So I am very thrilled to share that God is calling me to serve another summer abroad! I am beyond excited to have another opportunity to spend my summer loving on His people and learning so much from each and every one of them. In all honesty, I knew the second I came home from The DR last summer that I would be embarking on yet another adventure this next summer. The Lord has been very evident in the fact that He has great plans for me this summer. It is so awesome when you can feel The Lord's presence pulling you toward something and there is no doubt in your mind that is where you need to be. So I am sure you are wondering, where is He taking me? Well, excitingly enough He is taking me to two separate places. Of course, they are both in Latin/Central America/The Caribbean because my heart is there. First, I will be going back to Nicaragua, and if you know anything about my last trip there you know that this is very very exciting! I went on a mission trip with Aggies for Christ to Nicaragua Spring Break my freshman year and it is where my passion for foreign missions became so evident. I worked alongside fellow Aggies as well as individuals in Nicaragua with an organization called With One Hope. This organization was created by Chris Cunningham, a 2006 A&M graduate and member of AFC. With One Hope is a wonderful organization that serves many families in various cities all over Nicaragua. They support these families, usually single mother households, with a food package each month. With One Hope also provides resources to help the families begin to make an income and to eventually become self-sustaining. With One Hope has also partnered with other organizations to build many elementary schools in different cities in Nicaragua. This has helped foster a much better learning environment for many children. More information about this organization can be found at withonehope.org. I will go into the detail of the specific trip in the next paragraph. After leaving Nicaragua, I will head back to The Dominican Republic! I am just overflowing with excitement to be able to return to all my family and friends in La Esquina! I cannot thank The Lord enough for placing another incredible opportunity like this in my life. I absolutely love the passion He has placed in my life for foreign missions and am beyond ready to let Him use me in amazing ways this summer!
The tentative plan:
A. Nicarauga
I will be leaving for Nicaragua on Wednesday, May 21st! Some may think I am crazy because my brother gets married only 3 days before. I will be in the country for the wedding, isn't that what's important? Anyway, my trip to Nicaragua will be different than last time. I will only be going with a group of three instead of a group of about twelve people. Although we will be working with many in Nicaragua, Chris, the founder of With One Hope, Kasey, and I will be the only ones coming from the United States. Kasey is a fellow member of Aggies for Christ as well as a Nutrition major at A&M like me. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work alongside a non-profit organization with a smaller group. Kasey and I will basically be Chris' assistants and will get to actually see the ups and downs as well as many other things involved behind the scenes of a non-profit. I am excited to gain experience in this area because I could see myself eventually being a part of this kind of organization. The biggest project we have for the summer is to create a documentary of the families that With One Hope supports. This will be a great way for the individuals that support these families from the states to see and hear the amazing stories that they have helped create. Kasey and I will also use this one-on-one time with the families to ask them about any nutrition concerns they may have. We also want to evaluate the food packages they receive and see what items they utilize and in what ways. Chris is excited about this component of the summer because With One Hope has never had anyone with a nutrition background assist them in any way. We are willing to make changes to the package and offer families healthier alternative to some of the methods that they may be using to prepare certain items. Creating this documentary will occupy a great deal of our time, but when we are not involved in it we will be spending time loving on the wonderful kiddos that With One Hope supports. There is also potential for the opportunity for gardening. If you know anything about my adventure last summer then you know that this is right up my alley! Please begin to start praying for the people of Nicaragua as well as Chris, Kasey, and I.Here are some pictures from 2012:
B. The Dominican Republic
I will fly from Nicaragua to The DR on June 10th and I will be headed back to the United States at the beginning of August. I am planning on working with my friend Alicen Bessire while I am there. Alicen graduated from Texas A&M last May and has been living in our community, La Esquina, since then. We spent last summer implementing gardening curriculum in a school and building relationships with all of the people there. Alicen has been able to accomplish a great deal of things while being over there since August by herself! I am so very excited to be able to join her in all of her efforts. If you would like to know more information about what we are doing and what we have done please check out Alicen's blog at daysofjubilee.wordpress.com or The Dominican Experience page on Facebook! This summer we plan on continuing with our gardening projects as well as teaching English lessons to many kids in our community. We also would love to begin some small group bible studies or vacation bible school lessons with the kids. It has been very cool because a few months ago the capital sent a youth minister to a church in the area. Before this time, there was not any type of program in our community that introduced church or a relationship with God at all for youth and young adults. Ever since I left La Esquina in August I have been praying for The Lord to work in their lives to show them who He is. It is so awesome to see that He is answering that prayer. I cannot wait to be a vessel for God to use this summer. Please pray that the individuals in La Esquina will be open to hearing about the graciousness and love of our Lord and Savior.Here are some pictures from last summer:
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Mark 16:15
How you can help:
1. Pray, pray pray!
I cannot explain to you how much it means for people to constantly be in prayer for me and my ministry. It is incredibly encouraging and provides me with great strength. Begin praying now for the people of Nicaragua and The Dominican Republic.Pray that they will see God amidst any trials and tribulations that they are experience. Continue praying throughout the summer for Kasey, Chris, Alicen, and I. Pray intentional prayers that The Lord will use us in incredible ways. Pray that God will continually fill us up with love and it will have nowhere to go but to just pour out of us and into the lives of others. Thanks again in advance for the many thoughts and prayers.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
2. Support me for a day!
I have calculated out all my expenses and come to the conclusion that it will be about $10/day for cost of living for me while in Nicaragua and The Dominican Republic. If you are interested in supporting me for a day please let me know! Feel free to call or text me to learn more information. Alpine Church of Christ has been gracious enough to handle my funds for me. The address is 610 E. Loop 281 Longview, TX 75605. If you are mailing a check, please put attention Jerry Brumbaugh. Also, Alpine has asked that you not put my name on the memo line but that you put on a separate sheet of paper that the funds are for my trip. Thank you again for your willingness to share in this experience with me!
"...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Philippians 2:12-13
I will be using this blog to post updates while I am in both Nicaragua and The Dominican Republic. Be sure to check in from time to time to see how The Lord is working in and through all of us!
"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love."
1 Corinthians 10:1-3
