Volunteer Opportunities

We have many volunteer opportunities. Below is information on our most recent addition as well as a recent report.

I am a frustrating picture subject, in that I don’t often stay in them (yes, I am one of those). This one is from two years ago. I am on the right. My friend, Steph, is the lovely girl on the left. ~ Ami

I am so excited to be joining Marcus and Ann in their efforts in Nicaragua, but mostly I am excited to be doing what I know God has called me to do. I look forward to seeing the way he works in the lives of the Nicaraguans and how he will work in my own. As of now, so many things are in process to get me ready to go: the plane ticket is purchased (there you have it, I am committed!), insurance is purchased, international cell phone service is, well, in process, and there is much, much prayer.

At the moment, my biggest challenge is finding the right curriculum at a reasonable price. Since I am going with the express purpose of teaching English, and through that, sharing Christ, I long to do it well. Please join me in praying that God will guide my hand and heart in this and everything He places before me. I am also praying for the ministry that will occur outside the classroom. Since I will be living in the same town in which I teach, I am excited to get to know the families of the students, getting to know my neighbors, sharing with them and learning from them, while being a light of Christ’s love.

This is a completely new experience (go figure) and I am both thrilled and a little terrified. It is a great test of confidence in the Lord to trust Him here - please pray that my heart stays secure in the assurance of His love and power. As He says, "do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid" . . . "I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you, and never to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future".

God is great and I am seeing and will continue to see that first hand. Praise to His name in Christ Jesus, Amen.

MISSION TRIP REPORT

May 8th, 2008

My mission trip experience started on April 1st, when our mission team left Harvester Christian Church. We arrived in Managua and got settled in, for the night, at the Provadenic. The next morning we caught a prop plane and flew to Siuna, where we took a pick up truck to our next stop: Alamikimba. In Alamikimba we stayed overnight, in order to connect with our boat the next day. That night we showed a Christian film in the roughest part of town. They had already had the Jesus film shown there, so we showed something different. The next morning we visited the “barge” project and Fred tried his hand at welding aluminum while Keith and I and Jackie examined the monkey, taper, and furry critters that looked like lemurs. After that we took our boat down the river to “Dos Amigos”. Most of that ride was in pouring down rain. I think we got out of the rain, about a half hour before we arrived at Dos Amigos. There we showed the “Jesus” film to a capacity crowd (on a sheet, hung on the outside of the church). While waiting for it to get dark, we handed out Bibles, door to door, and distributed the baseball equipment we brought for them.

The next day, we took our boat to “Limbaika”. This time we made it without getting soaked. After we got our equipment set up, we had time to visit with the people and interact with the kids. Some of the kids were eager to clear a baseball field with their machetes, thrilled with receiving the baseball equipment we gave them. There we were able to show the film, inside the church, to a standing room only, crowd. We were impressed that there was no whispering and/or giggling going on during the movie. Everyone kept their attention on the screen and on what was being said in the movie. They hung on every word. After the movie ended, and everybody left, we packed up our gear, and moved the pews, so we could make the floor, our sleeping quarters for the night.

We opened as many windows as we could, so as much air could blow through as possible. Throughout the night, you could hear the bats soaring overhead: a good sound, as they were probably eating mosquitoes. Early the next morning, around daybreak, we heard an eerie sound, that at first sounded like the wind howling outside. When I looked out the window though, there was not a thing moving because of wind. I thought the sound, sounded maybe like what the Bible says the sound was on the day of Pentecost: like a rushing mighty wind. Come to find out, it was the monkeys in the jungle, howling to each other. Kinda like roosters crowing at daybreak. It was a sound we will never forget.

We left Limbaika that morning and returned to Alamikimba. Fred and Keith worked on the starter for a while, so we could get the truck running and head out for our bumpy pickup truck ride back to Siuna; in order to catch our plane back to Managua. We had missed the last plane for that day, so we stayed overnight in Siuna, hoping to catch an early plane the next day.

In Siuna, Jackie and I took a walk, looking for some different shoes for her; found and bought them at a neat little shop. Two gringo's, walking around in Siuna, like we knew what we were doing. What a site that must have been. We continued our walking tour of Siuna, then nearly ended up in jail, because we took a wrong turn. The police politely pointed us in the right direction. We were down the hill, and back at the air strip, our point of origin. Later that evening we found a restaurant, right across the street from where we were staying, and had a wonderful meal. There was a baseball tournament going on in town, so we watched different teams walk by our vantage point, on their way to the stadium. The next morning the plane landed on the gravel runway, and we were on our return flight.

Back in Managua, (Sunday) we went to Marcus and Ann's house, took very much appreciated showers, and rested. At 4:00 we went to the church in Granada, and after church went to Amelia and Wil's favorite pizza place.

Monday our whole team embarked on visiting projects that Marcus and Ann have, going on, in Grandada, Tipitapa and around Managua.

In Granada we visited the preschool, “Arco De Bronce”, (the bronze bow) based on Psalms 18:34. There, they hope to add an additional class room, looking to the future, where they hope to get full accreditation, and go from a preschool, to a grade school. Also on the grounds of the church in Granada, Marcus has a prototype, bio gas producer. He is looking forward to assembling the “overhead” that Gary Schneider donated, to use in lifting the heavy lid of the bio gas, in ground, silo.

In Tipitapa we visited the “Little Benjamin” school, where they hope to add a second floor, above the directors office and computer lab.

We went to the sewing project that Valeria is spearheading and to a very poor neighborhood where they hope to build an outreach center for an after school program. Right now, Dinira is providing this outreach, in her home. While we were walking through this neighborhood, a machete fight broke out at the bottom of the hill, and we lingered at the top of the hill until the dust settled and it was safe to return to our vehicle.

Monday night we stayed at the Provadenic, so the rest of the team would be near the airport, for a bright and early plane ride home, on Tuesday morning. Keith started off Tuesday morning with letting the door to their room slam shut, with the key to the door locked inside. Jackie told me what had happened and we quickly put on our thinking caps to try to solve this dilemma. Before we knew it, Keith had found the guard, and their door was open.

Efrim gave them a ride to the airport, and me a ride to my next destination: meeting up with Bill Beltz. It was a little tough to see them off, and not catch the same plane home. I took a deep breath and thought o. k., now for the next part.

I spent two days with Bill, visiting project sites, supported by the NICE foundation and learning more about the goals and future efforts the NICE foundation hopes to pursue. Eventually I made my way back to Marcus and began my “workshop” quest intertwined with my assignment of taking pictures of the kids at the Tipitapa school and gathering “family” data to be used in the student sponsorship program.

After taking photo's and gathering information, I would enter the photo's and information into the computer, and merge the two together. Our goal was to account for every student in the first grade. We did that, and got all of the third grade also.

Marcus had me scheduled to give 7 workshops. My workshops were a lecture presentation about sexual purity for men. I also dealt with “accountability”, “forgiveness”, “judging”, and “restoration”. While I gave my workshop in Somotillo, we also had a medical clinic going on at the same time. The medical team treated 110 people during the time we were there. Seven churches from the surrounding area, sent representatives from their churches to attend my workshop. It was rewarding to see different denominations cooperating with each other.

I was invited to speak at the “Restoration” church. That was my largest crowd: probably over 120 people. They insisted I use a microphone there: something I was not used to doing. I liked it.

In “Leon” there were two, female, police officers in the crowd. That was different.

At some churches I answered lots of questions, but for the most part, they were kinda shy to ask anything. At one engagement, we offered “write in” questions, so they could remain anonymous. That worked well.

One of my interpreters wanted my permission to use my outline, to teach the same lessons to his youth group. What a privilege to share God's word with so many people.

I met and networked with many, many, good people, who love the Lord, during my continued stay. Every one of them was a blessing to me.

The overwhelming consensus seemed to be, that what I was saying, was on the mark, and needed to be said and heard in Nicaragua. I thank God for the opportunity to speak boldly and firmly on topics that are precious to God's heart. Topics that men and women need to ponder; as they seek to live lives of holiness and purity.

Sunday, April 27th, I attended my final church service at the church in Granada.

On Monday, we started the reverse process, of getting ME back to my starting point at the Provadenic.

At Dinira's house we dropped off school supplies that the Girl Scouts had donated. At Masaya we dropped off some tin and a school desk, and the rest of the Girl Scout donated school supplies. In Managua, Marcus and I checked out the Volvo boat motor and picked up brake parts at an auto parts store. After Ann finished her grocery shopping, she and the kids, Marcus and I and Valeria met at a restaurant for our final dinner together.

Marcus, Ann, Will and Amelia, dropped me off at the Provadenic and headed out for their long, tired, ride to home. I settled in for my long, sleepless night, of waiting for 4:00 a. m. to arrive, so I could return to the good ole USA.

There are many details, to numerous to mention. Many adventures that will be fondly remembered in the days to come. I will say, this mission trip was the experience of a lifetime, one I hope I will never forget, one that I hope, forever changes my life.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY
      FOREVER
            AND EVER
                        AMEN

fully relying on God:     dennis