Nica-No-No
Just spent the most frustrating afternoon trying to explain to a well-meaning Christian that taking a mission trip to Nicaragua isn't what she wants to do right now. She keeps coming back with 'Jesus will protect me~' Which makes me feel all stabby and irritable.
I don't like mission trips. I've done them. One of my children have done them. Back when we were still attending old crazy church. Now I think there is more value in putting that roughly 5 to 6K we had to cough up for each trip into the hands of a humanitarian group on the ground in that particular country. Why? Because mission tourism really sucks on so many levels.
It's pure white entitlement in action. Show up, do something simple for a few hours, then spend the rest of your time doing touristy type of stuff. Even those trips like my daughter did with Global Expeditions where the kids were busy doing Christ-centered activities the entire time aren't good. People in other countries do not need a white savior type coming to their poor village to hand out trinkets and tracts who go away a few weeks later feeling proud of themselves for having been Jesusy for a few days. There's no real help, no deep engagement.
They need people who are going to meet their immediate needs, for food, for clean water, for vaccinations for the kids. With relationships, real two way relationships that do not involve religious manipulations.
That being said this gal was not talking about doing that type of mission. She's looking to go into Managua, Nicaragua to feed the hungry. Yes, and that is needed, but with the turmoil, that she knew exactly nothing about, ongoing I cannot help but think she's foolish.
Here is the latest travel advisory for Nicaragua from the U.S. State Dept:
Here's the skinny from people I know who've recently been in Nica and from personal observations. The people in Nica are starving, yes that is true that there's little food. The situation there is so desperate that families are selling family heirlooms by the side of the road for pennies on the dollar in order to eat. Industry is crippled, many places have closed. There's no work, no food, no money.
There is also almost no medical care. When the Ortega government began firing on their own citizens in Managua back last spring almost everyone that could, certainly the professional class of doctors, nurses, lawyers, and others fled the country in droves.
I got to see that first hand during my time volunteering with the local food bank. We had food and supplies available at the border for those crossing. People were fleeing, at least those with money were fleeing into Costa Rica in huge numbers. Most hospitals and clinics in Nica lack personnel to take care of emergencies.
Working with an interfaith counsel, including a few Catholic nuns, we're being kept out of Nica and prevented from feeding people. Especially the capital of Nicaragua. A group I know of did manage to sneak in under the guise of tourists, get to a small village they'd been helping in the past and help again. But that's rare. What they found was heartbreaking in terms of extreme poverty.
The tourist areas like San Juan Del Sur are booming, with gringos still flooding in to spend their dolares and no idea of the country situation or that the American State Dept has still issued travel bans. The government forces do not interfere or hassle the tourists in those high tourist areas. But once you get near the capital or out in the countryside all bets are off. I've heard horror stories of having passports seized and spending a number of hours in jail just for being a foreigner.
Nicaragua so desperately needs help. But you are so much better off handing over the dollars you would have spent on the trip to a legitimate human aid organization. If you just must have a Christian aid org there are a few good ones. On the secular side I might recommend Food for Progress and World Vision. Just do not go out of some misguided desires to be a white savior.
I don't like mission trips. I've done them. One of my children have done them. Back when we were still attending old crazy church. Now I think there is more value in putting that roughly 5 to 6K we had to cough up for each trip into the hands of a humanitarian group on the ground in that particular country. Why? Because mission tourism really sucks on so many levels.
It's pure white entitlement in action. Show up, do something simple for a few hours, then spend the rest of your time doing touristy type of stuff. Even those trips like my daughter did with Global Expeditions where the kids were busy doing Christ-centered activities the entire time aren't good. People in other countries do not need a white savior type coming to their poor village to hand out trinkets and tracts who go away a few weeks later feeling proud of themselves for having been Jesusy for a few days. There's no real help, no deep engagement.
They need people who are going to meet their immediate needs, for food, for clean water, for vaccinations for the kids. With relationships, real two way relationships that do not involve religious manipulations.
That being said this gal was not talking about doing that type of mission. She's looking to go into Managua, Nicaragua to feed the hungry. Yes, and that is needed, but with the turmoil, that she knew exactly nothing about, ongoing I cannot help but think she's foolish.
Here is the latest travel advisory for Nicaragua from the U.S. State Dept:
Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to crime, civil unrest, limited healthcare availability, and arbitrary enforcement of laws.
On September 12, 2018, the U.S. Department of State lifted the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members. The U.S. Embassy remains open to provide emergency services for U.S. citizens and will gradually return to normal operations.
Throughout Nicaragua, armed and violent uniformed police or civilians in plain clothes acting as police (“para-police”) are targeting anyone considered to be in opposition to the rule of President Ortega. The government and its affiliated armed groups have been reported to:
These police and para-police groups often cover their faces, sometimes operate in groups numbering in the hundreds, and use unmarked vehicles.
- Arbitrarily detain protestors, with credible claims of torture and disappearances.
- Systematically target opposition figures, including clergy members.
- Prevent certain individuals from departing Nicaragua by air or land.
- Seize privately owned land.
- Arbitrarily search personal phones and computers for anti-government content.
- Arbitrarily detain certain individuals with unfounded charges of terrorism, money laundering, and organized crime.
Rallies and demonstrations are widespread and occur daily around the country. Government forces, uniformed police and para-police have attacked peaceful demonstrators leading to significant numbers of deaths and injuries. Looting, vandalism, and arson often occur during unrest.
Road blocks, including in Managua and other major cities, may appear and limit availability of food and fuel.
Government hospitals are understaffed and may deny treatment to suspected protestors. Some hospitals throughout the country may not be able to assist in emergencies. Ambulances have reportedly refused to respond or have been denied access to areas with individuals needing emergency care.
Violent crime, such as sexual assault and armed robbery, is common.
The U.S. Embassy in Managua is limited in the assistance it can provide. U.S. government personnel in Nicaragua must avoid unnecessary travel and remain in their homes between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise. They are prohibited from traveling outside of Managua and are advised to avoid demonstrations. Additional restrictions on movements by U.S. government personnel may be put in place at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly.
Here's the skinny from people I know who've recently been in Nica and from personal observations. The people in Nica are starving, yes that is true that there's little food. The situation there is so desperate that families are selling family heirlooms by the side of the road for pennies on the dollar in order to eat. Industry is crippled, many places have closed. There's no work, no food, no money.
There is also almost no medical care. When the Ortega government began firing on their own citizens in Managua back last spring almost everyone that could, certainly the professional class of doctors, nurses, lawyers, and others fled the country in droves.
I got to see that first hand during my time volunteering with the local food bank. We had food and supplies available at the border for those crossing. People were fleeing, at least those with money were fleeing into Costa Rica in huge numbers. Most hospitals and clinics in Nica lack personnel to take care of emergencies.
Working with an interfaith counsel, including a few Catholic nuns, we're being kept out of Nica and prevented from feeding people. Especially the capital of Nicaragua. A group I know of did manage to sneak in under the guise of tourists, get to a small village they'd been helping in the past and help again. But that's rare. What they found was heartbreaking in terms of extreme poverty.
The tourist areas like San Juan Del Sur are booming, with gringos still flooding in to spend their dolares and no idea of the country situation or that the American State Dept has still issued travel bans. The government forces do not interfere or hassle the tourists in those high tourist areas. But once you get near the capital or out in the countryside all bets are off. I've heard horror stories of having passports seized and spending a number of hours in jail just for being a foreigner.
Nicaragua so desperately needs help. But you are so much better off handing over the dollars you would have spent on the trip to a legitimate human aid organization. If you just must have a Christian aid org there are a few good ones. On the secular side I might recommend Food for Progress and World Vision. Just do not go out of some misguided desires to be a white savior.
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