Today was a "fun" day for the team - but it was also a very sad day because we had to pack up our bags and leave El Ayudante. We headed out of the city of León at around 9:00 and headed to Managua for a trip to El Lago Managua for a zip-line experience. After having lunch, we headed to a local mercado to do some shopping and head to our hotel. We had a fun party at dinner and had a fun time throwing team members in the swimming pool.

We have so much more work to do in Nicaragua - and the work must continue. Your prayers for the people of this country are first on the list of things to do. Let's help put these prayers into further action by whatever means available. The translators here need money to continue their education; the children need uniforms to be able to go to school; preschoolers need to be fed a good breakfast and vitamins when they are at school; the rural areas of the country have absolutely nothing and yet continue to work and improve - but they need basic supplies for medicines and education. This is a country that could rise economically but still ignore most of the population. Yet there is hope here and we can and must continue the uplifting, overwhelming, inspiring, awesome work of God.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow - Praise God all creatures here below - Praise Him above all heavenly host - Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

¡Amen y Dios te bendiga!


Some of the staff of El Ayudante

More pics here.

Today all of the mission teams (medical, VBS/construction, and women's bible study) went up to a remote rural region called La Majada where El Ayudante has established a school and clinic. Close to 200 people received medical attention, and the VBS team was able to play with kids in school from two years old to 14 years of age. The women's bible study team wrapped up their sessions with the women that they have been working with so closely, and had an emotional parting - many of these women with absolutely nothing gave our team gifts! We will be packing up tonight and leaving for Managua for a fun day of shopping and a "zip-line" experience.



Pictures here.

Pictures here.

Today we had teams working everywhere! This morning our VBS team and construction team headed to San Pedro to lead VBS at the school there, as well as pour a new concrete floor for the school. The medical team headed to the rural region of La Ceiba and treated many, many people - around 150 on paper and many more in reality. There were many families in need of some very basic health care, as well as needing treatment for parasites. We also had a team from the VBS crew that came back to El Ayudante and painted 3 bathrooms in the children's home. The women's ministry continues to grow - from 27 women on the first day to 39 at the end of the evening tonight! We are trying to prepare for tomorrow - a day of contrasts as we will be visiting the dump in León, then going to the Pacific coast that evening for dinner.



More pics here - and new movies as well!

Today we had the absolute privilege of walking to the local Methodist church and worshiping with the residents of the neighborhood around El Ayudante. The neighborhood is extremely poor, with houses constructed out of whatever material is available - tin sheeting, concrete blocks, scraps of wood, etc. Despite the poverty, the church was full of smiling faces and people who were immaculately clean. We sang, clapped, prayed, and worshiped God in a welcoming place - we all are truly united in Christ! After lunch Melissa and Mark headed out to the local grocery store while the rest of the team went to the Children's Shelter to play with the kids. Our women's bible study group had a growing crowd of around 30 women tonight, and they sang loudly and worshiped with our group.



More pics here (and a movie here!)

Today we had 4 work teams: VBS, Medical, Construction, and Women's Bible Study. VBS and Medical worked together at a Baptist Church in San Jacinto (about 18 kilometres outside of León). Construction mixed and poured a concrete floor at a local school in León, and got their work done before lunch and then joined the VBS team. Women's Bible Study began in the evening at the United Methodist Church in the El Ayudante neighborhood of Rubén Darío. Thousands of vitamins and anti-parasitic medicines were dispensed to local residents, 110 pairs of glasses were given, tons of bibles were given, and close to 300 people were given medical care. Praise God!



More pics here!

Thank you all for your prayers! We are safe at El Ayudante and have every piece of luggage and team equipment now that we had at the beginning of the day. The weather here is nice and hot (90 degrees) and the sun is shining brightly!


(Window on bus reads: Nicaraguan Christian Home)

More pics here!

Thanks for coming to the update site for the Nicaragua 2007 Mission team. We will be leaving Knoxville on July 27 and returning on August 3rd. Come back often for updates on the mission work, pictures of the people and places, and stories about what is happening here at El Ayudante.

Please keep us in your prayers!