Are you sure you want to go there for humanitarian sake? This will not be like a regular vacation or a regular spring break. While there are a ton of new things to see, try, taste and do, mission trips are not for the faint of heart. Especially not to Nicaragua. Nicaragua is a poor country, and although it’s been doing decently well despite Ortega being its president, there are still people who are poor in rural and secluded areas. Although the government has been constructing homes and providing indoor plumbing and improved sanitation services and communication outlets in many parts in the country, there are still some areas that still do not have basic necessities, including running water and sanitation services. People who go to Nicaragua with humanitarian missions with non-governmental or faith based organizations tend to go to the least advantaged people in the country, usually to help construct houses, establish houses of worship, establish schools, improve infrastructure and give a hand to struggling families.

With that being said, you should be going to Nicaragua to help out those who are less fortunate than yourself. Although extreme poverty has decreased substantially in the past few years, there are still people who are living on 2 dollars a day and are forced to send their children to sell goods instead of sending them to school in order to make ends meet. Thereby, creating a never-ending cycle of poverty based on the lack of education and knowledge of other opportunities.

Some people live in shacks. While the upper class live in extravagant homes or in gated communities and the middle class live in decent homes, the poor sometimes live in shacks made out of tin or scraps of metal, which serves as minimal shelter in times of harsh weather. Giving these people an opportunity to live with 4 walls and a roof over their head is perhaps the best thing you can give to a poor person.

Although these videos illustrate the more extreme side of the poverty spectrum, I’m sure they are enough of an inspiration to have you writing an essay.

Best of luck.

I’m also going on a mission trip to Guatemala through a school organization right after school ends. Next year, I’ll be starting a club to allow our group to recruit people more easily and fund another trip to Zimbabwe next spring break. A few other things are that I’m in my school orchestra, I hold a job at a candle shop that I’ll continue to work at hopefully throughout high school, and my brother goes to Georgetown right now. I’m not a minority.

Do I have a good chance? I would ask my brother but he’s always really busy..we don’t have much time to talk. Thanks for the help.

I’d be extremely surprised if you didnt get in with what you just said.

try mine

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AltMIuC16U89hxcHMLhxsgnW5nNG;_ylv=3?qid=20100502125551AAdm3KY

If I was in a position in where I never decided what I want, then I would constantly think about wanting everything. Then I look at what I have and ask if I really even want all of this.

I think about wanting to be happy. I think also about wanting other people to be happy as well and how I can contribute. But I feel selfish by wanting them to be happy. Then I sometimes do feel a type of guilt when I can’t keep others in that state. Sometimes I wonder if every encounter with negativity can be talked about and resolved only by talking?

Who knows?

Nice day today outside. I might go out to the side of the lake by some trees in the park. With so many subdivions in my area, I find that my freewill can allow me to make it a mission to relax when I need it and take in all the scenery in it’s own wonder. I am also looking for some ways to make additional income. It never hurt to be a working man. I might even plan a trip to Florida this spring break or maybe in another hemisphere. I’m going to also have to fix my MP3 player because it has a mind of it’s own sometimes. Technology can be pretty amazing.

A big weekend ahead, and I have a couple things i must start. Valentine’e day even. Maybe we will all find a gift that makes someone feel closer to the heart.

I rush many times when I shouldn’t either. There is a time to rush and a time to wait. Hope your weekend goes great.

Godspeed.

Over spring break i would like to go on another missions trip. Does anyone have suggestions on where to go? or with what organization?

if ya have any stories, feel free to share! God Bless =)

Did several of those which were organized by students at the university. In Seattle and St Louis we worked with internship programs which train "vocational missionaries" to locate in areas where churches are weak and build up the local church…

I am also going on a people to people student ambassador trip to australia, which I’m thinking will end up costing me about $5000

And then during spring break, my french class is going to france and that will cost $1800-$2300

That’s about 9000 dollars I have to raise on my own! [well, I'm sure my parents will pitch in a little, but right now they are saying I have to do it all myself] and I need some GOOD ideas on how to make it.

I know that I can do things like bakesales, but I don’t know how to get started on anything.
Can you please explain how to get started and how much I will make with each fundraiser you include? Thank you!

Oh, and if I’m going to ask for donations from businesses, what kind of businesses would be best to ask, and how do I go about asking?

Thank you!!!

I’ve been in this situation, I actually went on a people to people trip to the UK a couple years ago and it was quite a challenge. Ask your friends’ parents, teachers, anyone who has a heart will help you out! Go to a Sam’s Club and buy bulks of candy, and sell them to kids at school, you’ll be surprised how fast people will buy. If the meetings for your people to people trip haven’t started yet, the parents talk about those things! Don’t fret, people will help! If you want to know some more about what to expect from the trip, email me!

I am also going on a people to people student ambassador trip to australia, which I’m thinking will end up costing me about $5000

And then during spring break, my french class is going to france and that will cost $1800-$2300

That’s about 9000 dollars I have to raise on my own! [well, I'm sure my parents will pitch in a little, but right now they are saying I have to do it all myself] and I need some GOOD ideas on how to make it.

I know that I can do things like bakesales, but I don’t know how to get started on anything.
Can you please explain how to get started and how much I will make with each fundraiser you include? Thank you!

Oh, and if I’m going to ask for donations from businesses, what kind of businesses would be best to ask, and how do I go about asking?

Thank you!!!

All you have to do for a bake sale is find a location (we usually have ours in the Wal-Mart parking lot – but any high trafficked are will do), advertise (newspaper, flyers, radio) and get friends/family/church to donate baked goods. I’ve found that if you explain to your customers what you’re raising the money for and ask them to donate what they think is appropriate rather than pricing the baked goods you’ll make more money.
A fundraising idea that is a little more work, but can be a good money maker is to have a Communtiy Sale. Put up flyers and let churches know that you are having a Community Sale for (fill in the blank) and would be happy to take any donated items that people want to get rid of (anything they would put in a garage sale). People are usually happy to get the stuff off of their hands and you end up having a MUCH bigger sale than if you were only going through selling your unwanted items. If you can find a place to have the sale for free (like your church or the local community center) it’s an all profit fundraiser – you just have to spend the time to organize and run the sale. Some people go to garage sales almost as a sport, so I would suggest pricing all of the items (unlike the bake sale) so you don’t get taken advantage of.
When asking businesses for money call ahead and ask for a time to meet with the mangager/owner in person. People are busy and don’t like walk-ins, but you’ll have better luck if you can talk to the person face to face. Explain to them how much $$ you need, how much you’ve already raised, what it’s for, how it helps your future plans (college applications, preparing for work in ministry, etc.), and how much it would mean if they could help. Also be open to accepting donations of goods rather than $$ and you can use them for a raffle as another fundraising idea.