NICARAGUA 2017

Winter 2017

Ten of our THMC EM members were joined with ten team members from Korea to serve in Nicaragua's trash villages. During our time there, we were able to serve the local people and community through painting houses, playing with the kids, performing for the church, sharing testimonies, and praying for the community. We saw the Lord work in so many ways though each and every single one of our team members.

TESTIMONY

Brian kim

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I decided to join the Nicaragua mission trip. As it was my first mission trip, I wasn't exactly sure what our team would be doing. I thought I could treat it like a project; do tasks A, B, C, pat myself on the back, and then go home. I was wrong.

I didn't expect to be overcome with sadness and guilt, thinking how unfair my life was when these people didn't even have the basic necessities of life: shelter, food, and water. I didn't expect to weep when I saw the living conditions of the people living in shanty villages and how they would work in the trash foraging for food. I didn't expect to be touched by these people who, despite lacking essentials, seemed to be happier than me. I didn't expect that even though I was there to help the Nicaraguans, they were the ones who helped me understand what it means to be a follower of Christ.

I'm blessed and thankful, that even though I began this mission trip with a nonchalant attitude, that I was able to return home with renewed vigor in my faith.

Joseph eom

 Every time I go on a missions trip, it’s very humbling. Going to a third world country and seeing the people praise God … that’s amazing; it’s humbling, motivating, and inspiring. Pastor Ricky, the missionary there, is amazing at what he does. Just talking to him and getting to know him, you can tell he is someone who is very well respected. Although he’s not Nicaraguan, he has so much love for the people and the country, that it’s clear why he became a missionary. It was my first time listening and seeing a pastor so passionate like that.

During our trip, we built houses and painted Pastor Ricky’s church with Christ’s love. But the biggest takeaway for me was that all of this was the start today creating a really strong foundation for THMC EM. This mission trip helped us as a group to get on the same page. We can’t be a community just by going to church on Sundays and showing up to small groups. We need to serve, learn, and go on missions together, because so much can be gained from it.