Nicaragua Mission Update #2

By Isabella Krizner | Nicaragua Mission 2023

From the first night we arrived in Nicaragua, we were told that we were going to love and serve these people with everything we have. They were right, but I have found that this has been very easy because the people of Nicaragua are so loving to us. Yesterday, I had the privilege to be able to work with the youth of different youth groups from the Twelve Churches ministry at a special conference. The youth were so happy to learn about how to live life in Christ and how to share the Gospel.  They especially enjoyed receiving a certificate for “graduating” from the conference. They really appreciate the small things here. The first couple of minutes started a little rocky with a burning microphone and smoke pouring everywhere because of a power outage.  When this happened, we started talking with the kids to fill the time. It turned out to be one of the most special moments of the entire day. 

Through every challenge we faced, we managed to keep a positive attitude and all the different youth groups began to merge through laughter and these conversations. Not even the language barrier stopped us from having a great time and being able to connect with these kids. Many of them were my age, and it made me really realize no matter how old you are, the language you speak, the money you have, or the country you come from, we are all God’s children. We all face the same struggles but Christ is always the answer in our lives. 

Later that night, our team visited a worship service unlike any I had ever been to before. The joy of the Lord that filled the people was so evident to me as they smiled, laughed, and sang their hearts out to the Lord Almighty. 

This morning, we went on a prayer walk in a community of tinclad houses that was led by three women from the local church. These young women cared about the kids and people of the much.  As we visited each home and shared bags of beans and rice, I saw great poverty beyond what I could imagine.  But my experience with one woman, in particular, stood out to me. She immediately shared Jesus’ name when I asked for hers. Despite her recent surgery pain, her severe arthritis, and, maybe worst of all, her loneliness, she wanted to tell me of Jesus’ great love for her and how he is the one that loves her each and every day.  She showed me what it was to be a true Christian, depending on God. 

After our prayer walk, we put on a VBS for kids at a different local church. No matter what their situations at home looked like, each of them had so much joy. They laughed as they were sprayed with water bottles, they smiled ear to ear as they watched our skit, and they learned about Jesus as they prepared their Pentecost craft. Again, I saw that we are all God’s children. 

No matter our age, the language we speak, the money we have, the country we come from, we all struggle, we all laugh in the same language, and we all can know the love of Christ. This kind of lesson is one best learned with people who are in a different situation than you. That is one of the many reasons why this week has blessed me more than I could ever know. I have already started praying that everyone from our cathedral will come and see Jesus through the wonderful people of Nicaragua. 

Isabella Krizner, thirteen, is the youngest member of the St. Peter’s team

Nicaragua Mission Update

by Anne Osterhaus | Nicaragua Mission 2023

Today was the team’s first full day in Nicaragua, after a smooth (if not tiring) weekend of traveling through the airports. We were able to start the day with Morning Prayer before breakfast, which was prepared for us by our gracious hosts here in the hostel. Our teams then split up into three groups: Shopping, construction, and clergy meeting.

Construction left first and spent the day mixing concrete to help build a floor for one of the local churches down here. The market/shopping team headed out to see the open-air market and explore. We saw lots of dogs, cats, and pigs’ heads where the vendors would use fly swatters to prevent flies from landing on the meat. The trip was both a cultural learning and team success, bringing home both these stories and the supplies that we needed to make the Vacation Bible School a success! As VBS is happening on Wednesday, we will send you a report then once it has happened. After we went to the market, we went to the Maxipali, which is similar to Wal-Mart, but green rather than blue! It was a cool experience to see before returning to the hostel.

The clergy meeting team went to meet with the pastors down here involved with Twelve Churches/Doce Iglesias. They were able to learn more about their mission and about the real people involved with it.

In the afternoon, we engaged in team building by putting together supply bags and hygiene bags for the upcoming prayer walk, as well as preparing for the Youth Conference which we’ll run tomorrow. All went well and we are excited to work with the youths that we will meet!

Our hostel hosts are wonderful enough to have made both breakfast and dinner for us, which we certainly appreciate (and enjoy!). After dinner, we broke for Circle Time, which we engage in together every night for a time of fellowship, worship/devotions, and prayer. A summer intern (who I knew!) joined us, as well as her Nicaraguan roommate, who shared a bit about what they do with Twelve Churches. We will be ending the night with some pool volleyball, a highly competitive event on this team!

All in all, it has been a great start to our week. We look forward to what will come and how God will continue to move on this trip!

Collin & Quinn riding to the construction site in STYLE!

Assembly line to put together bags for a prayer walk.

The entire team pitching in for VBS craft needs

Construction team hard at work mixing concrete

What the floor looked like BEFORE

The finished floor + the professional workers who laid the tile.

Ugandan Priests Receive Motorcycles from St. Peter's

Through the generosity of several individuals and families of St. Peter’s Cathedral, eight more motorcycles have been donated for use by priests in Uganda in order to help them better reach people during this trying time. Seven of those motorcycles have been delivered to priests and the 8th will be purchased in the near future. Bishop Nason Baluku enthusiastically shared the update below along with photos of the 7 priests receiving their motorcycles. At a cost of $1,400 apiece, our congregation has been able to donate 9 of the total of 13 motorcycles initially dreamed of and we’re prayerful we’ll be able to donate more in the future. It has been wonderful to see God working through this ministry. For more information about this ministry, please contact Frances Merritt at internationalcorecaptain@gmail.com. 

“Kindly accept our humble and sincere appreciation and may you convey our appreciation to everyone that has contributed to this excellent Ministry. I am hopeful that by putting to use the received motorcycles, South Rwenzori Diocese will not remain the same.”

-Bishop Nason Baluku

GLORY BE TO GOD! SEVEN PRIESTS RECEIVE SEVEN MOTORCYCLES FOR MISSION WORK IN THE SOUTH RWENZORI DIOCESE. WE APPRECIATE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT ST. PETER’S CATHEDRAL IN TALLAHASSEE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXCELLENCE OF JESUS’ MINISTRY.

The 7 motorcycles received

Rev. David Kule: In charge of Mahango Archdeaconry

Rev. Gerison Kibethe: In charge of Kasese Archdeaconry

Rev. Julius Ngangasi: In charge of Rwensande Archdeaconry

Rev. Neliah Kabugho: In charge of Kinyamaseke Archdeaconry

Rev. Grace Nyakato: In Charge of Kabatunda Archdeaconry

Rev. Robert Ziwa: In charge of St. Paul’s Deanery

Rev. Samson Tibamwenda: In Charge of Bwera Archdeaconry

St. Peter's and Wings for Change Blesses Ugandans in Need

Uganda Is enduring extreme hardship because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Access to food is limited due to stringent lockdown. Upon seeing WINGS FOR CHANGE postings, several St. Peter’s parishioners generously donated funds, and nearly three hundred families were provided grains and beans in the Jinja and Sebei Dioceses. The situation was so dire that people were taking the stems and pieces of bananas, which grow abundantly, and boiling them to make a broth. There were no grains for bread and no beans for protein. Bishop Paul Masaba of Sebei Diocese, and Paul Tenywa in Jinja send heartfelt expressions of gratitude for your donations that helped the neediest in their area.

Isaiah 58:10 tells us that if we feed the hungry, our light will shine in the darkness. May our Cathedral always be that beacon of light!  You shined the light of hope and nourishment to others. Thank You Father God for compassionate hearts! 

Thank you, St. Peter’s Cathedral, from many in Uganda!

Wings for Change - Thank You from S. Rwenzori Diocese

South Rwenzori Diocese sends a thank you to St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral and Wings For Change who offered the opportunity to provide health education and disease prevention, menstrual hygiene management and reproductive education.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED. This program has had a positive impact on the community. Local residents and students are filled with gratitude and ask us to kindly continue this program so they may offer it to other schools and villages.

Wings for Change - Making Feminine Products

This is a teenage boy in South Rwenzori Diocese who has devoted his day to help his female school mates remain in school all month by making reusable feminine products. With St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral and WINGS FOR CHANGE, the Diocese is educating age appropriate students in the male and female reproductive systems. The education is biblically based, offered to discourage disrespect for female students during menstruation, reduction in male on female aggression, and reduce teen pregnancies.

World Mission Sunday at St. Peter's

World Mission Sunday at St. Peter's

The Lord richly blessed a joyous World Missions Weekend. We had dozens of our youth take part in a special day with Christopher Quinones from Love For The Least, a ministry sharing the Gospel in the refugee camps of Northern Iraq on Saturday. We then learned from more than twenty five incredible evangelistic ministries who highlighted their work in our community and in the world at large at an energizing ministry fair after each of our services.

Our parishioners pledged to become part of work in such areas as prison, human trafficking, evangelistic outreach, life, under-resourced, and campus efforts to love people in their pain and to share the life-redeeming power of Jesus Christ. A new and exciting missional spirit is truly sweeping through St. Peter’s Anglican Church. We hope that you might join us in boldly proclaiming the Gospel in both Word & deed…

Wings for Change - A Thank You Message

A thank you message from students in Uganda for the impact Wings for Change has had on their life.