Rio Bocay Update

December 2016 We traveled to the river on Saturday, November 26 with Dr. Urbina and Dr. Flores, two

Nicaraguan doctors from Somoto. The doctors trained sixteen health promoters (brigadistas)

from seven communities at the clinic/training center in Kayaskita. The health promoters

traveled by horse and by boat; some walked for five hours to attend the training. The training

was excellent. The health promoters learned about sanitation, nutrition, how to deliver babies,

treating wounds, taking vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, etc), checking glucose and so

much more to help prepare them to take care of their neighbors in this remote area of

Nicaragua.

When we finished on Friday, all the participants received a training manual, waterproof

backpack, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, bandage, gauze, tape, gloves and

other medical supplies. They also received a ball cap with Brigadista (Health Promoter) sewn

on the front. They are looking forward to the medical team coming this February. They will be

working with the doctors doing home visits and seeing patients at the clinic.

While we were training, the Ministry of Health immunization team came and held a clinic and

vaccinated sixty children in Kayaskita. They will return in March and use the facility for several

days. We had several nurses asking to come and work in the clinic. After we dedicate the clinic

this February, the Ministry of Health will begin sending medical staff to operate the clinic.

The clinic floor has been tiled and is now easy to clean. Thank you, Bountiful Grace, for making

that possible. We have decided to tile the two bedrooms and kitchen – a cost of approximately

$1,500 if anyone would like to help us with this project.

While the training was going on Javier, Elvin and I painted, built a storage building, and planted

vegetables in the raised garden beds.

Harry was visiting worksites and walked three hours to the community of Siviwás to measure

the distance of the spring to the community. Thanks to Ed Baker, our fellow missionary with

The Mission Society and the Seekers Sunday School of Oak Grove UMC of Atlanta, GA, the

community will begin construction on their water project in February. Kayaskita and the clinic

will also get clean water in February, thanks to Pastor Allen of the Anna Kresge UMC of

Cedartown, GA and the Warren Foundation in Hartwell, Georgia.

One of the highlights of the week was attending the 6th grade graduation in Kayaskita. Thirteen

students received their diplomas. Eleven older students graduated back in 2011.

In 2009 a medical team from Batavia UMC of Batavia, NY was working in the community of

Kayaskita. Elder, a young child in the community, did a small program for the team and asked if

the team could help build a school for the community. Sharon McWethy, a retired school

counselor, took on that project and along with Batavia UMC and other individuals, raised the

funds to build the school. Elder is now a 17-year old young man and was on hand to help pass

out the graduation gifts. Bayardo is a young man who six years ago covered one eye with a rag

and sunglasses to hide his eye. He had had a stick stuck in his eye years ago and was so

ashamed of his appearance that he hung his head and never smiled. Angi brought him to

Managua and for $50 was able to get him a prosthetic eye. I will never forget the smile on his

face the day he came back from the hospital. Now Bayardo has graduated at the top of his

class and is a leader in the community. Thank you to those of you who have donated to our

medical fund for helping to make possible this type of life-changing care.

The community is working on providing high school classes on the weekends at the Kayaskita

school. The school now has ten computers, thanks to Craig and St. Luke’s UMC from Lexington,

Kentucky.

There are now three more schools in these river communities and three more are under

construction.

While we were on the river, we had time to talk with Pastor Ramiro who helps us with all the

projects on the river. He shared how his church has grown from 80 to 160 in attendance this

year. He told us that all the training we have offered to his leaders has allowed them to lead

different ministries in the church, and now his members are taking leadership roles and

reaching others. Thank you, trainers, who have provided teaching for all the pastors and

leaders in this remote area on the Rio Bocay.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and thank you for your support and encouragement

throughout the years. This January we will be starting our 11th year in Nicaragua and we know

that none of this would be possible without you. We are thankful!

Blessings, Ronnie and Angi