Global Celebration’s Christmas with the Orphans
Nicaragua - December 23rd 2008 - January 1st 2009
Hello friends, this is Yana again. Can you believe the trip begins in 15 days? Time is ticking to our departure and I can imagine that you are busy shopping and packing for our trip. We are watching in awe as our Father God puts all of the remaining details into place. I know that amazing things are in store for our trip to Nicaragua. There is word of 10,000 Spanish bibles being donated and soon to be shipped to Pastor Arturo in Nicaragua. We are hoping that they will arrive in time for us to give away while we are there. Also, there has been a supernatural provision to help aid the feeding of the 12,000……but I’ll tell you more about that later in this letter.
Hotel Information:
While we are in Nicaragua we will mostly be staying at the Hilton in Managua, and for two nights we will travel to other parts of the country to stay in the Selva Negra (Black Forest) Hotel, and the Tia Irene. The Selva Negra is in the beautiful coffee plantation mountains of Nicaragua. We have planned a morning off so you can hike the plantation, ride horses or simply relax. The Tia Irene is in a Jamaican influenced town located on the Atlantic coast. The city is full of bright colored houses and friendly people.
Here is a list of the hotels names, phone numbers and dates we will stay there. Please keep a copy of this with you as you travel, and give to your family and friends at home so they know where you are.
Hilton Princess Managua
4.5 carretera a Masaya Managua, Nicaragua
505-255-5771
December 23-26th, 28th, 30th-1st
Tia Irene
(unfortunately I was unable to find a phone number)
Decemeber 27th
Selva Negra (Black Forest)
Km 140 Carretera Matagalpa-Jinotega, Matagalpa, Nicaragua
505-772-3883
December 29th
Gifts:
Many of you have been asking how many orphans to bring gifts for. While we will spend Christmas in Managua with 25 orphans, there are more children in Pastor Arturo’s care, approximately 50+. His orphans are all ages, ranging from toddlers (2-3 years old) to teenagers (up to 18 years old). All gifts will be given to Arturo to distribute throughout his two orphanages, pastor’s children, and village children. The more gifts, the merrier! You can bring both wrapped and unwrapped gifts. Please bring candy! Chocolates and sugary candies of all sorts! We would love it if everyone brought a bag of candy for the piñatas!
Extra Blessings:
I have heard stories from many of you testifying how God has miraculously provided finances for this trip and a few of you have been given more than enough. Praise God! He is faithful to provide every need we have and for those who are given extra we would like to encourage you to sow into feeding Nicaragua. Your trip tuition pays for only you and your travel expenses. We do not voluntarily take any portion and put it toward the expenses of feeding 12,000 + people. If you would like to give a donation towards feeding the poor of Nicaragua, your gift would be greatly appreciated. It only costs twenty dollars to buy 5 chickens or one hundred dollars to buy a basket of 100 tamales! You can directly contribute to this cause by clicking here: http://www.riverlution.net/I_just_bought_100_tamales.html
And now for our exciting news: The Lord just sent us an "angel in disguise" to match your gift, dollar for dollar for every contribution that is made now through Christmas (up to $5,000). The money we raise will be matched, and we could potentially feed more than 12,000. Please pray about this opportunity, and tell your friends and church. Maybe someone you know will be stirred to give to this large need.
Personal News:
I have a bit of personal news. Sadly, I will not be joining you and my parents this Christmas. I recently got married and my husband cannot take time off work from his new job. We can’t imagine spending our first Christmas apart (we’ve been married 6 months today) so we have decided that I stay home. This was a hard decision for me as you can imagine, since I have been to Nicaragua nearly 7 years in a row. But don’t worry, I have left you in capable hands!
We have a few close friends and mission trip ‘veterans’ in the group that will help lead the way, plus my parents and Pastor Arturo with be your new wine tour guides! You will have an amazing time no doubt; I just wish I could be there to meet you all. Please hug some children for me…
That’s all for today…but please keep an eye open for more last minute info.
Bliss,
Yana Banova-Brink