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Nicaragua, Central America Mission Trip
June 6 to June 15, 2009
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| Ministry Detail |
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Project Overview:
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. War and natural disasters including earthquakes and hurricanes have wreaked havoc on the area. Hopelessness abounds. Children are especially hurting, due to the lack of two-parent families.
The needs are great in Nicaragua but the opportunities for ministry on this Adventure are even greater. You might think that you don’t have much to offer people with such crushing needs, but remember: God does the healing, not us. All we do is plant seeds of truth and love, and water them. It’s up to God to bring about new life and growth. Anyone can plant seeds, right?
Ministry Description:
There is a vibrant ministry waiting for you in the temperate hill towns outside of Managua. (Nicaragua’s capital city). Children's ministry, open air evangelism in the plaza and at the dump, and community help are all possibilities. Some construction on a new orphanage complex may be included and there is the possibility for rehab center visitation. You may also be involved in the feeding program at the dump.
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| Trip Requirements |
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Level 2 participants must:
Participants must:
1. have accepted Jesus as Savior and have a living, personal relationship with Him.
2. be willing, experienced, and comfortable with sharing their testimonies and a Gospel message.
3. be willing to submit to authority.
4. demonstrate a servant's heart.
5. acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
6. have prior ministry experience.
7. accept more difficult ministry and living conditions.
Level 3 Participants also:
1. Must accept longer stays and different living conditions.
2. Must have a desire to minister to nationals.
3. Must have a commitment to identify and utilize individual spiritual gifts.
4. Must be willing to seek out adventure, try new and exciting things, and leave negative attitudes at home
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| Food & Lodging |
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Your team will be staying in a guest house with bunks or at a small hotel. Please bring lightweight bedding and towels. The meals will be balanced among American food and authentic Nicaraguan meals, and safe water will be provided.
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| Dress Code & What to Bring
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Dress Code:
FEMALES
• Ministry Dress (evangelism, church services, school devotions or assemblies)- Wear skirts that reach below the bottom of the knee or longer, or khaki slacks, and shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulders. You can wear short sleeves, but they must cover the shoulders and upper arms. No cap sleeves or sleeveless shirts of any kind. Shirts should not have scoop necks or low v-necks.
• Construction/Sports Dress/VBS-Jeans, capris or knee length shorts. Work shirt or t-shirt, (no tank tops, cap or sleeveless tops). Shirts should not have scoop necks or low v-necks. Boots, strong shoes or tennis shoes.
MALES
• Ministry Dress (evangelism, church services, school devotions or assemblies) -Nice pants (slacks, khaki slacks), nice shirt with a collar, nice shoes or tennis shoes.
• Construction/Sports Dress/VBS-Jeans, pants or shorts to the knee. Work shirt (no tank tops or sleeveless), boots, strong shoes or tennis shoes
No flashy clothes or jewelry. Do not bring clothes with American logos and advertisements. Something simple like Old Navy is ok, but remember what you wear is a physical representation of who you are. Both guys and girls do not bring clothing that is tight, too small, or form-fitting in any way. Do not bring pants that are low-cut. If you can bend over and touch your toes without showing any skin in the back, then your shirt and pants are ok. If you can raise your hands all the way above your head and not show your stomach, then your shirt is ok. For either men or women, no open-toed shoes or sandals of any kind in the colonias.
What to Bring:
Bring sufficient clothing for the trip, since there will be no laundry opportunities. Bring light clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
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| Travel Information |
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Airport & Transportation:
You'll fly to Managua, and we will transport you to your lodging.
Ground transportation is included in the project price.
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Visa & Passport:
A current passport is required to enter the country. A visa is not required.
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Tolls & Exit Tax:
A tourist card must be purchased for $5 upon entry to Nicaragua. The exit tax is $32. Both are the responsibility of the team.
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Shots & Vaccinations:
An updated Tetanus shot is Strongly Recommended for ALL projects. Hepatitis A is recommended.
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Suggested Travel Agency:
- Donna Booth, CTC Domestic and International Travel
Consultant
MTS Travel
9440 Philips Hwy, Ste 3
Jacksonville, Fl. 32256
Phone (800) 888-8292 ext 208
Email donnab@mtstravel.com
- Karol Fleming, CTC Domestic and International Travel
Consultant
MTS Travel
9440 Philips Hwy, Ste 3
Jacksonville, Fl. 32256
Phone (800) 888-8292 ext 208
Email karolf@mtstravel.com
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Suggested Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend all program participants have health insurance coverage for international trips. It is important to know that most regular health insurance plans do not cover you overseas. Health coverage is not a requirement for domestic trips, but still recommended.
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| Location Information
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Location Description:
Nicaragua is the largest nation in Central America, and contains regions of thick rain forests, rugged highlands, and fertile farming areas. About half of Nicaragua’s territory consists of the eastern lowlands, known as the Mosquito Coast, which extend 40 miles inland from the Caribbean. This area once contained extensive stands of tropical hardwoods, but most have been cut. Tropical rain forest covers much of the area, threaded with rivers that begin in the highlands and empty into the Caribbean.
Weather:
Nicaragua’s climate is tropical, with temperatures determined largely by elevation. The coastal regions have a hot climate, with a mean average temperature of 81°F. In the central highlands, the temperature varies between 60° and 80°F. The rainy season occurs from May until early November.
Area Attractions:
Poetry is one of Nicaragua's most beloved arts, and no other Central American country can match its literary output. The Archipiélago de Solentiname in Lago de Nicaragua is famous as a haven for artists, poets, and craftspeople. Sandinista street art in the form of modernist murals is especially prominent in the university town of León.
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| People, Culture and Religion
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Nicaragua's indigenous people were mostly killed or enslaved after the Spanish conquest of the area in the early 1500s. It remained a minor part of the Spanish colonial empire until Central America gained independence in 1821.
Nicaragua is the most urban country in Central America. Its people are mostly mestizos (mixed European and Native American descent). The population is 69% mestizo, 17% European descent, 9% African descent, and 5% indigenous peoples.
Spanish is the language of Nicaragua, but English and several Indian languages are spoken on the Caribbean coast. Nicaraguans of African descent, known as Creoles, dominate the towns along the Caribbean coast. Coming from the British West Indies, notably Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, they speak English and are largely Protestants. The mestizo population of western Nicaragua is predominantly Spanish-speaking and Roman Catholic.
Baseball is Nicaragua’s national sport, reflecting U.S. influence. Cycling, basketball, volleyball, and soccer are also popular. The typical diet of the region is based on rice, beans, yucca, and tortillas. The nation is known for its variety of tropical fruits.
The main religion is Catholicism (73%), although there are several Protestant sects (16%), such as the Pentecostals and Baptists.
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| Government and Economy
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Since independence, Nicaragua has had a republican form of government, with an elected president, a congress, and a supreme court.
In the 1990s, Nicaragua was among the poorest nations in Central America, after suffering from years of corrupt dictatorships, natural disasters, revolution, and civil war. Nicaragua’s economy is based largely on agriculture, especially on crops grown for export, such as coffee.
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| Statistics
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Population:
5.4 million (UN 2003}
(news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles) |
Poverty Rate:
50% live below the poverty line; highest in rural areas
An estimated 82% of the population survives on less than $1 a day. In the eastern lowlands, poverty levels exceed 90%. |
Literacy Rate:
65.7% of Nicaraguans age 15 and over can read and write.
(www.worldatlas.com)
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Average Annual Income:
$710 U.S. (World Bank 2004)
(news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles) |
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