NIcaragua 2009

This trip to Nicaragua in 2009 is exciting and scary at the same time. Some of you may be overwhelmed with excitement while others are in fear of money and other details that pertain to an overseas trip. This blog will hopefully put our fears at rest and allow all of us to ask the right questions. First off, no question is off limits. Email me at jdouglas@lvnghp.org your questions and then I will answer them on here for everyone to see. This way other parents or students who have the same question can check the board and see that the question has already been answered. Some details to start with:

Dates: July 28th-August 4th (this can still change but only by a couple of days one way or the other, it should be known for sure by the new year.)

Cost: 1500-1600 (The reason this is also an unknown at this point is because of airfare. The cost of flying continues to increase and we still have to fly to Nicaragua. This will be something that might take longer to know for sure because so many variables go into it. The economy is a huge factor, plus we don't want to order the tickets too soon and find that someone who thought they could go now cannot go for whatever reason. I assure you that orphan network and myself want to make this trip as affordable as possible.)

Purpose: Why Nicaragua? Well Nicaragua is a place that I have been. It is a place that I have seen God move in amazing ways. Missions trips can be amazing if they are done well, but they can be equally disappointing when there handled poorly. With an overseas missions trip you want to know what you get ahead of time. Most people go on a pre-trip to get a feel for what the missions trip will be like. Since I have been there it takes away the need for a pre-trip which saves us money. Beyond all of that I know God will move in everyones life on this trip.

Our day to day purpose on this trip will vary. We will be hanging out with orphans. This includes playing soccer, baseball, coloring, crafts, etc. Much like a vacation bible school. We might also be doing some light construction in areas that were effected by the hurricane that hit last year. We will most likely go to the trash dump where people live off of the scraps that others throw away. A very humbling experience. One thing that needs to be understood is that the needs of Nicaragua are constately changing. They are a third world country. It is a very unpredictable territory. A month before we get there a hurricane could come through and all the needs of our trip change. There is an element of flexibility that needs to be understood. One thing I know is that orphan network works in the communities on a daily basis (throughout all of Nicaragua) and they know the needs of the people. Our mission is to meet their needs. If it is as simple as playing soccer with an orphan, as critical as building a house for a family effected by a hurricane, or as humbling as handing out food to people who live in a trash dump. Orphan network knows the needs and they will put us to good use to meet those needs.

Something to remember when we ask ourselves why are we doing a trip like this,
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Obviously this post has been very general and I have not answered everyones questions. What I do want you to know is that we are in the early stages of this trip. Applications will be handed out to students on December 3rd. The trip is nearly 8 months away from that date. There is plently of time to have all your questions answered. There will be more meetings where we answer questions in that type of forum, but until then please feel free to email me with your questions so that I can respond on this blog for everyone to see.

Thanks,
Justin Douglas