Spring Break Servant Event Report
Leon, Nicaragua ~ March 7-14, 2009

Thank you so much for your support and prayers for our servant event trip to Nicaragua! Allow us to share some of the highlights of our mission trip as we reflect on our spiritual journey.

Our spiritual journey began Friday night on March 6th when our group along with the three other servant events had a commissioning service held at Martin Luther Chapel. A few hours after the service, 2:30am to be exact, the group piled into a van and headed for the airport. On the plane ride heading to Nicaragua we got a view from above of the breathtaking landscape of Nicaragua- all were amazed at the many volcanoes and lakes. Upon landing in Managua, Nicaragua we were met by Ricardo the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Nicaragua. Accompanying Ricardo was Yader, the leader of the project Joel, the evangelical outreach program we would partake in during out mission trip.
We spent a lot of time at the Pastol Community, a rural community 25 minutes outside of Leon where with your support we supplied the building materials and helped build the mission shelter. Each time we visited this community everyone used their gifts to benefit the lives of those who lived there. Julia Eldridge, Pauline Wendzel, Michele Buchanan, and Emily Rustad used their artistic talents with face paint by drawing flowers, butterflies, crosses, and baseballs on the children. When the building materials arrived the work began. Dave Lueders, and Bethany Peerbolte took charge and unloaded metal poles, lumber, and other materials from the truck. In the following days at the worksite our group continued to help build the mission station and build relationships with the community. John Glandon and Andy Priest took on the challenging job of digging trenches out of the volcanic sand. The last day at the worksite the woman who donated the land to have the mission station built presented us with a picture depicting the last supper. We provided soft drinks and made lunch for the entire community and shared with them an American food staple- peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Not only did we spend time in the Pastol Community, but we also visited schools and other small communities. At each location we would learn about the people there and then share a song or two with them. The Michigan State fight song and Lord I Lift Your Name On High were our songs of choice accompanied beautifully by Ashley Kulczycki on the guitar. The Project Joel team also taught all of the kids a song called Buenos Dios, which our entire group could not get enough of. After songs and fellowship we would join together with the kids in several fun activities. Courtney Gluski and Laura Schroeder took part in a girls only kickball game, while Joe Nettleman took on the soccer skills of many of the young boys.
Everyone we encountered in Leon was very welcoming and friendly. We felt like a part of each community the moment we arrived. It was a wonderful experience to share in Jesus Christ with our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters. We thank everyone for their prayers and financial support, which we could not have done without. Neither the team members nor the Nicaraguans whose lives we touched will forget our experiences in sharing Gods endless blessings. Thank you again from the bottom of all of our hearts.

In Christ,
Courtney Gluski and Dave Lueders
Nicaragua Servant Leaders

Andy Priest, Ashley Kulczycki, Bethany Peerbolte, Courtney Gluski, Dave Lueders, Emily Rustad, Joe Nettleman, John Glandon, Julia Eldridge, Laura Schroeder, Michele Buchanan, Pauline Wendzel