NICARAGUA MISSION TRIP – Rick Davis
NICARAGUA MISSION TRIP
August 6, 2011 – August 14, 2011
Team Members:
Originating from USA:
Doctor Sid (Wildwood – Pastor)
Sean (Wildwood – Construction)
Emanny (Tampa – Public Health)
Joe (Trip Organizer)
Jonathan (Joe’s Son)
Melanie (Pastor)
Daniel (Melanie’s Son)
Rick (Observer)
Jean (RN)
Mary Allen (Outreach Organizer)
Hugo (Carpenter Apprentice)
Ann (Scottsdale)
George (Elder Statesman)
Originating from Nicaragua:
Rick Ervin (Veterinarian)
Mary Ervin (Nurse)
Yvonne (Medical Assistant)
Davinia (Interpreter)
Evania (OB-GYN)
Anner (Internal Medicine)
Francisco (Ranch Manager/Lay Minister)
Avillio (Vet in Training)
Daniel (Public Health)
William (Interpreter – Jokester)
Saturday, August 6th
The plane was packed and ready to go around 7:30 a.m. but we couldn’t take off as the radar in Atlanta was down, delaying all flights. We left Orlando about 40 minutes late. We only had a 1 hour layover in Atlanta so we were counting on the radar problem to delay our connecting flight to Nicaragua. We were about the last to leave the plane in Atlanta in the A terminal. We found a monitor and learned that our flight to Managua was “on time” and scheduled to leave from E 37. Gate E-37 was at the opposite end of the terminal and we had about 15 minutes to make it. I hadn’t run as much in 20 years, despite chasing the grandladies around the house. I made it to the gate just in time to announce that I was part of a group rushing to the gate. They held the plane and we all got on although some baggage didn’t make the transfer.
I had occasion to speak to the stewardess on the flight. I mentioned how the flight seemed to be filled with mission groups. One notable group was a bunch of teenagers from Buffalo. She said that almost all the flights to Nicaragua and Costa Rica are filled with mission groups.
The 3 hour 15 minute flight to Managua was uneventful. The airport has a single runway with no taxi ways adjacent to the runway so when the plane lands, it has to turn around on the runway and head for the gate. I believe there is a total of about 7 gates so the airport is not a large as I had imagined.
We made contact with George Mackey and Dr Rick & Mary Ervin. We climbed on the old diesel powered stick shift school bus hired for our trip and made our way to the Tip-Top. This was a chicken place that served Colonel Sanders type meals and burgers in a building that appeared to be very much like a McDonalds complete with playground. It had a second story and appeared to be a popular place for kids’ birthday parties.
All along the route from the airport, we saw corrugated metal buildings and residences that North Americans would probably describe as shacks. The roads were narrow. People and animals (including cattle) walked along the road. Scooters, small motorcycles, bicycles, 18 wheelers, rickshaws, horse carts, man carts and all sorts of vehicles filled the road. Our bus driver was good but it was clear that they all take chances.
We made it to Rancho Ebenezer around 3 p.m. Nicaragua is 2 hours behind Florida time in the summer as they do not recognize daylight savings time. We toured the facility after settling into our dorm rooms. The farm is about 85 acres. They raise crops: tomatoes, spinach, herbs, cucumbers, squash, carrots, oranges and mangos. They also raise animals; sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, hogs, worms and geese.
The purpose of the farm is to train people who own small parcels of land in modern farming methods, but doing it with the materials they can find locally; lumber, galvanized corrugated metal, bamboo poles and the like. The people must learn how to grow feed for the animals first. This can take up to 18 months. The ranch offers courses on how to raise worms to feed the chickens (I learned that it takes about 3 worms to produce 1 egg), how to grow plants in tire plant beds, how to plant flowers near the food crops that discourage insects from attacking the crops and courses on farming in general. George MacKay described a plant that grows fast and serves as food for rabbits, pigs, chickens and goats. The plant is 31% protein which is richer in protein than cattle feed and even expensive dog food.
The students stay in the dormitory and eat at the ranch. We stayed in the dormitory as well. It is non-air conditioned but has electricity and a well (750’ deep). The dorm is made of block and steel. It has screenless, jalousie windows. The building is semi open-air. There are some black ants (large) running across the bathrooms but they don’t want to bother people. Neither does the occasional bat that flies through the building. One thing about the bathrooms, the plumbing cannot tolerate toilet paper so that goes in the adjacent trash bin. This was true with all toilet facilities the entire trip.
Our dinner consisted of plantains, rice with peas, a salad, beans and a mystery meat later identified as rabbit. I won’t tell the grandladies but the Easter Bunny was tasty.
Sunday, August 7th
The roosters start at about 5 am and the rest of the birds are soon to follow. The cold shower was a wake up call albeit welcome. No mirrors in the bathroom but we managed to look beautiful regardless. I took some time to walk the ranch with my flip-cam to record the event and help me remember some of the detail.
We ate breakfast, swatting at flies constantly. As George put it, there is no way you can avoid flies when you are around a farm. We packed up, loaded onto the bus and headed to church.
Talk about contemporary service! The music is loud. The church was small but the message is the same. As I looked around the church, taking in its design, I began to realize that all the buildings that I have seen are more like “shelters” than a “buildings” as we know them. The buildings are open meaning they often have no windows but perhaps shutters instead. They have no screens. They have openings between where the roof attaches to the walls. You can look up at the roof and see light coming in at spots where the roofing material doesn’t quite overlay.
The service was preached by Francisco who is also the manager of the farm. He did a good job. The residents all did their best to make us feel welcome.
We left church and headed back toward the airport to pick up the missing luggage for 2 in our group. Then we left for Matagalpa which is a region about the size of several of our counties. This trip was interrupted at about 2 pm when we stopped for lunch. Meals here are taking a familiar format; rice, chicken (fried) and plantains. There are some side variations but I’m convinced that I’ll have chicken and rice at least twice a day. I’m taking precautions by chewing 2 Pepto Bismol tabs before each meal. I even brush my teeth with bottled water. It is not a good idea to drink tap water in Nicaragua.
We continued on to Matagalpa. The people and animals walking along the road were a constant presence. The residences all have outhouses and the government installs a standard model for many residences. As we got closer to our destination, the road quality deteriorated. Potholes were everywhere and the bus was forced to cut speed. At one point, I estimated that we averaged 10 mph for a good distance.
We made it to the “Hotel America” in La Dalia and checked into our room. We ate a meal of chicken, rice, cooked vegetables as well as refried beans and goat cheese, also a common offering. We had a get together introduction to the new members who joined our group en route to Matagalpa and made our plans for the next day. Subsequent to that, 6 of us went on a brief tour of the town. The town had pretty well shut-down and we were back to our rooms by 9:30ish. I slept under a mosquito net!
Monday, August 8th
There is a switch on the shower head. It goes to an electrical heater in the head. It is supposed to warm the water as it passes through the head. It has 3 settings; off, warm and hot. I found out later that you aren’t supposed to switch between settings while the shower is running as sparks will fly out of the head. The locals call them “suicide heads” or “widow makers”. Ours was set to “hot” and I believe their definition of hot is about 40° F. Hugo, my roommate, told me we were lucky to have it so good. Hugo is a native of Spain and is very fluent in Spanish. He was a very valuable team member as he was always available to help with interpreting.
We ate breakfast at 7:30, had a devotional and headed for our assignments at the drug and alcohol rehab center about 9 am. Some of the group went to a pavilion at the center to set up for medical screenings. The rest went in Rich Ervin’s 4 WD 2.8 liter diesel Toyota Hilux with a trailer attached to fetch bamboo needed to build a goat pen. This trip required us driving on roads that were even more difficult to pass than the roads we navigated the day before. I’m guessing we traveled about 15 miles in 1½ hours. Up and down steep hills, often in 1st gear, 4 wheel drive.
I am amazed at how many people live in such remote locations. They are constantly met, walking along the side of the roads. I saw one little girl who was probably 5, walking by herself. She clearly had done it before as she cautiously moved to the side of the road as we approached and then continued her journey.
We finally reached our destination and found some bamboo stacked alongside the road. We rode up to one of the clinics that Doctor Rick serves and checked to make sure the bamboo was for us. We got the truck and trailer turned around and went back to load it. This was the quick part of the job but we learned that more bamboo was near the home of a Nicaraguan named Daniel, down by the river. Hugo and Avillio started down the path leading to Daniel’s home. When they had not returned in about 30 minutes, the rest of us started down the path to see if they needed help. I estimate that Daniel’s home was about ½ mile down the steep mountain. We crossed small streams and struggled to keep our footing on the slippery mud. Doctor Rick stayed behind to guard the vehicle (wise choice). We came across Hugo Avillio, Daniel and one other person, all carrying heavy loads of bamboo up the steep path. We pitched in and helped lighten their loads. While this was happening, a young Nicaraguan man came by acting funny. This was about 11 am. I kept my distance from him while the others spoke with him. I later walked up to him and he gave me a big hug. He had been drinking something out of a plastic bottle he kept up his pant leg. He was drunk.
We managed to get the bamboo up the hill and loaded. The drunk jumped in the back of the pickup as well as did Daniel and the man who had been helping us. We started back to the main road. Along the way, we stopped to pick up an older relative of Daniel’s to take him back to the clinic at the rehab center. He was wearing a white handkerchief over his mouth. The old man managed to get in the back of the pick-up and we resumed our trip.
Along the way, Doctor Rick explained more about the rehab center. Their success rate is estimated at about 80% although it is hard to get facts. It is home to about 170 people, about 20 of whom are women. They stay there for quite some time, 5-6 months typically. They eat and sleep in very rustic conditions. The kitchen is an outdoor stove. They grow much of their own crops to eat and as well as feed the farm animals. They use outhouses and have no running water. Another mission team recently built them a concrete recreation field for basketball and soccer. They have a pavilion for conducting church services and meetings. Their goal is to rehabilitate the residents and teach them a skill they can use to improve their lives after they leave. It is all quite impressive.
Nicaragua has a bad reputation due to what occurred during the last revolution. Doctor Rick claims that it is actually the safest Central American country. That may be true but there still are some stories of people being robbed. I felt safe the entire time I was there but common sense must be observed. Clearly, tourists are the softer targets but there aren’t many tourists in Nicaragua. I asked Mary Ervin where the golf courses were. She has lived there 4 years and has yet to see one.
The whole place reminds me of what America might have been like in the early 1900’s. But their homes are a lot less substantial – in fact, they are shacks for the most part. Some of them are similar to some of the poor homes I have seen in the more seemly places in our country except none of them have heat or AC. Many do have electricity.
We returned to the hotel about 4:15 pm and some of us walked through the city. I was looking for soccer balls for the rehab center but could not find acceptable ones. I cut a deal with William to find a couple of balls in Nicaragua that Doctor Rick can bring back when he returns in 2 weeks to visit the rehab center. Doctor Rick makes regular visits to assist the residents with raising crops and treating the animals.
We ate dinner at 6:30 and had a debriefing around 7:30 which wrapped up at 8:30. The debriefing is where we shared our experiences of the day. These became quite personal and emotional as time went on. We all benefited from the experience.
Tuesday, August 9th
One street vendor we passed as we walked to breakfast each morning works beside a screen enclosed kiosk where he hangs a skinned pig. He sells the pig parts by weight and has a scale hanging off his kiosk. Flies are all over the meat but I guess it doesn’t bother the locals.
The schools are sky blue and white buildings. The children all wear uniforms; white shirts and navy blue skirts/slacks. Education is gaining acceptance. Mary estimates that 60% of the kids attend and like many countries, boys were given preference in schooling. Mary says that the culture is gradually changing to give girls more options. Illiteracy is a problem. The political parties know this and they are careful to make sure that the people can vote for them by number or ballot color. Political ads are a constant along the well traveled roads.
I just realized that the showers in our hotel seem to drain down the hill just behind our building. If that is how they treat the grey water, I wonder where the black water ends up? It doesn’t smell very nice. The women in our group share a double bed. Thank God guys have twin beds or I’d be outta here. For the most part, we are all comfortable in our accommodations.
We ate breakfast, had our devotional and headed for the rehab center. It ended up very much like the Army; hurry up and wait. We did not have the lumber we needed to work on the goat pen. It ended up arriving about 10 a.m. and we began the job. We had several A-type male personalities that wanted to get started before we knew what to do. Personalities will show themselves in a group effort. Everybody wants to help but patience is required in order to accomplish our goals. By lunch, we had made considerable progress on the pen and our batteries for the portable tools were exhausted.
Another part of our group administered to the needs of the 20 female residents. We took up a collection of towels and wash rags for them this morning. I learned that at one session, they washed the feet of the residents.
The medical team in our group managed to see 38 patients before lunch. It was hot where they were working and in general, it was hot everywhere but we had a little breeze by the goat pen from time to time.
Jonathan and Daniel played soccer with some of the residents. The soccer field was a major improvement to the rehab center. Although opinions vary on the need for the soccer field (it is about the size of a small basketball court) versus the need for access to clean water and the need for electrical power more widely throughout the camp (water is either up the hill at the main gate or down the hill at the waterfalls) it clearly improves the lives of the young men at the camp.
The clinic ended up treating 71 people today. I dropped in for a drink of water and overheard the story of a young girl being counseled who was deported from the USA to Nicaragua. Her parents were from Chile and Argentina but she lived in the USA all of her life and only knew English. She got into crack and was arrested. She ended up at the rehab center and was down to 98 lbs. She turned her life around and was thrilled to learn that she was up to 145 lbs (she was about 5’7”) and felt great again for the first time in years. And this is on a diet primarily of rice and beans. They do not eat much meat at the rehab center. She was a very happy camper as she left the clinic and I shook her hand. Incidentally, she had to learn Spanish from scratch and now speaks both languages.
So far, all of our team has stayed healthy. Jean (our head nurse) has a leg that bothers her a bit but she soldiers on. In addition to chewing Pepto Bismol tabs before each meal, we use our hand sanitizer regularly. We wrap up each day after supper with a “What did you learn today?” session. Then, some of the younger folks stay up to play a game called “Apples to Apples”. By and large, everybody is in bed by about 9:30 p.m.
Doctor Rick and Mary shared a story of a 10 year old they came across at a gas station near where we are staying about 3 weeks ago. They are intimately aware of hard luck stories and kids with their hands out requesting money. But this youngster was different. He was playing with other children they knew near the gas station and they learned from the other children that Joel (pronounced Ho-L) had been abandoned. “He has no mother or father” per the children and he lived in the streets near the gas station.
Rick and Mary met Joel on a previous trip to the area and told him if he needed help he should take the card that they gave him and go to the rehab center (about ½ mile away). Rick and Mary are well known in the area. They talked it over later and decided that if he did appear at the rehab center, they would take him in. He showed up at the center this past Monday and upon seeing him there, Mary said “there’s my son”. They will have to apply for permission to take him home but Jesus will see that it happens I’m sure. It turns out that a government agency had discovered Joel sleeping in a burlap bag under a structure near the gas station.
Wednesday, August 10th
It is interesting to compare the Hotel America with a typical economy hotel. Our room is interesting in itself for its unusual features. For instance, ceiling fan with no fan blades, ceiling fan light with 5 light fixtures but only 1 bulb. 13” cable TV. The mattresses are terrible. Sink with one spigot – cold. Toilet with a cloth over the lid and tank cover. Paper thin towels with no wash cloths. Of course, there are the typical “no’s”:
Pool
Ice machine
A/C – Heat
Hot water
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Kleenex
Reading lights
Bible
But it does have mosquito nets!
We had a good breakfast followed by a devotional. We boarded the bus and headed back for the rehab center. Incidentally, our two bus drivers sleep on the bus. They shower and clean up at an outside sink and bathroom area which is part of the hotel. We hired a strange looking old man for $5/night to sit up and watch the bus. He has a whistle hanging out of his mouth that I assume he will blow if someone tries to enter the bus without approval.
The goat pen is progressing. The hinges to the door are made out of old tires that work amazingly well. The sides are bamboo that was acquired for next to nothing. The metal for the roof had to be purchased as was the structural lumber and nails. But again, we ran out of the lumber we needed to finish the project. Doctor Rick went off again to find the necessary lumber but it took hours. Maybe we will finish it Thursday.
There was plenty of interaction with the residents primarily with our medical team, ladies team and young soccer players but the residents have their required duties. The average age is in the mid to late twenties.
I saw the first Ford pick-up (diesel F-350) since I entered the country. Toyota – diesel models are the predominant vehicle. The roads require tough vehicles. The truck was loaded with vegetables, rice and even a live turkey. The owner of a ranch owns the vehicle and he donates the food. One local told me that the owner had several other trucks just like it. A breakdown could mean a long wait for a parts delivery. The owner has a pretty daughter who is a resident of the rehab center. I guess her family brought her there for a “tough love” attempt at curing her addiction.
The evening debriefing took on an unusual note when one of our team members indicated that he had bought a plane ticket home early as the adventure wasn’t what he had planned. He announced that he decided not to use the ticket after praying about it and discussing it with other members of the group. It was an emotional time for many.
It would be wise for people to learn as much as possible about a trip before they agree to go. Some members of our group did not have the opportunity to ask all the questions before committing to the trip. I had an opportunity to speak to previous mission members and was well aware of what to expect.
Thursday, August 11th (my birthday)
We ate breakfast and headed for the rehab center. While there, some of the residents discussed a poisonous caterpillar. It was larger than those found in the US. They showed it to the medical staff before they killed it. They don’t want them around.
We were waiting to get started on the final phase of the goat pen. Before we started, we decided to take a hike down to the waterfalls. It was a dangerous path down there, not well maintained. As we started, about half dozen residents preceded us with empty rice bags. Their job was to fill the bags with rocks down by the falls and carry them back to the center. This was a form of punishment for some transgressions unbeknown to us.
The residents bathe at the falls. They also wash their clothes there. The water appeared muddy but it is their only place to take care of these duties. We climbed back up the pathway and resumed work on the goat pen. We finally finished the job after a hot dog lunch at the center.
We waited for the ladies counseling team to finish up before we joined the residents for a brief, musical celebration at their main pavilion. As that was happening, the power went out but the preacher immediately picked up his guitar and continued. It’s a common event to lose power.
The closing ceremony started with songs in Spanish. The residents sang with extreme enthusiasm; much like a gospel choir. The preacher had great skill and even sang a few verses in English to us. Then he asked if we wanted to say anything. Those team members with a voice bravely sang 2 verses of Amazing Grace. Then, Doctor Sid spoke a few words in closing.
At the conclusion of the service, most of us boarded the bus as we could see a afternoon thunder storm approaching. We waited for the rest but some decided they would finish a basketball game and volleyball game with the residents. So, most of us left for the hotel on the bus as the storm started whipping through the valley.
We got back to the hotel to find no power. It was pretty dark at 5:30 p.m. as a group of us sat under the rear patio/deck of the hotel. I was delaying my usual end of the workday shower when I thought that there was a little light now but what if the power doesn’t come back on? I decided to take a shower then with the help of my flashlight and that proved to be the right decision.
What are the odds that team two team members would have birthdays on the same day? (But probably 40 years apart.) Davinia and I were honored with a special birthday cake after dinner and we enjoyed the birthday serenade in the restaurant. We had to wrap up early as the single fluorescent bulb was running on a battery.
Friday, August 12th
We still had no power. What’s worse is the water tank for the hotel could not replenish. Thus, we had no water for the showers and no water to flush toilets. All this inconvenience was initiated by a typical afternoon storm.
Political systems are responsible for a lot of pain suffered by people. The Sandinistas plaster their campaign billboards and posters everywhere. But it doesn’t help if your infrastructure is from the early 1900’s. I commented at the fact that I haven’t seen any railroads as we traveled thru Nicaragua. I subsequently learned that the Sandinistas sold all of the rails and locomotives because they wanted the money following the last revolution. They haven’t rebuilt railroads in the areas we have traveled.
Our breakfast this morning is a traditional weekend preparation for a special breakfast. It was chicken encased in a corn/rice mix covered by a breaded corn type mix and baked. And, of course, rice and beans plus fruit – bananas, watermelon and pineapple. We haven’t had any pork. They have problems with keeping hogs healthy and there are diseases you can get from the pork where there are no cures. People form abscesses that can be partially removed surgically but never totally removed per Doctor Rick.
They hotel managed to get some water back in the tank which helps with filling the toilet tanks. People are taking some last minute cold showers before we leave for Rancho. As I sit on the bus while people load, I see a motorcycle pull up to one of the little stores and a guy loads a 50 lb bag of rice across the his rear seat without securing it down. The guy simply drives off to deliver it wherever.
There are a large number of 100cc to 200cc dirt bikes in the mountain areas and similar street bike versions in the flatland areas. Some Hondas and Yamahas but some brands that I assume are Chinese. They outnumber the cars and the beat up looking taxis. The medical team saw many patients that had motorcycle injuries.
The medical staff told us that all of the residents needed to be “wormed”. A disease that I always thought was linked to dogs obviously affects humans. They keep track of all resident worming treatments. They have a small medical cabin where they keep each resident’s medicine. They dispense it daily to make sure each resident takes it.
Since I worked primarily with the men assembling the goat pen, I did not have as much one on one time with the residents. I was observing how Daniel (18) and Jonathan (24) bonded with the soccer and basketball resident players. Both Daniel and Jonathan had athletic skills that were admired by the resident players. Sports helped them connect with the younger set. They even received a standing ovation as they left the rehab center on the final day.
Melanie, Emanny, Mary Allen, Evon and Davinia connected with the female residents. They gave them some towels and washcloths along with some cosmetics that were gratefully appreciated. As you might imagine, stories about rape, abuse and other violence were common. It is clear that the center has a positive impact on the residents.
We had a long drive back to Rancho. We stopped by Papa John’s along the way and ate lunch. This was the last stop for Horay (one of our drivers), Yvonne, Davinia and William. Horay unloaded about 5 stalks of bananas plus some large bags of rice and beans he had bought in La Dalia. We gave them all a hug and parted ways. I believe these people will all serve again.
We got to El Rancho about 3 p.m. to find that the power was out and the showers were non-operational. This prompted the thought that perhaps we should move on to Granada since it was where we intended to go on Saturday morning anyway. Some of our group found an inexpensive hotel we could stay there online but a controversy soon developed. Some members of our group preferred to go to the hotel with amenities and some felt it to be an insult to our hosts. The fact that we had more than one opinion was a cause for concern. At around 4 p.m., Francisco turned on the generator (2 hours early) and we had power. Then, gradually, the water pressure came back and we were able to take cold showers. The decision was made to stay and those opposed were careful to contain their feelings.
Supper consisted of shish kabobs, rice & beans, salad and watermelon. We had a debriefing following supper where some very personal feelings were revealed. It was clear that this mission trip had a major impact on the participants. We also discussed the political system both at supper and later at our debriefing. It is clear that the people of Nicaragua need a lot of help. They have a semi-capitalistic society with certain freedoms but the party in power appears to hang onto it with questionable practices. Currently, there is a controversy between church and state. The state wants the 32nd anniversary of the political revolution to be considered a religious event. There is great push back by the religious organizations.
One thing you can’t experience by photos, videos or written word and that is the smells you experience as you visit Nicaragua. Whether it is driving in the old school bus with the windows down or walking through the rehab center. Fresh air, winds signaling that rain is coming, diesel exhaust fumes, animal waste, plowed fields, growing crops, burning waste, burning wood stoves and overheated bus brakes are all part of the mix. Come to think of it, even some of us team members smell a little overripe.
Saturday, August 13th
Today is a “day off”. We loaded up on the bus following breakfast and headed for a little adventure. The first stop was a “Zip Line Through the Jungle” experience. Most of the team actually zipped. I stayed on the ground and attempted to capture the event using my flip cam. Some of the zippers were a little heavy and strained the steel cables. There was a lot of whooping and hollering in the jungle.
It was interesting to walk through the jungle among coffee plants growing on either side of the trail. We saw a couple of very loud monkeys protesting the zip liners when they landed on the monkey’s tree. I thought that monkeys might attack the trespassers but apparently they are a docile bunch.
We reloaded onto the bus and continued our adventure by traveling to the town of Granada. It is a very old Spanish town on the shores of Lake Nicaragua which is not far from the Pacific Ocean. It reminds me a little of St. Augustine. The architecture is quite interesting.
They have a big town square and there was a festival in progress as we visited. Music, food and beverage vendors were plentiful. We walked around, enjoyed a meal and observed the carnival like atmosphere. There would be much partying going on tonight but we had to leave town just as it was getting dark. Our destination was the Best Western across from the airport in Managua.
Sunday, August 14th
After spending our first night in air conditioned comfort since our trip began, we got up, packed and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. Then we packed up and walked across the only 4-lane road I saw in Nicaragua to the Managua airport. There is not much air traffic in the area.
We checked in, bought things we didn’t need at the duty free store and boarded our flight. The flight was fine and we made connection in busy Atlanta with ease. Finally, back in Orlando, we said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.
Conclusion
Rick and Mary Ervin are modern day heroes. Rick is a doctor of veterinary medicine but in Nicaragua, his clinics treat people as well. They took what you would have to call a big step outside their comfort zone to work full time in Nicaragua.
Many of the team members want to go again (and many have gone before). The key to me is to be able to help those in need. The simple fact that we go there appears to make a significant impression on the people. It certainly made an impression on us. It could easily be argued that what we accomplished was a drop in the bucket but like that kid said when he was ridiculed by the adult for wasting his time flipping the upside down beetle right side up, “I sure made a difference to that one”. We did help them and we can do more. One way is to contribute dollars to the Ministry Outreach Group efforts. Another is to organize our aide so that each dollar is used to maximum efficiency. Jesus will help us figure it all out if we take the time to listen.
Rick Davis