Volunteers in Mission Trip to Nicaragua -- June, 2010
(Report by Alice Laatsch and Peggy Lewis, OUMC)
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Peggy Lewis and Alice Laatsch spent a week as Volunteers in Mission in Nejapa, Nicaragua in June, 2010. This week spent in the Managua area was one of learning on many levels. First and foremost, we learned once again of God's goodness in difficult situations. God sends "the church" to care for people and place around the world. This is central to "missions". Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the region -- second only to Haiti. The people struggle under a difficult governmental structure that is not very responsive to the needs of the poor. Many mission teams from many denominations from around the US go to Nicaragua weekly in order to work along side those in need.
This year, our team was privileged to help serve meals to children at two emerging Methodist Churches in the Managua area. These churches reach out to the children of the barrios in which they are located with feeding and teaching programs. We participated in both endeavors.
We also visited women in the Oncology Unit of a local hospital, taking health kits and New Testaments to them. We also took simple layettes to the mothers of new babies and small gifts to the children in the hospital for indigent women and children. We held a Bible Study and luncheon for women in one of the homes Nejapa. With the help of a translator we told the story of Ruth and had a brief discussion. We also participated in an evening "home church" prayer group with 21 people filled the space completely! Finally, we visited two Christian schools that OUMC helps support through assistance to two girls who attend these schools (See the Home Page.) We did a puppet show and we taught simple chain crocheting to a group of 4th and 5th greade girls and boys.
It was a great week! Planning is underway for teams to return June 11-19, 2011 and October 1-9, 2011. Please consider whether you are being called to be a missionary one of these weeks. God calls all sorts of hands, skills and ages!
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| We lived and served at El Samaritano in Nejapa, Nicaragua. Nejapa is a semi-rural area next to Managua. El Samaritano includes a clinic, an excellent out-patient surgery hospital and The Samaritan Inn which is "home" for work teams. Funds generated by The Inn help support the clinic. |
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| Out-patient surgery hospital supported by OUMC giving |
The Clinic |
The Samaritan Inn |
The Methodist Church has "new start" churches in Nicaragua. Most are in Managua. We helped serve meals at two of them. The churches are being established by reaching out to the children of the community by providing a meal once a day (when funds are available). San Marcos is the "conference office" and main church. It was built by the efforts of a pastor and church
in West Ohio Conference. Hialeah Church is a small room with cement slab floor. There is hope that they will ordain their first pastor in Nicaragua this coming spring at Annual Conference. This is an important part of becoming a part of the Methodist General Conference. Currently,they are 'unaligned". |
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| San Marcos Methodist Church in Managua |
Interior of San Marcos Church
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Hialeah Methodist Church (It is down the 'effluent' path; the aqua gate and doors; the woman was dubbed by us "The Church Lady" a warm, smiling, loving woman; the community is one of the poorest I have visted in Nicaragua! It seems even poorer than Nejapa as it is 'inner city' crowded. Nejapa is semi rural and has space between houses.) |
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| a squatters' area in Managua |
Najapa street scene |
A Nejapa home |
El Samaritano is involved with two schools; Emila de Sirker Christian School
in the Santa Rosa barrio of Managua. This school is first through 9th grades. Those who do well there are granted scholarships to study at a Christian high school in Managua. Samulito School is in Nejapa. It serves pre-school through 4th grades currently. The government has finally given permission for the building of another classroom and construction has begun. (Nicaraguan politics are much more invasive and difficult to manouvere than
in the US! It has taken 3 years to get the permission for one additional classroom to be built at no expense to the government!) |
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We taught Emilia de Sirker School 4th and 5th graders how to crochet,
both with a crochet hook and with their fingers. They made necklaces. |
Ninth grade girls sing to us in English at the Emila de Sirker School; it was 'teacher recognition day' and there was a program. |
'Teacher Recognition Day' program at Samulito School in Najapa |
