Preparation and Anticipation

  Three days till departure and the team is raring to go! We packed our extra bags today in anticipation of the opening ceremonies for the clinic in La Esmeralda and the various other activities in which we'll participate. The mood was a mix of the nervous feeling you get when you're about to give a speech to a packed house and the happiness you feel knowing you're going to see a friend that you haven't seen in a long time. The prep work's almost over but the anticipation is rising!
 
  Nicaragua is one of the poorest nations in the world with the daily income of most families averaging less than two dollars a day. But in the midst of poverty springs hope. We're partnering with local Nicaraguan churches and a wonderful missionary team lead by Brian Weed to provide a physical touch of love to the people in the communities of Managua, Leon and La Esmeralda, Nicaragua.

  Our team, made up of 21 students and 9 leaders (they're the serious ones in the picture) have been working hard to raise funds to travel, serve, and be used by God on this adventure. With projects, such as Rent-a-Teen, the team learned first hand the benefit of hard work and the teamwork necessary to complete a task. We will definitely use those skills in Nicaragua.

  We'll be painting a newly built girls dormitory at the seminary run by the local churches and missionaries. We'll be helping to serve children meals at the feeding centers in Leon and in Managua. We'll be painting the facility that houses much of the food for the feeding center in Managua. We'll be planting over 350 fruit trees and providing a litany of activities to celebrate the grand opening of the medical clinic in the heart of La Esmeralda. And throughout it all, we'll be providing a voice of hope, letting people know they are loved by the King, and using all of these experiences to growing our love for Christ and our love for others.

  Please join us this week on our journey by praying with us and following our adventures on this blog. And we'd love to read your comments so type away!