It was still dark outside that morning when I left my house for AMOS. The 20 minute car ride — without traffic — was a perfect opportunity to give thanks to God. I was going to join a group of 8 volunteers from different parts of the US — Kansas, Iowa, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida. At a little after 5:30am, we gathered for prayer together with the AMOS staff. This simple moment centered on God is a powerful way to begin an AMOS mission trip. But the journey to make it to the place we planned to serve for the week was still a long, bumpy truck ride away!

After 9.5 hours and many bathroom stops, we made it to the rural community of Banco de Sikia. The community leaders who would be our very generous hosts for the week, were there waiting for us at the church. A total of 19 people in three 4×4 vehicles, I am sure the amount of activity and materials we were bringing was a bit of a surprise, especially to the curious children who gathered around as we unloaded the trucks. Yet, this moment embodied another key part of visiting a rural community in Nicaragua — an abundant hospitality and a community organization that helps make everything possible and more enjoyable.

As our week progressed we were blessed with morning devotional time. With coffees in hand, delicious food at every meal made by our cook Rosibel, we were able to walk alongside community water promoters to install a total of 50 water filters for families with small children or pregnant moms in their homes. Another part of our team helped to replace doors, latrines, shower stalls and roofs. Two community clinics were given much needed repairs. Children filled with unending energy and joy participated in talks on good hygiene for their hands and teeth. All this took place in two neighboring communities — Banco de Sikia and Nawawasito.

While the accomplishments in terms of the projects completed are very important, God shows up in special ways during a mission trip like this one if we pay attention. This means slowing down, putting aside the need to understand what will happen every minute of the schedule, trusting our local guides/partners, and letting our heart be touched by the simple acts of community and service exemplified in the time dedicated by the community leaders and smiles of everyone we meet.

The journey is never an easy one. There are comforts we forgo and there are critters and bugs we might not be used to that give us many reasons to use a mosquito net while we sleep! And yet, the value of being present here is beyond words. As we gather together and spend time with the children, we remind them of how much God loves them and all of us. Traveling to remote, rural villages that don’t have access to clean drinking water and providing blessings to families in need is one way we try to live out Jesus’ call to follow him. We are called to go. We are called to share that Good News that we are all beloved in God’s eyes. And we all need to seek the Lord as we work towards a world where God’s love and justice are experienced by all.