Read an article from El Porvenir featuring two of our St. Paul’s members!
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. You have surely heard or read this phrase more than once, and although it may sound cliché, every time we have the pleasure of talking to volunteers from El Porvenir, we confirm that everyone returns home richer: rich in knowledge, experiences, connections, learning, and love for others.
Every trip is unique. You can ask Scott Groth, who has been on eight of the twelve trips that his United Methodist Church has made to Nicaragua with El Porvenir. The first was in 2012. He now tries to recruit a new visitor every time he travels to Nicaragua because he considers it a great opportunity for people to understand how, despite differences, we are connected.
“Service trips are an excellent way to experience that. What you take away is the inspiration to contribute financially and find other ways to make a positive difference in the world. On the most recent visit in August 2024, Sydney instantly fell in love with Nicaragua.
She really liked the approach of the work, and I think she will be involved for years to come, which makes me happy,” said Scott.
Sydney Williams, Youth Director of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, told us that after taking a trip with El Porvenir, she understands more deeply that people find ways to get by regardless of their circumstances. However, there are specific things (like water and sanitation) that can improve their lives, and supporting access to those things is really important.
“I went because I wanted to help people, travel to Nicaragua, speak Spanish, and experience a different culture. This trip exceeded my expectations in every way, and I feel like I gained a much more valuable cultural experience than what a vacation could have given me. One thing is to hear about a need or about people in need, but it is a completely different experience to meet them, play with them, and see how their lives are. My heart was touched in Nicaragua, and I have not forgotten it!” she said.
Teachers Helping Teachers
Scott and three others who attended this trip are teachers so they had a special connection while working on the construction of bathrooms for a school in Waslala.
“It was really nice to see a school in Nicaragua and observe the rigor of the educational system and the differences that apply. Going from classroom to classroom, I could see that the content
they had written on the walls and what they were working on was very good—solid topics that represented a challenge, and it was great to see that,” said Scott.
One of the things Scott enjoys most every time he travels to Nicaragua is seeing the unity that exists in the communities, how people take care of each other, creating that sense of a global community where everyone is connected.
