Missionaries for this year’s trips to Nicaragua were disappointed by the cancellation of the planned trips – another victim of the global pandemic.

Nearly 100 missionaries from Holy Spirit and Holy Korean Martyrs were preparing to travel to Chinandega on our two summer mission trips to dig ditches, build water systems, and renew relationships in rural northwestern Nicaragua.  Then came word from Fr. Brendan that we had reluctantly canceled this year’s trips.  The Nicaragua planning team had followed the progress of the virus for weeks until it became obvious that no one would be traveling this summer.

For our partner in Nicaragua, Amigos for Christ, the pandemic could not have come at a worse time.  AFC depends heavily on its summer mission trips to help finance their Nicaragua based operation.  Mission trips were canceled two years ago when violence and civil unrest engulfed Nicaragua.  Now all of this year’s trips are canceled due to the pandemic.

While the trips are canceled, Holy Spirit Church was able to get our missionaries’ deposit payments refunded from Avianca Airlines.  In response to the difficulties we expect our friends at Amigos for Christ, some of the missionaries offered to donate their deposits to AFC to help during this difficult time.  $5,000 has been donated thus far.  In addition, a handful of missionaries have donated the full cost of the trip to Amigos!

We will keep you updated on our friends with Amigos for Christ in the weeks and months to come.  If you would like more information on how you can help our partner organization in Nicaragua, contact Mike Ferrero at mike.ferrero@dsj.org.