Nicaragua Mission's Trip - Nov. 2 - 13, 2014 -- By Samuel Roberto

RtH Team to Nicaragua

I am so blessed and thankful that I was able to go on my first mission trip to Nicaragua with “Reaching the Hungry”.  In the past couple of years, I have been praying and asking God to allow me an opportunity to serve Him on the mission field. On November 2nd of 2014 I headed off on my first trip to Nicaragua, Central America. I was so excited, anxious, and had high expectations. In the two weeks that I was there, God blessed me with more than I could imagine. I had a much closer relationship with Him while I was down there and am still continuing to grow closer with God daily. My experience in Nicaragua really opened up my eyes and heart to see why being directly on the mission field can be a really important ministry.

Mixing cement.

Some of the team installing 5,000 liter water tank.

While in Nicaragua, I was able to see the ministry that Jaime and Monica were called to do in Campo Gonia. We were able to clear paths by chopping down grass with machetes. We also built a new barbed wire fence made from trees we chopped down to provide more security for the ranch. The whole team and other locals were able to build a brick house for a 5000 gallon water tank which will be used for the ranch to provide more water to the people living there. In doing all this work we were able to build strong relationships with the people of Nicaragua, and also encourage Jaime and Monica in the ministry God has called them to do.

Cutting the weeds.

Sheets for roofing.

Besides the physical labor, we were blessed to get to know the local people by partnering with a few local ministries. One of the blessings was visiting inmates in prison. We divided into smaller teams and spent about 2 hours sharing and listening to those who were incarcerated. One of our team members got to share with hundreds on lock-down. He shared how he turned his life over to Christ in the Vista Jail and how God delivered him from 20-years of meth use.  After we left prison, we went to serve the homeless by putting on a worship service for them, then we served all that attended a hot lunch.

Our Prison Team.

One of the three Jesus Film Outreach.

There are so many people in this world who need to hear the living truth of our Lord and Savior. During one of our Jesus film outreaches in Nicaragua, I had the opportunity to speak the truth of how the Lord has changed my life and why it’s important to have Him in our lives as our Lord and savior. I was so touched to see how many people in Nicaragua came to know Christ and accept Him into their lives, especially all the little children. It really stirred me inside and I want to continue to do missions and share the word of God no matter where I’m at in the world. The people in Nicaragua are awesome and very friendly, and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience in missions.