June - August 2016 Newsletter

On May 15 we started our summer with a group from the Texas Tech School of Nursing. On August 28^th our last group from Utica, New York left. How do we describe the summer of 2016, one-word FULL! Full of everything you could ask for in the summer. We had 39 groups and over 700 guests with us this summer, bringing our total for the year to 40 + groups and 800 guests. To write a report that covered everything that happened this summer would be impossible but here are some of the highlights: One of our greatest encouragement to us is the groups they return year after year, one great example of that is the Highway congregation who starting coming to Nicaragua in 2002.

Medical

This summer medically we had three groups from TTHSC, one group from the University of Mississippi Medical School, a group from the Pharmacy School at Harding University, Olive Branch Ministries, three medical groups and twenty doctors and nurses traveling as part of their congregational teams. In all this summer over 15,000 have been served medically, and this does not count the number of those served by Jonathan and Sheila with Sight for Sore Eyes, that number was over 6,000. The last group from Texas Tech in August did hearing screening on all the children in our Child Development Centers.

Seminars

This summer we have had, thanks to our groups, ten seminars, three for teachers, three medical, one Casa Materna, two for our preachers and one specifically for our staff.

Library

Bible Adventures and Mobile Library are always a special part of each week. Sharing God’s word with the children and opening a world with books, what a time of blessing for the children and the groups as they visit our schools, One Child Matters, and congregations. See the list below on how you can help us with Libraries with our school and CDC.

Construction

This summer we continued the work on the building for a congregation in the south part of Jinotega, five houses were built, two bathrooms, some painting (especially on the building in Yali and the school in Pueblo Nuevo), two kitchens and last count over 3,000 bricks we made.

Casa Materna

Casa Materna…Rebecca continues to lead this effort for those to serve the ladies not only in Jinotega but also in San Ramon, Yali, La Concordia, Pantasma, and San Rafael del Norte. The ladies (and some men) work each week to put together baby bags, cut squares for blankets and make diapers out of t-shirts. It is also great to see the participation of the ladies of the congregation in Jinotega involved in this.

H4L

Hope4Life…groups were able to work with H4L as they continue to put water filters in homes. H4L have now put out over 900 filters. The groups also did one latrine with them this summer. What a blessing.

Sports

Global Sports: Team Arkansas USA. This was a 10 – 11-year-old Baseball team from Searcy that came and played and had clinics in both baseball and soccer. They also had with them two doctors and six speech pathologist. They were able to play in the National Stadium and was also able to visit with the US Ambassador at the embassy.

Uplift

Uplift was held in Leon this year with over 65 congregations and over 1,400 in attendance. Thanks to Nicaraguan Christian School for the use of their location. A very special thanks to this year’s planning committee lead by Alberto. A great job working together.

Kids Day

These days combined a lot number of different activities from Bible Adventures, crafts, making and feeding BIG pots of soup, and other activities with the children.

Interns

Again this summer we had the blessing of a solid group of interns who are a connecting part to so much of the work of the groups each day. Here one of the interns is working at one of the medical brigades.

One Child

One Child Development Centers continues to serve the children. We now have over 370 of the 380 children sponsored. A special part of our summer was our sponsor’s visits, over 150 of the children’s sponsors were able to see and visit with their sponsored child. That is a special time.

Bible Institute

The last week of August we had our second Bible Institute of the summer and we continue to have IPO meeting in the Waswili Prison, San Jose Bocay, Chinandega, Ocotal and two locations on the river. There will be a trip on the river September 9 for time with those locations.

Food Supply

This summer we received two containers of soup from Stop Hunger Now and have one presently in custom.

Sight for Sore Eyes

Groups have been able to work with Jonathan and Sheila as they continue to bless many with Sight for Sore Eyes…so far this year they have screened over 6,000 children and adults.

Sewing

Ladies from College Avenue and others worked with Rebecca in our sewing room making diapers for Casa Materna. Rachel McNiece’s group this summer did sewing classes in four congregations leaving sewing machines for the Ladies’ Ministries in six congregations.

Smiles

With the end of August, that means it is time for Smiles. Many of you have seen the post on Facebook and we will be sending out additional information during the month of September. Smiles deadline for drop-off is the September 30. Contact us today for drop-off locations closest to you. If you are not able to do a box but like for someone to make a Smile for you, you can send your check to Misión para Cristo, 128 Hwy Church Ln, Judsonia, AR 72081, mark the check, make me a Smile.