We had a wonderful Easter weekend. One of the highlights was hearing my brother Jacob tell of the missions trip he took to Nicaragua last week.
Jacob is 21 and a student at Iowa State University studying structural engineering. Around Christmastime, he heard about a group of college students with a church in Ames who were planning a missions trip to Nicaragua during spring break; he knew right away it was something in which he wanted to take part.
Jacob was one of 10 college students to take the trip. Once in Nicaragua, their time was spent between 2 orphanages sponsored by Arms of Love. Read more about the organization here.
The children at these two orphanages were approximately 7-14 years of age. Each child has no family to take them in; many come from situations of abuse and/or neglect. Among other tasks the team carried out at the orphanage, they bonded with the kids the whole week. Jacob came home knowing every child by name.
Jacob looks forward to going back, maybe next year.
Here are a few pictures of the week:
a new church plant (the service they attended lasted 4 hours!)
at the orphanage
Jacob is the white guy :)
another boy from the orphanage – taking full advantage of the face paint the group brought
The missions team left the orphanage to treat some children who live in the “dump” region (next several pictures) to lunch at a fast food chicken place. Jacob said that the children were dressed in their very best clothes; most children were instructed by their mothers not to eat all of their food so they could take it back and share with their families.
families living in the dump (located in the capital city of Managua, about 40 miles from one of the orphanages)
deplorable conditions
child following team’s bus
Jacob said that because it was Holy Week, they had to be more cautious – men get drunk and high all week long.
back at the orphanage – many of the girls cried when the missions team left.
[...] By the time most of you read this, my brother Jacob will be en route to Nicaragua for the third time. I wrote about his first trip back in March of 2008 here. [...]
jacob-well, you know me-my heart was so full when i read this, and of course, i had to “tear up.” your grandpa worries about you when you go, but we also know that it is “Lord-led.” i know this about you, that you are now “bitten” and i imagine He has more in store for you. we are so proud of you and even tho grandpa and i have seen these pics, we know there will probably be more stories and pics to be seen. God bless you and thanks for your piece in jessie’s blog. we will look forward to more.