Article submitted by Brenda Rose, Field Coordinator in Nicaragua
Victory Medical Team: This was Victory’s second time back. What a wonderful team to work with. They, like most teams want to make a difference in the lives of the people here. Their first visit was to the local hospital. They wanted to learn how illness was handled in Nicaragua. There are some diseases that aren’t seen that often in Canada so it was good to see how it is done here. They were able to see how the doctors work here with very little support.
This team worked very hard and even worked on both Saturdays. I thought that they were trying to kill me but the time was well spent. The doctors were willing to make a few home visits to people too weak to get to the clinic. They also found a child who needed to have an echocardiogram and a man who needs a colonoscopy.
One surprise event was when my friend Lenin arrived at the hotel with his very pregnant wife. She had an ultrasound that was done and the Canadian doctor said that there was a need to do a C-section soon. They were able to go to the hospital and get the section. They now have a beautiful baby girl named Briana Nicole.
School Construction: For a couple years MVI and a group from Canada have been helping a Christian school at the Baptist church. They have been constructing 6 new classrooms with the desire to redo several other rooms that are falling apart. With the 2 groups working together they were able to finish the second floor on part of the school giving 3 more classrooms.
First Christian Church (Gift Bag Team): Every year this church makes gift bags for the children of the feeding centers and children from other communities where we are working. They come and make the children’s Christmas a little brighter. Most of these children don’t receive presents for Christmas.
The children in each community acted different when they received their gifts. Everyone was so pleased to receive something. In one village the children hid their bags and didn’t open them. They didn’t want to let others see what they had received. Other children just looked inside the bags and later opened them and started to play with the contents.
The team also did some work at the clinic. They painted the gate and some of the bars on the wall. They even helped with organizing contents from a container that had arrived.
Projects Started by Teams: An update on several different projects that were started by teams.
- Water filters: This project is such a huge success. One of my doctor friends told me that he had a man and his son in his office the other day. The doctor asked if his son had diarrhea. The guy said that since the Canadian’s put in the water filters they have had no problems with diarrhea or stomach pain.
- Sewing Project in Trentino: The women have been sewing up a storm. Another team was with them in January and taught them how to make a blouse and pillow cases. The women have a higher self-esteem because they can make clothes for their families. They want to get so that they can sell what they make.
- Selling of clothes: The lady in the mountain is still selling clothes and making money to support her family. The other part of the money that she makes goes toward the school in the community. We were able to buy much needed materials for the school.
A church in a community near my house is enlarging their building. They have never asked me for help. In talking to the pastor he was interested in selling clothes also to raise money for construction material. What a great way for people to get quality clothes at a reduced price and also to help build their church.
The team also visited the local hospital to learn about Nicaraguan medicine. In return they provided 4 different workshops for the local doctors to learn about changes in medicine.
I am hoping that this program can continue with the college. It provides valuable experience for the students and valuable information for the doctors here.
Harborside Medical Team: What a pleasure to work with Christian doctors. The doctors from my church have such a love for the people here in Nicaragua.
The team visited a church last year that was 4 hours from Matagalpa. This year they wanted to return to the church but wanted to stay all night so that they could see more people. We left in the morning and after a flat tire we arrived around 11. We worked all afternoon. In the evening the pastor had a time of singing and devotional then the team showed the Jesus movie outside with the screen on the church door. This was a HUGE hit. There were about 200 people. They were glued to the screen and loved the movie. During the night we heard roosters, dogs, monkeys and people snoring. Needless to say we didn’t get much sleep, but that didn’t stop the team. Throughout the week they were able to help and pray for many people.