United Hearts for Health Winter 2013 1

United Hearts for Health

A health partnership linking Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Rosita, Nicaragua

In this issue . . .

We at United Hearts for Health are excited to tell you about some of the new directions that are occurring in our group concerning Filtron clay pots and Super Spin. We are also spotlighting several groups of women who are working on the sidelines as support for the medical initiatives United Hearts for Health performs and who are essential to the smooth running and success of our primary mission to help the poor of Rosita improve their health situation.

FILTRON CLAY POT PRODUCTION PLANT TO BECOME A REALITY IN ROSITA

John and Barbara Lent recently returned from Rosita

where they participated in a preliminary study for United

Hearts for Health to research the possibility of building a

Filtron clay pot production plant in Rosita. For the past

five years, Filtrons have been purchased in Managua and

transported by bus 180 miles across rough roads to Rosita.

As you can imagine, many of the pots are cracked or

broken by the time that they arrive. At present, there are

266 families who are using the Filtrons to provide their

families with clean water. They were given to very poor

families without cost to them because of donations from

Fond du Lac Morning Rotary, Sunset Stitchers Quilting

Guild, and Steve and Kay Victor.

John and Barbara met with two members from Potters for

Peace, Robert Pillers and Alvaro Gadea. Potters for Peace is a

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that consults with

communities all over the world teaching them how to build

Filtron clay pot production plants. They have worked in Africa,

Southeast Asia and many other countries. They do not sell

the Filtrons, but rather they teach communities how to

produce them. The first day in Nicaragua was spent in a town

south of Managua touring an existing Filtron plant and going

through the process of making the Filtrons. The plant that

WINTER 2013

Robert Pillers with a local committee looking at a potential site for the Filtron production plant

Robert Pillers of Potters for Peace with Arely Garcia and Barbara Lent

United Hearts for Health Winter 2013 2

was toured was a beautiful, efficient facility that stressed

quality control. The next day, Barbara, John, Robert

Pillers, and Alvaro Gadea flew to Rosita to find possible

sources of clay around Rosita to make the Filtrons.

Approximately 35 samples were taken in and around

Rosita. They were sent to Managua to be analyzed.

When the results are finalized, a large sample of clay will

be taken from the best source and 15 Filtrons will be

made with this clay and tested for their quality.

It is extremely important that local people from Rosita

assume leadership of this project. Mayor Chico Martinez

is very enthusiastic about the possibility of having a local source of Filtrons which have proved to be so

effective in providing clean water for the citizens of Rosita. Mayor Chico has offered to donate or help

find a piece of property in Rosita to build the plant. Also several citizens of Rosita have volunteered to

serve on the board of directors of the plant. The local people are two Sisters of St. Agnes who live in

Rosita, a business and farm owner, a rural health-care worker, a teacher in Rosita, a member of the

Sister Parish Committee, the administrator of the hospital, and Judith Onsang, daughter of Mayor

Martinez and owner of a pharmacy, who will chair the committee.

It will take approximately 18 months from start to finish to have the production plant up and running in

Rosita, at a cost of between $20,000 and $30,000. Steve and

Kay Victor have continued to support this project, but other

funds will be needed for completion. It is expected that once

the production plant is up and functioning, it should support

itself with sales of the Filtrons. UHH will continue to donate

Filtrons to those families that would otherwise be unable to

purchase them. The Filtrons cost $28 a piece.

The long term effect on the health of the people of Rosita

having a reliable, inexpensive way to provide clean water for

their families will be immeasurable. ~Barbara Lent, RN

Robert Pillers and Dr. John Lent looking

over the production Filtron clay pots

A family with a Filtron clay pot

CHECK OUT UNITED HEARTS FOR HEALTH ONLINE!

United Hearts for Health now has a website and Facebook page. Both

are works in progress, so please check in periodically for updates. We hope to

utilize these as a way to reach and update all members, supporters, and the

greater community on a regular basis. Here are the links and thanks for looking!

http://fdlunitedheartsforhealth.org/ http://www.facebook.com/UnitedHeartsforHealthFdL

~Michelle Ziegelbauer, NP

United Hearts for Health Winter 2013 3

MEDICAL MISSIONARIES: READY TO GO

The 2014 United Hearts for Health Medical Mission

Team has begun preparation for their week of mission

work in Rosita, Nicaragua, January 26 - 31, 2014. Six

physicians and six nurses have generously committed to

taking a week from their work and their families to

provide medical care in an area of northeastern

Nicaragua seldom attended to by their government

medical services. This team will be divided daily into

three smaller teams, and, along with local translators

and nurses to assist, will provide medical services to some of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere in

tropical villages without electricity or clean water...such as Fruta de Pan, Susun, and El Empalme.

Committing themselves unselfishly to this mission are

seasoned medical missionaries and team co-leaders, Dr.

Barbara Zink, Pediatrician from North Bend, Oregon and

Dr. Tom Ries, Gynecologist from Aurora Sheboygan

Memorial Medical Center. The rest of the team are Dr.

Bill Trager, Pediatrician from St. Nicholas Hospital,

Sheboygan, who will be returning to Nicaragua a second

time. Dr. Ayham Chamsedden, Internal Medicine and

Hospitalist for Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac and a

research volunteer in the Department of Endocrinology at

the University of Florida, will be participating in his first UHH Medical Mission. Dr. Vikas Bhatara,

Pulmonologist at Agnesian and his wife Dr. Kavita Sharma Bhatara, Internal Medicine, Hospice, and

Palliatative care in North Chicago, Illinois, will be making their first mission trip with UHH.

Veteran registered nurses returning to Nicaragua are Ruth Cunzenheim, Cardiology, Lisa Leblanc and

Jami Schoenborn, ICU, all from Agnesian. Katie Herzog, RN, from Aurora, Sheboygan, will be making her

second trip to Nicaragua. Participating in their first trip will be RNs Kirstin Koll of Aurora Sheboygan

Memorial Medical Center, Obstetrics, and Linda Danor, St. Agnes Hospital Administrative Supervisor.

Continuing to assist UHH in its medical missions is translator and native Nicaraguan Flavio Araña. He

will again accompany these missionaries to provide much appreciated language and cultural assistance.

We are grateful for the generosity of these medical missionaries for committing their time and service.

We are also grateful to the generosity of donors who help to make these mission trips possible.

~Marcie Janz, Mission Trip Facilitator

A rural area visited by the 2013 mission team

ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY METHOD FOR NEWSLETTER

If you are interested in receiving your UHH Newsletter electronically, please let us know by e-mailing your preference to jcappellari@charter.net. Future issues will then be sent to you via e-mail.

A rural area visited by the 2013 mission

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DRESSES AND MORE DRESSES

The sea container for Rosita left in late June filled

with close to 150 handmade sun dresses for the

little girls and some of the older girls in Rosita.

Two different groups and an individual made the

large number of dresses and one group also made

shorts for the boys. Jean Killinger’s sewing

machine was again humming this spring. She

alone made at least one-third of the dresses.

Sunset Stitchers, a local quilting guild made not

only dresses but 13 pairs of shorts for little boys.

They also made a contribution to buy Filtron Clay

Pots. Three members of another quilting guild,

Heart n Hand, Mary Walrath, Kathy Simon, and

Sharon Reber made more dresses with purses to

match. The smiles on the faces of the girls of Rosita when they receive one of these beautiful dresses

are a delight to behold. ~Barbara Lent, RN

Three girls, part of a family of nine, show off the sun

dresses made by Fond du Lac groups supporting

United Hearts for Health

REMEMBERING MAYLING

This past September Mayling Onsang Peralta died to be

with her Lord forever. All of us join her husband, Chico, her

entire family, and all those who have known her in their

grieving and prayer.

Mayling visited Fond du Lac in 2005 where she received

medical and surgical care. She spent several weeks in our

community where she befriended and charmed all whom

she met. Who of us on the UHH health care teams in Rosita

will ever forget the sumptuous pollo, pescado, and

camarones … or the sopas, chow mein and postres? Any

intention of losing weight in Rosita was dashed by the

savory fragrances emanating from Mayling’s kitchen. And

who will ever forget her ready smile, quiet laughter, and

gentle kindness?

Mayling was a true and faithful friend. We always will remember this extraordinary and deeply good

person. ~Dr. John E. Lent

Mayline Onsang Peralta, a great friend of

United Hearts for Health who passed away

recently.

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SUPER SPIN 2014— NEW PARTNERSHIP

The 10th annual Super Spin Saturday will have a new look. As you can see from the revised logo above,

United Hearts for Health has partnered with the Fond du Lac Family YMCA for the January 18th

event. The health of the children is important both in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and in Rosita,

Nicaragua. The children in Rosita need access to clean water and health care, while the children in

Fond du Lac need access to wellness programs that support healthy, active lifestyles. Funds raised

from the event will be utilized to help to bring about these goals.

For all the details on how you can help raise funds by participating in this indoor cycling event, go to

the Fond du Lac Family YMCA’s website at http://www.fdlymca.org/events.html or call them at 920-921-

3330 for more information on how to secure a spot for this exciting event. ~Barbara Lent

United Hearts for Health Mission Statement We propose to join the faith journey of Holy Family Parish in its twinning relationship with Santa Rosa Parish by

facilitating a Fond du Lac community effort to assist in raising the standard of healthcare and promoting a more healthy environment in Rosita, Nicaragua, and the surrounding rural areas.

This long-term relationship will seek to work in partnership with the people of Rosita, its healthcare and church community and Nicaraguan government, while recognizing the dignity and the many talents of the people we hope to serve.

Contact Information: United Hearts for Health, c/o Holy Family Parish, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac, WI 54937 Contact Phone Numbers: M. Janz (920) 923-2446; M. Cappellari (920) 923-0155

Suggestions or Comments: E-mail jcappellari@charter.net

United Hearts for Health Winter 2013 6

With your generosity, United Hearts for Health will be able to continue carrying on our

mission to improve the health of the people of Rosita. Thank You!

Please make your check payable to UHH/Holy Family Send to: United Hearts for Health, 271 Fourth St. Way, Fond du Lac, WI 54937 Name __________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE...POSSIBLE

Behind every annual medical mission to Rosita are scores of volunteers who make what could be impossible...possible. Witness Sharon Reber, a long-time supporter of United Hearts for Health.

Sharon is the communications whiz who has turned photos from Nicaragua into computerized presentations that help tell the story of UHH. Now she also maintains and updates the Excel spread-sheets that track fund-raising income and expenses of the organization. Describing herself as "crafty," Sharon also is known for the beautiful small dresses she makes for Nicaraguan girls who may never have had one.

Sharon and her late husband, Joe, went on a two-week mission trip to Belize in 2001. They mixed concrete, hauled cement blocks, performed a myriad of other chores, lived in a grass hut...and loved it. Later, Dr. Tom Freeman and his wife, Mary, asked Sharon for help when UHH began its mission work.

Sharon and Joe Reber grew up and went to college in and around Milwaukee. They were married after Joe had circled the world three times as a naval officer, and the two moved to Fond du Lac in 1975.

Joe was a businessman, banker, and at one time head of the Waupun Chamber of Commerce. He was a long-time Boy Scout leader...and especially proud of the young men he helped guide toward Eagle.

Sharon has worked in a top Milwaukee advertising agency, G & L and St. Joseph's School in Fond du Lac, and Ripon College. She has a daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in the Twin Cities. While visiting them, Sharon and her daughter deliver unique seasonal crafts they have made for sale in Minnesota boutiques.

In Fond du Lac, Sharon Reber is a member of the Heart n Hands Quilt Guild which currently is involved in sewing projects for the new Children's Museum, the Solutions Center, and the women's prison at Taycheedah.

Sharon Reber knows that in reaching out to help others, one receives joy back a hundred-fold. Her faith, her family, and giving of her talents to others are what keeps Sharon Reber going. She wouldn't have it any other way. ~Anne Kaestner

Sharon Reber, a member of the Heart n Hands Quilt Guild, displays one of the many dresses she made

for the girls in Rosita.