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About the Nicaragua Project
For the last four years, Bethlehem has participated in the Nicaragua Project in several ways. They have donated funds and sent people to build 7 homes in Somoto, Nicaragua and build a Mother House in Telpaneca to save the lives and health of women and babies at the time of birth. They have supported medical and dental teams that have seen hundreds of impoverished people. They have started a Vacation Bible School program that is now led by local women. It has grown to more than 135 children who come weekly and has added an adult Bible study for the parents of the children. This year, we are asking for support for Ninos y Ninas del Futuro, (Children of the Future) a budding children’s project located in an extremely poor barrio in Somoto. It is being started by the women who teach the Sunday School and is strongly supported by the local government. Three hundred and forty one children there suffer from malnutrition that leads to learning disabilities and an inability to focus in school. Further, they often suffer from abuse and are coming under the influence of gangs coming down from El Salvador and Honduras. They grow up with significant learning disabilities, poor education, poor health, poor values, emotional scars, and no skills with which to earn a living. This project will work to remedy that by providing buildings and programming to give the children a nutritious meal each day, academic support, psychological and medical services, religious education, and education in trades such as ceramics, baking, sewing, computer skills, and carpentry. Similar programs have been started in other areas in Nicaragua and have met with a great deal of success.
The building of the project will cost $189,000 and programming, food, and materials will be additional ongoing expenses. Other organizations besides ours are also being sought for support. The Nicaragua Project has already raised and sent funds to level the land. After the title to the land is finalized, we are hoping to raise the $37,000 needed to build the kitchen and dining room this year. This building can then serve as a base to feed children, a place to teach baking, and a multi-purpose room for other programming until other buildings are constructed. Questions? Call John Goodman, president of the Nicaragua Project or Cathy Goodman, secretary of the Nicaragua Project, 303-530-3838 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nicaragua Mission Trip: June 2009
Download the pdf of The Nicaragua Mission 2009 - A Collection of Emails from Cathy Goodman.
Nicaragua Mission Trip: June 10-20 2008
MissionDear Interested Traveler, Our primary mission will be to build two to three houses in the town of Somoto, hold health clinics for the people in the communities around Somoto, hold Vacation Bible School for children around the sites of the clinics and construction, and distribute clothing, school and medical supplies. In the process, hope is given to the people and relationships are built. It is our intention that, as we work with the people of Somoto, we will be able to learn about their joys, hopes, dreams, and daily struggles. --Pastor Abe González
Click here to download the handbook.
The Nicaragua Project AccountQuestions and Answers
Questions? Contact Cathy Goodman 303-530-3838
Because of YouDonors have been very generous in their giving of encouragement, prayers, material goods, and money for the support of the Nicaragua Project. Because of your support, we were able to do the following: 1. We had four clinics, two of which served areas that are difficult to access and people have little to no medical care.2. We taught Bible School to many children. Through our presence in Nicaragua, five women have become “missionaries” in their own area. These five women helped immensely with both the Bible School and clinics 3. We initiated a scholarship program for Ninos y Ninas del Futuro for 11 youths, three of whom are orphans. A bowl-a-thon that raised money sponsored four of the eleven. This inspired others to give scholarships as well. Each student receives $20 a month in needed supplies and food. Every penny goes to the student as the five “missionaries” volunteer their time to administer the program. 4. We were able to start the construction of the children’s program Boys and Girls of the Future (Ninos y Ninas del Futuro) The program will provide medical, nutritional, spiritual, and educational support and technical training for 120 children. In the last stage, an orphanage will be built. a. Because we were able to speak to a governing board at the mayor’s office about our strong approval and support for the program, the land was donated. A church member donated money to grade the land. Only the cost of running the machinery will be paid as volunteers will do the work and the machinery is being loaned free of charge.5. We started an account to support, for $300 each per year, 30 impoverished students to go to school to learn to be nurse assistants who can do all a nurse can do, write prescriptions, and provide community health education. They come from 30 of 82 isolated villages near Somoto. These villages have little to no access to medical care. They will return to their village after their training to provide medical care where there has been none. They currently get only one small meal a day and sleep on a bare floor together. Donations by sponsors can now be sent through the Nicaragua Project. 6. We provided a roof over the sleeping area for an 81 year old man who had only plastic sheeting to cover his shack. 7. We put money in escrow to complete the Mother’s House in Telpaneca. It will save the lives of mothers and infants during birth. We were able to obtain two volunteer experts to determine the most efficient ways to use funds to finish it and make the house operational. 8. We fit 250 pairs of new eye glasses and left another 100 to be taken by an optometrist to remote villages. People cannot afford them, and the stories of people thrilled with being able to see clearly are numerous. 9. We provided two small cooking areas outside the two homes we built. 10. We built two homes for two homeless families, one of whom is a family in which the mother and two children who have Downs Syndrome are cared for by the grandmother. They were covering themselves in plastic during downpours, trying to protect themselves. Beds were also purchased so they no longer have to sleep on the ground. We cannot thank you enough for your continuing generous support that is helping the poor and helping the poor help themselves.
“Seeds” Sewn in NicaraguaFlora, who is caring for the three with Downs Syndrome and was living under plastic, has become an enthusiastic, extremely hard worker with the Sunday School and children's project. Out of gratitude for the 400 square foot brick house we built her and the four beds we gave her, she has been guarding the construction materials for the children's project all night so they do not get stolen as they work on the building. This is at some risk to herself, but no one there can convince her to stop! She then begins at 5:00 AM hauling water by hand to the construction site for the volunteer workers there. The other day, she had a meeting in her little home with Marta ( one of the heads of the children's project) the mayor of Somoto, and a mayor from Spain. She wants to start a Sunday School at her home and the children in her area are thrilled. Others never truly knew her before and she has been a surprise blessing to all there. Marta has been writing us about Flora's energy, enthusiasm, and joy that she is spreading to all around. "Seeds" that we were able to sew there due to your generosity are growing and the results are amazing. Cathy Goodman, Secretary of the Nicaragua Project.
A NICARAGUA PILLOW?
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The Mayor of Somoto has donated the land, which is a beautiful site next to the barrio. He has also donated the work of engineers and architects to draw up the designs and locations of the buildings that are needed. (These plans have been completed. Cathy Goodman has a copy for those interested.)