The Mission of Hope makes at least two trips to Nicaragua each year to help the poor and destitute families in and around Managua, the capital city. We are hopeful that we will be able to increase the number of Missions as interest continues to grow and our volunteer numbers continue to rise. They occur in February (during the high school winter break) and in August. The group size for these mission trips usually average around 50 students and adults. High school students normally go in February and mostly college students go on the August mission.

In January 2010 we conducted our first focused mission trip. These are groups of 5 – 12 people that travel to Nicaragua for one specific mission objective. For example, the January 2010 mission (Mission #34) was for ECO project work: water filter distribution, rocket stove demonstrations, and community garden training. With our new facility being built in Chiquilistagua we are hopeful that we will be able to increase the number of Missions as interest continues to grow and our volunteer numbers continue to rise.

And in June 2010, a small group returned on Mission #36. This mission was specifically dedicated to working with two impoverished orphanages. The Orphan’s Hope Project team gathered information and pictures on the children to provide to the sponsors who are helping to support them. A first-hand visit by those leading the project allowed them to meet each child and the nuns that care for them.