John  Darcey 

For the last seven years I have been traveling to Nicaragua to partner with The Mama Margarita Foundation, a non-profit located just outside the city of Masaya, Nicaragua.

Each year we bring a group of students and expose them to the injustices of our world. Many say, "Why go all the way to Nicaragua?" To be honest, I can't completely answer that question.

I was called in 2013, to join the mission trip, and I have been fortunate enough to have been able to go each year since.
What I can say is that these last seven years have been an amazing journey in Community, Prayer and Repentance. 

I have developed relationships with the people of Nicaragua in the village we serve, and they have welcomed me into their community with open arms. 

I have prayed for and with the people of Nicaragua, and they have openly told me that they have prayed for me and will continue to pray for me. 
And I have repented in my actions that may have led to the injustices in our society and am committed to remember my experiences and have become willing to change.

This year in particular I was humbled by my conversation with Francheska, a 15 year old who lives just down the road from the foundation. She asked if I am happy that I come to Nicaragua each year. I told her that I was happy and sad. Happy to be able to spend time with her, but sad that I can not do more to help. 
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Her response? "I am happy each year that you come because I know that I have a friend that I love and can pray for". Where I come from or what I have or even what I could do meant nothing to her. She valued the relationship more than anything else. 

We are nothing without relationships!

Sofia 

​Be significant. It’s easy to get lost in the world around us. It’s easy to stray away from God. It’s easy to worry about ourselves and forget others. Constantly chasing success, money, and a false sense of happiness. Nicaragua 2020 was nothing short of amazing.

Day 1, as we were finishing up our construction work before dinner, I heard a little girl yell “Princess Sofia!” At that moment I realized what an impact our work and the work of the Mama Margarita Foundation has made on the lives of the people in this community. The voice was that of Hennessy. She’s 9. She ran up to me with wide open arms and a huge hug. It had been 2 years since I saw her beautiful smile, but she remembered me. Why did she remember me? I didn’t come in last trip like Santa Claus with a truck load of presents. However, I was somehow significant to her. How was I significant? I didn’t have a million dollars to give. I couldn’t snap my fingers and change her lifestyle. Nor did she want any of that if I could. I was significant because I gave my whole heart. Love is significant. Love is what the world needs. Hugs and kisses and dancing and singing and smiles and laughter. Love. It’s a humbling moment to see so many people who have nothing be so happy and so faith filled. They don’t blame God for their lifestyle. They thank Him for the gift of being able to wake up each morning.

I was later amazed by how many other children and adults from the community remember me. They were thrilled that I had returned for another visit. It was incredible to see how big the kids had gotten in two years time. They absolutely love that we come to help build houses, they welcome everybody in, new or returning, with wide open arms. God is truly present at Mama Margarita.
We don’t get to choose where we are born, or what family we are born into. I was LUCKY enough to be born in America, born into a family with parents who are successful, born into a lifestyle in which I never had to worry about weather or not I was going to eat each day. I was BLESSED enough to be born into a family with parents who are faith filled and instilled that in me.
 
 I cried saying good bye to the children again. They wiped my tears and tackled me with hugs and kisses. Hennessy gave me a picture of herself. She said that she doesn’t want me to forget her {I couldn’t if I tried princess}. She said that even though I won’t be there in person, I will be in her heart. I told her that I promise to come back next year as I wiped her tears away. The world needs love and lots of it. The world needs people who aim for significance before success. The world needs humility. I am so grateful that i have had the opportunity to be part of such an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back and see everyone next year ❤️