Each mission is as unique as the volunteers who are on it. After each Mission, we ask our Missioners their thoughts once returning home. To get a real-life glimpse into a Mission Moments, read below:

Reflections on Mission 42

"For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in the right place, doing the right thing, for the right people, with the right people. I am very impressed with the Mission of Hope, and having worked with other mission groups, I can attest to the characteristics that make MoH stand out. The leadership serve with the utmost integrity, the funds are dispersed in a way that best meets the needs of the people, and the members selected to participate in the mission were of the utmost integrity.

My mission moment was the first day at the Disability Center Parajito Azul, walking through the facility, seeing the children, I knew I had made the right choice and was simply ready to serve, with an open mind, open heart, and open spirit. I learned a lot on this trip, from fellow missionaries and from Nicaragua natives. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people who have a lot to share."

Joshua Jabaut

"My mission moment isn't a long one but yet I will remember it forever. While working at the government run clinic in the dump, we passed out gum balls and lollipops to the people who came. The air was thick with pollution and difficult to even breathe in. I handed a boy a little bit younger than me a lollipop and told him he could have it. He thanked me multiple times and proceeded to open the wrapper. After placing the pop in his mouth, he looked down at the wrapper and then looked up for a garbage can to put the wrapper in. Then a sudden realization washed over him, he lived in trash, what did it matter? And with that he simply threw the wrapper in the wind and watched it be carried away."

Abigail Lajtl

Reflections on Mission 35

“ I had a very moving “mission moment” on this trip. I was on a homebuilding task in a very poor area when a father from another shelter motioned for me to come to his home. I asked two of the boys to walk along with me. We went several yards from the home where we working and the man pointed to the back of the shelter. There he had a beautiful flower garden growing among the rubble. This very poor man, in old and soiled clothing, was so very proud to share his garden with us!. I was overwhelmed by his spirit of survival and ability to find beauty in this surroundings. I complemented him on this beautiful flowers and asked to take a picture of them. He was so pleased that we wanted other to see pictures of his treasure.”

Bev G.

“I was moved on every occasion, when seeing the eyes of he children bespoke their shyness, happiness, guardedness, joy, suffering, surprise, hopefulness, hurt and gratitude. Their eyes spoke volumes about their lives. And working with the Nicaraguan medical students and experiencing their dedication, energy, intelligence and resourcefulness. They are the HOPE for the healing of Nicaragua’s medical ills.”

Nancy C.

“One moment in particular really touched me on our trip. A young girl that I had grown to know very well stated that Caitlin (another missioner) and I were her best friends and that she loved us! At that moment, it showed me how in only 1 week I was able to really connect with and touch one girl’s life. That was enough to make my whole trip worthwhile”

Zach S.L.

“When I came back and shared my story with my friends and family, as I told the stories, I realized the truth in everything and connected my experience with reality. The reality of some of the things we saw, like La Chureca, the dump, didn’t set in until I told these stories.”

Tara K.

“ Two boys, about 8 and 10 years old, were working together to get mangos down from a tree. They were throwing sticks, and rocks at them to try to get them to fall. When they managed to get about 7 or 8 mangoes down, they ran off with their prize. I got the feeling that these boys were not getting these mangos to eat for themselves, but instead to share with their families. At 8 or 10, they were already providing for their families. In the U.S., it is unheard of for a child that young to provide for a family but at La Chureca, the dump village, it is basically a necessity. Many times this may be because parents are often absent or just neglect their children to the point where the kids have to learn to take care of themselves. This made me aware of the reality that children are expected to fend for themselves at such a young age, when they should be playing and being care for rather than caring for a family.”

Sr. Cathy

“When an elderly kissed my hands after I anointed her, gave her Holy Communion, and a rosary, I wept.”

Fr. Dick S.

“When I saw La Chureca (the dump village) from the rim surrounding it and the “Wellcome to Hell” sign written on the wall, this hit me really hard because it was like looking at a living hell. These people have terrible lives and they don’t deserve to live that way. It seems like we can’t co enough to help the people there because there are so many. I want to help all of them but don’t know how, other than sponsoring children and praying”.

Alexa C.

“Visiting the Parajito Azul Disability Center was especially touching for me. Being the translator, I felt blessed to be able to interact with the incredibly dedicated staff and hear their stories. Although they may be lacking critical resources, the care and compassion that the residents receive seemed outstanding. I noticed in all of the facilities and public institutions that we visited in Nicaragua, that the staff is unbelievably dedicated and you can tell that it is much more than a job to them. They are passionate about the work they are doing to better the lives of their people and they truly give from the heart. The visit to the Disability center made me realize the true meaning of HOPE. Although the residents literally have many strikes against them, they still have hope and the staff has hope for them.”

Adam O.