All Posts By

Kayla Balangue

Mar 03 2025
6

Update #2 Central America A

By | 2025 Teams, Central America A

Greetings from Central America! This morning we started our day with an amazing breakfast where we were able to try new foods we probably never had before, We then ended our breakfast with a devotional led by Katie, our Convoy leader, in which she gave us a motivational word to prepare us for the day.

As a team we went to a church, Fountain of Life, where we were welcomed with open hands by their main pastor, Adolfo. He even stated that he would welcome us back again. During the service, two of our team members, Naveh and Cooper were able to give a small testimony, followed by worshipping with the children.

Secondly, we were able to sing to them the songs that we learned (Spanish & English) for them to enjoy and sing along. Then we as a team were able to see them break piñatas, while singing and dancing some more. We finished our time with them by helping their church team feed the children the food that was prepared.

Later after church, we headed to lunch where we were able to enjoy some authentic food and talk more about ourselves with our field workers. One highlight of our day was visiting a ceramic making place called Taller Escuela de Cerámica which has been run by generations of indigenous Nahua families where they work to keep the culture of ceramic pieces made with many processes. All of their art is handmade and done with incredible detail. After seeing how all these are made, I can say that I won’t take ceramics for granted anymore!

Later in the afternoon we visited a small tourist district in which we saw many vendors of all kinds, like food, clothing, cultural pieces that represent the country. We also went on the trail walk around the rim of a beautiful lake set in a volcanic crater. On the hike we say monkeys and more volcanoes! We finished our day with a filling dinner and then headed back to our hotel to debrief and get a good night’s rest to prepare for our first day of helping the community in any way we can.

Thank you for your time and keep our team in your prayers. This will be a great experience for all of us and we are looking forward for this week of service.

Bryan (for team), Bianca, Sofia, Emily, Jake, Daniel, Naveh, Cooper and Caeden

Mar 01 2025
5

Update #1 Central America A

By | 2025 Teams, Central America A

Friends & Family –

Greetings from Managua! After the first overnight flight to Miami, we took a short 2.5 hour trip from Florida to this beautiful country today. This country is called the “Land of Lakes & Volcanoes” for a reason. As we descended down over the landscape, we passed multiple volcanoes, lakes, and took in the green countryside before touching down mid-afternoon. As we walked down the jetway, we immediately felt the 90+ degree heat, but our hearts raced with excitement. Touchdown was especially meaningful for Bianca – who’s extended family originates from this country – her first visit!

After collecting our luggage and getting acclimated, we went via bus to Convoy of Hope’s nearby distribution warehouse. Here, we shared a meal with the local staff, and heard a presentation of their impactful work providing food assistance to families all over the country. In fact, they are one of the primary organizations assisting the local government’s food programs. Additionally, we learned of their development of grass-roots agricultural centers, where locals can be trained in methods to diversify their food sources, which helps them adapt to the effects of climate change here. They also have an extensive “women’s empowerment” program which teaches women business, work skills, and savings techniques.

A highlight of our warehouse tour was seeing pallets from a recently delivered shipping container, full of food packaged by Feed My Starving Children in U.S. Several of us on the team have participated in past events to pack these essential resources, and it was fun to see them on the “other side.”

Later in the afternoon, we had a unique opportunity to visit the hope of Bianca’s Tia (aunt) Francis, and her daughter Celeste. We loved sitting inside a local home, visiting with them, and sharing dinner at a local Fritanga (a local favorite cuisine) Restaurant.

We are so grateful for your prayers – and praise God for smooth transit! Flights on time, no lost luggage, and even a little sleep on the plane. =) Other than a bit of fatigue, all are well and ready for a good night’s rest. Tomorrow we will visit Fountain of Life church, where we’ll soak up the opportunity to worship with our brothers and sisters here, and a couple of us will share testimonies.

So grateful for all the prayers, encouragement and support that got each one of us here! This is sure to be a powerful experience. Blessings and we look forward to updating you again soon,

Daniel (for Team), Bianca, Bryan, Sofia, Emily, Jake, Naveh, Cooper and Caeden

Mar 01 2025
3

Team Central America A is safe & settled!

By | 2025 Teams, Central America A

After one red-eye flight & a second midday flight, the team finally made it to Central America safe and sound! They’re settling in at the hotel and getting ready for an introduction to the ministry this week.

Let’s pray for their energy and excitement for this trip to continue to be sustained as they serve the community and grow closer to the Lord and each other.

Feb 28 2025
1

Team Central America A is departing!

By | 2025 Teams, Central America A

Our first Global Outreach team of 2025 is officially on their way to Central America! They are excited and ready to spend their Spring Break serving with Convoy of Hope.

Please pray that the team gets some good rest on their red eye flight, that they arrive safely to their destination, and that their energy is renewed and sustained by the Lord this week.

We will update again when they arrive safely in Central America!

Jul 01 2024
3

Update #16 Team East Africa is back home!

By | 2024 Teams, East Africa

After their stopover in Istanbul, the East Africa team has made it back to the US! Thank you for all of your prayers for this team. Please join us in praying that the team would be able to navigate any reverse culture shock as they come home and that they draw close to God as they discern what he is calling them to next. 

Make sure to ask a team member about their experience and how you can be praying for them specifically!

Jun 30 2024
4

Update #15 East Africa

By | 2024 Teams, East Africa

Mumbo friends and family!!

Today our travels back home began and wow have we made the most of them so far. Veryyyy early this morning we flew out of East Africa and landed in Istanbul, Turkey, just about 7 hours later. Praise the Lord all of our travels went very smoothly and there was a driver awaiting to take us to the heart of Istanbul where we would explore for the evening and then stay one night in a hotel.

We started off the evening in Istanbul with an incredible (and entertaining) dinner. Little did we know that Lauren’s dish came with a show that included fun music, live fire cooking, and everyone (yes that included us and all of the servers) dancing in the restaurant while it was cooked. Lauren then helped break the jar where her food was being cooked and we sat down to enjoy our last dinner as a team. This included a sweet debriefing time when each of us were able to share priceless, sweet, inspiring, and also funny moments from our trip. Getting to debrief as a team was such a sweet thing to experience as each of us were able to reminisce about the whole trip and relate to one another and our hearts for this ministry.

We then got up from the most delicious dinner and began exploring around the beautiful city of Istanbul. We had the privilege of being able to go into The Blue Mosque and marvel at the beauty of such incredible architecture. We continued walking around this incredible city and found ourselves trying all of the Turkish specials. This included the ice cream, coffee, and original sweets like Turkish delights. I think it would be safe to say that there was little to no disappointment in this amazing food and drinks!

This was such an incredible way to end and each one of us is so grateful for what God has done on this trip. We thank you all for your prayers and as for continued prayers as we fly out tomorrow and will be back in the states later Monday evening. We love you and can’t wait to tell you more about the many blessings of our trip to East Africa. Thank you for following along with us!

For the very last time we bid you goodnight, see you soon!

Lots of love,
Grace Harmon

Jun 29 2024
3

Update #14 East Africa

By | 2024 Teams, East Africa

Hi friends and family!!!

Today was our official last day on African soil and it has been sad, peaceful, and happy all in one day. We started the day with a game with the girls. It’s called Ready, and it definitely needs to be played in America! We’ll teach you all some time 🙂

After a couple of rounds, we worshiped and said our goodbyes. The girls were so sweet and made us picture frames with glued on seashells they found on the beach. Each frame had group pictures from our time at Firefly restaurant. They also gave us sweet handmade letters. As we learned from our time with the first group, long goodbyes are hard. We kept this goodbye short and sweet, but there were still many tears. I know when I speak for all of us that these girls will live in our memories and our hearts forever! Being their first Jessup team proved to be an amazing experience for both the girls and us. 

After goodbyes were had, the Jessup team had a shopping spree at the local mall. However, shopping could only occur after food was eaten, so our fieldworker took us to a nice Thai and sushi restaurant. The food was INCREDIBLE! We shopped the local shops and did our best to bargain. 

We are currently now waiting at our fieldworkers’ beautiful beach house for our 4:50am Istanbul flight. The camp fire is blazing and we had delicious burgers and fries for dinner. We are so excited to be home with you all, but we have one more adventure in Turkey before we are there. 

See you Jumatatu (Monday)!

-Toni

Mom and Dad, tell Girly I love her and I’ll be back soon!!! 🙂

Jun 29 2024
2

Update #8 Team Western Europe is back home!

By | 2024 Teams, Western Europe

After a full day of travel, the Western Europe team has made it back home! Please join us in praying that the team would be able to reflect well about all they have learned and experienced now that they are home, and that the Lord would speak to and guide each one of them about how they can continue to do ministry in their home contexts.

Make sure to ask a team member about their experience and how you can be praying for them specifically!

Jun 28 2024
3

Update #13 East Africa

By | 2024 Teams, East Africa

Jambo!!!
Nimechoka (Hi, I’m tired)
But my heart is so full.
It’s Alyssa!
Today we started at the house! We love to start the day with worship and dancing! Then we did VBS with all the girls. I played teacher today since Grace got to share her beautiful testimony. Some of the girls also opened up and shared their testimonies with us! It was so beautiful hearing their stories and how God has moved in their lives!
We then headed over to the beach and had games, swimming, hot dogs, s’mores, and even more dancing (which I love to do)!
We’re all a bit sad that tomorrow we say bye to these girls. It’s been so sweet to get to know them and have them come out of their shells around us!
Tomorrow will be a long day as we have about a 5am flight so keep praying for us!!

Jun 28 2024
3

Update #12 East Africa

By | 2024 Teams, East Africa

Today was great!

We started the day of learning a new word, Shagalbogna (chaos). I also have no clue if I spelled that right… That was the word that describes many of the pictures from today!

We all woke up and headed over to the girls’ home and began our day with a team devotional, and then we headed out with the girls to Bagamoyo (where I lay my heart down). A historical port where a huge portion of slave trade took place in East Africa. It was known as the place of no return. If a slave made it to Bagamoyo alive, which only 1 out of 5 did, they knew they would never return to their family or home.

On our way there, we stopped at a snake park where some of us thrived, and some of us internally died. I always say Satan was a snake for a reason. We saw many snakes and even got the chance to hold one. (This is where most of the snake haters hid… rightfully so). Randomly, we also saw a zebra, ostrich, porcupine, and even got the chance to ride a camel.

After this stop, we continued our drive to a historical museum and cathedral where we learned the history of slave trade and of Bagamoyo.

Traveling from the cathedral, we ended the day at a peaceful restaurant/hotel called Firefly. It’s such a beautiful spot and a great way to end the day.

As we headed back to the home, we sang many many eya eyas and the few Swahili songs we know many times in the bus. Such a great time getting to know the girls more and seeing them step out of shells and be more comfortable with us!

As we come towards and end of our trip, if you all could pray for our team to finish strong and to love the girls as much as we possibly can in our last day here.

Thank you all for your support and prayers!
Enjoy the photos!
-Isaac