VIDA JOVEN NICARAGUA WORK TEAM ORIENTATION

Welcome to Vida Joven/Young Life Nicaragua! We hope the following information will provide an overview for those who are curious to know more about who we are and for those who want to participate in a work team experience.

Vida Joven Nicaragua began in 1988 when Jim and Sarah Hornsby began building friendships with Nicaraguan youth in order to introduce them to a life-long relationship with Jesus Christ. Since its beginning, it has grown to include more than 42 clubs in twelve different cities: Matagalpa, Esteli, Jinotega, Managua, Leon, San Dionisio, San Ramon, Chinandega, Granada, Masaya, Dario and Rivas. The ministry includes approximately 40 paid leaders and 250+ volunteer leaders. In a typical Young Life fashion, these leaders befriend youth in their cities and invite them to a weekly club meeting. After developing a relationship with these youth, they invite them to a New Kids’ Camp and later to a Follow-Up Camp. It is in these settings that the youth are given the opportunity to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Vida Joven Nicaragua invites and encourages American churches and groups to participate in this ministry. These work teams are invited to come year round but they usually come in February or March and throughout the summer in June, July, August. Historically their work has been at the camp to prepare the facility for the New Kids’ Camps and to help with the coffee production there. A new direction is for these teams to work in cities alongside the Nicaraguan leaders developing relationships with youth. This “contact work” is often done through sports venues or building projects. Currently we have partnerships with Granada, Leon, Esteli, Managua and Matagalpa.

The Vida Joven Camp, also referred to as La Finca, is located in the most mountainous region of Nicaragua near the town of Jinotega. This 154-acre haven serves as a weekend retreat center for outreach camps and discipleship and leadership training seminars. The high altitude (4500 ft) of this area makes the camp an ideal place for growing coffee. The proceeds from selling this gourmet coffee provide the funding for Nicaraguan youth to go to camp. For more information see

WHAT YOUR WORK TEAM CAN BE:

1)You can be ambassadors for Christ from your church or Young Life area to the young Christians of Vida Joven in Nicaragua.

2)You can be a channel of resources from your friends and family who have resources to enable this ministry to continue to grow and reach those who have very limited resources

3)You can help motivate and encourage Nicaraguan brothers and sisters through your sacrificial hard work. Your physical work and material resources help us complete needed projects more rapidly than we would without your help.

4)You can be ambassadors for Christ to your own church and community by communicating what you have seen and heard in Nicaragua.

5)You can be a community of encouragement and respect to each other as you return from Nicaragua having developed deep connections through your common experience.

HOW TO BEGIN THE PROCESS

The team leader of your group will contact Ann Sharpe or Marlyn Valenzuela at o inquire of possible dates. Teams may choose to come on a 7-day trip from Saturday to Saturday or an 8-day trip from Friday to Saturday. It is extremely important for teams to arrive on Friday or Saturday and to leave on the following Saturday. A team leader may ask for possible changes to this schedule. Once a week is selected, the team leader will complete an application, which can be obtained by going to and return it to . The leader then needs to send a check to the following address in the amount of $1000, marked “x8829/SL Team Deposit”, to secure the reservation:

Young Life

P.O. Box 70065

Prescott, AZ 86304-7065

In communicating with us, we will need to know the number of people on the team, their names, their sex (if not obvious), their date of birth and their passport numbers. The passport numbers are required to make a hotel reservation. We would also like to know what skills and talents the group brings to plan work projects and if there are any special needs. We need this 3 months before you arrive in Nicaragua.

The week is a demanding time, physically and emotionally. We feel a real responsibility to make the experience one of education, sharing, and reflection as we dialogue and work together. As a Christian organization, we expect a commitment from each participant to use their visit to Nicaragua to build understanding between the two countries. The experience does not end when the plane takes off for home or when it lands in the US. This is just the beginning.

PREPARING FOR THE TRIP

The group leader will communicate with us concerning the dates, the finances, the names and passport numbers of the group members, program objectives and program requests. He/she will also coordinate air transportation to and from Nicaragua and inform us of flight plans, airlines, time and dates of arrival and departure. He/she will plan a series of pre-trip meetings with the participants to discuss group and individual objectives, review this information, and get to know one another. The leader will attend to group needs and group process while in Nicaragua, such as reflection times and organizing kitchen duties at the camp. We suggest that the leader make two copies of the list of names and passport numbers – one to leave in the US and one to keep in a safe place in case of loss of passports. It is important that the date of expiration on each passport is 6 months after the date of re-entry into the US.

In the case of a leader bringing minors without their parents to Nicaragua, we would recommend getting a notarized letter from the parents of the minor, giving the team leader permission to take the minor in and out of the US. In our experience this has never been an issue but it is always better to be prepared.

A Nicaraguan staff person will send the leader a survey in order to find out the areas of expertise that the group has – such as plumbing, carpentry, electrical, etc. The leader should return the survey promptly so that the Nicaraguan staff can plan the projects and procure the appropriate materials. There is always a project for every person, regardless of his/her experience.

Participants should plan to attend the pre-trip orientation meetings. They commit to cooperate with the group and abide by group decisions. They will take responsibility for tasks when needed. They make a commitment to share their experiences when they return home. They also commit to serve and work in partnership with Nicaraguans with a willingness to submit to basic lifestyle changes in accordance with Nicaraguan culture. Examples are cold showers, frequent water and electric power outages, different foods, constant noise, dust and dirt, etc. We also ask that the participants refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking when with the Nicaraguans; the participants are to be a moral example.

SUGGESTED READING ON NICARAGUA

Blood of Brothers, Stephen Kinzer (1991)

Crisis in Latin America, Emilio Nunez & William Taylor, Moody Press, Chicago (1989)

If This Soil Could Stop Bleeding,Worth Weller, DeWitt Books, North Manchester (2003)

Inside Central America, Clifford Krause, Touchstone, New York (1991)

Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes, Robert McAfee Brown

The Westinister Press, Philadelphia (1984)

Nicaragua Revolution in the Family, Shirley Christian, Random House, New York ((1985)

SUGGESTED READING ON MISSIONS

Cross Cultural Connections, Duane Elmer, Inter-Varsity Press, Downers’ Grove, IL (2002)

Foreign to Familiar, Sarah Lanier, McDougal Publishing, Hagerstown, MD (2000)

When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert, Moody Publishers, Chicago (2009)

Toxic Chairy: How Churches & Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It,

Robert Lupton, (2012)

EXPECTED IN-COUNTRY COSTS (all inclusive expcept for airfare)

Saturday – Saturday trip (8 days, 7 nights)$600.00/person

Friday – Saturday trip (9 days, 8 nights)$625.00/person

This includes the following:

2 nights at Las Mercedes Best Western Hotel – on arrival & before departure

1 night homestay in the home of a trusted leader

4-5 nights at the camp

$150 construction fee

transportation with the group

all meals during the week

tips

Additional expenses:

Tour Day – we offer the following options at these prices, subject to change w/o notice

  • Mombacho Canopy Tour ($30/person) – most recommended for newcomers
  • Laguna de Apoyo ($20/person)
  • Masaya Volcano & Market ($15/person)
  • San Juan de Oriente ceramic shop ($15/person)

Additional transport $75/person for a team member arriving late or departing early

Personal spending money

Entrance fee $10/person upon entry at the airport

WHAT TO BRING

Bible, pen, and notebook

Work clothes – closed-toed shoes/boots, work gloves

Warm clothes – sweatshirts, jackets & flannel shirts bc it can be cool, esp at night

Rain coat or poncho

Twin-size bed sheets (we ask you to leave these as a donation)

Bath towel (we ask you to leave this as a donation)

Flip flops or sandals for shower

Toiletries – including pain reliever, gas relief, pepto bismal, hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, small mirror, any prescription meds, etc.

Bug spray – NOTE: there has been a rise in dengue fever cases so this is important

You must have bug spray to work in the coffee fields.

Suntan lotion, hat, sunglasses

Flashlight – headlamps are the best

Card games – a great way to break the ice with your host family and/or Nica leaders

Snacks – trail mix, peanut butter crackers, gatorade mix, etc -- enough to share

Bathing suit for the pool at the hotel

Re-fillable water bottle

Small gift for home-stay – small toys, household items, t-shirts

Personal medications which may include cipro

Many teams are surprised by the cool weather when they arrive at the camp. While the weather in Managua is almost always hot, it can be quite cool in the mountains at the camp. The dry season is December through April-May; after that there is rain almost every day. A sweater/jacket, jeans and comfortable walking shoes are perfect. Mid-day is HOT. With the tropical sun, you will need sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Due to the weather fluctuations, we suggest you plan to layer your clothing. The Nicaraguan culture is more conservative than the US. Short shorts, tank tops, spaghetti straps and mini-skirts are NOT appropriate for you as guests to wear. Youth leaders, we ask you to monitor your team so as to respect the Nicaraguan leaders.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS?

We recommend the team leader check with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) for what is required. As of this writing, no immunizations are required. An up-dated tetanus shot is recommended. Some doctors recommend immunizations for yellow fever and typhoid.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEK LOOK LIKE?

You will be met at the airport by Vida Joven staff who will help the team get the luggage and walk or ride across the street to the hotel. In the hotel the group will be given room assignments with three people staying in a room whenever possible. Depending on the time of arrival, the group will gather in the restaurant for a meal or a snack and a welcome by our staff. That evening or the next morning the staff will present an orientation of Nicaragua. We suggest leaving the passports in the safe at the hotel. Each person will want to keep a small amount of money to buy ice cream or a drink which is not included in the costs. There is also an opportunity at the camp to buy items such as tee shirts to support the ministry. Typically, the team will leave the hotel after breakfast and orientation.

THE HOMESTAY

Upon arrival in the town of the home-stays, the team is met by a group of Nicaraguan leaders and family members who are the hosts for the home-stays. They will greet the team & then take the assigned team members (usually in pairs) to their home for lunch and dinner and to spend the night. Often groups will meet together to take walks and explore the town. Sometimes the entire group reunites for a club meeting.

Historically this is the best part of the week, although at the time it might feel uncomfortable. Life-long friendships are kindled during the homestay despite difficulties with language.You might want to bring cards or simple games like UNO to break the ice with your host family. It would be appropriate to bring pictures of your community and family to show your host family. Small gifts such as coloring books, household items and t-shirts are appreciated. We have trained the families concerning the food and water they will offer you. However you need to exercise caution in what you eat outside the home. Avoid eating raw vegetables and salads in a restaurant because they are washed with tap water. Fresh fruit with a rind, such as bananas, pineapples, mango, papaya and oranges are fine to eat once carefully peeled. Outside Managua, you should drink only bottled water. The camp provides filtered water.

THE CAMP

After eating breakfast in the home-stay, the group re-gathers in a central location and travels to the camp by bus. The Guest Services staff gives the group a tour of the camp..The gym is available for volleyball, basketball and soccer. There is a small lake for swimming and canoeing. A game room with pool table and foosball is also available. There are nice hiking trails around the camp but it is advised never to go anywhere alone. Team members should not leave the camp property without permission and only in the company of a Vida Joven staff person.

Different work projects will be announced and the team will be divided according to the responses on the survey which the leader completed and returned to the Vida Joven staff. Nicaraguan staff will work alongside the team. This provides an ideal opportunity for sharing and exchanging differences about culture and life.

We recommend the team have a time of devotions in the morning – usually after breakfast and dish-washing and before the start of the work day. Our staff is available to help facilitate these times.

After dinner is also a time of devotion and reflection, followed by games and hanging out. Your group should plan some activities to share with the Nicaraguans such as games, skits, and songs. They will be eager to share theirs as well. Often at night a team member or a Nicaraguan will share his testimony.

WORKING IN A CITY

While we encourage first-time teams to spend the week at the camp to familiarize themselves with the ministry and our vision, it is also possible to spend the week in a city. Teams have spent the week working on construction projects and doing contact work through sports competitions, beauty salons, and craft projects in cities such as Esteli, Managua, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Granada and Rivas. The encouragement to the local Nicaraguan leaders by having teams working alongside them is immeasurable. Your team leader can pursue this option when communicating about the week.

TOUR DAY

The last day of our trip here to Nicaragua is reserved for a tour day. The most recommended tour is the Mombacho canopy and the Masaya market. Other options include the Laguna de Apoyo, a ceramic shop in San Juan del Oriente or the Masaya volcano. There is a separate charge for each of these trips and the cost depends on the destination. After the tour, the group returns to the Las Mercedes hotel for dinner and preparation to depart the next day.

IMMIGRATION FORMS

On the airplane, you will be given immigration forms to complete. The form requires the address for your intended stay. That address is: Vida Joven Finca, Jinotega, Nicaragua. You must pay an entry fee of $10.00 per person when you present your passport at immigration. We recommend bringing small bills to pay this fee.

HOW CAN YOU HELP

Your visit to Vida Joven Nicaragua is a huge encouragement to us individually and to the ministry. We love to welcome you and share what God is doing here in this ministry. When you return home, we would love to get a written evaluation of your experience here. What did you like? What did you dislike? What did you learn? What impressed you the most? What would you like to see changed in the experience? We would love to see any of the photos you take while you were here. Tell others in your church and community about your experience.

COFFEE

You can also help us by buying our coffee. Some of you will have packed coffee during your week and will want to take it home as gifts for family and friends. Others will realize this is the best coffee in the world and will want to take it for yourself to enjoy. Either way, when you buy a bag of coffee,you are sending a Nicaraguan youth to camp for one day. We ask that you pre-sell the coffee to your church and your team before your arrival in Nicaragua and that you bring cash or check to Nicaragua with you when you come. Pre-selling assures that every pound of coffee received is freshly roasted. (Coffee that sits in a church closet waiting to be sold can degrade in flavor and does not encourage repeat customers.) For more information go to