Team Member - Margaret Naylor

Margaret Naylor, 41 years of age, is a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bloomington.

This is Margaret's fourth mission trip to the orphanage here in Los Cedros, Nicaragua.  On her prior trips she worked on the addition to the boy's home in 2008; the security fence around the boy's home at the orphanage in 2009; the first work on the security fence in 2010; and this year's continued work on the security fence.

Margaret is a gourmet chef.  She has worked as a chef in numerous restaurants, and is currently moving towards possible mission work.

The first time she joined the mission team, in 2008, was because Reverend Vaughn Hoffman, the senior minister at Wesley United Methodist Church, asked if she would like to go to Nicaragua to replace a person who had to unexpectedly change their plans on traveling to Nicaragua.  She had never done anything like it before.  "It was so completely out of my self-absorbed realm, that it made total sense, and I never thought that I wasn't going".

"Since then I've never looked back" Margaret mused.  "I tend to stew on things, but now I know that this is what I'm 'sposed to be doing".

On this trip Margaret has been prepping the fence poles, cleaning the poles, painted the poles, welded the poles, and carried poles into the field.  "I was in the machine shop most of the time working this year".

"Speaking to Carlita, the woman who cleans the villas and cooks for us, has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of this year", Margaret said.  "Last year I knew no Spanish, but for this year I boned up, and could actually speak with her, and found out about her ... learning that she has two daughters, loves to sing, and has a great appreciation of my hair"!  Margaret laughed upon reflecting upon that, and her fondness for the person that Carlita is.

"The Nicaraguan aspect always reminds me of how 'not poor' I am.  In the states I think I'm poor.  But, being here changes my perspective" Margaret shared.

"What is different this time is that I've allowed myself to spend time with the orphan babies and children.  I had never done that before.  This year I played with them on the swings, talked with them, I let them teach me little things about themselves.  I had never done that before".  Margaret said that she really enjoyed such this year.  Then she paused and added, "But now I'm afraid to say good-bye to them".

Margaret has led the team's devotions this year, which has been a progress in her spiritual life.  Margaret said that in 2008, her first year, that she had never even been in a devotion group, nor knew what such was.  "Last year, I did the devotions, and while I felt I was nervous about doing it, I did them.  But this year, it has been so much easier to do".

In fact, being in and doing devotions, as well as serving on the mission teams, has impacted Margaret so much that she has been going through the process of herself become a missionary. In 2009 Margaret began the process to become a full-time missionary through Globe International, the umbrella organization over the orphanage in Los Cedros.  She has now completed the process, and is a "mission volunteer" via Globe International.  Her hope and prayer is to some day enter the mission field.

"This year has been a lot of fun.  Joy has to be in a mission trip some where.  Joy has been present this year.  And, it has been funny many times this year.  For me, this year, it has been nice to see how 'sweet' the men have been together ... I'm the only woman on this year's team ... and it has been good to see how well they interact together ... in the most 'manly' sense of course!" Margaret laughed.  "You know, at times I feel like I've been allowed into their locker room"!

Would Margaret recommend mission trips?  "I would" Margaret answered without hesitation.  "Why, do people say 'no'?"  Then, pausing and getting serious, Margaret shared "It has changed the way that I saw my life unfolding.  I'd love for women to get out here.  I'd love to see women 'man up', a little Palin thing!  Leave their curling irons behind, and get out here and work"!