Pastor Gwyneth's Mission to Nicaragua

Pastor Gwyneth traveled on a mission trip to Nicaragua with five other United Methodists from the New England Conference on April 13-20, 2009.

The United Methodist Church in New England has worked with churches in Nicaragua to create and maintain programs to help people, and to do so in the name and power of Jesus Christ. This includes a mobile health and dental clinic that is the only one that reaches all areas of the country, sewing programs, clean water programs, and children's feeding programs at schools throughout the country.

Our delegation of six New England Methodists traveled to some of the most rural impoverished areas of the country with the mobile health and dental clinic, working side by side with two physicians and the dentist who had recently lost his two sons in an accident. This is where we gave out the medicines Peoples helped to collect, and where we gave out the huge bag of beanie babies to about 90 children. Back in the urban area of Managua, we helped to feed about 100 children, a meal that is provided three times per week and for some children is their only meal.

There are so many unforgettable stories. But I would like to share just one that I hope will touch you as it did me. We were visiting one of the sewing programs in which teens and adults are taught to sew. Each student had pages of notes, and were carefully cutting and sewing patterns made from paper for practice. Graduates are then able to produce garments to sell, and can do so within their homes as they care for their children and families.

We had brought a suitcase of sewing materials that we presented to the sewing school, and they were so thankful. Then they gave each of us a beautiful, hand sewn bag. Each of these represented a big part of their livelihood. They couldn't "afford" to give, yet they did not give grudgingly but joyfully out of love and Christian hospitality.

After leaving the sewing school, the head of the sewing program, Alicia invited us over for dessert. I was amazed to hear that she had lost her husband a year ago, who was electrocuted while baptizing their son. Not only was she continuing to lead the sewing program, but she had taken over as head pastor of the church. She certainly didn't have any of the support we would have access to, such as counseling services for herself and her son. But it was clear from her manner that she depended on the Wonderful Counselor, and that God was working in her life. Our delegation leader had brought some photos from a trip Alicia's husband had made to New England shortly before his accident, which brought tears, but also brought a sense of community. She was able to share about her wounds and experience God's love through our presence with her.

As we finished up dessert, Pastor Alicia asked me to come to her sewing area and indicated she wanted me to try on a dress that had been made within the sewing program. She must have had quite an eye as the dress fit perfectly, and was exquisite. She told me through our translator that she wanted to give me the dress. This kind of extravagant hospitality was an indescribable experience of God's love. As we prepared to leave, I requested to pray for Alicia and we all gathered around and laid our hands on her. I prayed as one woman pastor to another, and truly felt the Holy Spirit praying through me as I spoke words that flowed from deep within.

It was at this moment that I realized that the "mission of our mission" was not so simple as financial support, or doing something for a community. It was much more about "being with" than "doing for," which is difficult for me to grasp as our culture is focused so strongly on accomplishment and independence rather than presence and relationship. What I didn't expect was how much the presence of our small delegation meant to our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua, and the sense of how much we need our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and the rest of the world, every bit as much as they need us. We are the church. They are the church. We are the church together!


One of the school feeding programs where we helped to feed about 100 children.