Bienvenido! Welcome! Seems like an appropriate way to start this off. After all, we're heading to a country where Spanish is the primary language. And of course I had to follow up those first few lines with a few minutes of the imaginary sound of a lone cricket and an all too real awkward silence as I wondered what in the world should I type next. Hmmm. Team members, passport, shots... SHOTS!!! Ah yes, it's all starting to come to me now.
We had our first meeting on January 26th at the Presbytery office in South Charleston as a chance to meet the team members and get some info on what to expect. We spent the first few hours introducing ourselves, finding out what were the driving forces behind each team members' desire to go on this trip, what benefits each thought they might be able to bring to the mission trip, and what each hoped to gain from this experience. For some added inspiration we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and listened as Todd gave a devotional reading. After that we started learning some things about Nicaragua and CEPAD, and then talked about what to expect and what to pack. The trip that started in hearts and minds over a year earlier was beginning to become a reality.
Team members are Dave Pettry, Greg Kupar, Todd Wright, Claire Butler, Steve Hopta, Barb Hopta, and John Nelson. We will be leaving on April 18th and returning on April 25th. Our destination: Nehemiah Guest House and Conference Center, Managua, Nicaragua. We will be meeting and working with members of CEPAD.
Keep us in your hearts and prayers. Pray for travel safety. Pray for the Spirit's guidance. Pray for God's blessings, not only upon what the Presbytery of West Virginia has to offer CEPAD and the people of Nicaragua but what CEPAD and the people of Nicaragua have to offer the Presbytery of West Virginia. Mission is so often a two way street. You go to bless and end up being blessed. You go to help and end up being helped in some unexpected way.
Lord, open our hearts, our eyes, and our ears that we may realize the wonderful ways that your Spirit lives and moves among us.
Vaya con Dios, Go with God
