Farewell to Friends, Our Final Night in Nicaragua

A week ago we stumbled into this lobby, bleary eyed and exhausted from all day air travel and meeting the humidity of Nicaragua head on in the parking lot.  Tonight, we're packing our bags, significantly fewer and lighter than what arrived with us! We're torn between excitement about returning to hot showers, soft beds with extra pillows, sinks where you can brush your teeth without bottled water and other such luxuries, and a little sadness that the torch has passed now to the next team, the next town, and the next mission.  We've left behind the clothes and supplies that we can spare, and will continue to love and support the Nicaraguan people and GHO with our prayers long after our daily routines become "routine" again. 

God has opened our eyes, our ears, and our hearts this week in a dozen different ways.  While each trip and each individual's experience is a bit different, one common theme will always echo through--Our God is an AWESOME God, and we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord.  Geography, genetics, and language may vary, but we are more alike than different.  By humbling ourselves and answering His call to participate on this fantastic journey, we truly have received so much more than we have given. 

Faith & Fellowship--Friday

Wow.  What a whirlwind of a week!  Was it really just 5 days ago that we first started seeing patients?  By noon today, the clinic doors were closed, the pharmacy boxed up, and the truck mostly loaded. 

Lunch was a little tearful, as we learned that all the baseball gear that our supporters (our faithful prayer warriors at home) had helped to gather was an answer to prayer.  We thought we were bringing gear to help Mary's vision of a successful VBS program idea.  It seems the community outreach here has been praying for some time to establish a local baseball league as a means of youth ministry. We're leaving behind so much more than bats, balls, and gloves.  We're leaving the tools this community had specifically prayed for to reach young people of Matasanos and the surrounding area.  Yet again, God has revealed to us how all of the puzzle pieces fit together when we had no idea a picture was even being formed.  How humbling it is to be even a small part of that picture.   

Saying goodbye is always difficult, and we've had to let all our fabulous translators return to their own lives again.  Words (in English OR Spanish!) cannot do justice to their contribution to our group.  Without them, we would not have been a team.  Their generous hearts, their testimonies, their passion for God and for the people of Nicaragua are qualities that outshine the outstanding language skills.  We may could have stumbled through the language barriers, but without our interpreters, we would never have been as capable at breaking down Satan's barriers. 

It's late in Granada, and tomorrow brings zip-lining, boat rides, shopping, and PIZZA!  Ah, it's beginning to feel like home. . . . . 

Pastor's Conference & Misc Fun

Baseball, Bibles & Barnyard Animals. . . .Thursday's Activities are priceless!

Only in Nicaragua can you lose your baseball under the piglet when the second baseman throws the ball to home plate, but Bill managed to have that happen today!  Granted, on a field that has a banked turn around third and the first base line is all uphill, you have to expect a few unusual events.  Still, the view of more than 50 teenagers and adults from 2 different countries & a half dozen states that don't speak the same language laughing and playing together is priceless (even if the pig wasn't so happy about the game!).

We're going to have to rename Bill (we're thinking Ole' McDonald), as the dental clinic continues to lead the team in barnyard animal sitings.  The hen was finally successful, and is nesting on 9 eggs as we speak (we've lost count of the baby chicks actually running around).  In addition, as the cows headed down from the mountain, one curious bovine decided to poke her head in the door to check things out. 

VBS had another outstanding day, and in addition to the increasing fame of "The Magician" (the kids chant for Richard all day long), we had simultanious "volleyball," bubbles, and balloon animals.  The support the community has shown in the kid's programs is awesome, and the younger members of our team continue to show wisdom, leadership, and patience well beyond their years in working with the many challenges they've faced.  Mary's dedication and preparation certainly have payed off,  and God has used her many talents here.

Kitty & Mark wrapped up the Pastor's retreat today, with great results.  Rolando heard awesome things from the local preachers and their families, not only about the talks and programs they shared, but with the books & gifts provided to them as support for their continued growth.  It is gratifying to know that while the local men were already working well together, they've been given some helpful hints on how to improve their relationships with each other, their families, and their communities.

Our clinic will close tomorrow at lunch, and we'll move on to a little R& R before transitioning back toward home.  We've already begun to say our goodbyes, though as one of the pastor's so aptly put it, if we don't see them again before, we'll certainly see them again in Heaven.  Please pray for continued wisdom, restored health, and safe travels. 

Triage, Pharmacy, and Moises in action!

Inside the medical clinic. . .

Weds--Clinic Day 3

We ended our day today with a mid week church service, and the local community sang as they each came up and greeted us individually with a hug and/or a handshake.  It was an overwhelming scene, especially since it was another "standing room only crowd."    Some of the families in attendance had walked three hours through the mountains to help with the clinic today, and had been on site since 6 am.  When we left the grounds around 7 pm, those families were still going strong, but did catch a ride back with us on the bus. . . .

It is an amazing thing to witness the dedication to each other, their churches, and God.  Once again, we are restored by what they give back to us, no matter what  as we might share with them.  There were many new believers brought into the fold again today, including a 12 year old girl who made the committment to Christ today.  Our interpreter staff is so dedicated to the purpose of this trip, and has made our jobs easier in a dozen ways, not the least of which is helping us to pray with our patients.  

Please continue to pray for wisdom for our physicians, evangelists, and leadership team, adequate supplies in our pharmacy and eye clinic, and continued good health with our team.  As God continues to provide, we continue to minister and be ministered to. . . . . good night & God bless.

Our Community Health Team in Action

Eye Glass Team in Action

Tuesday--Clinic Day 2

Another fruitful day in the field.  Many of our "God Sitings" tonight involved seeing how the process of planting seeds unfolds. . . .what the evangelistic team begins, the triage team feeds, and the medical team continues (the same holds true in each area of the clinic site, no matter the specialty).  While not every seed will bloom to a full commitment to Christ this week, the ongoing ministry of the believers here will continue to work in God's Garden long after we're back home. 

We've been blessed to see a new boldness among our younger team members, with an eagerness to pray with and for others as the trip progresses.  We are hearing testimonies from our team members that help to nourish our souls and restore us each night as we prepare to return to work in the morning. 

Our dental team had another great day, though the barnyard antics continued. Today's big treat was the vulture on top of the building.  The eyeglass clinic continues to run smoothly, and that team works together like a well-oiled machine.  Just another example of God's plan in action!  Please pray that our supply of glasses holds out through the week to meet every need (think fishes and loaves!).

All our illness issues seem to have resolved, and God continues to reveal Himself to us in unique and wonderous ways.  Like the view from the mountain top, what we're seeing this week is simply beautiful.

Mountain top view from the Passion Fruit Vines

Dental Team at work, Monday

Monday--Clinic Day 1

Today was our first full day of clinic.  What an example of God's team in action!  With dental, eyeglass, triage, medical, pharmacy, evangelical, and VBS all in motion at once, it was an eventful day.  We've shared many heart warming stories of "God Sitings" tonight over dinner & devotions, and laughed over some of the more light-hearted moments. . . you'll have to ask Bill, Sharon, & Austin about Carlos and the hen.  It seems she was looking a place to roost and thought the dental clinic would make an excellent spot.  It was up to Carlos to change her mind, and let's just say they all enjoyed the show! 

Mary and the logistics staff had a ball (literally and figuratively!) with the community children as they kicked off our VBS this morning.  Richard helped out with a few "magic" tricks, and Wendy added her artistic touch with face painting.  Brittany, Madeline, & Megan helped with games, crafts, and songs.  Linnie & Erica (GHO translators) helped keep the lines of communication open, though giggles and smiles came through loud and clear.  We're looking forward to an even larger number of children as the week moves on, including lots of baseball.  The youth group from one of the local churches is planning to help with the fun, and it's awesome to see so many young people on fire for God.

Our dental team faced many challenges (other than the roosting hen), but God provided.  Difficult procedures were performed in record time with limited resources and without complication.  It is humbling to see God's hand so visible in a world that often claims He has no place in science & modern medicine.  Today's dental clinic is proof yet again that miracles still happen every day. 

Pharmacy filled prescriptions for 169 people, with an average of 3 prescriptions per person. . .that's almost 500 prescriptions today!  Our pill counters were busy, but as Mike so elequently put it at dinner, they prayed over every prescription.  What an awesome thought!  Can you imagine that every pill that is taken over the next month has been covered by prayer?  Certainly that adds a little "fertilizer" to all the seeds that will be planted this week.  For every time the Gospel is shared, for every decision not yet made, there is a legacy of faith left behind, even after our team has returned to the comfort of home.