United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
West Ohio Conference
Nicaragua
November 2017

Click on a date below to see the photos from that day. Click on any photo's thumbnail to see a larger view of the photo. From there you may click on the larger photo to see the next one.

• Saturday, 11/4/2017 - All but one team members fly to Managua, Nicaragua and settle into our Nicaraguan "home", AMOS Health & Hope.

• Sunday, 11/5/2017 - Today we worship at the Prince of Peace Church in Nejapa, Nicaragua. We have lunch at Subway, visit the old Cathedral in Managua, stroll the lakefron, and settle in for some sabbath time at the compound. Our delayed member makes it in so we are now a full team!
• Monday, 11/6/2017 - Today is our first full day in mission in Nicaragua. We spend part of the day helping to install a water line and tank at a small, local church. We also sing songs and put on a puppet show for over a hundred local children. In addition we help provide and serve a lunch to these children. The day ends with a nighttime visit to active Volcano Masaya - beautiful!
• Tuesday, 11/7/2017 - Today we begin work on two primary projects. Four of us go to the Carolina de Sirker Christian School and begin digging holes for concrete fence posts for a security fence. The remainder of the team begins preparation for the sanctuary floor and chancel area of the Prince of Peace Church.
• Wednesday, 11/8/2017 - Work continues on both projects.
• Thursday, 11/9/2017 - After our two work crews served by working on the church and school this morning, we visit Tesoros de Dios (Treasures of God). Their mission is “Reflecting God’s deep love for all of his people, Tesoros de Dios exists to promote the holistic development of children with disabilities in Nicaragua and strengthen partnerships with families, schools, churches, and communities.” They provide this development for FREE to 130 children in the Managua area and have great expansion plans. At the end of the day we walk through the neighborhood and pass out little toys and dresses.
• Friday, 11/10/2017 - At the school we start the day with a quick program by the preschool children. This is their last day of the year. It is capped off with a native dance, and we each received about 150 hugs. A great way to start the day! In the morning we finish moving dirt for the floor of the church and put in the last of 72 concrete fence posts at the school. In the afternoon we go to La Mascota Children’s hospital in Managua where we pass out health kits and little toys to the children there. We do some shopping at the local market called Huembes and have dinner at the Amos Compound before a closing service.
• Saturday, 11/11/2017 - We start the day at a nice mall with local souvenirs in Masaya. We then go up the volcanic crater to San Juan de Oriente to visit Roger Calero’s pottery shop, followed by a visit Catarina to see Laguna de Apoyo. In the distance we can see the water tower we erected on Monday. We drive down the crater to the lake and spent some time swimming at the Laguna Beach Club. From there we zipline through the canopy at Volcano Mombacho, zipping over coffee fields and banana trees. At the end of the day we stroll the city center in Granada and have a nice meal at El Zaguan.
• Sunday, 11/12/2017 - Most of the team return to the States today, but five of plus our interpreter, our driver and his wife travel to San Juan del Sur for some relaxation and sightseeing.
• Monday, 11/13/2017 - We tour Cristo de La Misericordia, the largest image of Christ in Central America. The view from above are amazing. After lunch, we take a dip in our hotel pool. Dinner tonight at Jicaro Garden is spectacular.
• Tuesday, 11/14/2017 - After breakfast at Dale Pues, we stroll through the town to our meeting place for a boat ride and swim in the ocean. On our way back we spot dolphins and a sea turtle.
• Wednesday, 11/15/2017 - After a little more sightseeing we make the three hour journey back to AMOS Health & Hope to sleep for the night.
• Thursday, 11/16/2017 - We fly back to Ohio.