Nicaragua Outreach
Stories
| NOT JUST A LEG BUT
SIGHT TOO!!
Each stride was uneven but
steady as Rafael Calero walked those last steps to the surgical dockside
unit of the Caribbean Mercy placed inside a nearby warehouse. With
him were two of his most trusted supports; In his right hand, a walking
cane and by his left side, his wife. What unusual set of circumstances
brought this 56-year-old man from Corinto to the ship? Two years
ago, Rafael began experiencing vision problems. After a visit to an eye
physician, he was made aware that he had a condition called cataracts
which clouds the lenses of the eye. Surgery would be his only recourse.
Working at the docks
in Corinto, his wages were not enough to pay for the complicated
procedure and what was worse, a year later he lost his leg to an
infection brought on when he had stepped on a nail. Now, Rafael was without
a limb and quickly losing sight. When his brother heard about "Piedras
del Mar" (Operation Sea legs) in nearby Leon, Rafael was introduced
to Mercy Ships. The 40 foot shipping container had the means to supply
him with an artificial limb. After being fitted out with a prosthesis,
he was soon standing on his own again but something still needed
to be done for his vision. When doctors at Operation Sea legs heard
about his condition, he was told about the Caribbean Mercy and the
C-deck Eye Surgery Unit. On the morning of the first day of
surgery screening, Rafael waited in line with the many others, hoping
to receive an appointment card for surgery. On his hand was a piece
of surgical tape with the number 151 given to him by one of the ship's
volunteers. Technical problems with some of the eye equipment kept him
from being seen the first day but the next morning, his perseverance paid
off. He would be a candidate for eye surgery. On Thursday, July 9,
Rafael was the first patient to make his way up the gangway and down
into the surgical unit. After being robed, the surgical team began
preparing him for the operation. When they attached him to the monitors,
the indicators showed that his blood pressure had risen way over
what is allowable. Rafael would need to wait a bit longer.
Medication was given
to help but it was time to go to prayer. While the team worked on the
next patient, his pressure was monitored. One hour later, his blood pressure
finally came down and Rafael received his surgery. The following
morning, he arrived at 10:00am to have his patch removed. His eye
needed very little time to adjust. Immediately, he not only saw clearly
but was reading small print. Watching in her chair next to him, was his
wife Francisca. Her joy was so evident as she smiled with every test Rafael
performed. "I want to thank each of you," she said. "You have given new
hope to my husband." The limp was still evident as Rafael walked away from
the dockside unit that morning but the head was held just a little bit
higher and the solemn face wore an expression of peace. Through the
combination of both ministries of Mercy Ships, Rafael's life will
not be the same. |
PEDRO'S STORY
Pedro Ibarra was on
his way home from work, on his motorcycle, when a pig stepped out on to
the road and into his path. There was no time to swerve out of the
way of this large creature and so, Pedro struck the animal head on. The
impact sent the man over
the top of his handlebars and on to the road. His head was the first to
hit the ground. Though not seriously hurt, the left side of his face was
scraped up pretty good.
It didn't come at
once but two months later, Pedro began to notice a difference in the vision
of his left eye. Four weeks later all sight in the eye was gone.
After an examination
by an eye specialist, he was informed that a cataract had formed in the
left eye and required an operation. The cost of the surgery though was
too high for his meager salary. Pedro was left with the decision of the
procedure or the well being of his wife and two young children. Pedro
put his trust in the Lord and began praying for a miracle.
Three years later,
while talking to a friend, Pedro heard about a white ship that was in Corinto
doing surgeries on eyes. He raced to the Optical clinic with hopes
of an operation. Instead, he was told that all the slots had been filled
but was
encouraged to come back
the following Monday for appointments to see the ship's eye doctor. On
that day, he received an appointment for Thursday, June 16.
When Pedro went for
his consultation, Orthoptist Femi Oni examined the now white eye and immediately
recommended surgery. After contacting the dockside unit, he found out that
a cancellation of one of the patients had occurred. This new opening made
it possible for an operation on Pedro's eye. He was taken quickly to the
waiting room and an hour later,
his cataract was removed.
He had come for an exam and left with the very thing he had prayed for.
After the removal of his
protective patch, Pedro not only saw out of the eye but was able to read
even the small letters on the eye chart. "It is a miracle of God," said
his wife Maria. For Pedro, it was certainly an answer to his prayers. |
| "EL PLAYON" PROJECT
A remorseful group
of men gathered in a small hut and in prayer asked for strength and
encouragement. Moments earlier, the Well Drilling team had finally reached
the 145 feet needed to extract water and were waiting in excitement for
the fruit of their labors to come gushing forth. The pump was turned on
and air was flushed down into the opening. Though water flowed out,
it was not quite the expected results. Worse yet, after collecting a bucket
of the water for testing, it was discovered to be too high in salt content
making it unsafe for drinking. It was quite a difficult moment for the
team. "Although we have not been able to access good water, we continue
to be encouraged by all that God is doing in El Playon," said Site
Coordinator, Rick Snider.
This week a team
of doctors and nurses went out to the community of Playon and door-to-door
checked the general health of the people. Taking blood pressures,
checking for illness and dispensing medication. Many children were
checked for worms.
During one of their
stops, they came across the home of a man named Dennis. When they first
approached his home, there were no signs of anyone being home but after
a quick discussion, the team walked to the door and knocked. Inside a desperate
man was contemplating suicide. The appearance of the foreigners put his
plans on hold.
During the examination,
he complained about pains in his chest but more then that, the hurt of
being rejected by his wife and children who had left him just days
earlier due to his drunken lifestyle. After sharing the message of God's
love for him, Dennis gave his heart to the Lord. He was given a Bible
and told to take part in a local Bible Study in El Playon.
Dennis has not missed a meeting since.
Besides
the well drilling team, the ship's evangelism team Esperanza has
implemented Bible studies for adults and children in the community.
The desire is to tie-in the practical with the spiritual.
The evangelism team
of "Esperanza" continues to report an increase of people coming to the
study. There are now over 25 people coming to the three-times-a-week
meeting. "People are so spiritually hungry," said Team Leader, Wilson
Flavius. "The response to the meetings have been overwhelming. They are
asking so many good questions."
A children's program
was also held just around the corner with more then a hundred kids
attending each afternoon. |
FIRST LADY OF NICARAGUA
VISITS SHIP
On Tuesday, July 14,
the First Lady of Nicaragua, Dolores Aleman and an entourage of press arrived
in Puerto Corinto to take part in a luncheon and a personal tour
of the Caribbean Mercy. With an official welcome for Heads of State,
eight rings on the ship's bell signified the entrance of the Ms. Aleman
as she climbed the gangway and entered the ship. After signing the vessel's
guest book, Ms. Aleman and her party were escorted into the dining room
for hors d'oeuvres and introductions. Presented to the First Lady were
YWAM Nicaragua Leaders, Don and Barb Johnson and Mercy Team Leader,
Mark Thompson and his wife Lori.
Around the lunch table most
of the conversation focused on the status of the country of Nicaragua and
its recovery during the Caribbean Mercy's five visits in three years.
The country is the eighth poorest in the world. Ms. Aleman expressed
her gratitude for the continued help of the ministry during critical times
in the nations solidarity. Also discussed was a possible return trip
in April of the year 2000.
Following the luncheon,
the group retired to the International Lounge for a time of sharing about
the ministry and thanking Ms. Aleman for her enthusiastic help in making
arrangements for the ships arrival to Nicaragua. "I want to thank each
of you for your kindness," said the First Lady. "It is very exciting
to see the kinds of things your ship does to help my people."
During the meeting, the surprised audience had an opportunity to view an
actual operation taking place in the Eye Surgical Unit through a
remote camera that is mounted onto the ophthalmologists microscope. Thanks
to recent work of installing cable lines and a special camera purchased
for the OR, the newly dubbed "surgery channel" daily broadcasts live,
throughout the ship, eye procedures taking place down on C-deck. After
touring the ship, the First Lady stopped by the dockside unit to visit
with patients including the man who had just left surgery with his
new patch on. In amazement, Ms. Aleman was told the man had been the same
she had just seen on the television. It shocked her to find out how quickly
the man had recovered from his operation.
Before her departure,
The First Lady made a statement to the press expressing to them not only
the quality of care given by the ministry but the graciousness of the people
on board.
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