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Across the Street Around the World

On July 12 Becca Benson set out on a journey from rural Jetersville, Virginia, to Nicaragua, her second mission destination. Having spent two weeks in Haiti after the devastating hurricanes, Becca thought the Nicaragua trip would be a fun and exciting journey.  Although she did have fun, it turned out to be much more than that.  Becca believes, “God had a plan and I was to follow.”

When Becca first arrived in Nicaragua with Jeff and Jenny Frayser, they brought her to their inner-city home, which surprisingly was completely empty.  Becca thought this was not normal! As it turned out, the Fraysers were moving, and Becca had landed in the middle of the move.  The first week she moved boxes and boxes, hung pictures, swept floors, and in the middle of all that was introduced to the Spanish world of Nicaragua.  “I knew some Spanish, but just random words were not enough,” she shares lightly.  She recalls that the first week she met some really amazing people. It was then Becca became more aware that this first week was God’s way of preparing her for the second half of her journey. After all, she had arrived believing she could conquer the world.

“Needless to say, conquering the world was not in God’s plans for me,” Becca realized.  “The first thing God wanted to show me was how lucky I am to have a family that loves and cares for me each and every day.”  She became even more grateful for the family who provides her with food, a house, and her own room.  Her second week was to be spent in ministry to the orphans and children of Nicaragua.  Having spent the first week preparing, she was very excited and couldn’t wait to see the kids. “I wanted to give them my heart and some food to go along with that.”   With this desire on her mind and in her heart, the drive to the orphanage was wrenching for Becca.   She recalls, “There were so many tiny little children running around everywhere. I wanted to pick them all up and take them home with me.  Knowing deep down inside that I couldn’t was sad.”   Upon arrival at the orphanage, Becca's team was greeted with about sixty to eighty of the children singing. “Their voices were amazing!” Becca was blessed, “Even though I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, it just blessed my heart.  As they lined up for the food with all their little dishes and spoons, it was so precious. I knew at that point God was not only blessing these little ones, but he was blessing me.”  An amazing realization!

God taught Becca so many lessons during the second week.  In addition to feeding the children, she taught a class of five girls.  Twice a week they would talk and share about God’s love. The training from the first week became apparent to Becca.  After the Bible study she taught them how to make jewelry,  fun for both the girls and Becca.  “We built a house for a single mom and her two kids.  I also did some boys’ ministry through soccer a couple of days.”  Becca jokes that getting up in the mornings at 5:00 is not normally her cup of tea, but it “sure was a lot of fun.”

Becca sums up her experience in a few lines: “I gained a lot of sisters and brothers through Christ that I know will always have a special part in my life. I finally learned enough Spanish to communicate (with a little help from Google Translator).  You know me--there was no way I would be able to stay quiet for a month!  God has shown me a lot through Nicaragua, and I am very thankful for the journey he guided and led me through.  I know if I had not taken these journeys with him, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today!”

 As our youth and young adults venture on mission trips, those in our congregation who are not able to go are both prayerful and encouraged by the stories those who go bring back with them.  Thank you, Becca, for sharing your story.

 By Candy Falt

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net