The Importance Of Trust

Isaiah 26:4 - "Trust in the LORD forever, For in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock."

This verse was my theme verse for this missions trip. Everyone on the trip heard my testimony and they know that trust was something i struggled a lot with in the past couple years. The whole importance of trusting God did not really hit me until we were traveling the 9 hours (or however long it was) from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. I was eating an oatmeal cookie in my seat. (I always eat oatmeal cookies and nothing ever happens.) Well evidently, this cookie had treenuts in it. As most of you know, I'm allergic to treenuts. When I had realized this, I immediately got Kevin's attention and he gave me 1 benadryl. I guess my reaction was worse than i thought, because i passed out for about a minute. Both Mandi and Maddie Shover were trying to wake me up and they both almost started crying.

When i woke up from being passed out, my throat was swollen most of the way shut and I could barely breath. Maddie Shover got Kevin's attention again and he came up and sat beside me. He took my pulse and gave me 1 more benadryl and 2 prednisone. It took around 20 minutes for all that medicine to kick in. Then once it did, I could finally breath again. =)

The reason I told the above story was because when I couldn't breath, my first reaction was to panick and I got really scared that I was going to die. But then it hit me that worrying wasn't going to help. I began to trust God that he would take care of the situation and that He knew why I was suppossed to have an allergic reaction to nuts. Looking back, God used that scary moment to get ahold of me and to tell me that I needed to trust in Him for everything.

There were many other instances on the trip where not only I, but everyone had to trust in God. But I am so glad I went on this missions trip because I may have never learned that God can do anything. Dylann Hoover said in Costa Rica that God has the power to move mountains. God can do ANYTHING! We just have to put our mind to it and believe. And that was another thing that really got my attention.

Thank you Dylann Hoover, thank you Kevin for helping me stay alive :), and thank you God that you revealed yourself to me so I can trust you with ALL my life!!

HOOT HOOT MANAGUA

Wow. This trip would be the perfect example of a powerful first missions trip for me. I have so many "God Moment" memories that I would like to share. My first "God Moment" would be when we got to Managua and we went straight to the church we were going to be working with during our entire visit. As soon as I walked in there, I felt God's presence. I couldn't understand a word the people there were singing, I could tell that they worship the same, amazing God I worship. Then, I went to my host home. My host home was a family of 4. A daddy, mommy and two daughters. They obviously received the gift of generosity because they gave us a room with a ceiling, a fan, and the most comfortable bed Lindsey, Megan and I could have ever asked for. Another "God Moment" I felt was when I met this little boy named Marbon, who is in the picture on the left with me. He was probably about 4 years old and I met him at a kids club, which we held for kids in the neighborhood for three nights while we were there. At kids club we would make balloons for the kids, put on a puppet show, sing some songs, and give out candy and silly band bracelets at the end. I met my little buddy Marbon at the end of the kids club when he came up and asked me for a silly band. I gave him the one I had left and that's when he began to like me. We hung out for about an hour after that. We just laughed about nothing and danced and spun. Everything I did made him just laugh so so hard. At one point, he started to sing something in Spanish. I gave him my "I have no idea what you are saying face" and he laughed and started singing "LALALALALALA". Therefore, I sang along. Then, a woman (who I am guessing was his mother) came over to us, grabbed him in a non caring way and basically pulled Marbon away. Marbon escaped from this woman came over to me, gave me a huge hug, said "I love you" in Spanish and ran back over to this woman who then grabbed him by the hand and pulled him down this street. This was a huge "God Moment" for me because God is so powerful that he can connect a 4 year old Nicaraguan boy who needed some love to a 13 year old American girl who didn't speak any Spanish but knew how to show love to him. In the end, this trip has meant the world to me and I thank God everyday for providing me with the privileges to go.

Maggie Anthony

Memorable Moments and People

I thank God for sending me on this missions trip. God gave me so many great memories and God had me meet so many great people. I will always remember this missions trip because their were so many great moments for example the Jesus Walk we had at Purivida. This moment at Purivida really changed my look on my life and my look on others. I learned that night even though I may do the right things while others do bad things like drugs that does not make me better than them. God created us all equal and he has a plan for all of us even those who we might initially look at as horrible and hopeless.

Another memorable moment I had was the day we got to Nicaragua the church community there accepted us and loved all of us instantly. I could not believe they loved us before they even knew our names. They just new that we were missionaries from the US and that we had come to help and that was enough for them to treat us like family. Their hospitality that night was only the beginning. Throughout the week their kindness and love shown to us continued.

Throughout the week my host family showed love to Jason and I and treated us like family. They were so hospitable to us. The night we got there they built a second bed for us because they were expecting a married couple but instead they got two guys and only one bed so they built another one that night. Also after finding out we did not like coffee they sent their 15 year old son Byron out to get us milk to drink in the morning even though we said it was ok. This love and hospitality continued throughout the week whether it be by giving us fresh juice or fresh mangoes. Another cool thing they did was they took our picture and when we left they were going to print it and hang it on their wall to resemble their extended family in the US. Overall, their hospitality I will always remember and cherish and I cant wait to go back at some point in the future.

My Missions Trip Experience

For a first missions trip this trip was AMAZING!! God was certainly present on this trip. One thing God did in my life was open my eyes to see that I was trying to control things. I had never noticed it before but I need to let go and let God. I finally fully committed to giving everything to God. He's a big boy he can handle it. We are just human after all and trying to control and fix all of life's problems weighs a huge burden for us to carry when we don't have to. Jesus died on the cross for us so why not take advantage of all the perks that come with it? Not only did God have spiritual purposes for this trip but it was a great bonding experience. I got a lot closer to people I normally don't even talk to. It was a beyond fun trip. One night Corinne and I were suprised to discover our host family driving us to the mall food court to go to Tip Top. For those of you that don't know (we didn't) Tip Top is a fast food resturaunt chain in Nigaragua. So good!! You don't realize how happy we were to see the grease glistening off the fried chicken; finally food we're used to! I also got to ride on a motorcycle driven bye Kenton no less! That was a fun and new experience. Overally, it was a great experience and I would definately do it again!

Maddie Lutz <3

Back Home Reflections

Well, this was my first youth missions trip and it was so amazing! I didn’t really know what to expect (which is a good thing I guess) and I had some fears about going. Also before going, it felt like there were some “issues” going on on our team. But, God resolved them and He definitely worked through our whole team!! It felt like we were all one big family and we were just so united. In addition to that, fears that I had (and other people had too) just vanished and I had a sense of peace about going. God also reminded me that He had complete control of this whole trip and that we were all in His hands, and quite frankly those are the best hands to be in.

Some things that really stood out to me while being in Nicaragua were the hospitality of all the people there and their love for us. When we first arrived at their church they were getting ready to have a service and they were all so welcoming. Then we got introduced to our host home families and eventually went back to their houses to get settled in. Personally (and I’m sure the rest of the team can relate to this as well) my family was just so welcoming and I could tell instantly that they loved us so much even though they had never met us. Throughout the week they were always making sure that we were comfortable and asked frequently if we needed anything. Also, most evenings when we went back to their house we would just spend time talking and hanging out with them. Even though we didn’t speak the best spanish, it was still really cool just to sit down and talk with them. This was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Nicaragua.

Overall though, when we were down there, what stood out to me the most was just how they didn’t take anything for granted, instead they thanked God for everything and cherished what they did have. Sure they don’t have as much “stuff” as we do, but they were all perfectly fine with that. They focus more on the relationships they have with people rather than what “stuff” they have. Being down there we didn’t have our phones, computers, video games, etc, and to be honest, I didn’t miss any of that stuff. The relationships that I built with the Nicaraguans and with people on our team are relationships that will last forever, where as “stuff” doesn’t last forever. I definitely came home with a greater appreciation and love for the people in my life and just being thankful for what I have and not to take things for granted.

Night with my Host Dad

First of all, I just want to tell everyone that this trip has been amazing and life changing for everyone that went, as well as the community in Managua. We made so many new friends and connected wtih the people so well that most of us consider them family now. God truly moved through us and the community in a way only He could do. We were all compassionate and loving towards each other and had a sense of fellowship that is unlike any other.

I personally had an experience while in Nidaragua that shows the power of God and His presence in all aspects of life. During the second night in Nicaragua after the day was over and we were all tired out from the baby shower fiesta, we were given more time than usual to be with our host families and spend time with them. After we got settled down, Kenton and I started talking to our host dad, Marlon (which turned out to be more hand motions than talking. haha). We were all laughing and enjoying each other's company as we were watching TV which turned out to be a movie with Arnold Schwarzeneger (spell check?) in it. Then I noticed Marlon got out his Bible and was reading it, and earlier that day he had shared in church and read Psalm 146 to the congregation. So I thought it would be neat if I would grab my Bible and point out that chapter to him and somehow motion or use what little Spanish I knew to say that it was what he had shared at the church earlier that day. He smiled and turned to it in his Bible and read it in Spanish and then he told me to read it in English. This went on for hours, going back and forth reading our favorite verses in English and Spanish in the Bible and spending time to converse and discover the true meaning and power behind the words. After we would read, Marlon would always comment on the reading and Kenton and I would listen attentively trying to pick out what he was saying and what his hand motions were trying to explain. At first I did not understand what he was saying, but then I started hearing a voice inside my head acting as a translator and I knew right away it was God telling me what Marlon was saying. I myself would not be able to understand a single word of what my host dad was telling me, but it is only through the power of God that the language barrier can be broken and that we can communicate with each other through Him. I was literally on the verge of tears. I was so happy that I was understanding Marlon and what teachings he had in store for Kenton and me!

I bet I can speak for most people when I say that spending time with host families was probably the best part of the trip. It was amazing to see how much they already loved us on the very first night of our stay in Nicaragua and how much that love continued throughout the week. They literally gave everything they had to satisfy us and make our stay more pleasurable. The first night I stayed in my host home I was so nervous and wondering how in the world was I going to survive a whole five days in this place. All those nerves were soon gone because Marlon made sure that I was at home and made sure that I felt at peace and was able to live normally like at my real home in the states. I just can't thank God enough for allowing me to go on this trip and I am praying that I would take everything I have learned from the trip and be able to apply it at home and be able to show the love of Christ to my friends and family just like the people did in Nicaragua.

God Bless!

Mitch Wirth

Reflection: The God of Testimony

Throughout the trip we had unforgettable times of testimony. During group training sessions in Costa Rica, after lunch in Nicaragua, on the bus and in various other settings team members volunteered to share his/her testimony. These times were extremely profound, and I came to love hearing testimonies. After someone shared, a handful of team members gathered around to lay hands on the individual. Ah, the beauty of prayer. The teens so readily stepped into their position of authority, as a child of the Living God, and asked God for all kinds of things. Unhindered prayer.
I recall one morning working at the church, and several girls from the team walked in and exchanged "good morning, how are you?" greetings. Several of the girls expressed feeling ill, exhausted and weak. Immediately, they began to pray for each other- even those who were feeling sick prayed for other girls who weren't feeling well. In that moment, the Kingdom of God was called down by a few high schoolers, does it get any better than that?

Therefore, a necessary 'shout out' to parents, Chad, youth leaders & mentors is due:
Though I'm only several years older than your children in some cases, they were a remarkable group of teens to serve with on this trip. You have raised up a Christ-loving group of teenagers and God was, currently is, and will be working mightily in and through them.

One final thought about testimonies: I've been pondering the idea of 'past.' I've been reminded afresh of the correlation between one's history and one's present (though we accept that our past does not determine our future, thank you Jesus Christ). When we take the time to listen to where someone has come from (the good, the bad and the ugly all included) the doors of empathy cannot help but swing wide open. When one hears a person's journey up until the very moment in which he/she speaks, respect towards that individual infinitely increases. I've been reminded of the power of testimony, both sharing and listening. God is every-working and I know that my faith has been bolstered by the delicate times of testimony we shared during this trip.

Summary of the trip and Kids' Clubs

Hey everyone!
First, I thought it would be good to highlight the main things we did on our trip. We arrived in Costa Rica late Wednesday night (July 14). We basically went to bed as soon as we got there, because it was like 11 PM. Thursday and Friday we spent at the base of Pura Vida Ministries. During our time at the base we had worship, sessions, and we worked on skits and songs. Thursday and Friday were packed with sessions and training. Saturday we spent almost the entire day traveling by bus up to Managua, Nicaragua. We had to spend a few hours at the border to get our visas and go through customs. We arrived in Managua Saturday evening and immediately upon arriving we attended our first Nicaraguan church service. After the church service we met our host families and got settled in for the night. Sunday we went to another church service and in the afternoon went to a Nicaraguan baby shower. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were all fairly similar. We did work projects in the morning, including painting, spackling the walls of the church, and collecting trash around the city. At 4 PM we would have kids' clubs. We sang songs, did some skits, and had a craft each day. We would give the kids candy and animal balloons. Monday and Tuesday we went home after kids' club and spent time with our host families. Wednesday we had a birthday surprise for the pastor at the church. There was a Mariachi band that played, and we did some of our skits and songs. Thursday morning we had to say the dreaded "goodbyes" :( It was a really sad time and our whole team misses the people that we met, but we also will never forget them. Thursday we did some touring. We bought souvenirs and saw some important government buildings. In the afternoon we took an awesome boat tour of these islands on a lake! It was beautiful! We spent the night in a hotel across from the airport that night. We woke up and left for the airport at 5 AM, and after a day of traveling, safely arrived home

Now that I've summarized all that we did on our missions trip, I want to tell you from my personal experience some things that God really showed me while we were there. The first thing was something God showed me through the kids' clubs. I have always loved children, so it gave me so much joy to love on the Nicaraguan kids and to show them God's love. One day at the kids club, a little girl that I had had some previous interaction with the last few days up came up and gave me a hug. There was another little girl standing nearby that I had never even met, but after she saw the first girl give me a hug, she came up and gave me a hug too. Through that I realized that God can use the simplest things to make a difference. Through a hug I was able to minister to a little girl. All week through balloons, skits, and songs we were able to show God's love to his children. I thank God that He can use even the little things to make a difference. It was a reminder to me that I don't need to necessary do something huge to bring God glory. Secondly, the other thing God showed me was how He is always with us. There were several times throughout the trip when I was worried. I was in a strange place, with people I had never met before, and I was supposed to somehow use my gifts to minister to them. Even during the times when I was absolutely out of my comfort zone, God constantly reminded me of his presence and of his protection. That was really awesome for me to see!

update from Kevin - Thursday night

Hi all,
Safely in a hotel across from the airport in Managua. A great day of sightseeing, with a few unexpected twists, no harm to anyone.
A amazing trip, we can't wait to tell you all about it. God moved and we have all grown.
Love from Nicaraugua!

Update!

Hello everyone! I got a call from Rosene a few minutes ago! The team is doing really well. They wrapped up their ministry portion of the trip and have their touring day today. Rosene said the church just loved our team and is really sad to see them go. Kevin felt like this was a life changing trip for many of our teens - I can't wait to hear all the reports tomorrow night!!!

I just wanted to pass this along, that the team is doing well, and it has been a great trip!

God Bless!!!

No News is Good News!

Good afternoon everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I am sure many of you miss our team and are probably anxiously awaiting an email or phone call with some info. Unfortunately, I don't have anything to tell you either, as I have not heard from the team since Saturday evening. But I want to assure you that in this case no news is good news. Pura Vida had told me that finding internet connection would be difficult once the team got to Managua, Nicaragua, so that is why we have not received any emails or blog updates.

Our team is in good hands and if there was anything that we needed to be aware of, we would know. I am confident that the team is having an incredible time and making a valuable impact on the church and city there in Nicaragua. Time is flying by and they will be home shortly. Any updates I happen to receive I will quickly pass along. Until then, trust that God is in control and He has them safely in the palm of His hand.

I wanted to leave you with a favorite scripture of mine.

Philippians 4: 6-7 (NIV) - ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Be blessed and enjoy your week!!

Team arrives in Nicaragua!!

I just got word that the team has arrived in Nicaragua! They got on the bus at 6am their time, arrived in Nicaragua at 7pm, went straight to a church service and now at 8:30pm, they are headed to their host homes. Everyone is safe and is doing well. Rosene said that the training time at Pura Vida was incredible!

On their way to Nicaragua today!

Hi, early morning breakfast then on the bus we go! PVM has given powerful training, no time to put it in action. All are well! This may be the last check-in for a few days.

God Rocks! And we are ready to roll.

FYI- the teens prayed for all you back home last night.

Love and hugs from here. - Kevin

Good morning Costa Rica!

Hi, everyone is doing really well. Good night of sleep after a powerful worship experience. Lot's of tears and good stuff going in inside of teens (and leaders).

Costa Rica is beautiful, but no sunshine yet. The showers are derived from water pumped straight from the arctic. We don't worry about people taking too many showers or taking too long of a shower.

Food is actually quite good, but my palate is probably more adventurous than most.

Love from all here,

Kevin

First evening session amazing!

Wow. Powerful session this evening with amazing response from the teens. God is moving ! Growing us all in neat ways. I think will everyone will sleep well tonight. Thanks for praying, we feel it. - Kevin

Latest update from Kevin

Hi,

Lots of training (skits and ministry skills). The teens aren't acting too tired, the adults ... well maybe.

I missed much of the day away from the PVM base. A teen from another tean had asthma issues and I was tapped to help out, including accompanying her to a clinic. Always on-call I guess ;)

Thanks for your prayers.

I will do my best to keep you posted.

Kevin

Team arrives at 1:30am!

Hi,

If anyone is up, we just got settled in at PVM.. The kids did great. A little bumpy flight over the gulf, but nothing significant. A little delay in Atlanta getting out.

Thanks for prayers. I will keep you posted.

Kevin

Team leaves tomorrow!!

It's hard to believe, but at 8am tomorrow morning, 22 students and adults will be gathering at the church to get ready to head out to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I am so proud of this team and the way they have embraced the call to ministry and each other. Make sure you check back here from time to time to see how the team is doing.

I will forward updates I receive to this blog. Unfortunately, the team will not have consistent access to the internet, so periodically check in here to see any updates we have received. Thank you so much for your prayers! God Bless!

Isaac's Fundraising Night - June 10, 2010

On Thursday June 10, 2010, Isaac's Restaurant & Deli in the Rossmoyne Business Center in Mechanicsburg will be holding a "Community Night" to benefit the McBIC youth Nicaragua mission team. Enjoy an evening out with your family and friends while supporting this ministry. 25% of the cost of your meal will do directly to our youth missions trip this July!

Bring this form with you so that our team receives credit.

Bring this form with you to the Hoss's in Mechanicsburg (Gettysburg Pike) on Sunday, May 23, 2010 for lunch or dinner and our missions team will receive 20% of your total check.

Please bring the form!

Welcome!!

Welcome to our youth missions trip blog for 2010! Continue to follow this blog as our team gets ready to go on the trip and while they are in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.