How does connecting with another culture help Christians to embrace the global church? What opportunities help young leaders cultivate a mission-minded worldview? And can one week in another country really be a life-changing experience?
Last month, twelve Canadians from across Ontario embarked on a cross-cultural journey that powerfully answered these very questions. The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) partnered with the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) to send a team of young people to work in nine communities in central Nicaragua.
How does connecting with another culture help Christians to embrace the global church? What opportunities help young leaders cultivate a mission-minded worldview? And can one week in another country really be a life-changing experience?
Last month, twelve Canadians from across Ontario embarked on a cross-cultural journey that powerfully answered these very questions. The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) partnered with the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) to send a team of young people to work in nine communities in central Nicaragua.
Ray Heeres, an AOYC worship leader, was thrilled to be able to work with CRWRC in this way. He helped plan the trip and also served as one of the leaders. “The trip is carrying out what we proclaim in our worship,” he said.
The CRWRC-AOYC trip was designed for teens in active leadership roles. Along with an application, those interested were required submit a pastoral reference and an essay explaining why they wanted to go. The team was intentionally kept small—seven youth (who happened to be all female) and four leaders—In order to allow for more intense, focused learning and relationship building.
“At CRWRC we have always believed that good community development involves investing in a community,” said Iona Buisman, CRWRC’s Global Volunteer Program Coordinator and a leader on the trip. “This trip was a new way to invest in young Christian leaders—to allow them to engage culture in an experiential way.”
God’s faithfulness was apparent at every stage. The team’s fundraising efforts were successful, and even before they set foot in Nicaragua a partnership was in place with the YMCA in Santa Lucia and the community of Los Alvarez.
Upon arrival in Nicaragua, the CRWRC-AOYC team received intense cultural orientation at the Nehemiah Center in the city of Managua. They learned about the country’s language, history, and landscape, and were also able to visit major geographical sites, which equipped them to connect deeply with all members of the community.
As with many mission trips, there was an element of physical labour and a measureable goal: to build a community center for youth in Los Alvarez. This involved shoveling and hauling large buckets of dirt—especially exhausting work for those unaccustomed to the hot climate. But it was a community building experience, as the team was able to work alongside local people, as well as learn how to work well together.
Cultivating relationships was a vital goal of the ten day trip. At the town of Santa Lucia, the team built peer to peer relationships with young leaders at the YMCA. The group also attended worship services, ate meals in several different locations, visited schools, and participated in such activities as bonfire sing-alongs, sports and games at a local park. They and the local people learned from and about each other – even teaching each other worship songs in their native languages.
“It was such a unique blessing to worship with fellow believers,” said Kim Brix of Living Hope CRC in Peterborough. “It opened my eyes to the global church and made me see beyond the North American bubble that I live in.”
The leaders were deeply impressed by the kindness, joy, and resilience these young people demonstrated in a setting involving language barriers, unpredictable weather, and limited living conditions. Heather de Haan, an adult leader from Burlington CRC, was especially moved when the youth took initiative to go to the local park and make friendship bracelets with children. What a creative way to connect in different cultural setting! It was but one of the many examples of God equipping the team moment to moment.
“I was blown away every day,” de Haan said. “God was giving us energy every day for what we needed to do.”
Daily devotions were a highlight for many—a time to pray, share testimonies, and reflect on the Lord’s movement in their lives. Both cultures benefitted from the group dynamic of their time together.
“Being in a group made it easier to connect with people in the community,” said Brix “Once we had established relationships with each other, we were able to reach out and make relationships with the community. It made it really special to have two groups of people come together as one.”
The whole team was inspired by the generosity and hospitality of the Nicaraguan people—including a woman from the community who spent four hours a day hours preparing, cooking and serving lunch for the workers.
By the end of the trip, unforgettable connections had been made and hearts opened up. “You are our family, and you are welcome back any time,” said community leaders at a party thrown on the last day.
This sense of overwhelming gratitude and unity was mutual. The CRWRC-AOYC team had undergone a life-altering experience—one that renewed their commitment to living mission-minded lives in every context and culture. Thank you to all those who made this exciting opportunity for community transformation possible!
CRWRC has a host of similar learning and serving opportunities available. If you are a young person or youth leader in Ontario, consider participating in the next CRWRC-AOYC partnership trip taking place in August. There will be a booth and a workshop about this trip at the May 18-20 All Ontario Youth Convention. Register for the conference on the AOYC site.
If you aren’t from Ontario, there are still many ways you can volunteer with CRWRC. Contact [email protected] for more information. Join us in changing lives worldwide.
