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Dordt College News

Dordt students travel to Nicaragua

July 15, 2004

Five Dordt College students took an off-campus course at Managua, Nicaragua this summer, where two Dordt professors helped them immerse into the culture, missions and community development of that country.

Traveling to Managua were Laura Bode, Marion, MI; Jason Elenbaas, Helena, MT; Anita Hoogland, Longmont, CO; Stacy Meyer, Snohomish, WA; and Bethany Posthuma, Brandon, WI. Accompanying the students were Dordt College professors Duane Bajema and Chris Goedhart, along with the mother of a participant, Fran Meyer.

The trip was a two-week summer off-campus program, with additional preparatory reading and orientation conducted before the trip to give students an understanding of the history, culture, government and social life of Nicaragua. They also examined a variety of mission outreaches and community development organizations to learn about differing philosophies and methods of service. Whenever possible, the students were given the opportunity to get involved in the day-to-day work of the agencies they visited in Nicaragua. Nicaragua Group

“The trip and prep work gave me a new appreciation for mission work, development and Latin American culture,” commented Jason Elenbaas, who had never been outside of this country before. “I now have a deeper understanding of my own culture and the everyday choices I make.” Elenbaas was especially amazed by the hospitality of the people of Nicaragua, exhibited even in the smallest mountain health clinic.

The group began their adventure at the Nehemiah Center for Transformational Development, where leaders from different agencies meet regularly to coordinate outreaches and ministries to the people of Nicaragua. Throughout their stay students kept comprehensive journals of their expectations, observations and reflections on work in the mission field.

Field trips included visits to museums, cemeteries, a Christian academy, a mission agency, Ave Maria College and Rancho Ebenezer (a residence for homeless children). Students also visited points of cultural interest in Honduras. At the conclusion of the trip, students wrote a reflective essay integrating the goals of the course with what they had learned from their experience.

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