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Dear Church Family   This year was amazing for a number of reasons. This was the first year that Samantha and I helped to plan the trip. There are some events in your life that no matter how hard you try you just can't explain the difference that they will make in your life. I remember standing in a Church and the doors opened and there was Samantha in a wedding dress and my heart stopped beating and I could not breathe. I remember the birth of all four of our children and holding them in my hand and I was amazed at our God. When I think of these events there is no way that I could explain to someone but if you have a child or you are married you can understand what I am trying to say. On this trip I remember Miss Michelle and I standing in front of a group of young men. As I started to tell my testimony I began to get choked up but God gave me the words and the strength to continue. The seven young men listened to what I had to say and as I began to finish a number of the young men had been looking at the ground. When they raised their heads they had tears in their eyes and you knew that God was knocking on their heart. Their face's looked different  and as Miss Michelle shared the Gospel one by one they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When we finished they had a different look in their eyes and they had been saved. You can't put that feeling into words or when you see women who worship with more passion than we can only dream of. When you see such poverty and yet they are so happy and just want to worship our Lord and Savior. When you do nothing other than Love the Lord from the time you wake up until you go to sleep.When you see men and women step out of their comfort zone and grow because of it. I can't do justice to tell you about it but if you go you will understand. Life will never be the same and you will go thinking that you are helping them but when you return you will know how much they helped you. You just have to be there. God is Good   Rick Reed

What will I take away from the Mission Trip   Dear Church Family   One thing I will take away from my Mission trip to Nicaragua is the overwhelming joy expressed through worship.  The Bible tells us we are made for worship, made to worship Him.  Psalm 100:1-2 says Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  This is exactly what I experienced during worship with the people of Nicaragua.  They love the Lord.  They want to honor and worship him with all their hearts, no restraint.  This trip was an amazing experience and I can not wait to go back. Christy Johns     Dear Church Family   What I'm going to take away from the Nicaragua trip personally is that one week isn't enough, and one country isn't enough. So I want to do more missions to help spread the kingdom of God.   Marshall Ford       Dear Church Family   I wrote on the paper that was passed around: This trip once again reminded me that if God used perfect people, nothing would ever get done! I also realize even more how content I am doing  what God wants me to do, giving Him all the glory. God will continue to do great things through me!! God is a God of Restoration. He not only saved ME, but saved my marriage as well! Two years ago I got to share my testimony at a women's conference in Nica, then last year shared it at the crusade, but realizing how much I "glossed" it over the 1st year and was convicted to share it all. This year not only did I get to share "Satan's Lies" at a women's conference but also shared my testimony at the crusade.  God had planned both of these ahead of time placing them on a very special day in my life......Our anniversary! My husband Nate came to Nica this year and had really never heard my full testimony, as it involved a very hard time in our lives. This was a day of rejoicing in what God had planned for us. Reminded me of how patient God is with each and every one of us!!! It also reminded me that being "vulnerable" is not so bad!!!!    PTL Tina        Dear Church Family    Fear is no longer my enemy. Thanks! Clara         Dear Church Family   The major thing that I learned in Nicaragua was the power of God and His works. I would have never thought that I would have given my testimony in front of approximately 1,000 people while members of my church family and my wife were watching. Pastor White challenged me and God carried me through what seemed to be the longest 10 minutes of my life. The great thing about God is that He gives you all the power and confidence you need to conquer your obstacles, challenges, and fears. I now challenge all of you to make a commitment to attend a mission trip in 2012. It is truly a blessing and you will return home more humble and appreciative than ever before. I truly want to thank Pastor White, Rick Reed, and my beautiful wife, Tina, for challenging me, taking me out of my comfort zone and making me a servant of God. I look forward to next year's mission and the new friendships that will be made through God and his works.      Nate Silva         Dear Church Family   What I learned during the preparation for and, specifically, during the Nicaragua trip was that God's plan is always perfect and will roll out the way He wants it to, regardless of how many graphs, charts or check-off lists I have.  I became very aware that God uses all types of people, all types of personalities with all types of gifts to further His kingdom and that my way or personality is not necessarily the best suited for every situation.  I learned that, although I tend to gravitate toward the details, that I truly love to get past all that and fall head-first into sweet, glorious street witnessing.  Samantha Reed

The one thing that stands out... Oh boy, that's a doozie! In looking at the whole experience collectively, and trying to keep it to a manageable length, the thing that stands out to me is how I saw God's hand in my participation in this mission trip.   I now know, without a shadow of doubt that God wanted to work on me in Nicaragua.    - He showed me early-on that I was to go, and then regularly reminded me in various ways that I was to go.  Although I knew it wasn't going to be a comfortable trip and numerous challenges awaited, knowing that God was directly moving in this regard is a great motivator.    - He provided the funds  - He cleared my schedule  ...and the list goes on... So, NOT going was not an option, but I really didn't WANT to go.  I didn't surrender to it.  I wanted to be with my family, I had work to do, etc.   On the plane over, God started working on me, convicting me.  My daughter, Allison, wrote a note and placed it in my Bible and I found during the flight.  In it was a verse that hit me between the eyes, II Tim 2:15...Do you best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed, who correctly handles the word of truth.  Of all the verses in the Bible, this is the one she chose...another non-coincidence! I took from that verse:  - Fake it 'till you make it - It doesn't say BE approved, but present yourself to God as approved.  It also says do your best, implying that failure is just part of the journey, but try anyway.  - To God - it's not about me or others...it's between God and me.  It's him that I have to give account to.  - A workman - Not a philosopher, scientist or anything else...it's time for work, or doing  - Correctly handles the word of truth - That's spreading the gospel So I determined to play full-on for the week.  There on the plane, I surrendered and said, I'll do it...whatever it takes. And I did.  I did not shrink away from opportunities to share or serve.  God pushed me too.  I was thrown into the mix quickly and was sharing my testimony Sunday and the gospel first thing Monday morning.  I tried not to miss an opportunity to share Christ and advance our mission in Nicaragua.  I have lots of stories of small ways that God presented these opportunities, but clearly he used the team in wonderful ways in Nicaragua.  It was also the first time in my Christian life that I FULLY surrendered. You see, I spent 20 years running from God, and for the last 6 years I've been walking with God by all appearances.  I've been in church, playing active roles, even going through the motions of having occasional quiet time, prayer, classes, etc.  That's not surrendered.  That's hiding in plain sight.  God really convicted me of this while in Nicaragua.  He showed me how to be surrendered while in Nicaragua, walked with me, and used me...He got my attention. So that's my take-away from the trip.  Live surrendered.  How can I be surrendered on this side of the mission trip?  What does fully surrendered look like here, in Jacksonville?  I'm working on that, but this is how I'm striving to live the balance of my life. Bruce            Dear Church Family   The one thing that stood out to me was the openness of the people in Nicaragua. And the fact that they were willing not only to listen to what we had to say but they wanted to share with family and friends.   Nolan Pelfrey            Dear Church Family   The one thing that stands out to me in Nica was the love and joy they have for all they have in life. they make the best of everything they had and seem to be the happiest people on earth.   Shane Heisler

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What we do in Nicaragua     Dear Church Family    A day in Nica, is probably a little different for everyone, yet remarkably the same. For me the day started when the sun came up around 430 AM. I could hear the birds chirpping and the dogs barking, and it seems as though Nicaragua has been up for hours!! You get up and stretch and are amazed at how rested you feel considering you only got like 4 hours of sleep and your super foam mattress that sags in the middle really did not feel that super, but you are excited, because today you get to go out and do the Lord's work, you get to save a life, and even though you thought you were far to borken for the Lord to ever use you, here you are!! Then it is off to take a cold shower, and it is not because you want to, it is that there is not hot water in Nicaragua, but when you get in the shower, it feels really good, because it is hot in the mission house and that shower feels refreshing, and as you wash you try to keep the water out of your mouth. I was always amazed that even though the water was not hot how steamy the bathrooms became. Then you get dressed, remembering to apply a healthy dose of bug spray and sunscreen and then it is off to do your quiet time on the balcony. As you sit there, with a cool ocean breeze blowing on your face and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, it is hard not to just sit there and stare in awe of our creator, the great artist, this is his masterpiece and what a priveledge it is to be called to be here right now to do his works. Then we eat breakfast, and we have our meeting and then we are off to start the day. We have to go and pick up the interpters so we meet at place called on the run, which is like a little slice of america. Then off to the church that we are working with, but for me sometimes the ride to the church speaks to me. If you just sit back and take it all in and where you are and what you are doing there. I find myself looking out wondering about all the people I am not going to get to talk to, to reach, and I pray for them as well that the Lord will send a mission team out to them so that they can hear the good news. Once to the church we split into groups, some stay behind to work a confrence at the church others go on to do Fiestas. I only did Fiestas and street witnessing, but that is really the part I enjoy. I love the children of Nicaragua, for the most part they seem so happy, I want them to know that God loves them, maybe it is the mama bear in me, but I want better for them, I do not want them to feel unloved or unwanted!! So we do our skit, break into groups, and give our testimony and gospel to a group of little girls, and watching their faces light up make it all worth it. Then we would get on the bus and go to do a Then back on the bus for another ride back to the mission house for lunch and a little break, where you take another shower to get ready for the evening crusade. This time you are having to get a little more dressed up, and hopefully the power is on so the fans are working. Then we pray for the speakers of the evening and repeat the morning drive and interperter pick up. Then it was off to the crusade, which is in a baseball field, we are welcomed with love and escorted by some lovely ladies. YOu would think that a baseball field would be to big to have God there, but it is not, it is all most electric. The way the Nica people worship, they leave it all on the field!! It was a once in a lifetime experience!! Then at about 9 we would head back to the mission house, where I would shower again and hopefully be in bed by 11, looking forward to the next day, anxious to see how the Lord would use our team.   Blessings, Veronica     Dear Church Family    A normal day in nica wasn't normal to me because i have never woken up and been in the presence of the lord all day. I didn't spread the word like i was supposed to. But everyday in nica i was on the job giving testimonys and sharing the gospel. A day consist of waking up and working for god till dark and thats my kind of day. Jordan Vanderburgh

Those who said "SEND ME"   Dear Church Family    What I learned about myself in preparation for the trip was that I can put all my faith in God and He will always come through. Even when I have fear and don't know the words to say to someone in witnessing, He literally will give you the words to say and it will just pour out.  Its amazing to know that God is always with you and will be there for you, even in your struggling times.   Jennifer Sanchez       Dear Church Family   There is so much that I learned while preparing for Nicaragua and while being in Nicaragua.  One of my most valued lessons is simply trusting God.  I like to be in control and have a plan for everything, that didn't happen for this trip.  Three weeks before the first deposit was due, God told me I was going to go on this trip, I prayed and said "If you really want me to go I am not going to worry about my financial need and trust in you completely."  I am very good at worrying but I chose not to this time, to fully trust God would take care of what I needed.  With a week gone by no money, no worry. By the end of the second week within four days I had three donations, enough to cover my deposit.  It was amazing to see that when I truly give something to God if it is His will He will take care of it.  Proverbs says, "Many are the plans of a man's heart, but only will the Lord's will prevail."   Chelsea Harris