Hola From Nicaragua

     Well it’s Wednesday, our 4^th day in Nicaragua, and I finally have time to sit down and write this update.  We have been leaving in the morning and returning to our hotel between 10:00 and midnight.  The easiest part of the trip is actually working, building the two houses we are building.  Most everything else sometime gets rather stressful.   Len and I both have pockets full of notes from people asking for things.  The majority of the request we receive is to help with school fees and supplies.  We have already filled several hundred dollars of prescriptions, and still have a few to be filled.  When we are building, we always have people asking if we would build a house for them.

     Last year when we came down there were 13 children we were supporting in school.  But when we left, that number was up to 23.  This includes children from college down to kindergarten.   Kids can’t attend school unless they have a uniform and supplies and many families can’t afford this so kids don’t go to school.  Last year the initial cost was $1,800 for school clothes and supplies and then I was sending down $603 a month for monthly fees.  Several months it was very difficult to come up with the money, so I decided not to add any more children this year.  I have a very hard time saying “no”, but this year I have learned.  Currently I have a waiting list of 9 children for school and expecting more.  I tell them we just don’t have the money and hope they understand.  So far things have gone well.  I have a meeting with all of the parents on Friday and will tell what I expect from their children in school or they will be replaced with someone on the waiting list.  This year everyone did well in school and no one will drop off of the list.

     Dennis had his last final today in Medical College and will officially become a Doctor.  In March he will start a 2 year internship and then he has 3 years of public practice and then he can either go into a specialty or start to practice on his own.  His sister Dina, finished her first year in Medical College and did very well.  Since we couldn’t raise enough money, their brother Donnie, who wants to be a Dentist,  had to sit out this year and helped his father Enrique build up his new Church and also take English class.  Now all three kids speak English and Dennis also speaks Korean.  If I can keep coming down for about 7 more years, I will get to see all 3 of them as Doctor’s.

     Last year when we were here we went with Enrique when he got his new Church.  He is a Presbyterian Minister and his Church is sponsored by Korean Presbyterians.  His first service had 6 members.  Five were his family and the sixth was an elderly man who died a few weeks later.  Now he has 35 members plus children.  We are having a Christmas party for the children next Monday and Len and I are playing Santa Claus.  On his Church property we are building his family a home using some exiting walls to hold down the cost.  Enrique is an excellent block layer and Dennis and Donnie are both helping. 

     Saturday is high school graduation and I will be escorting Salina.  Salina does have a Father that lives at home, but since I have sponsored her since she started school, they want me to escort her.  They have already ask me to escort Salina’s sister Susanna who won’t graduate for six more years.  They are planning a big calibration Saturday night since Salina will be the first in the family to graduate high school.  Not many kids graduate high down here especially the girls. 

     I need to get off here and get to bed.  We are leaving here in the morning before 7:00 and have a very long day tomorrow.  I will write more in a few days and let you know how things are going.  If anyone has any questions about the pictures or anything else, please email me at jackmease@msn.com.

     I want to say God Bless You (Doios Te Ben Diga) to every one of you who make all of this possible.  Without you, many of these Children would not get anything for Christmas and some of the kids we sponsor in school would not be able to go.  This is the 31^st and 32^nd homes we have built and without you, these families would still be living in there tin or cardboard shacks.  Thanks to all of you for your Prayers.

God Bless You!

Jack

Nicaragua Education, Shelter and Health Fund, Inc.  (NESH)

P.O. Box 731

Barboursville, WV 25504

PS:  Sorry there are no pictures and it is Friday and not Wednesday, but because of the slow internet where we are, I couldn’t get this uploaded.  I have tried for 2 days at different times, with no luck.  I will add pictures as soon as I can or add all of them when I get back to the States.  Thanks for your patience and being interested in our work in Nicaragua.