Safely home!

What an awesome opportunity for 37 of us to represent you all Nicaragua. We were exposed to cultures and lives we could not experience anywhere else. We saw God reveal Himself in many different ways. Each person had a different way to bring out the personalities of one another.

We laughed, cried and even got a little frustrated with each other at times (but they did not last long). We were reminded that life is not fair, but that God is just. We had our hearts broken and encouraged often at the same time.

We experienced real life together and got to interact with one another on a deeper and more intimate level. We met people that do not know what a TV is, but they could show us what it meant to put in a hard day of work. To be a pastor meant that you had extra responsibility once you left the fields every day.

The journey did not end once we touched down in Portland. It has only just begun.

Rolling Hills is committed to a long term relationship in Nicaragua and we will be back. Has your heart been stirred? Are you being called to travel overseas? What to know more? Just ask any one of us on the team and we would love to talk to you and get your questions answered.

When you get a chance, please challenge those of us who went. Ask us how we are applying the lessons we learned. We could use the accountability!

It has been a joy partnering with you in this journey.

In Christ - Jeff

PS Several of you asked why I didn't participate by adding any of my personal blog entries. You can find them at my other blog http://bereanway.typepad.com

from Dave

Hey everybody. I've had a fantastic time documenting this trip through film and video. It was a privilege to be part of a fantastic team. Everyone worked diligently and without complaint. I've made new friends and have experienced so much. I can't wait to get home to share it with you all.

As I sit in the airport writing this, I am reminded of those pastors who still have several days left on their journey home. Please pray for them.

Dave Baehler

We are leaving Managua . . .

Please pray for a safe journey as we are boarding the plane as I type. This has been an amazing trip and God continues to provide opportunity for us to learn more about Him. See you this afternoon!

from Spencer

Spencer Kupish-

3 or 4 days ago we went to the jail in Puerto Cabazes. The jail was very hot and toasty with no air conditioning, and when I say hot it is not like Oregon hot. You could feel the sweat pouring down you, and all the prison had was tiny windows. Some of the prisoners were in there for drugs, drinking, or stealing, and they would get a lot of time for small things that you could get out of in America in like a day and maybe a fine. We passed out soda and snacks and they were so thankful for it, plus we gave them some toilet paper. So what I learned is that the prison doesn’t have a budget for toilet paper, food, or clothes. So this means, if they get food it is because someone brings it, if they get clothes it is because someone brings it, and if they get toilet paper it is because someone brings it. Now you may think it is bad but no there is more, one of the facilities smelt awful, had standing water about a inch, was all cement and looked as if it was from the 1200s, a dungeon in other words. Now this is the really cool part, they would take plastic bags not like grocery store ones you can throw away but like reusable ones, and they would unstring it (I hope this makes sense) and make bracelts and necklaces, I got one of each and they are treasures. The one thing I want to leave you with is that they could basically take trash and make it something beautiful like what God did with us. Thank you Lord!

from Kalee

Today is the day that we leave and my heart is breaking. This week I got to be a big sister to a little girl named Margina. As I gave her a hug she looked at me and in broken english told me your not coming back aren't you. I shook my head and my eyes filled with tears. It reminded me of how Jesus must have felt as he put himself on the cross as he descended in the sky. It was hard to watch this little girl cling to me and not want me to go. I have learned that you can not love someone enough and life does not give enough time for that. This week I have been blessed by Mrs. Fricker and Mrs. Towne, they have really taken a step in being a mother to me and I felt part of me healing. I was so blessed to have someone care about me the way my mom cared about me. I know when I get back I am going to continue the relationships I have made with people. God is a great and awesome God and he has put a passion in my heart for Nicaragua. I know I will be back probably a couple of years from now, but I will be back. God has changed my world and I know that this year and the years to come will be fruitful. We are going to be the start of a movement that will never end. I know when I get home Satan is going to try to make temptations for me and I know I will fail, but I also know I will get back up. My God is worth fighting for and I will fight for Him for the rest of my life. I also realized how important community is and how we all need to stay connected and keep each other accountable. May God bless all of you as he works in your life and may He bless you as He has blessed me. Our God is an awesome God.

final team photo

Men's conference

Today at the 5:30 am men's conference, Kenneth led close to 100 guys in our final conference. He shared some Scripture, his testimony and then we heard from some a few of the other guys who grew up with a negative father experience.

from Crystal

This has been such an amazing trip with God the Nicaraguan people and the RHCC team. From the very beginning it was evident God was in control with the schedule the timing the people here and our team. It was so cool to see him weave together the skills of our people with the hard working people at Verbo and the vision that pastor Earl has to give results of joy and love in Jesus Christ. Being with these people has shown me that the poor really do have it easier to be closer to God in so many ways. But I know that we can share in their joy by serving them with all the good things that God has given us including our time talents love and support financially and in prayer. When I look in their eyes and they give me such unconditional love just for being here it blows my mind and it makes me want to do something to help spread that love and help those who are struggling spiritually and physically. In the prison we felt God’s presence but it was so dark and hopeless apart from that. It was hard to leave them there in that filth but this reminded me that anyone anywhere is like the prisoners if they don’t know Jesus; trapped in sin they are in darkness without hope.  Even at home in our nice homes and clothes it is easy to hide the sin but it is there keeping people locked in darkness unless someone will step out in faith and share the love of Jesus Christ. This has shown me it’s not that hard to just listen and do whatever God prompts me to do leaving the results  in his hands.  When I can do that it is sooooo amazingly worth it!!!! God is so good!!!!!! Crystal Fricker

from Aubree

You have to blog or we won’t let you on the plane.

Ok, I’ll stay.

No.

Fine. Hey guys, I’m still alive. Is that enough?

No.

Alright. But I’ll be quick because the computer is in high demand. I would love to stay here, but would like a real shower. And then a bath. And then another shower. The two most impacting experiences on this trip were the visits to the orphanage, and the visit to the prison. Both times I saw God’s children, who have been through so much, have such great joy. I made friends with the orphans and the Miskito children through broken Spanish, “Naksa’s”, holding hands, hugs and smiles. The men in the prison were so amazing despite the horrible conditions.

Hurry up, we’re taking a team photo.

Ok. Bye.

-Aubree

From Kate

A few days ago while digging postholes some kids one by one started coming from their homes and watching us work. But there was this one little boy about 6 years old that asked to dig and so of course I let him help out. The little boy worked so hard, I realized that back in the U.S. no little kids or just any kids would volunteer to work unless it came with some sort of reward. But this little boy didn’t ask for anything he just wanted our company and approval. Soon enough he looked up again with pleading eyes he asked in Spanish of course if we could play catch. So he grabbed a glove lying on the ground and for a half hour we played catch, not in my entire life have I ever seen a little boy so excited and satisfied to be playing with a glove. God has taught me that you don’t have to have anything fancy or specially designed to play, laugh and have so much fun. Oh, I forgot to mention that these kids had been out there helping out every single day we worked on the baseball field.

Another experience that I would like to share is that yesterday it was exciting to see what God has laid out for Austin Fricker to do in the Betania community. While being there we got to see and pray over the workers which was cool cause we prayed in English and then some of the workers prayed in their native language Mosquito. I then went and got to know some of the little kids there and after a while we walked back to the little village area and out of the blue some little kids come and decide that we would play tag. They all decided to gang up on me! And I thought oh great 5 against one. Those little kids were just so happy and excited I just couldn’t even think about having a bad attitude or think about how bad their living was. I was, with Gods help totally and completely consumed in the moment of having fun with these adorable children, God’s kids. Before boarding the bus they all came and tackled me to the ground, and all I could do is lay there laughing my head off and hoping this moment would never end.

I am so glad that I had these last few moments to tell you about my experiences and what God has taught me in and through them. Life is to short to waste looking backward, it’s all about waiting and having God show you what to do next.

See you all very soon!

Kate Howard

from Sasha

So, I’ve waited so long to blog that I don’t even know where to start. Here’s one of many stories of how God has been changing my thinking this week.

The first full day here, Sunday, we went to the beach with the orphan kids from next door. Right away I met a girl named Santa. She’s 14 and acted as my tour guide for the day, staying right at my side. The beach was AMAZING and we all went in, dressed fully in our clothes. Santa and I walked along the beach and I learned more about her story. We talked about all kinds of things, first little fun stuff, like what we like to do for fun and then moving towards the more serious, our families, our walks with God, and the future. I was really curious what the future looks like for a 14-year-old orphan in Puerto Cabezas. She has big dreams and wants to be a missionary. I pray that those dreams for her will come true and God will provide the resources. She doesn’t want to get married and is afraid to because of the divorce and abandonment she’s seen here. Most of the girls her age that I know in Oregon want to be mothers and wives foremost and it was sad to hear Santa tell me about the abuse and pain she’s seen from men upon women in her community. She wants to adopt children, but no men involved. I tried to tell her about the importance of a godly man who sacrifices for his wife and the picture of marriage as Christ and the Church, but she just said, “Some, but not all. I won’t risk it.”

Santa and I have gotten to know each other pretty well and have spent most evenings together. She asked me one day if I was ready for Jesus to come back and I felt so convicted by my lack of a “heaven mindset.” Santa is SO ready for heaven. Her hope is FULLY in heaven and God’s restoration there. I feel like I have seen with my eyes and experienced what Jesus meant when he said that it was harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. I have so many options of things to give my life to: my job, my stuff, money, an obsession with the Bachelorette, shoes, my reputation and the list goes on and on and on. But Santa is invested in her ONE hope.

 Santa asked me what my favorite Bible story was so I got a hold of one of our Spanish-English Bibles and shared it with her. My favorite is the woman at the well, and we read it together in Spanish and then talked about it and why I like it so much. Then she showed me her favorite verse: Revelations 21. We read it together in Spanish and English and cried through the whole thing. Here’s a taste of it for you: “’He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!”’ -Revelations 21:4-5a

How can I live for things here when this is what’s next? My time with Santa has made me ready for heaven. We both agreed this was our favorite verse of the whole thing as it carries the best promise for us. As I think about leaving here and leaving her, and all the people I’ve met here, I look more forward to that day when Christ comes down and makes everything new. At that time it will be all joy and there will be no language barrier between us. As I see and experience the pain and sadness that Santa has, more than I could ever imagine before coming here, I can’t help but pray “Come, Jesus, come.”

There are so many more stories, but others waiting for the computer, so this will have to be it. You’ll have to ask for more stories and details when you see me. J

Sasha

from Steve

It is my last night in Puerto Cabezas and I am exited to be heading home.  This has not been a vacation in any sense of the word but it has been very satisfying.  I am quite sure that words and pictures will never begin to describe an experience that is, in many ways, beyond description.

The pastors’ conference was an amazing opportunity to connect with indigenous pastors who come from small villages up and down the Rio Coco River as well as local pastors from Puerto Cabezas.  These men worship the same God we do yet they seem to have an experiential understanding of His reality forged in a life of poverty.  They may not have advanced theological degrees, in fact most struggle to read and write, but they know Jesus because they have experienced His power in their lives.  Without all the niceties that money and first world opportunity provides they have to rely on Him.  I honestly don’t think I have ever met any more gracious or thankful people in my life.  They were so glad we came, listening with rapt attention in stifling heat and dim light when the power went out.  They thanked us for the things we gave them to help them in their ministry, I thanked them for renewed perspective on what really matters. 

We went back to Betania today, the small village that Austin Fricker is working with on his agricultural sustainability project.  The villagers had made a lot of progress on clearing the field he will be planting in.  Being entrepreneurially minded, I love this project.  The end goal is to raise more crops than the village can use so that the excess can be sold in town for cash.  With not much rain in the past few days the ground had dried out enough to give one hope that farming is possible.  On the way back to town with Pastor Earl we tossed around several ideas on what crops would work.  I would love to see a healthy orchard, with guava, citrus and mango trees next time I am here.  I also would love to see legumes fixing nitrogen in depleted soils along with tomatoes, maize, and beans growing in ways the villagers previously have not thought possible. 

So tomorrow as I get on that big aluminum plane to whisk me back to a world of full time electricity, clean water, and familiar foods, I realize that a week in Nicaragua really can change you.  What changes you is not the poverty, the smells, the heat, or the struggles of living, but rather what changes you is the people who live here.  The people who live with all this on a daily basis and yet still manage to find their hope in Jesus in ways I am just beginning to understand.  Perhaps next year I will be back for another lesson from pastors who came to learn from me and taught me a lot about what really matters.

Steve Gatos

from Megan

Yesterday a group of us went to a prison. I didn’t go expecting anything out of it, I just wanted to see what it was like and talk to the prisoners there. When we first got there I thought it looked like a sad and a terrible place to live but nothing more. So, when we got there a few of us went to the women’s building, and I couldn’t believe that human beings actually lived there. They stayed in a small dark room and outside of the room was a small cement courtyard with bars on the tops of the walls so only light could get in. On the walls I noticed were markings of either words or drawings, and as I looked closer I saw that the drawings were faces with eyes that just made me think of evil. There was a devil, and a really scary clown and a whole bunch of other random ones. Then the women came out and we worshiped and some started praying and talking. As I talked with two women I found that they had only been there a few months and still had years left there. That disturbed me but I didn’t know why.

          When we were done there we went to see the men’s prison, where everyone was worshiping and singing. I started to sing and pray and as I looked around at the men and the cement beds they were on top of in the locked and barred doors I just asked God How in the world would he free them when they were locked up like this. I didn’t understand how there could be hope in a place like that. Then I thought of people’s hearts, and how sometimes they can feel just as hopeless as this prison. God can reach anyone, anywhere because He has all the power.

         When I came on this trip I expected to be moved by the kids or the pastors or something, but not by the prisoners. I didn’t expect my faith to be tested like it was, because for a few moments in that prison, I doubted that God could reach the people there. But He can, and He does, all the time. He can set me free from my prison of perfection and control that I built for myself, and then He can use me to tell people of how He can set them free forever.

Megan Steiner

from Rachel

Today, we visited the small Miskito village of Botania. I was thrilled to be able to go. Three years ago, I spent several days building houses in this hurricane ravaged village with a group of rolling hills high school students. I fell in love with the joyful people in this desperately poor area. Today, we enjoyed seeing a community garden that Austin is building to drastically help the village, watching little pigs run around like puppies, and eating coconuts straight off the trees. However, for me, the best part was seeing the houses we had helped build. They were painted bright, cheerful colors and looked cherished. It reminded me that the work we did then and the work we are doing now can help bring joy to these precious people in Nicaragua.

Rachel Stoelk

From Meg

Today is our last day so I finally decided to blog. Jeff let me know that I would not be able to go home if I didn’t blog so I’m cutting it close J. This week has been life changing. Inside jokes, uncontrollable laughter, tears, and healing. Nicaragua is beautiful, hot, wet, amazing… it’s hard to find words to fully explain this wonderful place. Yesterday we got to spend time in the local prison. I knew it would be sad and maybe a little bit scary but I was far from being fully prepared for what I was about to see. It was dark and dirty and smelly. These men and women had small rooms shared with a few other people and it was really hot. The worst part was that there was very little light. It was almost like a small picture of hell for me. I could never imagine being in a place like that and being able to know that God had forgiven me. It was for sure and eye opener and something I wont ever forget. Nicaragua has been a huge blessing to me and I will miss it more than anyone will ever know.

Meg McNamara

from Kathy

So, it’s our last full day here in Porto Cabezas, and I’m blown away that the time has gone by so fast, and so thankful that I got to be on this trip. 

I had the privilege to speak with Barb at a women’s group Wednesday night.  Barb and I were told there may be 15-20 women there.  Apparently, the Bible study was advertised on local radio stations, and we had over 100 women!  Barb and I taught on Matthew 4:19 about becoming fishers of men.   I also gave my testimony as I taught, and we broke them into small groups to discuss other verses that related to following Jesus, His working in us, and becoming fishers of men.  I shared that I had prayed for God to show me who He wanted me to share Christ with, and during the small group time, the interpreter told me that she was so moved by that, and that she’d never thought to pray to God for Him to show her who to share Christ with.  She was going to do that, and was excited to see who God would reveal to her.  I was excited and humbled that evening.

My main focus this week has been as a support for the Pastor’s conference.  Walking to the church the first morning of the conference, and seeing all the pastors lined up to be registered, I was filled with emotion.  These men and women had traveled for days, on boats, in buses and taxis, to hear what the Americans had to say about God.  During the three days of the conference, the men and women went from being very reserved, not wanting to share in their small groups, to all talking at the same time!  They were understanding, for the first time, what the purpose of the church is, what their role as a pastor is, and how to make disciples who make disciples.  It was incredible to see God work in such a dramatic way.

This morning, a bus filled to the rim (with Miskito pastors and women standing all the way down the aisle, and 3-4 to a seat) came to Pastor Earl’s house where we gave them each a 35 pound bag of flour, sugar, rice, salt and margarine so they would have food for their families when they returned home.  Many of them had six day journeys ahead of them, but they smiled from their seats and reached out their hands for one last touch.  I sobbed all the way around the bus as I shook as many hands as I could reach, praying the whole time that the things they learned and that God would use them to change Nicaragua and the church here forever.  And I fully believe He will.

Kathy Towne

Saying goodbye to Moskito pastors

various photos

preparing take home food packages for Moskito . . .

prison ministry photos