SHA Students Dedicate Spring Break to Helping Others

This Spring Break, 12 girls (including myself) made our way to Nicaragua to help Hand and Hand Ministries complete a project they had been working on. Leaving March 30, we arrived with no idea of what the week would bring us and the impact it would have.

Beginning each and every day at 7:00 a.m., we were always moving. We would wake up and head to the job site. Hand and Hand’s past mission trip had built the front of a house for a family they were helping. Our job was to come in and help build the back of it. Unlike the houses we are accustomed to, this home was made just of concrete. From mixing the cement to putting together the support beams, we did it all, but never by ourselves. We were lucky to have the help and support of the family and their relatives.

Elmer and Hayner were two that we seemed to get along with really well. Just a little older than us, we bonded instantly. Even though we did not speak the same language, we found ways around the barrier. While working with senior Heather Rueff on some support beams, Elmer would laugh and make fun of us or he would race us and then say how he was “all finished.” Hayner would play around and throw water, finding our reactions amusing. Laughing with them was one of the many things that made the work fun and made us look forward to going back each day.

Something that I found amazing was how much help came from the owners themselves. Jose and Marlene, had an amazing work ethic and positive attitude. Seeing them happy made it all worthwhile. They were grateful to have us there and have us helping build them a better home. It made it hard to leave them on the last day. On Friday, April, we completed our last jobs on the house and held a final ceremony. After praying, Jose began to thank us for all that we did, choking up, and our hearts melted. At that point, we knew we had made a difference.

In addition to working on Jose and Marlene’s home, we spent the second half of our days either with the children that were apart of Hand and Hand’s education program or exploring the city of Managua.

With the children, we played an intense game of baseball one day and on another went swimming. Ages ranging from 9-11, they all had such unique personalities, and loved having us there to spend time with them.

When we weren’t with the children, we were out exploring. One of the most memorable days for me was the day we visited the volcano. We took a bus and drove to the very top and then got to walk and look down into it. It was incredible to be that close and see the volcano itself, and the smoke coming out the top. Right around the time of sunset, we hiked up to the top of another mountain right next to the volcano, were we sat and just watched. It was like nothing I have ever experienced or seen before. Here we were, the 12 of us, in Nicaragua watching the sunset over a volcano. I was in awe and will forever remember that moment.

This mission trip was life changing in more ways than I can think of. Going into it, I thought it would be sad to see these people living in poverty and see what they have to go through each day and where they live. In fact, it was the opposite. The Nicaraguans were so happy, even though they live without the material possessions we have; they were content and made the most out of what they have. It was inspiring and really made me think about what I have, and the way I live my life. It showed me how I need to not take life for granted and appreciate all the people in my life, because that is what’s most important.

I would say the mission trip was a huge success, and would highly recommend it to everyone. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. I miss it every day, and hope that maybe one day I can venture back to do it all again.