A Look Back before we look ahead...

Our Journey: 10 Years and counting at the Union Church

What do these trips mean to people? See what people say...

Impact – Meaning – Connectedness – Support –Warmth –Our Brothers and Sisters

“I felt connected to the people of Nicaragua, they are warm and friendly” Traveler 2008

“We value them and they value us” Traveler 2008

“Everyone had special talents and gifts that had time to shine” Traveler 2006





“We felt appreciated, accepted, happy, it was very satisfying” Traveler 2004

“Community spirit with the group and the locals. We felt welcomed” Traveler 2010




Past Projects:La Escuela Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White School)Feb 2010  

see our trip video with the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd8iiLNxk_8

The group rehabbed The Blue and White School. Installing a much need fence, repairing the outhouse, painting the entire school and putting in a pump and water storage area at the on-site well. We provided school supplies, food trees and some rope swings.

Feb 2008 Ojochal

see our trip video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL8I47bfbXE

Feb 2006 Water Filter Factory
We constructed a factory that produced water bio-sand filters to provide clean drinking water for many communities.




Feb 2004 Barrio Nuevo AmanacerOn the final day of the first project we were asked to attend a community meeting in a more distant Barrio “Nuevo Amanecer” (New Dawn). We were met by a group of at least 50 villagers who requested that we help them bring clean water to their community.  The project they outlined involved hundreds of homes and what looked like miles of hard trench digging work. It seemed unrealistic for our church. However we were so overwhelmed by the need and the community spirit that we did not refuse immediately. Over the year, with planning and encouragement to the community to begin much of the manual labor before we arrived, the projects took shape and with a tremendous community effort when we arrived over 150 homes were connected to the municipal water supply. Also, as we carried out the water project Sue Reed, who traveled with us, set up a health clinic in the community center and saw scores of children and an adults who had no other access to basic health care.

On visits back to both Holman and Nuevo Amanecer the impact of the water projects was evident. With access to clean water both communities developed economically, new homes were built and the people recall with gratitude their partnership with the Union Church

Feb 2002 Bario Carlos HolmanIn 2002, the Union Church embarked on its first mission trip to San Juan del Sur Nicaragua. The 14 member delegation from the Union Church volunteered to plan, resource and complete the first clean water project in a neighborhood outside of central San Juan del Sur known as Barrio Carlos Holman. At that time Barrio Holman was a small developing village of about 25 families. The community leader was “Pastor Rivas” who founded an evangelical church group in Barrio Holman. The “church “in the center of the community was an open air dirt floor shack.
The first project involved digging the trenches, laying pipe and connecting 12 to 14 homes in the barrio to the municipal water supply. Approximately 800 meters of pipes were put down after digging the waist deep trenches along three avenues in Holman. The soil was dry and rock hard. The Union Church group worked from 7 till noon each day with Nicaraguan men and women digging along side and continuing the work into the hot afternoons. The church contributed over $2000 PVC piping, supplies and water permits to complete the project.  By the end of the week 12 homes had clean potable running water in their homes and the whole community celebrated with a rocking church service attended by all in the Barrio.

Some partners and friends:

Jean Brugger Foundation
www.fundacionajbrugger.org

Newton Sister City
www.sanjuandelsursistercityproject.wordpress.com


Mobil Book Library
www.sjdsbiblioteca.org


Community Connect
www.comunidadconnect.org