Wednesday, November 9, 2011

EastLake Team Headed to Nicaragua!

We're counting down the hours!

Last December Mike and I had dinner with Halle and Kathy August who, a little over a decade ago - quit their jobs, sold their Bothell home, took their three school-aged boys out of school and moved to Nicaragua as a family. They had gone on a mission trip over the summer, and had felt God calling them back to the community they had been serving. The started Alongside Ministries, and built a recreation center basically from the ground up. They now have a full size soccer and baseball field, basketball courts, a computer lab, one of only TWO libraries in Managua, a pre-school and a feeding program. The community knows they are Christian, but they don't have an on-site church. Their philosophy has been just to love on the community, and through that love - they have shown the true power and spirit of Christ.

When we met at Red Robin right before they were about to fly back down south -  after our conversations and hearing their story, we pretty much knew right away we'd put together a mission group to go down and help in whatever way we could.  Less than a year later we're now leading a group of 11 (including us) to serve their center and their community. God has BIG plans for us, and everyone is so excited! 

We've been blessed with amazing, un-anticipated gifts of donated clothing and shoes, and we raised enough money to purchase 36 brand new books for their library. We are bringing 3 donated sewing machines and bolts of fabric to teach women how to make book bags, have games and prizes and activities for the kids, and even plan to give the gift of manicures for at least 20 women while we're there.  

The majority of our group have never traveled this far away from home, and all but 3 have never been on a mission trip before. While Mike and I know a little bit of Espanol, the rest of the group does not.  It's going to be so amazing to see how God works in and through all of us during this journey, and watch how all of the planning over the past 5 months comes together!  If you're reading this, please pray for Jessica, Jenny, Claire, Evan, Chad, Jared, Jen, Michelle, Debbie, Mike, (and Julie.) We leave Thursday morning from Sea-tac - arriving at 6: (oh-dark) 30 AM, and will spend over 7.5 hours on two different flights along with a 3 hour layover in Houston. We'll be tired on arrival, but so excited to see what's next! 

Cheers! Mike and Julie Metteer

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