Team Member - Cleve Curry

Cleve Curry, 64 years of age, is a resident of Griggsville, in Pike County, Illinois.  He is a member of the Pittsfield Church of the Nazarene.

Cleve has served on about one-half a dozen prior mission trips to locations including New Mexico and Arizonia, where he served at Native American schools, helping to build a house in Juarez, Mexico, helping to build a church in Musquiz, Mexico, and others.

He heard about this trip through Ron Schaad, whose wife Donna was a high school classmate of Cleve. In fact, Cleve helped in the music at the weddings of Ron and Donna's three children.  Thus, after talking with Ron, Cleve signed up.

Previously Cleve had been to Managua, Nicaragua for a week long evangelistic service in 1969, which he attended with a church sponsored group.

Returning to Nicaragua Cleve feels that for the most part the country seems the same as in 1969. What he enoys most is the exuberance of the people of Nicaragua during their church worship servcies. He is also struck by the lack of opportunity of the people, the lack of jobs, and the lack of the chance of jobs.  Cleve notes that "the people seem to be such a happy people, even though the don't have much.  Even though they don't have a lot of opportunity or wealth, they seem to be pretty happy".

On this mission team Cleve has worked at "just about everything except work in the bodega".  He has worked digging post holes, setting posts, painted posts, welded on the fence, driven the tractor for errands, and whatever was needed.

In life back home in Pike County Cleve is a farmer.  He has worked on the farm for pretty much all of his life, as well as serving as a teacher for a few years.  He taught music in all levels, K - 12.  His current farm raises cattle and crops.  Cleve and his wife Susanne have four children and seven grandchildren.

On this trip Cleve has put his musical talents to use, by bringing his guitar and enlivening the nightly devotions. He has a smooth, calming voice and a great talent on his guitar.

Cleve said that Ron Schaad has done a good job putting this trip together.  "It has been everything I envisioned, and it has gone very well.  I like mingling with the people, working on a project ... and I think that this trip has done that very well".

"I always enjoy seeing people of different faiths work together and share their common beliefs" Cleve reflected.  "Also, I like to especially see the native people worship in their typical ways.  The exuberance of the Latin people is always envigorating to me.  I need it once in a while.  I need to be in it once in a while. It helps me to loosen up". 

"I'd encourage anybody to take a trip like this if they don't mind roughing it a bit, and eating native food" Cleve added.