Be part of the team!

Greetings,


People have asked us how they can help on this trip and also help build this partnership with Nicaragua ministry. Sometimes I think the notion of helping has been interpreted as boxing up charity work and handing it to them with a pretty bow on top. This is mislead belief and I'd like to clarify how we can work together to deliver more than charity work and more than mere exchange of needs. I'd like to invite you on a trip to build a partnership where we can all work together for God's glory.

A director for a Nicaraguan faith-based NGO bluntly points out that if we are thinking to save Nicaragua by taking 2 weeks of our vacation time by going over there to build what they might need such as a health center, then we ought to just save our time and spend our time elsewhere because charity is not what they are looking for. They want us, you and I, to do work on basis of solidarity. This process begins by humbly empathizing with their struggles and with the ability to share their blessings and happiness.

Although we can argue that if we pour enough time and energy on a problem, we might be able to solve just about any problem that exists today. However, to cultivate a Christ centered community, we must first form a relationship with God then extend that same relationship to others. The quality of our relationship with others will extend only as far as our relationship with God. Bottom line, to make an impact, our ability to help others will only be as great as we acknowledge God's impact on our lives.


Here is how WE can help Nicaragua, together (try some of this on your own):

• Focus on spending quality time within your small group
  
• As a group, empathize with each other by going thirsty or hungry for a day. Think about what a day in a drought feels like and share with the group
  
• Limit your daily spending to less than ~$2 per day per person (HINT: with in your small group, combine your daily allowance to help you get through this hurdle)
• Raise awareness around Nicaragua's current events. Research what is going on today and think about how your talent can be poised to do charity work
  
• Stay connected to the team and keep us in your prayers
  

I think this is a good list where we can start our work. In the next few weeks to come, we'll start posting specific exercises we can do to build our relationship with God and with the people in Nicaragua.


Please pray for us that

• God will give us a humble and contrite heart during the time of trip preparation
  
• We will be able to witness God's grace through any financial and logistical burdens

-Ji