Saturday, July 21, 2012

Day 2!

Saturday blog post Hey everyone today has been a great day! The team made it safely from Managua over to Port and were welcomes by some familiar faces. Pastor Earl was waiting for us at the airport as well as our trusty bus driver from last year Roy. After getting settled in and having lunch we started to take a tour of the compound but that didn't last too long. As soon as we got over to the orphanage and kids started coming out our team jumped all over the chance to play with the kids! There were games of tag, soccer, frisbee and even some red rover. Kids were teaching us songs and other fun games and there was laughter and smiles all around. We decided the tour could wait till later so we could spend more time with the kids before dinner. This evening we had a great team debrief as we shared stories of why each of us decided to go on this trip, what we are nervous about and what we are excited about on this trip. It was amazing listening to all the diverse stories of how God has brought this team together. Just as amazing was hearing this team verbalize how much they want to make an impact this week and to take huge steps in their faith. This team is beyond ready and is diving in with everything they have! Tomorrow morning we have church before taking the kiddos from the orphanage to the beach tomorrow for a fun day! And just a heads up the Internet here has been a little glitchy so we may not be able to get lots up but well make sure to keep everyone up to date as much as we can!

29 comments:

  1. Great to know everyone arrived safe and the trip is off to an awesome start! What a great opportunity to give back to those that truly need it! I hope all of you find what you are looking for on this trip and your relationship with our Lord grows closer than ever!

    Chris, we Love you and miss you! We are very proud of you and the man you are becoming!

    Ron, LeAnn & Ronnie

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  2. I'm so excited to hear that the team has arrived safely and you've already had a great experience giving love to Orphans and playing!!! God is at work in your hearts:)
    Keep having fun, sharing your goals, and being a team of young strong followers of our God.
    You're constantly in my thoughts and prayers!!
    Extra love to my sweet daughter Brookie.
    Love mommy and Squishy

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  3. That is amazing!!!! I am so happy that you all got there safely. I hope this trip does incredible things for all of you! You guys are all great and do awesome for being able to take time out of your summer to go and serve God. I wish I could be standing along side of all of you right now and doing the same thing. You are a great team with a lot of amazing people on it. I have been and will be praying for all of you this entire week. I hope that this trip helps you grow in your faith and become even closer to God then you ever were before and that his light shines through all of you and into the hearts of all the nicaraguans you meet on this trip. I'm sure the beach will be so much fun! And this is for everyone who had never swam with dalton before. Stay away. He will dunk you... A whole lot. It doesn'tatter if you are a boy or a girl or even of you know him. He will grab you and push you underwater against your will. And hopefully your trip to the beach will end the same way as last year! With two buses stuck in the middle of no where for 8 hours and men throwing rocks at another helpless man about 50 feet away later to be known as angry birds. And if you do get a chance to see him tell Rudy green bird says hello. I think his name was Rudy right? I'm pretty sure. Anyway it's time. The moment you've all been waiting for! My first personal shout out. Let me just find my hat full of names. And drum roll please! ( I really mean it, drum roll right now!) aaaaaaaaaaannnnndddddd the first of many shout outs to come goes toooooooo......... Who would have guessed, none other than Nathan ekema. Hiiiii Nate! I miss you. I'm going through withdrawl right now. But don't worry they have me on the patch. I hope you are having an amazing time. Oh and remember that monkey I made up and compared you to? Cha-Cha said it was possible to train a monkey to ride a unicylce! I'm not sure about the milkshake though. That might not be possible. So I've decided to intern at the zoo for the soul purpose of teaching monkey to ride a unicycle. Well gonna go I bed now seeing as its almost 2 am here and I have to wake up for early service tomorrow. Adios my friend! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
    -your one and only BFF for life Harrison

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  4. Hope you are all having a awesome time.

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  5. I was so happy to see another post this morning!! Glad to hear everybody is still safe and things are going as planned. Keep loving on those children all the time, make their week. You all are fantastic, live it up!!!!

    Love,
    Riley

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  6. Hi Hanna B I'm so proud of you!!!praying for you all...

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  7. Riley, Madi, Dani--all your family from Caseville loves and misses you! Good job all of you as love on those kids! Keep up the good work!

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  8. Thank you for starting my Sunday with tears of joy!!! I was not sure if I wanted to send Brooke on this trip but it has become so obvious that this was the right choice. Brroke Stevens, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING GOD BACK INTO MY LIFE!!!! I have you to thank for that sissy. Daddy loves you!!!

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  9. Thanks for the update. What a great Saturday. Looking forward to hearing how the week progresses. I can only imagine how awesome your group time was and that God smiled on that conversation the entire time. Praying for you all... I hope Sunday is amazing!!!
    ~ Scott Smith

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  10. RISE AND SHINE, GIVE GOD THE GLORY
    LOVE YOU! MAMA MOORE

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  11. Good morning everyone.....give all you got for GOD today!!! He wants you to see the bigger picture of your life and he will guide you!!! LOVE YA! MAMA COMO

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  12. Hey Team, So proud to call you ours......You could be doing a ton of other things this summer but there you are. Please know i will be praying for you all week as you serve and bring up there down here. i am so excited to hear how it is going daily. What you are doing there can not compare to what you could do here. You are amazing!!!!
    Sammy Petersen we will hold down the fort, it won't be easy but we will do our best. Love you guys!!!

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  13. Cory Stoneburner and Emily UsenickJuly 22, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    Hey guys hope all is going well! We are going to the beach today and just wanted to say hello before we head out! Hope you all have a great day!
    Emily and Cory!
    P.s. huffy you are a good one! Love you :)

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  14. Praying that you feel the joy of Jesus surrounding you as you bring joy to and shower love on these kids! Can't help smiling big as I think of all of the laughter and smiles flying around yesterday! I am so proud of all of you and the sacrificial lives that you are living this week and your hearts for God! Young people today get such a bad rap, but I know that our world is a better place because of all of you and the way that you live for Jesus! I pray that as Jesus is lifted up this week through your acts of love and selfless service that others will be drawn onto Him, as His Word promises. Cory, "your" garage sale is over and it was a success.......now all that is left is to pack what's left up and take it somewhere to donate....hey maybe we will save that part for you:) I also wanted to let you know that Scotty was at church last night! I knew you would want to praise God for that! Remember to watch for God in big and small ways because He has something special in store for you this week and has work ordained for you to do and participate in. Seek not to be blessed, but to bless! I love you and couldn't be more proud of you and your heart for God and serving others!

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  15. So glad you all arrived safe. It sounds like everyone is off to a great start. I'm sure God has a wonderful week planned for all of you. It is such a wonderful thing you are doing. I'm so proud that Katie has chosen be a part of this trip and this awesome group. Have fun can't wait to hear more.

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  16. Hello Nicaragua team!!! You guys are amazing!!!! I'm so excited for the work that you will be doing and the relationships that you will be building this week! Stay in the moment. Don't let this week fly by. Be listening closely to what God is revealing to you. Praying for all of you!!!

    Love you guys!!!

    Shelby Trusty

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  17. Brennan, we are so proud of you! We couldn't ask for a better grandson and follower of Christ. Be the instument of change that God wants you to be. Listen to Him and let your steps be guided by Him! Be safe and know we are praying for you and the whole GSM team to have an awesome impact for God and then to come home safely! We can hardly wait to hear the stories!

    Love, Lala and Papa

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  18. Wow! Sounds like it has been a blessed trip so far. Wishing you all many more fun and productive days ahead. Kristyn - I am so happy that you jumped into this opportunity with both feet. You are getting to do the things you love that make your light shine. But it is aweful quiet here without you.Love, Mom (aka Becky).... Madison, Kourtney, Mariah, and all the other awesome kids I know on this trip.."HI!"

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  19. Beth, I'm so happy everything is going well so far and I hope it continues. I miss you and can't wait to give you a hug once you get back! Continue to have fun and I hope you are seeing familiar faces from last year.

    Josh

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  20. Hello all! SO super proud of you! I hope you had a GREAT day today... Alexandria, We went out to dinner for Dad's birthday, We missed you there. We are proud of your choice to serve. Keep leading strong kiddo! We are super Proud of you! Ditto to you Sammi O!

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  21. Hello team! It's so exciting to hear about you guys kicking off the trip with an awesome start! Keep up the good work, you all are SO loved! Continue loving on the kids and everyone you come in contact with. I don't doubt for a moment that you're giving everything you have, every chance you get! I may be in Indiana, but my heart is with you all! You're in my prayers.

    Love,
    Megan

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  22. Thank you for keeping in touch!! I'm so glad the kids weren't shy in wanting to play. Adding my wish that the buses do NOT get stuck on the way home this year (or on the way there for that matter). Glad to hear you have an experienced and friendly driver. On the home front - I won a CD from Pulse FM - the title song is a song we sang at church! Kevin did a happy dance after he got the transmission & engine together. The 91 is almost driveable! It's so much fun to hear about your God-touched moments & experience God-touched moments here as well. Our God truly is an Awesome, Amazing, Huge God! As always - you are covered and lifted in our prayers and God's love, mercy & grace. May you be energized, healthy & Spirit filled as you continue to serve Him. Hugs to you all with an extra squeeze to Beth, Alex, Sammi O. & Derek!

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  23. Hello lovelies. I miss you all. It's an incredible thing to know that you are where God has called you to be, it feels so right. I know most of you, if not all of you are/will feel that this week and I'm so excited for you all. I'm praying you all have huge God moments and are able to relax spiritually in the comfort of His awesome presence. Love on those kids real good.

    Kailey, I adore you.

    Britt, Sam, Celia, Katie, Hunter and anyone else who knew Paula...She says hello and to have a wonderful time. You are loved and missed.

    Someone please beat Hunter up for me. I donćt want him getting soft in his week away from me. :)

    Hunter... You're like a brother to me...you're aunt is like a brother to me...
    I miss you kid. Lean in. Work your little tush off.

    Britt, remember that one time when we bought a star and when we landed on it, we learned it housed a cade for aliens? Woah. That was really something.

    Te quiero equipo Nic! Adios!

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  24. hey olivia and joy hope your having fun cause im here getting yolked ! hahah well thankfully I get a break from you too but have fun and olivia tell johnny I said hi hah!

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  25. Madi, Dani and Riley!
    We read your blog post and it sounds like you guys had an awesome day yesterday! We've been praying for the whole team and we're proud of what everyones doing there! We've been talking about you three all the time! It's just not the same without you here! Madi and Dani we miss the "little girls". And we miss the little cub too! We can't wait to see you guys when you get back and hear about everything that happened! We love you guys!
    (Please sing the following...)
    This is for all the cubs down there.
    We have some news we'd like to share.
    Caseville is just not the same with out you.
    We've been feeling a little down and blue.
    Last night we found the umbrella in the sky.
    Today on the wakeboard we thought we might die.
    Yesterday we drove past Narnia and thought of you.
    Since two years ago we rode to Timbucktoo.
    This year we took volleyball into the lake.
    And after we rested and let our skin bake.
    We've gotten into cornhole this year.
    Today while riding tandoms we spotted two deer.
    There's been no sparkler bombs, shaving cream fights or dance competitions this year,
    But there's always next time so have no fear!

    And to all our other peeps out there...we love you. You all ROCK!

    Love,
    Paige, Lindsey, and Princess McCormick

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  26. Hope u all had a great day at the beach and all buses made it back without incident.

    And Dalton...I hope u played nice with your teammates. After I read Harrison's post I could SO imagine u dunking him and began praying for those who swam with you today.

    But really,...I'm so proud of you...traveling to places that take you out of your comfort zone to make a difference to others who have so little. Rest up tonight as the fun begins early tomorrow. Be safe and wise. We love and miss you!

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  27. Hello Team! Proud of all of you especially Hanna B. Its only a week of your life but you have an opportunity to affect someones entire lifetime. Hope you have a fantastic week and cant wait to hear about your experience. Love you Han!!!

    Dad

    Ps You need to get back here. You leave and the Sox get swept by the Tigers. :(

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  28. Madison, Olivia, krystin and koutney..... Have a great time lovin on those kids and each other!!!! Work and play hard.... Remember, YOLO!!!!!!

    Love ya!
    Mom

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  29. Austin Sommer, Mimi and I are VERY PROUD OF YOU!!! By serving those people you are serving Christ. May god bless you and your entire Missions team.

    Love

    Poppy

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