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Nicaragua Med 2025: United in the Spirit

July 8, 2025

The Nicaragua Med mission team poses in front of the Mision Para Cristo building.

By Samantha Sowa

“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26). 

It was no coincidence that we needed to be in Nicaragua. Maybe it was the hustle and bustle on the streets, the colorful wooden and stucco buildings, or the rhythmic music that enlightened the streets. The place felt alive, more than any other place I have ever experienced here in the States. 

Our medical team was formed with people from different backgrounds of life. Some were pre-med students, some were doctors and nurses (both foreign and local), and some were just natives from our little city of Jinotega, Nicaragua. Regardless of our background or experience, we were all brought together for one purpose: to serve.

It was funny being the only art student among a team of medical people, yet I was still called to join this crew on this trip, bringing my own set of skills to the team. Some questioned why I was even there (to be honest, I even asked myself that question at times). However, I can firmly say that God needed me to be there for a reason I did not understand until I had completed the mission. Despite my doubts and insecure thoughts, one thing was clear: the Holy Spirit was guiding us on this trip. 

From the first idea of us coming on this trip, to our decision of going, our travels, our work during the week, and the people we encountered, the Holy Spirit seemed to be present in all these moments. It was something our little team noticed right away, and something we would discuss daily in our group reflections and devotionals. Things such as how we saw people utilize the gifts of their Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear/deep awe of God) and how we saw the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) bloom. 

One of my favorite moments was getting to see how our crew interacted with the children throughout the trip. The team used old songs and games they knew to interact and play with the children. Seeing those bright smiles and laughs of joy touched me on a deeper level. It may be because we made them feel loved, cared for, and valued, and they genuinely treasured that time with us. Talking with some of the mothers made me realize how much of a gift this truly was to their children. One of the teen girls at the clinic even said to me, “It is God’s love that is bringing us all together”. She was right on that! Here we were, strangers from some part of this big world, coming to them to bring hope and share in the love that only the Lord can give us.

It is interesting to see how the Spirit works, especially on this trip. Over the four 8-hour clinic days we had, our team encountered over 550 people. These people had traveled miles from all across the region. The Spirit guided them on their journey as He did for ours. We did not know who we would meet or where we would be, but we knew that we needed to be there; to be beacons of hope in a place of love. A place where somebody knew they would be cared for, valued, and loved, just as our Heavenly Father loves us. 

How can you see the Holy Spirit moving and working in your life? 


Not a Trip
Category: Student Life