Nicaragua Panel Discussion

July 26, 2009 the Journey – Nicaragua Panel Discussion
Featuring Matt Johnson, Loren Wilson, Alisha Temple, Kevin Swartz, Lisa and Elizabeth Whitt

In November when you first heard about LUO, what made you decide to choose get involved?
• Give kids food, shelter and education. As well as a Christ-based education.
• Put faith in Matt, knew the project was legitimate.
• The realization that only $200 could support a child for a whole year.
• Helps instill solid principles in our children over here.

What appealed to you about going down to Nicaragua? Did you have any concerns?
• Seeing the child that you sponsored. Getting people to sponsor you to raise the money to go.
• A little concern about safety and health.
• Having a 9 year old see how other 9 year olds around the world have to live. An experience that can never be taken away.

In general, what did you do while you were there, and how was it different than what you expected?
• Playing with kids in the dump. Visiting safe homes to play with kids.
• Go to know people, and meet their needs.
• Painted at homes and dumps; fixed things up.
• Took kids on little trips and hung out with the kids.
• Played in the pool with kids.
• Developed relationships with the kids.
• Played soccer with the kids.
• The school is the center of hope among despair.
• Moved things from old home to new home.
• Not a lot of expectations going into Nicaragua

First impressions?
• Animals are among the people digging through the dump.
• Overwhelming.
• You don’t know what to do.
• Surprised that the kids are happy at school, considering the horrific environments they live in.
• Hard to fathom until you see it.

Experience with the kids?
• Fun.
• Language barrier, but universal languages are play and music.
• Girls home created a bond and sense of community.
• The bus was kind of a party bus. Singing, playing, having fun.
• Developing one-on-one relationships with the kids. Found ways to communicate despite the language barrier. The kids loved us being there with them.
• The smiles continue to be on the kids’ faces because of what is being done to help them.
• It is amazing what a little attention and a little love can do.
• In 2 months time love, attention, and care can really make a huge difference in the lives of these kids.

Best experience:
• Kids falling asleep in your arms.
• Playing soccer in the dump.
• Watching Alex Kursave interact with the kids.
• Watching interaction with the kids with 9 year old Elizabeth Whitt.
• Bus rides! Music, running, no rules.

Experience with fellow Journeyers
• Everyone warmed up to each other and became so close.
• Everyone was willing to work together.
• Wonderful sense of community.
• Relationships that created a bond.

What did God teach you?
• Showed that we are really helping people.
• God’s love is universal.
• You can show love no matter what language you speak.
• Patience, slowing down.
• Learning to listen to God.
• Peace overcomes the clutter in our lives.
• We need to be more thankful for what we have.
• We need to be less selfish.
• Importance of relationships.
• Live is meant to be shared.
• God is working!

What would you say to people who haven’t gone?
• Drink water.
• Set aside your reservations, and trust God.
• Some people don’t want to go, but will be glad to give you money for you to go.
• It is safe, don’t worry.
• This is an opportunity to experience what God is doing in another country.

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Listen to the panel: http://tiny.cc/vBXJz