Nicaragua: November 2016

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN!

Dear Family and Friends,

Len Rogers and I will be leaving on December 8^th for our annual Christmas trip to Nicaragua. We will return on December 20^thfrom our 19^th trip to the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Joining us on December 13^th will be Dr. Kevin Yingling and his two sons, Dylan and Charlton. We will be visiting our old friends and meeting new ones, to share God and celebrate the Birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. Dr. Yingling and his sons will be building a house with Pastor Enrique, for one of his Parishioners. Our plans are to build a total of three houses, have a Christmas party at the New Jerusalem Church for approximately 70 kids, and a Christmas party at Pastor Enrique’s Church, Holy Mountain Presbyterian Church, for about 40 kids. All of this is contingent upon raising enough money. I want to thank God and all my family and friends who have made our past trips successful.

This has been a fantastic year for our work with the kids. Dennis is a Doctor and in March will finish his two years of public service in the hills outside of Matagalpa. He is trying to come to the US to learn his specialty; he wants to become a Gynecologist. That is difficult to get into in Nicaragua because there is so few of them. Dina, Dennis’ sister, is finishing her fourth year of medical college and has been working in the Hospital most of the year. And she loves it! Donnie, Dennis’ brother, is finishing his third year of Dental College and is number 2 in his class. Daniel Moraga is finishing his fourth year in Engineering College this month and has one more year to go. Two young ladies are in Nursing School. Rachelle and Osmund, who graduated from high school in Dec. 2015, are finishing their first year in college. We don’t have anyone graduating from high school this year.

Angelica Moraga, Jordy’s mother and Junior’s wife, monitors all of the children’s grades throughout the year and makes sure all are doing well. Jordy speaks and writes very good English. Jordy sends me emails after every grading period listing all the grades. The children are all doing well this year. While there, we will meet with Angelica and the parents and kids whom we sponsor in school and find out how everyone is doing. All of the children are meeting our grade requirements so we shouldn’t be losing anyone. Because of rising costs, I think we will stay at 28 children again this year and not add any on this trip. I said we would stay at 25 last year, but circumstances raised that to 28. My belief is the more children we can help educate, the better off everyone in Nicaragua will be.

Over the past 13 years, with the help of family and friends and Barboursville Rotary, we have built 37 homes for families with children. We have sponsored numerous kids in school. Several children are now learning English, which makes it possible to communicate throughout the year by email and telephone. This will be the 11^th year we have had our Christmas party for the children at the New Jerusalem Church. We give all kids a Christmas gift and, for some of the children, it will be the only gift they receive. We always play games, have something to eat, and, of course, we have a piñata or two. Last year was the second year for the Christmas party at the Holy Mountain Presbyterian Church for 30 kids. This is Pastor Enrique’s Church and is in Masaya. This Church has about doubled since last year so I don’t know how many kids there will be this year. Pastor Enrique is the father of Dr. Dennis, Dina and Donnie.

This year we have three houses to build, as long as we raise the money. Currently we have funds for two houses. The houses we build are 18’ x 18’ cinder block, with a tin roof. Paying friends we know to work, it costs us around $3,500 to build a house. One house will be for Selena, her husband and new little baby. The baby was born a few days after we left last year. Last year we built her older sister Alianna and Family a house on the same property. Their Parents own the property and will live next to them. It is just up the road from the New Jerusalem Church. I have known and helped this Family the entire 14 years we have been going to Nicaragua. The second house in Vera Cruz is for a young lady named Lillian Rojas and her Children. She has been asking me for a few years, and after some investigation, we decided to help her. We have been supporting two of her Children for a couple years. I met Lillian at the Jesus Heart Elementary School. I was there to pay tuition a few years ago and so was she. It was the day before everything was due and she was a few dollars short. I saw her crying and asked the Director about her. The Director is an American Missionary that started the school about 15 years ago. It is a very good school. He told me her Children were straight A students but she was having trouble coming up with the money. I talked to Lillian and since then we have been supporting her Children, who are still straight A students. Lillian is different, but one of the biggest problems is convincing the Parents, usually only a Mother, the importance of working with their Children to get an education. Usually when the kids are old enough, they want them to find some kind of a job to help the Family.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Jack Mease


We built a house for Marcos and Family in Dec. 2014


Lillian and her Family will hopefully get a new HOME this trip!


Daniel translating for me

All kids Love ice cream.

I escorted Selena when she graduated in Dec. 2014.


Selena and Husband's first child was born Dec. 2015

Going over grades with Angelica


Talking to Mothers and Fathers of students we support


Demo translating


A few of our 28 students

The two best students win a bicycle.

Dr. Dennis in blue, Dina and Donnie.

Rachelle


Our three Graduates in Dec. 2015


Rachelle and Father

Jordy and Mother Angelica


Osmund and Mother


Jaqueline Alexandra Graduates from Kindergarten!


With Proud Godfather!


Walter.....former Remar Boy with some college and a good job.

Ramiro...former Remar Boy with some college, currently in Nicaragua Military.


Daniel (in Big Brothers Big Sisters shirt)....former Remar Boy with some college and is farming coffee. Our Friend Luis from Vera Cruz and speaks English