed conversations between all of us and developed deeper relationships with each other.
On Wednesday evening we went to church with the congregation who we were building a church for. Our Associate Pastor had the privilege of preaching that night and did a wonderful job. A translator was translating as he preached. It was wonderful to worship with brothers and sisters in Christ from another nation.
Angela loved playing with the children and every time we would leave the campsite or work site we were followed by a dozen children. Many times they would hold our hands as we walked. One afternoon Angela reached out and tickled one of the girls at the work site. They spent the next hour chasing us and us chasing them just to tickle each other. We were amazed at how the children worked along side the adults and how strong they were. One little boy in particular captured Angela's heart and she wanted to bring him home. She cried on Friday morning as she told him goodbye.
On Friday morning we packed up our campsite. Prior to leaving we had the pleasure of watching three men being baptized in the creek and then we went to the church to pray with the congregation. As we got on the bus it wasn't surprising to see tears in the eyes of the mission team. Those people had touched our hearts.
Although we spent a week camping and what we would consider "roughing" it, we enjoyed every moment of it. To witness people that have no material possessions yet are content in their circumstances made us more aware of how blessed we truly are. Yet at the same time I envy the Miskito people because as you live among them for that week you realize that their source of joy and satisfaction is found in Christ.
On Saturday morning we meet the other mission team members at the church to load the bus and travel to Miami International Airport. We flew out of Miami at 1:05 p.m. and arrived in Managua, Nicaragua at 1:40 p.m. (they are two hours behind us). Once in Managua we went through customs and then to the Best Western Las Mercedes. After checking into our rooms we hired a taxi (actually 3 of them) to take us to a local restaurant. The food was great but very expensive and we were there for 4 hours. We return to the hotel after dinner since we had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to get in line at the airport to fly to Puerto Cabezas. We learned early on that getting up at 4:00 a.m. would become a routine. After standing in line for hours we finally got 10 tickets to Puerto Cabezas. The flight was 2 hours long and very cramped. Once in Puerto Cabezas we were met by Pastor Rafia who took us to the compound where we had lunch and loaded our supplies onto the bus and traveled another hour to the village of Sin-Sin. Once in Sin-Sin we set up our campsite and cooked dinner. Then it was lights out.
Monday morning came early (yes, 4:00 a.m. the generator kicked in and sleeping was not an option). We served the men breakfast , had a morning devotion and then they headed to the work site to begin building. Later in the morning, Angela, Barbara and I went to the work site and helped the men for a while before going back to camp to cook lunch for them. After lunch we relaxed for a while and then went back to help the men again. During the week we had many opportunities to spend with the children that lived in the village. The men would stop working around 5:00 p.m. each day so they could take showers before nightfall. After showers we would eat and have evening devotions before bunking down for the night. That became the routine for the entire week. We enjoyed conversations between all of us and developed deeper relationships with each other.
On Wednesday evening we went to church with the congregation who we were building a church for. Our Associate Pastor had the privilege of preaching that night and did a wonderful job. A translator was translating as he preached. It was wonderful to worship with brothers and sisters in Christ from another nation.
Angela loved playing with the children and every time we would leave the campsite or work site we were followed by a dozen children. Many times they would hold our hands as we walked. One afternoon Angela reached out and tickled one of the girls at the work site. They spent the next hour chasing us and us chasing them just to tickle each other. We were amazed at how the children worked along side the adults and how strong they were. One little boy in particular captured Angela's heart and she wanted to bring him home. She cried on Friday morning as she told him goodbye.
On Friday morning we packed up our campsite. Prior to leaving we had the pleasure of watching three men being baptized in the creek and then we went to the church to pray with the congregation. As we got on the bus it wasn't surprising to see tears in the eyes of the mission team. Those people had touched our hearts.
Although we spent a week camping and what we would consider "roughing" it, we enjoyed every moment of it. To witness people that have no material possessions yet are content in their circumstances made us more aware of how blessed we truly are. Yet at the same time I envy the Miskito people because as you live among them for that week you realize that their source of joy and satisfaction is found in Christ.
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