Day 6 - Wrapping It Up

Morgan Goodman

Today was an amazing day. We went to this village near a volcano. The ride was very bumpy, but I loved it. It felt like a roller coaster. Then we got to sing some songs. After that, we got back on the truck, and started to pass out candy. It was a fantastic day!

Matthew Chapin

Today was a good day, but then again there is never a bad day down here in the paradise of Nicaragua. We loaded up the saddles this morning to visit Santa Cruz, a small village quite a ways from La Casa. This is a very interesting village, located on the hillside of a volcano and currently with no water, preacher, or teacher. Though this village seems to have very little, in my eyes I can see they are more grateful for the gifts we brought than most every other village.

As we left the village, we distributed clothing and candy from the back of the truck while driving away. This afternoon, we were all thinking about tomorrow and our trek home, but more importantly how God has affected each and every one of us on this trip and how he has brought us all closer together to Him and to each other.

Kinsey Murphy

My day was a very interesting one. We went to Santa Cruz today, which is close to the top of the volcano here. The trip up there was the longest one we have been on yet - it was an hour. The sun was so hot and the ride was bumpy. On the way there, we threw candy like normal, and as always, it blew me away that those people were so excited about little bits of candy and t-shirts. Even the men would whistle for us to throw them things, and the little kids would sprint out of their houses and to the road so they could get some candy. 

We had to stop outside of the village to get water, because the town we were going to doesn’t have water. They have to get it driven to them, because their well has run dry. Once we got up there, we were so hot that the guys didn’t play soccer, and all the girls forgot the nail polish, so we all just kind of stood around. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I sat on the back of the truck that was holding the beans and rice and watched the people. It was the dirtiest village we have been to yet, and most of the kids didn’t have shoes - some of them didn’t even have pants or shirts.

At first, there was a big crowd of people around, but they ended up moving away to watch Kyle swing little kids. So, I just started to sing "Amazing Grace" to myself to occupy the silence that had accumulated around me. While sitting there singing, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, this little head turn and look at me. There was one little boy left standing there, and he stared at me the whole time I was singing. I mean, his eyes never left mine; he just stood there in silence and watched me. It was like I was the only thing around him, and all he knew to do was listen to him, and it hit me that we should be like that with God.

When God is speaking to us, the only thing that should be going through our minds is to listen to Him, but it’s so hard for us to do that. Sitting there watching this little boy watching me, I started to tear up, because my heart was breaking for him. He was standing there all alone with his buckets, so that he could get some beans and rice. There was a major possibility that if we hadn’t come, he wouldn’t have eaten tonight. That thought killed me, because I eat like a queen every single night, and these people might not get to eat for a whole week. 

Leaving each village is so hard to do, because you don’t know if the food you just gave them will be the only food they get until you come back. All you can do is trust God and know that all of those people are in His hands. 

Kaleb Lambert

My Favorite God Moment for the rest of my life

The one thing today that has stood out to me the most actually happened last night. After our God Moment time last night, I called my dad and talked to my family for a little bit, but afterwards I thought about what my little brother, Aaron, had said to me before I left for Nicaragua. He told me that when he grows up, he wants to be just like me. Once I finally realized what I had back home, I couldn’t help but cry. When my dad said that my brothers were sitting there, smiling from ear to ear, I lost it.

I know my parents are proud of me, and I won’t ever take anything for granted. I love my family with all my heart and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world, but I felt terrible, because I have been busy for the past month or so with soccer, and I haven’t had much time to really spend some quality time with them. This trip has made me realize what really matters in life. Money and popularity will NEVER get you as far as having a strong relationship with God and having a great family. It’s just kind of sad that it took me this long to realize that, but I’m glad I finally have. I love the Lord, my God, with everything inside me, and when I get home, the first thing I’m going to do is run to my family with open arms. This trip has been the best thing to ever happen in my life, and it has changed me for the best. I can barely wait to come back next year.

Day 5 - We Are Not Ashamed of the Gospel!!!

Ashleigh Stearns

Okay, so today beat every other day we have been here by a lot! It's really like everyday gets better and better. Today after breakfast, we went to the radio and Kinsey sang a beautiful song. Then Tim, Robyn, Angela, Will, and I gave our testimonies, and sharing my testimony to 4 countries just made me so happy and took weight off my shoulders; and after we left the radio, we all went to a village called Jiñocuao. We met the pastor that almost died and got to hear from his family, and we sang in front of their village; and then Pastor Bryan spoke, and a huge number of them accepted Christ! It was awesome!

After we left, we had lunch, then left for Las Torres village, where I got to name 2 twins that were 2 months old. I named them Ashleigh Melissa and Alfredo Allan. My friend Allan helped me with the middle names, considering he was interpreting for me! Then I helped out with the medicine. Then we came back to the casa and had dinner.

Also, earlier today, I wrote Henry a letter, and Angela rewrote it in Spanish, and I gave them to him; and later after dinner, me, Kyle, Angela, and Henry sat there, and it was SO GOD SPEAKING through us! It was crazy - when one of us didn't know what to say, the other did, and Angela was such a blessing being able to interpret for us. Henry finally accepted Christ and is hopefully getting baptized real soon. And he cried, I cried, and God just works in awesome ways.

Other missionaries planted seeds in him - I just got to watch the harvest grow, and I can honestly say I've never helped someone come to Christ, but after that, I will be seriously all about Jesus... I'm not going to heaven alone. We were put on this earth to do one thing, and that's bring others to him, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!

Todo es acerca de Jesus! (It's all about Jesus!)

Hunter Hoyt

Today was convicting. I went through most of the day tired, sore, and with an all around bad attitude. That was most of the day.  Tonight during God Moment time, Don said a few things that convicted me as well as gave me a way to relate to him. He said that there will be times when evil will try to prevail over our time here and will give us the "I just want to get back to the house" mindset. That mentality almost conquered my day.

But when Don said that, it made me realize that during the village visits today, I was thinking that, and at that moment, God spoke to me through Don and told me that, He, not evil, will triumph. I related to Don through his description of his childhood - in his absence of a mother figure and his father's extreme doubt in his ability. My biological father left when I was one, and I lived with a single mom until I was five. My now stepfather, who adopted me as his son, has blessed me in ways beyond explanation. I needed the presence of a father and God granted me one who is loving and wills me to do well. 

Though I was presented with this gift, at times I couldn't help but ponder on my biological father. Why did he leave? Why doesn't he call? Why don't I care whether he loves me or not? Well, all that's settled now. I had carried this burden - that I didn't bring on myself - for way too long, and enough was enough. I laid it down on the altar before God, and He delivered me from it. I have a father that loves me at home, and even more importantly, a father that is with me 24/7, and is supplying me with infinite and immeasurable love and compassion, no matter the circumstances.  Finally finding peace in something that has caused me anguish for so long, creates only a feeling God could describe. 

And God did it. How appropriate. God works in amazing ways and most definitely my bad attitude for the day was relinquished. I had the opportunity to play my new ukulele to one person, council another, and talk to still one more that I didn't even hardly know, because I love every single person here and am supplied with a confidence only God can provide.

Tiffany Ford

Today, we went to the radio and sang 'The Pretty Song.' Kinsey sang "Amazing Grace." Ashleigh, Robin, Will, Tim, and Angela shared their testimonies. It was awesome to listen to my best friend, Ashleigh, share her testimony on the radio, because I was there for it.

Down here, if you stop and listen, you see how God is working and how He has worked. Today, I read the thing on the wall about Shelly. It touched my heart and showed me how God had a plan from the beginning. He knew that He wanted to build a mission house down here, and He did it. Although we were oblivious to it, He knew. This just shows how big God is and how great His love for us is.

In the village of Jiñocuao, we saw Pastor Saturnino. He was the pastor who had gotten electrocuted while building his church. This week, I've got the change to hear witness of his wife's faith in the Lord. She believed that her husband would live, and God saved him. This encouraged my faith just by witnessing his much better health. He was using a walker now, but all his wounds were healed.

I also helped the doctor handout medicine in Las Torres. I got to see twin 14-day olds. Ashleigh actually ended up getting to name them! This village had many babies.

Kyle touched my heart today when he told all the girls that, "The man we married would be lucky." Kyle and Ashleigh, with the help of Angela's translation were able to bring Henry to Christ.

Day 4 - God's Blessings

Tiffany Asmussen

Today, I shared my testimony on the radio, which was a first. I was crying so much, I couldn't read my paper. God just put those words into my mouth. And when I got back, I got hugs, and good jobs, and it seemed like people were more open to me, after I was open to them. I felt so much better; now all I have to do is share it with the rest of the world.

Later, we went into the village, and Angela stood out to me with the fact that when she couldn't understand how to get through to the people, she prayed about it. And it set a great example for me, in that whenever I don't know what to do or where to go, all I have to do is ask.

After sharing our God moments today, I went outside to write this journal. I had listened to how Kyle was talking about how Henry wasn't saved. And I had seen him as I was writing, and asked to speak to him. Mind you, Henry doesn't speak English, except a little. I asked him why he didn't like God, and he responded with, "Who said that?"

And I said, "Nobody, ya know, but why do you not have God in you?" He said it was because his family didn't believe in God. So, I proceeded to tell him that he wasnt alone, and also, that I try hard everyday to talk about God and that he should too. He kept asking me questions about how to talk to them, which showed me he was interested. Finally, I told him no matter what he needed to try, and even if they push away God, he doesn't have to. And he thanked me; and as he was leaving, I said, "Believe in Him and you'll never be alone. And it was the perfect end to a perfect day, because I was one step closer.

Parker Smith

As we were driving out to the village today, I noticed Herc's (my dog's) old pen in Lakewood was nicer than the houses that people here lived in. God loves them just as much, but I am so much more blessed. Titus 2:13 says that since God loved us that much and blessed us, we should be zealous for good deeds. I cannot always. God, please help me to be.

Hannah Roller

On Tuesday afternoon, our mission team went to a village called Pascuala. Earlier in the week, Don had given me a parachute to play with the little kids while their families waited to see the doctor. When we first got to the village, I started playing with the kids, but after a while, the kids got tired of the game and folded up the parachute and gave it to me.

After the game was over, I wasn't sure what to do, but I felt like God was calling me to go over to this group of girls. This one little girl just really connected to me, and she told me her name was Selena. She is 12 years old. With the little Spanish I know, I was able to get to know her better. One of the first things she asked me was how big my house was. I told her that it was big, and she pointed to her house and told me it was small. Then she asked me what my dad did for a living and I told her he was a dentist and that he was here with me in the village. Then i asked her what her father did for a living, and she said that her father did not live with her mom or her family. She told me that she was very happy for me that my parents lived together.

She broke my heart with how sweet she was. When she got 5 pieces of candy from the watermelon eating contest, she offered me a piece of candy. Then she followed me around some more and showed me the village's one bathroom and asked me how many bathrooms I have in my house. I couldn't lie to her, and I told her I had 5. Then after the pastor gave the message and after several people gave their testimonies, the pastor gave the invitation to accept Christ. During the Sinner's Prayer, I looked over and saw that my little friend, Selena, was praying the prayer along with the pastor. It was a wonderful day in Nicaragua and God blessed me so much through my new friend Selena.

Day 3 - Beginning the Work

Robyn Siner

Today was amazing! This morning we went to the radio station and sang, and people shared their testimonies. It was so cool to see us worshiping and praising God to these people. After we got back from the radio station, we went and dug footers for a church being built in Tejar. This village has a roof held up by tree branches, tree trunks as benches, and a wood slab for a podium. What really made my heart melt was that a bunch of the women came with their kids and watched us, and all of a sudden, the men and boys came and took our shovels and started digging. They were so happy that we were setting a foundation for their church.

It was so awesome to know that we set the foundation for that church through God! He gave us a huge amount of strength and power to set that foundation! Later, after lunch, we went to Villa Esperanza, which is a village in Nica. The poverty just breaks your heart. This village had no water. If we had not gone, most of them would not have eaten. The biggest God moment of the day is when Amy Roller came up to me while I was talking to some girls, and I had just finished painting their nails, and she said, "Come here; I have to show you this." She said, "I found the girl your mom fixed a wheel chair for and helped her." This girl is a special needs child, she can't walk or talk that well.

When my mom had gone 3 years ago, she found this girl that was just always sitting on the dirt floor and lonely. When Amy told me that she had found her, I just got extremely excited, and I just dropped everything and went and took watermelon to her, and talked to her and her mom. Another very special thing about this girl is that my mom and Abby Austin gave her an article and photo of Shelly, Abby's sister and Pastor Jim's daugher. This girl had a huge smile on her face when we were talking about my mom and when we talked with her.

God really convicted me, when this girl - who can't move, sitting on a dirt floor, with a huge smile on her face - can be so happy, and I can get so upset over such little things! So, God really touched my heart today! Our God is so great! I had friends ask me, "Why are you going there?," and I said, "God has a plan!" And He did; He is so big! He put me at that village for a reason; someone other than her family probably did not interact with her before that. So, God really touched my life today! I praise God for it all! It was all Him!  Jeremiah 29:11

Tyler Campbell

This morning, on the radio, I shared a short message on the parable of the lost son. Going into it, I was really nervous, and not really knowing what God was going to say through me, because I didn't really prepare anything. I just knew that this was what I was going to be talking about.

Before I went up to actually speak, I was in the corner of the radio room praying, asking God to give me peace as I spoke. And it was comforting to know how far I had come since the last time I had shared on the radio. At first, I had to come to God and beg him to give me peace - I felt like I wasn't worthy. And this time, I peacefully asked Him for it, knowing that He would give it to me.

As soon as I sat down, the butterflies left my stomach, my mind was clear, and I knew that God was ready to use me. The next thing I knew, it was over, and the word of God had been shared to the people of Nicaragua.

Day 2 - Traveling to Casa de Shelly

Katie King

We are so excited! We made it here safely with no delays, lost baggage, or any problems on either flight. Today, we got up and had morning devotion under a Mango tree; then we drove to Somotillo and arrived safe and sound. When we got here, we ate lunch - it was delicious; then we picked up trash around Casa de Shelly, and then we took it to the fire pit and burnt it.

We then got to go to the new clinic that is being built, that we will be working on this week. It is such a blessing to see how God provides for His people. After we looked at the clinic, we got to play with a bunch of the kids from around the villages. They are so precious and love to have people to play with. We played 'Gato, Gato, Perro,' which we know as 'Duck, Duck, Goose,' and Futbol, which is the classic game of soccer. They could have played for hours! The whole group is heading to church tonight to celebrate that 'Jesus is ALIVE!' with the Nicaraguan people. We plan to sing 'Sing to the King' and 'Lord, We Lift Your Name on High.' The weather is very hot, humid; some are tired and a bit nevous, but the love of God is everywhere and is being shown to the people in so many different and awesome ways.

Kyle Young

Today there was a whole lot of driving in the bus, and it felt like we weren't gonna be able to do much. We ended up picking up some trash around 'Casa de Shelly' and then ended up going to the clinic. There was a lot of improvement on the clinic: the roof is on and the floor is quite even. Some kids came over and we just stood there looking at them. Someone said, "Are we gonna just stand here watching them?"

"No," I thought. So, I went and started spinning a little boy around by his arms. The kids took turns, and while I switched kids, this particular little boy - when I told him to come over - sprinted, with a massive grin on his face, right to my arms. It gave me an awesome picture of how people react when they finally realize Jesus is calling them to His arms. They take off with no reservations, straight to His arms, and with much love, He joyfully takes them off their feet with this thought: "I love you; I have been waiting for you; you are perfect, and you are mine.

Sam Bailey

It's Easter Sunday! Everybody in the hotel is dressed up, eating breakfast by the pool. We accidentally woke up early, so we found a quiet spot in this beautiful garden to do our quiet time. There's so many different birds and trees and flowers. It feels amazing out here. "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart! I will tell of Your wonders; I will be glad and rejoice in you! I will sing praise to Your name; O Most High." Psalm 8:9-9:1-2

We went to church tonight. It was very hot. The speaker had a translator, so it was somewhat hard to understand. It was really neat to see everybody singing the same song in 2 different languages, but all praising the same God. At the end, a lady came and told us her testimony and accepted Jesus into her heart. It was cool, because she had talked about her husband, and how she has a bad relationship with him. But when she was praying to receive Christ, he came up and supported her. I think God has a plan for that family and their relationship. Tomorrow is a great day of digging ditches and hauling sand. It's not for me... "It's all about Jesus."

Day 1 - We've Arrived!

The group arrived safely in Nicaragua. After settling in at the hotel, everyone grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed to bed to get ready for the next morning's trip to Somotillo.

On Our Way...

Acts 1:8 (NASB95)
⁸ but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Dear Beloved,

It looks like our Student Missions Team is on their way to Nicaragua! Thank you for all of your prayers, offerings and loving support. We simply would not have been able to send as many of our young people to Nicaragua this spring were it not for the generous and faithful support of our First Baptist Family of Faith. Please know that this week’s missions trip is in every way a “family affair” as we will be carrying you in our hearts as we seek to bear witness for our Lord Jesus to those who prior to our going did not have a personal relationship with Him. Because you cared we are partnering this Spring Break Week with Because We Care Ministries and I am forever grateful for the joy and privilege of serving our Savior with such a precious and dear church family.

We hope that you will enjoy the upcoming reports, testimonies and pictures as we seek to document for you each day the events and experiences of our Nicaragua ’09 Student Mission Trip. With the help of our Media Director, Kelley Langdon and our Communications Coordinator, Suzanne Jamison this blog has been created in hopes of allowing our entire First Baptist Family to enjoy this mission trip together with us. We’ll look forward to seeing you next Sunday, April 19^th as we worship the Lord together. Until then, by His Grace and for His Glory!

Faithfully Your Pastor and Friend,

Bryan Smith

Isaiah 6:8 (NASB95)
⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"