Report by David Meriwether
September 12-23, 2008
Papangh
nuhni ki
Spirits ran high among the team of 14 who traveled from Georgia
. Encountering long days of travel on rough
muddy roads, chigger bitten bodies, rough nights on hard cots, hot days, damp
nights – yet nothing could dampen the spirits of the team. God had called each one and had already
answered many prayers in putting the team together and giving generous support
through those who sent them. Even when
the bus was stuck for two hours in the middle of the night, the team continued
in faith, knowing that the Lord was there and was at work.
The small medical clinic in Alamikamba is visited every day by people from the village and surrounding region seeking comfort and relief. Geraldo, the young Cuban doctor who works there tries to help but seldom has the medications or equipment he needs to provide even basic health care. Fuel for the small generator is lacking so they seldom have adequate lighting.
People with serious conditions have to be transported over rough roads to somewhat better clinics or a day’s drive to a hospital in Managua. The elderly woman with an abdominal tumor and the newborn with cleft pallet and twisted bowels went home to spend their last days.
Alamikamba is a moderate sized village with a blending of people of native Mayangna and Miskito, as well as Spanish decent. Like Atlanta, Alamikamba is the center of commerce and government for its region. The road ends at the Prinzapolka River.
. The river ties together the villages of the region. People and livestock mix together along muddy roads and small home lots.
People treated in Clinic 679
Dental Patients 170
Optical 237
Accepted Christ 28
Desire Bible Study 132
Members of the medical team were God-called,
church-commissioned to go and offer hope to the people of Alamikamba. As they were going they proclaimed the Good
News in both word and deed. With loving
care in the medical clinic women and children were touched and given relief
from the symptoms of poor nutrition and an unhealthy environment. Pharmacy gave much needed medicines for pain
relief, infant and maternal needs, and infections. Many men and women were individually fitted
with eye-glasses that improve their lives and protect eyes from the harsh sun
rays. Dental care gave relief from
chronic tooth infections and pains.
Compassion and love were freely given in Jesus name.
Spiriritual care was offered for each man,
woman and child who were treated in the clinic.
National pastors spoke with each adult and teen, offered God’s Word and
plan for their lives. Each person
received prayer for their needs, both physical and spiritual. The Jesus Film was shown and the team offered
testimonies and songs with the crowd that attended.
Alamikamba is the central village in one of nine Mayangna
regions. Many of these native people
have very limited access to the Good News of Jesus Christ. People from at least 13 different villages in
this region came to be treated in the clinic.
Some came from as far as two days away.
They went home knowing that someone cared enough to come a long way to
help them. They heard the witness of team
members and about Jesus’ gift of life.
And many returned home with the seed of faith.
The team returned to Rosita at the end of the clinic, rested and celebrated together what the Lord had done. The team returned home with the knowledge that they had each been used to touch lives as God had provided.
Musawas Nicaragua
Canicio Taylor is a young man who returned to his home town
after his education to become a school teacher.
In March 2006 a team from Burnt Hickory came to his village to offer a
medical clinic in his school. As a
result of the witness of this team, Canicio and his family became followers of
Jesus Christ. Later that year, when we
went to Rosita to pick up two guitars for the small congregation that had
formed in Musuwas, Dan Titus told Canicio he was to be the pastor of this new
church. “When I returned home, I did not
know what to do”, Canicio said. But he
has grown steadily in his faith and served faithfully for the past two year,
leading his church as it has grown and reached out to other villages in the
region despite persecution from fellow villagers.
The Mayangna are an ancient Indian people who live in remote villages scattered across nine regions of eastern Nicaragua.
. They speak a primitive language, very
distinct from the Spanish and Miskito languages otherwise spoken around these
regions. They have their own history and
culture. And they feel under represented
and discriminated against. The Mayangna
population is variously reported at 7 to 15 thousand. But their true numbers no doubt exceed 30
thousand. In the village of Musawas 95% of the people are fluent only in their native language. Although there is a Bible translation that
was rushed to completion in 1999, the leaders of Iglesia Bautista el Paraiso (Paradise Baptist Church)
admit that it has many problems and they cannot read or understand it. There is no Christian literature or music
translated into their native tongue.
Burnt Hickory
Sent a construction team into Musuwas in 2007 to build a shelter where the
young congregation could worship and grow.
Despite adversity created by some who resisted the new church in their
community, the building was completed and the small group of believers was
encouraged. Jim, Joton, Scotty and David
hiked into Musuwas this year after the clinic in Alamikamba and found a strong
group of believers when they arrived.
They visited to explore opportunities and needs for ministry that could
be the focus for a new partnership.
Leaders of El Paraiso met with this group on Saturday,
September 20. Pastor Canicio, Teofilo
Robins, Leonal Palacio and several other men who are leaders in the church
expressed their hearts. Although they
have many physical and material needs, their first and greatest expression of
desire was a hunger for God’s Word. They
feel the Moravian Church has let down the
Mayangna people, not teaching them the truth of the Good News of Jesus but a
social doctrine and belief in works.
Just as these men and their families have come to the Lord and they want
to share the Gospel with their people. 18
adult believers have been baptized in Musuwas – six more will be baptized in
October. They want to grow as disciples
of the Lord and they want to reach out to the people in other villages in their
region. Already they have helped form
small groups of believers in four other villages. 12 new adult believers will be baptized in
these villages in October.
Prayer is a vital aspect of the faith of these young
followers. They held a prayer meeting
the night the visitors arrived. And
again at
4:30
Sunday
morning they were praying and worshiping together. Together el Paraiso, Burnt Hickory,
MissionTeam Inc., the Nicaragua Baptist Convention and Miskito Ministry will pray for
these needs and seek wisdom in how the Lord is leading:
+ Good Mayangna Bible translation, starting with the books of Luke and Acts
+ Translations of Bible study material, key Bible stories, and Christian tracts
+ Christian music in Mayangna language
+ Jesus Film translation in Mayangna
+ Bible training – schools for pastors and lay people
+ Materials for building and improving shelters for worship
o Concrete for El Paraiso
o Tin and nails for villages of Dimanwas, Salbawas, Wakamby, Alamikamba, Eastawas, Padrewas
+ Transport needs – boat motors, bridges and trail improvements
+ Clean water
+ Better utilization of the forests
+ Health care
Joton and Josephina are national missionaries of the
Nicaragua Baptist Convention working in the region around Rosita and
Bonanza. Joton has a great desire to see
his own, the Mayangna people come to know the Lord. He has worked tirelessly to go into villages
throughout the regions where there are no churches. He has mentored young pastors, like Pastor
Canicio. Pastor Canicio has traveled to
attend Bible Institutes and annual meetings of pastors so that he can learn and
grow.
Pastor Canicio was cautious when he was first invited to attend the annual meeting of pastors. Most of the pastors who attend are from the Miskito people and he feared he would be looked down on or ridiculed. People from his own congregation warned him not to go. When he arrived after two long days of travel he did not know what to expect. The Miskito pastors surprised him, receiving him warmly and even celebrating him and his church as heroes. As brothers and sisters the new churches and Christian leaders are growing together, spurring themselves together to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout eastern Nicaragua. And the leaders of el Paraiso thanked Burnt Hickory for the encouragement they have received from brothers and sisters from across the sea.
Papangh nuhni ki – Gloria Dios – Praise God!
Thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is
not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
International Mission
|
2008
Medical Team Kristen Barfield Gerry Bohn Stephanie Brock Fonda Brookshire Gerry Bumgarner Linda Cowart Scotty Davis Tabitha Kirk Sandra Landry Kimberly McDurmon Lori McIntyre Mike McKinney Sheila Pope David Meriwether |
National
Pastors Joton Orlando Plutario Ugarte |
Translators Cynthia Mary Fatima Chester George Hokel Michael |
