I had the privilege of volunteering with Rayo del Sol in February 2025 and these four days have hands-down shaped what my 2025 year will look like. The amount of unconditional love, service, and integrity that every single person on the team brings to every activity is inspiring. I have never been surrounded by such a dedicated organization and it was life-changing. The projects that Rayo del Sol partaken are truly saving the people of Matagalpa. What an amazing organization, I cannot wait to continue supporting them and get their name out there to everyone!
Our family had traveled to Nicaragua several times and served alongside Peter and the Rayo crew. The amount they accomplish on a tiny budget is truly amazing. Watching the growth of the organization over the years and the impact that has had on the people they serve has been heartwarming. Our family has grown incredibly due to our contact with Rayo de Sol.
Rayo de Solis making an incredible impact on the lives of over 41k people in areas that need it the most. Our Nonprofit is honored to work with the talented folks at Rayo de Sol to create even further impact, building a Transformation Kitchen program in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. If you are looking for a place to support that truly believes in changing lives, this is the organization for you.
Rayo De Sol is one of the finest organizations I've ever encountered. The work they do enables children to be educated and parents who are able to provide for their families. I know that the well-run organization has little overhead so most of the money they raise goes directly to those they help. I can't say enough good about what they do for the people of Nicaragua.
Peter Schaller pours so much of his time, energy & passion into the growth and success of Rayo de Sol. I enjoy hearing about all the new creative classes and programs he develops to *empower* the community to grow in mind, body & spirit. Peter has assembled an incredible team at Rayo & their efforts go a long way to solidifying health, safety & self-sufficiency for the people of Matagalpa!
Previous Stories
Peter Schaller pours so much of his time, energy & passion into the growth and success of Rayo de Sol. I always enjoy learning about the many creative classes and programs he develops in order to *empower* the community to grow in mind, body & spirit. Peter has assembled an incredible team at Rayo & their efforts go a long way to solidifying health, safety & self-sufficiency for the people of Matagalpa!
This organization is extremely dedicated to the community and helping those around them. I’m in awe of what they have been able to accomplish and how many lives they’ve been able to impact.
With regards to putting your donation money to good use,Rayo de sol knows how to do it right.
Every dollar goes right to the kids and the programs with the most impact to the community. Great people, great programs!
My name is JC Combs and I went to visit rayo de sol back in 2019 with a group from church. The amazing work that they do with the families in Nicaragua is very humble to witness. All of the employees and volunteers love what they do and I was incredibly impacted by they way they serve the families in Nicaragua without expecting anything in return. One of the best week of my life was when I spend it serving others along side rayo de sol
We’ve supported Rayo De Sol since 2018. I’ve heard Peter present multiple times; however until I visited the mission a couple of weeks ago I did not fully understand all of the lives they are able to touch on a daily basis. So wonderful how they are meeting people where they are at just as Jesus did!
Spending time with Peter and the Rayo de Sol team has been a truly life-changing experience. Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to uplifting the community are nothing short of remarkable. From education to health initiatives, they are making a real, lasting impact on the lives of so many.
The warmth and love they show not only to the families they serve but also to the volunteers is incredible. They welcomed us as if we were part of their family, creating an experience filled with connection, purpose, and joy.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to serve, grow, and truly make a difference, Rayo de Sol is the place to be. I am forever grateful for this experience and can’t wait to return!
#ServiceWithHeart #RayodeSol #MakingADifference
Peter and the team at Rayo De Sol are doing amazing work to enhance the life of the community. Truly remarkable. This trip was impactful and transformative. We will be back next year!
My experience traveling with The Outlier Project to work with Rayo De Sol, was nothing short of life-changing. The depth that Peter and his remarkably passionate and devoted staff reach in the communities they work in is extraordinary. We were able to see their work up close and the impact it is making on the children and families they serve, while we worked shoulder-to-shoulder with both staff and members of the community. Impact on improving access to the basics of food, water, reasonable shelter and beyond with medical, educational, spiritual, and entrepreneurial skills.
As a community, we will make this annual trip avaialble to our members. and I intend to return with my adult children to share an experience like this with them.
Getting to work with Peter and the staff at Rayo De Sol was hands down the most inspiring, beautiful, transformative experience of my life. The work they are doing is absolutely life changing and to get to be a part of helping their mission changed my entire perspective on life. What impressed me the most was everyone’s positivity and professionalism. What I also loved is the fact that no matter what your skills are - you have something to offer that can help them in some way, shape, or form and the gratitude you feel just FILLS YOUR SOUL! I can’t WAIT to go back!
My family and I had the opportunity to volunteer with Rayo de Sol a few weeks ago and it was a life-changing experience. We helped fix up a school in a small, rural community in the mountains by painting, making a garden and building some furniture. The people in the community where the school was, as well as the staff of Rayo de Sol, were the kindest, most compassionate people. While our trip was short, we so appreciated the opportunity to support the work being done and are looking forward to when we can return. My children are young, but were involved and really enjoyed the experience. I cannot say enough about the work that Rayo de Sol is doing; it is needed, intentional and is significantly changing the lives of people in the communities they serve for the better. The experience for myself and my family was tremendous and we really feel like we received more than we gave. It was an honor to be a part of this work and I encourage anyone looking for meaning or to make impact through an amazing organization, to look further into volunteering or contributing to Rayo de Sol. This is God's work in action.
I had the privilege of leading a group on a trip last spring and it exceeded my expectations. It is evident that the entire team at Rayo loves Nicaragua and the people they've been called to serve. They are providing multiple services to families there. I'm looking forward to returning next month for my next trip.
I went on a mission trip to Matagalpa Nicaragua in July 2023, sponsored by my church Montgomery Community Church in Cincinnati Ohio. I knew none of the other 10 volunteers, but I heard it would change my life, and it did! We traveled into a country that gradually made me realize how desperate and lacking other human beings were forced to live. My heart broke open and my mind went wild knowing that I had so many resources and skills that could easily help. I got as chance the first morning to test that energy with the other volunteers. The local nonprofit Rayo De Sol was organized and resourceful and took us right into the communities that needed us. The first day we were planting trees in the school playground in the dry hard dirt. Kids were watching with wonder, handing us saplings and smiling with gratitude. The next day I helped the teachers and mothers make piñatas that would be filled with precious candy, used for a celebration on our last day. Another day, I taught a yoga class to about 30 kids of all ages, giving them safe exercise and fun at the same time. These days at the school were like looking into the eyes of Jesus as I face-painted innocent children’s cheeks or painted their tiny fingernails. Many days the men volunteers were digging and building latrines for the fortunate families that had their names drawn in the limited lottery. They also dug the foundation for a new small school library. Team work and friendships of the volunteers were an unexpected gift from this trip for me. We were able to take some side trips to the nearby smoky volcanoes and shopping bazaars and yummy restaurants. We say songs on the bus, like Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror……Make a Change” and prayed together in the mornings and played cards at night. We are all good friends now, the Nic 11. The accommodations were very comfortable and I slept like a baby, exhausted physically and emotionally. Rayo do Sol impressed me every day with their team of personal caring for these needy human beings in Nicaragua. With donations they built a new office to be able to help more and more that line up at their door. I am so proud to be a part of this miracle of giving in a difficult world. Thank you Rayo for being there and not giving up. Muchos Gracias , Diane Utaski
This is such a fantastic organization that truly cares about people, their living conditions, and upward mobility. They offer solutions that provide holistic growth, healing, and support that help families and communities thrive! Love them!
The incredible work that Rayo de Sol is doing in Nicaragua is unbelievable. As a Nonprofit Founder it is inspiring to watch Peter Schaller and his team navigate with transparency and authenticity to help enrich the lives of so many. If you are considering donating to a cause that is creating actionable change, you are in the right place.
I first volunteered with Rayo in 2023 and am excited to be able to return In all the years of volunteer work, domestic and international, Rayo is on top. The depth of systemic support for communities and families and individuals Rayo provides is life changing. I’ve been overly impressed with the leadership’s compassion, humility and inventiveness. As a result, donating has been a no brainer!!
I have donated to, and worked with Rayo De Sol for many years. I have always felt confident that my donations are going directly to the students in Matagalpa. I have seen firsthand the positive outcomes for these deserving young people and their families. Please continue to do this important work. .
Previous Stories
I have been involved with Rayo De Sol for many years. I am amazed by the number of lives they have changed for the better. They give the residents of Nicaragua access to education, nutrition, health care and community development. I always know that my donations are well spent on the citizens of Nicaragua. I will continue to support the great work of Rayo de Sol!
We had a great experience with Rayo De Sol. The housing and food were terrific, and I had a food allergy that they were accommodating to.
We took our kids to be a part of serving, and they loved it.
This trip was an excellent way for our family to serve together.
This is an excellent team of people who work over and beyond and make us feel welcome.
We were blown away by all the things they are doing to serve there community
I have been privileged to serve on 2 mission trips with Rayo De Sol, and the work that Peter and the gang are doing there is incredible. I am amazed at their drive and dedication and am filled with joy when I see God working through his people to bring relief, happiness, and love to the people in Nicaragua. I pray that Rayo de Sol keeps growing and succeeding because the world needs more Rayos.
We had the awesome opportunity and privilege to visit and spend time with the amazing Rayo staff and the school children and parents served by Rayo from Dec 27, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024. What an incredible organization and experience for all of us. We are a family of 8 with a young adult and kids ranging from 12 to 6 and all of us had an incredible time. We got to witness first-hand how Rayo serves and shows Christ's love to students and their parents daily. We were awed that they now serve over 35 schools with 5,000+ students daily. We also were privileged to visit their brand-new community building that will be used in amazing ways to serve the children and the community. Rayo uses the finances that they're blessed to receive to the maximum. I'm constantly amazed at how God honors the gifts to serve all His people throughout the world. Rayo is using their opportunity and influence in a tremendous way! This is my 3rd trip in the past 14 years and the first for my family. I can't wait to go back. You're doing a GREAT WORK RAYO De Sol. Way to show LOVE!
TEAM BAD
Our recent trip to Nicaragua was amazing and beyond words incredible. Rayo does more with their resources than any other organization I've ever seen. Rayo works in the education, medical, and nutritional areas at such a profoundly deep level. Also they have a great spiritual development area that partners with Younglife. We can't wait to go back and see these kind and generous people again!
We have been incredibly blessed to be a part of the Rayo family from the start. The staff on ground are hardworking and care deeply for every person. We’ve seen the miracles the Lord has done in the lives of so many. Highly recommend everyone take a short term mission trip with Rayo de Sol—you will not only make a difference, but you will come back different. I have so much love and respect for the Rayo team who puts Christ in the center of everything.
My family and I will forever be grateful to the Rayo de Sol team for the hospitality shown to us last July (2023). Over the course of a week, we got the opportunity to get to know Peter and his amazing staff. It was a privilege and blessing to work alongside the extraordinary staff of Rayo de Sol, as they dedicated themselves to serving and ministering to the children and families in the communities of Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
Rayo de Sol, thank you for making this experience possible! Your impact is immeasurable and we are glad that we could be a part of this meaningful work. Thank you for your dedication and service. My family will be forever blessed. We look forward to returning with other families in the future and we will continue to support Rayo de Sol. Best wishes to the entire team as you continue to make a difference in the lives of others!
¡Bendiciones!
I have had to privilege of seeing Rayo De Sol up close and they are doing amazing work. They accomplish a tremendous amount of great work for a population in great need. Plus, they are doing it with a relatively small amount of resources. Their hard, work, heart and efficiencies represent the kind of non-profit that I want to give money to and serve along side.
We recently returned from a trip with our family (that includes a 3 year old! ) and another family and their children. We had the absolute best experience and were changed by it! It was a safe family trip that allowed each of us to serve alongside the locals on various projects. We learned how to make pinatas for an upcoming school party, helped make a table for the new office and also moved dirt around due to the new construction. In the afternoons, we would then spend time going into various communities. Rayo De Sol is helping the communities in beautiful ways- through planting gardens, educational scholarships, vocational training, etc. The list goes on and on! Grateful for our time in Nicaragua!
I've known Peter Schaller since high school. He's a wonderful leader and puts his heart in all that he does. It's amazing all that he has done and continues to do for Rayo De Sol. His passion is unmatched in this endeavor. Rayo De Sol changes lives, thanks to Pete and those who volunteer!
I was privileged to work with Rayo De Sol's leadership on a leadership training day. I have also witnessed the work they do to help children with their programs and facilities, and I can see the love and investment shine through their work. Great job, Rayo De Sol. May you continue to shine the light of Jesus and enrich the lives you come in contact with.
My experience started with a mission trip in 2019. It was a wonderful and impactful experience working with the staff of Rayo de Sol and the people of Matagalpa. Since returning from the mission trip, I have continued to be engaged with the work of Rayo de Sol and am an active supporter of their ministry. There is not a better investment.
Where to begin?? I have been involved in some way with Rayo since its inception, have visited their many projects in many areas and seen the difference they have been able to make in the lives f the people they serve. The staff of Rayo definitely embody the term "humble servant" The work they do in the areas of education, (for adults as well as kids), nutrition, health care, community development, faith development, farming have changed.....for the better.......thousands of lives. The Nicaraguan people are warm, generous, hard-working people.......they don't want a "suburban America" kind of life, they simply want a decent home, food for their families and an honest job which can provide these things for them. Rayo is helping them achieve these things. Oh, and did I mentiom....... when you donate to Rayo, 100% of your gift goes directly to the organization. How many charitied can say that?
My family had the great experience of volunteering with Rayo De Sol last July (2022). We traveled to Matagalpa, Nicaragua to help serve the members of the community. Rayo De Sol were extremely organized and professional. It was a great honor to be associated with a non-profit that is so caring and focused on reducing poverty through quality education and training programs. They make a huge difference in the lives they serve and for those who volunteer with them.
My husband and I traveled to Nicaragua to not only see, but understand the good works of all who support the efforts of Rayo de Sol. We witnessed children learning, food being delivered, and projects that have created stable living environments. The passion of the staff filled the air, as the smiles of children made it clear that good works are creating positive change in the lives of many. Rayo de Sol is a perfect organization to support the needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable citizens, through hope, faith, and a humble presence. It is a privilege, through donations, to support the continued efforts in Nicaragua.
We have worked with Peter Schaller and Rayo de Sol for many years. This effective non-profit, motivated by the love of Christ, is changing the lives of students, families, and 37 communities through education, community development, health care, agriculture, and providing micro loans. The effectiveness of both the stove and water projects that are being implemented have increased the health of families and provided water for homes and gardens. On our most recent trip, we witnessed the tremendous abilities of the outstanding staff in their various roles. We have supported students and are always thrilled to celebrate a graduation. We were thrilled to meet Magdiel, a staff member who began as a scholarship student and now serves in the Educational Quality Program. We count it a privilege to partner financially with this organization and highly recommend you join us. Their financial stewardship is stellar.
We're monthly donors and are such fans of Peter and Rayo. They're doing great work in the proverbial trenches, making a difference in lives every day. Further, it's long term, generational good, vs short term good. And they're such good stewards of finances. Take a trip and see for yourselves! God bless Rayo.
There is never a question about how your funds are going to use, I’m forever grateful for the continued story sharing that they provide. This organization is working tirelessly to impact their communities through incredible ground level programs that continue to transform lives. The need for support is never ending and their teams and programs are working to change that.
I’m constantly impressed with the work this organization does for their community. Rayo De Sol is such an impactful, important and incredible program.