We are home!

I am happy to report everyone is home safe and soundly! Thank you to everyone who supported us finically and in prayer, we could not have done this without you! We were happy to bless those in Nicaragua and we were certainly blessed as well. We love you all and will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip.

~Nicaragua team 2014

photos for you while we have limited internet!

Link to photos from SI International Staff!!! :)


https://www.facebook.com/pages/SI-Nicaragua/639392952770740

Lauren

Lauren Shelburne

Hi everybody!

Today was our last day working at our ministry sites! It is really sad to be done serving at our sites, but I am excited for our excursion tomorrow. I have spent the week working in micro finance. We host meetings for woman in the community who want to learn new skills to start businesses to support themselves. We started the day by learning how to make hammocks from one of the ladies from the group and finishing a Frozen piñata.  Then we traveled to one of the poorest areas of Nicaragua called Valle Del Volcan. It is a piece of land next to the dump that the government gave to the poor so they have a place to live. It is crazy to see the conditions that these people live in, yet how happy they remain. 

We started the meeting by passing balloons around like “hot potato” and answering the questions that were on them when the music stopped. Megan led a devotion that was then translated for the ladies by our site leader. Next, we led the ladies in an Easter craft.  We helped them fill their Easter egg with different items that signified different aspects of the resurrection. All day we were able to play with kids and hold babies. One little boy who I got to hang out with the day before when I was taking pictures withe the medical site and boys club, followed me around all day. All he wanted was another balloon even though we had given him around 20 the day before. It is really windy here and there is barb wire everywhere which caused the demise of many balloons. There was a little baby named Javier who we all took turns holding. Unfortunately, I was the last to hold him, and the girl he choose to pee on haha. Luckily we are able to wash our clothes here!

I’ve loved being able to take photos of the people of Nicaragua and it is making me think about becoming a professional photographer, traveling around the world and photographing different cultures. The base has been amazing the kitchen staff go out of their way for every meal to make sure that there is food for me that doesn’t contain stuff I’m allergic to. Leading worship with Jackie, Ginsyn, and Taylor has also been fun :) I love and miss all of you! Only two more days till we are home!

Love, 

Lauren :)

P.S. I accidentally started typing in Spanish! I have gotten to use my Spanish a lot and have learned many more words. People are using me as their translator and I love being able to communicate with the kids!

Stephen

Stephen Doerbecker 

Hope you all are doing well and are preparing yourselves to hear the exciting and encouraging news your sons and daughters have to say. I have been beyond blessed to be on this trip with your children. Each and every single one of them have encouraged me and strengthened me beyond words. Today we took a hike and it was literal death. Once we hiked to the top it was so beautiful and the devotion on the waterfall was so special. Today was also the last day with the kids and it was super sad, but made me want to come back to see them. I was able to give my Bible to a kid who spoke english and wants to be a site leader and a translator. I hope it blesses him and helps him in his walk with God. This entire trip has been amazing and such an incredible blessing and I don't want to go home (sorry mom). God has defiantly worked through your kids and I and i cant wait to get home and tell everyone and anyone who wants to listen. Today was crazy to think that it will be a few years before i see these people again (yes i am coming back) and I will always be praying for them. Thank you all for your prayers and we will all be home shortly. Dios le Bendiga! 

- Stephen Doerbecker 

Jackie

Jackie Stone

Hello my friends and family! So update, I have been able to throw a baby shower, played with some beautifully happy kids, and I actually got the opportunity to work in the Education site! Yesterday (wednesday) I went with Miss D, the teacher, and a translator. It was so much fun! We went and visited some homes in the morning and talked to some families and prayed with them. Then we went to the offices and organized all of the donations we brought for the site. And then finally, we went to the school! I got to be “Professora Jackie” or “Teacher Jackie”! They were so cute and energetic! I loved teaching them and helping them with their work! and I also got to practice my spanish by reading a Bible story in espanol! It was so fun! Today was our last day and we visited a woman who already has 3 daughters and 1 on the way (her due date was today!). She was so kind and beautiful, she just really wanted to get the baby out and love her! This afternoon, we had a meeting with about 15 little girls! We face painted and made balloons. It was so fun and these kids love seeing us and playing with us! I am so glad I got to come on this trip and I can’t wait to tell you all the stories I’ve heard! Love you all and see you soon! :)

ps: I did so well, in regards to bug bites, until last night! When we went to dinner in the community, we sat outside and I got bit (the size of a quarter!!!) and since then, I’ve gotten 2 more! Anyways, pray for a safe 2 days more and pray that my legs don’t kill me with itchiness! 

Love you!! 

-Jackie Stone

Kylie

Kylie Wright

Hello everybody! Sorry I haven’t written since the first day, just wanted to update you that I am still alive. I am having a fantastic time here!! I love Nicaragua and I’m considering not coming home. I might come home to get some fresh clothes and say my goodbyes and stuff but I’m pretty content here. Haha just kidding don’t worry mom, I’ll be back :). I have absolutely fallen deeply in love with the people and the communities here. On my AT site we have been building water filters for the communities and yesterday we were able to deliver our first one that we personally built to a family. Yes mom it is reminds me so much of dads projects haha. The water that the people are drinking here is full of this bacteria called Ecoli that is making the communities horribly sick. It was just such an incredible blessing to be able to see how something that I made is going to affect the entire community for years to come. I have loved every single moment I’ve had here and I’m so incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Although it will hurt so much to leave, I am so excited to be able to come home and share my experiences with anyone who will listen. I can honestly say that I am a changed person due to this trip and I am so excited for what I can accomplish with my new perspective on life. I miss everyone so much and cant wait to see you! I probably will not be writing again so I’ll see you on Saturday! :)

P.S. mom and dad- I’m bringing a bunch of Nicaraguan children and my pet pig Oliver back with me, hope you don’t mind. Also I am replacing all of the beds and couches in the house with hammocks. Trust me, you’ll thank me later :) 

-Kylie 

Megan

Megan Casillas

Hola ma famila, 

Just kidding. I still don’t know any spanish. Anyways I miss you all but I don’t want to leave Nicaragua so don’t be surprised if Im not on the plane home. I could stay here for months and months. The past two days have been so incredible..we’ve had the opportunity to go on a lot of house visits which has been so neat. We get to go into peoples homes and they're so gracious and happy to see us. On one visit today we met a lady who makes hammocks and we got to try and make our own. I also got to hold a two week old baby who was so precious. The people here are in need of so many things yet they are so content with what they have. We’re all really exhausted and functioning on very little sleep so prayers that we power through the next two days would be great. Tomorrow we are hiking a volcano and shopping in the market. We’re also going out to eat at a restaurant to have our last dinner with our site leaders. Our site leaders are the most amazing people and they're all going through difficult things so if you keep them in your prayers that would be awesome. Love you guys so much! 

P.S. I apologize for spelling and grammar errors Im really sleepy right now. 

Megs 

Anthony

Anthony Aragon

today we went on what they called a hike but i would call it more of a survival walk. We walked down to the lagoon but we walked down this narrow path climbing up and down rocks sliding through the dirt trying not to roll into the jungle. i regret looking around because i saw a bunch of  weird nasty bugs. After our lunch we played baseball all afternoon. It was really nice to go out and just play again like little league not worrying about batting average or playing well; just genuinely enjoying playing the game. no matter what we play or what we do with the kids they enjoy it and make the best out of it and thats a nice mindset i think id like to bring back with me.

- Anthony

Brooke

Brooke Fessler

Today was a very exciting last day at the medical site.

In the morning we visited Suzana, a woman who had her sheet metal roof cave in and cut her leg. She needed 26 stitches and antibiotics. Today we helped to clean her wound and prayed with her. 

After that we went out into the community and treated several women. Today was a slow day at the clinic, so we got to run around and play tag with the kids for about 3 hours. We also played a game of baseball with the boys.

Tonight our team has some downtime to sit in our hammocks and talk. We also have team bonding time tonight to talk about what God has been doing in our lives this week. 

Tomorrow we will hike up a volcano in the morning and then visit a historical landmark. Later we will visit an Artisan market and then have dinner overlooking the lagoon.

This week has been completely amazing and we are all sad that it is almost over.

love you mom!

Brooke 

Site Summaries for Wednesday from Brooke!

The last few days have been pretty busy here in Nicaragua. 

At the medical site Doctor Celia has seen over 80 patients in the last 2 days and we have continued to assist her by taking temperatures, checking blood sugar levels, blood pressures, and pulses. The majority of our patients are sickly children, older women, and pregnant teens. Prayer for these people would be greatly appreciated because most of the women have been abandoned and left to take care of their children on their own. We went to the poorest community today, which is built upon the landfill. Prayer for a mother and her 35 day old baby would be very appreciated; she lost his twin brother in the womb and now he is very sick and the mother is very distressed. 

At the micro finance site the girls have been helping women learn how to do projects. Megan has been doing a devotion to encourage the women dealing with depression. They have also been helping by cleaning the houses and doing house visits to pray with various women. Today they also made several piñatas for parties later in the week. 

At the AT site Kylie has been working hard to help the men build the water filters. While they could build many filters per day, they choose to draw out the process in order to build relationships with the people and better share Christ with them. Kylie helped deliver their first filter today, mixed cement, and helped to paint.

At the sports site the boys have been playing soccer with all the kids in the various communities. Today we blew up balloons and handed them out to the kids to play with. It sounds like such a simple thing, but it brought the kids hours of joy and laughter.

In the social work site the ladies threw a lovely, strong woman a beautiful baby shower to celebrate the miracle that her child is. The girls on our team aided the women in making jewelry and made 6 home visits today.

Jackie visited the education site which is not open to students yet. She helped the kids learn several english words, read them a story from the spanish bible, and just ran around and played with all the kids. She was a great help to the site leader today, who does not know any english. 

Nob, Miss Duek, and Dan have been helping at all the sites and constantly encouraging us. They have been taking tons of pictures, some of which will be uploaded tonight.

Love you and miss you all,

 Brooke

P.S. Kylie says “Hi mom!”

P.P.S. Mom and dad, comment below and I can read it later! 

Taylor

Taylor Niemi

Dear Friends and Family,

This trip has been so amazing already! The other team that came down with us are such amazing and fun people to be around. The leaders are also sooo awesome, because they act like friends, leaders and mentors. And our site leaders/translators are some of the most loving, caring and strong people I have ever met. Even though it is extremely hot out here i cant complain because i am enjoying this trip so much, the heat really doesn't bother me until we are done with playing with kids or talking to the woman and just standing there. Micro finance (my site) is such an amazing thing. These woman start up a business through SI and make such amazing things such as jewelry, shoes, hammocks ( yes im bringing back a hammock - mom&dad should i get the chair or the laying one, or multiple? :D )and woman also grow food to sell. Our first day out we got to pick pods of seeds and shuck them for one lady to make jewelry with, then we walked around alooott to so many peoples homes and talked to them and prayed for them. One of the girls homes was a girl who is 14 has a 10 month year old baby. It was so heartbreaking to see this young and truly beautiful girl sitting there with her baby. That same girl has a younger sister who wants to learn english and become the next top model, and she too is GORGEOUS i wish i could help her get on that show, it would be such an amazing thing to see. Then today we got to help clean everything from throwing buckets of water onto the walls and floor to sweeping and mopping in the new office for the sites. Then we made mothers day cards for all the woman in the site, and got to be apart of one of the meetings. We played an ice breaking game and Megan did an amazing devotion for the woman. While Nob was doing a project with the woman we got to play with the funniest and most energetic kids. Everything is going so well except when the power goes out, not that no lights bothers me the whole no fans work bothers me. And mom and dad, i didn't feel the earthquake! Yes i was awake this time but thats how small it was i was on my top bunk and didn't feel it so don’t worry! There’s so much more i cant wait to tell to all of you but i probably should hog up the blog. A couple prayer requests, first off my back has been killing me in everything i do and i try to forget about it be 100% in everything we are doing, another is a lady we met today was due two weeks ago and is still waiting for the baby so that she can have her baby soon and have a healthy baby as well, and lastly that everything continues to go well and that we all continue to stay safe and healthy!

I miss you all and cant wait to come home (but not quite ready to come yet)

Love, Taylor

Megan

Megan Casillas

Dear family and friends, 

I love love love Nicaragua! This trip has already been the biggest blessing and its only Tuesday. We are at the base with another team from Paso Robles and they are all amazing and its been cool getting to know all of them. The site leaders that are part of the SI staff are Nicaraguan citizens that have a passion for God and their country. They truly are some of the most strong incredible people I have met with the most encouraging stories. Our team has really bonded in just the past few days and we all get along really well. I have been working on the Micro Finance site. SI has a program where they give loans out to women to start their own businesses and really encourage them to follow their dreams. On Monday we got to go on home visits and meet some of the women in the program. Its humbling to see women with close to nothing welcome us into their homes and be so generous. We were able to pray over many people. I’m sure you all heard about the earthquake by this point. (Aunt Barbara don't worry I’m okay) I was pretty scared but we’re all fine and doing well. It was actually a cool way of God telling me that I need to put my trust in him no matter the circumstance. Tuesday we went to the Micro Finance base and we spent the morning cleaning the house. In the afternoon some of the women from one of the towns came for their weekly meeting. Coming to the meetings is a requirement for being in the program. We played ice breaker games with them and it was so neat seeing the women get so excited and laugh so hard over the smallest things. They are so happy all the time and its such an encouragement. I had the opportunity to speak and share in front of the women as well. I had my own translator and everything. It was a really cool experience and Im excited to see God continue to give me opportunities to practice my public speaking and begin to get more and more comfortable talking in front of others. In the late afternoons we’re back on the base and its a lot of fun. There’s a pool here and theres a patio with a ton of hammocks (Matthew you would love it! p.s. I miss you Matt) that we can just chill and relax in. In the night we have a planned activity that we do together. Tonight we had a special team debrief and it was so awesome hearing how God is working and shaping every single one of our lives. Continue to pray that God will do amazing things the next few days. I miss you all and can't wait to share with you the experience we’ve had. 

Dad, if you're reading this I have eaten the BEST food ever in the past few days and the avocados here are basically heaven and when I come home we’re going to learn how to make nicaraguan foods. FYI we are going to grow avocado trees when I get back. miss you too momma! Hope Nana is doing well. 

Much love, 

Megan 

Jaelle

Jaelle Engel

Dear friends and family,

I’m sorry I have not written anything on here yet! It’s been a crazy couple of days!  Today has definitely been the best though! We threw a baby shower for this lovely woman.  About a year ago, she really wanted to have another baby, but could not because of a tumor in her womb.  All the ladies from the SI women’s social site prayed over her immediately after she had told them the sad news.  Five days later, by the mercy of God, her doctor told her that not only was her tumor completely gone, but she was also pregnant!! She was filled with absolute joy and knew that God had given her a miracle.  So today, we got to set up a baby shower for her and be a part of celebrating the pregnancy of her new baby girl!  We got to play games, pray over the woman and her baby, talk with all the other women there about their lives, and play with the CUTEST kids ever! Today was such a blessing and I cannot wait for what’s to come tomorrow! Jesus is so awesome and I love falling in love with Him and the people here! I love love love Nicaragua so much! 

Love and miss you all!

Love, Jae

P.S. Mommy - you would love the food here!! I am going to try to get some recipes for you to cook when I come home :D hehe

Anthony

Anthony Aragon

Big Cat 

I figured it would be a good idea to write an entry on the blog. I’m doing good being fed well, minimal bug bites and only one tiny cut on my finger. Love you and the girls and miss you guys. To everyone else reading this blog and praying I really appreciate all the support. A little bit about what I have been doing with the boys club is playing a lot of soccer some of these kids are really good and they don’t stop they just keep going. One of our site leaders grandmother is struggling with sickness so I ask you guys to keep his family in you prayers his name is Josef and his grandmother’s is Olga. He and I would appreciate that a lot. I cant wait to get back and share with my friends and family girls I love you and mom just a couple more days love you.

Stephen - Boys Club

Stephen Doerbecker- 

The past few days have been such a blessing in my life. I came coming to bless others and yet I am constantly being blessed by the people. The potter convicted me with his knowledge about the bible and he understands more than most pastors. These people have nothing and yet they love God with everything they have. The church service was beautiful to see a church of 100’s of people sing and worship God. I had no clue what they were saying, but i could worship God because i knew they were singing to the same Savior. These experiences are eye opening to a world us spoiled Americans have never experienced and its extremely humbling. I love these teams and am excited to see /god work more and more through us and through the people of Nicaragua. Thank you for your prayers and I would ask for you to continue those prayers. We still have a lot of work to do, but a team that is devoted to Jesus Christ and his mission there is no problem we cant conquer. 

*we apologize for the lack of posts, we have not had a lot of internet available!

Lindsay - Micro Finance

Lindsay Brackett 

So,

today was the first day that we went out to the sites. I was in Micro-Finance and it was so amazing to see what they had to do to work with the women who were starting up businesses. Its very hot here and not much air conditioning, so its hard to get use to here being in the sun. My favorite part of the day is when we got to visit all the homes of the women and see their family and the type of skills that they had and what they had to do to have a business. It was amazing to see how happy and how they were filled with the holy spirit and had such a huge passion for God.

Brooke - medical

Brooke Fessler

Dear Parents and Friends,

Our trip so far has been VERY eventful even in just the first few days here. Today for the medical site we helped doctor Celia sort through all the donations we bought and organize her storage. Afterwards, we walked through the city to go to the pharmacy to pick up supplies to take out to the community. Our team traveled out into the poorer parts of the city to help treat the women and children, and we helped hand out medicine, take blood pressure, and check the women's blood sugar levels. Playing with the kids and praying with the women was also a major part of our outreach. 

On the subject of the small earthquake we had last night, it was very small and no one was harmed. No reason to worry! We also have had some power outages and a lack of water, so prayer that those would not continue would be great.

Thank you all for your prayers and support, everyone is having a great time serving the Lord and bonding. 

Love you and miss you,

 Brooke 

Lauren - church

Lauren Shelburne

It was so beautiful to watch the people of Nicaragua worship the same God I do. They are on fire for God. The whole congregation started to clap and sing during one song, and you could truly feel the spirit of God moving in the church. The man next to me started to cry during one song. It was beautiful to watch someone cry over their love for God. There was also a deaf man in the congregation. The woman next to him was signing the message to him. She allowed someone to hear the word of God who can not hear. At the end of the service, our team was called up and the church leaders prayed for us. One woman came and put her hand over my heart and on my head and prayed over me. I did not know what she was saying, but her actions spoke louder than any words she could have said. The message was solely in Spanish, but God still spoke to us through the sermon. 

Megan, Jackie, and Kylie - We're here!

Hi family! We’ve had a super long day of traveling but we’re at the base safe and sound! The other team is super nice and we’re all getting along really well. I miss you guys and cant wait to tell you everything that happens this week! Love you guys!! -Megan Casillas 

Hello family of mine! Today was pretty good, but long. The planes were as comfortable as a plane can be, but they fed us! It was plane food. When we finally got to the base, we settled in and met the SI staff. All of us girls are in a cabin of bunk beds. It’s pretty nice.It hasn’t hit me that  we are in Nicaragua. It feels like summer camp. Anyways, love you!  -Jackie Stone

Hi family!! Its been a long day of traveling and I’m exhausted but we are finally at the base now. I haven’t really realized I’m not in California anymore, it feels like we are at camp somewhere. I love you guys and can’t wait to tell you all about this week. Miss you! -Kylie Wright 

We have 18 boxes ready to ship out with us! Thank you to everyone who provided donations and took time out of their days to help pack!

Today we had the blessing of being prayed over in middle school and high school chapel. Thank you for all of your prayers! 

Big thank you to Kerri Rutherford for taking photos!

Anthony Aragon 12th grade

~Social Work (Boys-club)

The thing I am most excited for is to see how we can show Gods love to others in a way that may not involve words and how much the people down there will effect my life

Lindsay Brackett 12th grade

~Micro-Fincance

I am excited to see the culture! Especially excited to play with the kids in the community

Megan Casillas 12th grade

~Micro-Finance

I am really excited to work with the kids and adults on my worksite. I am also excited to see God work in each of our lives. 

Ginsyn Crim 12th grade

~Social Work (Womens) 

I would have to say I'm most excited to work with this amazing team to serve the people of Nicaragua and see everything The Lord has in store!

Stephen Doerbecker 12th grade

~Social Work (Boys-club)

I am excited to see God work in the lives of not only me and my classmates but through the people in Nicaragua. I'm excited to see my own Christian walk be improved each day we are there. 

Jaelle Engel 12th grade

~Social Work (womens)

I am most excited to just love and serve the people down there! I can't wait to see how God is going to work in everyone's life!!

Brooke Fessler 12th grade

~Health

I am most excited to see how God is going to work through us all at our separate work sites. Also, I am excited to see how God is going to change and grow me closer to him through this experience. 

Zach Ikeda 12th grade

~Social Work (Boys-club)

I am excited to see how God will use this trip to impact our lives and the lives of the people around us!

Taylor Niemi 12th grade

~Micro-Finance

I'm most excited to grow closer to the teammates and to encourage and play games with the kids of Nicaragua.

Lauren Shelburne 11th grade

Micro-Finance/AT (water-filters/stoves)

I am excited to help others around the world and photograph the people of Nicaragua. I am also excited to see God work in my life and those around me.

Jackie Stone 12th grade

~Social work (womens)/Education

I'm so incredibly excited to love on the people in Nicaragua, especially the kids! I can't wait to play with all of the children in the community! 

Kylie Wright 11th grade

~AT(water-filters/stoves)

I am so excited to see what God will show me through this trip! I'm very excited to be able to show Gods love through loving the people of Nicaragua.