Nicaragua Missions Trip

Background
My name is David Dent. I am currently a student at The University of Alabama and President of a student run organization on campus. We take a week out of our Winter Break to go to Trapichito, Nicaragua to help build houses for that community. Last December 22 of us were able to build 2 houses and bring the kids over 200 gifts; including soccer balls, books, scooters, etc. The families that we are building houses for do not have a roof over their head otherwise.  We are the only group that visits this community on a regular basis.  We have become a family and I feel so blessed to be able to visit them at least once a year!

My Goals
Every student that goes on the trip pays their own way. The money I am raising go strictly towards the construction of the hosues. My goal for this year is to build 3 houses. Our group is quickly growing so we will be able to bring more people and build more houses, but that also brings more expenses! All of my personal expenses (airfare, room & board, food, etc.) will come out of my own pocket. The cost for one house (materials and labor) is $3,000. Our group has to raise $13,000 to make this trip possible.

We have already raised the majority of the money but need to hit my $2500 goal to complete our fundraising goals.

Any little bit will help and be used for a good cause! 

Personal Story
I went on my first trip with this group in 2012, and immediately fell in love with the kids. I was blessed enough to be able to go again last December, and then voted President for this year. I will be able to go one more time again in December, my last time before I graduate. Being able to go back to the same community every year allows us to build real relationships with the families. This year, I got multiple hand written letters thanking me. Not only thanking me for helping build the houses, but thanking me for my friendship, which is so much better! A girl told me how much she looked up to me and she considered me her brother. She has no brothers and had recently lost her father, so to be looked up to as one of her only male role models was very humbling. This is what drives me to be so passionate about these kids. I want to do everything in my power to make life better for them, which in turn, makes life better for me. Thank you for helping me in this process and I can't wait to see what the next trip brings!