by Judy Charland
January 31, 2010

Demonstrating how to construct fuel efficient, environmentally safe stoves was a main goal for Mission # 39 – Mission of Hope/ Lamb of God Church/ECO Focus Mission – January 1-8, 2011.

Jim Rawsky, Judy Charland, Marcel Charland, Lee Swan, Ann Rawsky, Vic Rinke, Susan Nicoletti, Pastor Walter Fohs – Lamb of God Church – Estero, Florida

Many of the stoves presently used at homes in Nicaragua are open fires contained by a few stones or blocks. Many are dangerous, are not fuel efficient, and bad for the health of the people and the environment. While on Mission in January 2010 we witnessed a home go up in flames because of an open fire used for cooking inside a home. This year we returned to the home and watched as local Nicaraguans built a rocket stove for the family.

Building A Rocket Stove

Rocket stoves are safe, fuel efficient, environmentally friendly cooking stoves designed for third world countries. Vic Rinke, Jim Rawsky, and Lee Swan demonstrated how to construct these stoves on two occasions to the Nicaraguans with the intent to empower them to learn the skill and to begin to construct them on their own. When this happened it was a “Mission Moment” to witness the transfer of skills to the locals who will continue to build their own stoves with over 2000 bricks that have been donated by a local factory.

Empowering the people of Nicaragua, “to do for themselves, creating a greater sense of confidence, self-esteem and self determination,” is a deeply held belief and part of the Values Statement of the North Country Mission of Hope.

by Nancy Brennan-Jordan, FNP
January 31, 2010

Medical Team and Patients on Mission iin January

On January 13th , 2011 when Patricia Graciela Rizo entered the Gaudalupe Clinic in Managua, Nicaragua holding a type written letter in her hand, we did not know what to expect. Patricia was our patient in Feb 2010 and had a Pap test performed by Karen Case, CNM. She entered the room with her young daughter, embraced Karen, and started to cry in her arms.

“I want to thank you for the Pap test you gave me in February 2010. The results showed cervical cancer and it was the most terrible thing that had happened in my life. Thankfully, I had surgery on May 28th, 2010. I want to thank God and thank the Mission of Hope because I can now live on with my child and husband and continue on each day.”

This tearful embrace was the highlight of my mission trip. From Jan 8th-15th, I had the wonderful privilege to travel to Nicaragua with the North Country Mission of Hope and work on a focused medical mission. We were mission #40and our main goal was to provide women’s heath care offering Pap and HIV testing in the primary clinics within poor communities. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the leading cancer in Nicaragua for women ages 15-44 years of age.

Dr's. Kathleen Camelo and Maritza Perez

A second clinic we worked out is located in La Chureca; a community of 8,000 people who live at the edge of a large garbage dump. It is here that the poorest of the poor live out their daily lives searching for food to survive. It is here that we reunited with Dr Maritza Perez who inspired us with her 10 year commitment to provide primary care to their community working closely with her nurse, pharmacist, and large network of health promoters. There was great joy when Dr Kathleen Camelo and Dr Maritza Perez reunited to work side by side together since Kathleen’s last visit in February 2010.

Dr Kathleen shared, “As women physicians we share a special bond and passion for the people we serve.”

The Mission #40 Medical Team

The Mission of Hope is building bridges with the local medical community in Nicaragua in an effort to learn from each other and discover together how best to make a difference in the lives of Nicaraguan people.

Mission #40 was a small team of 6 health care professionals; Kathleen Camelo MD, Karen Case CNM, Mary Lynne Feller PA, Janine Palome RN, Nancy Brennan-Jordan, FNP, and Anthony Garami MD and Medical Director. It was a wonderful experience for all and we will carry the faith, hope, and struggles of the Nicaraguan women within our hearts as we look forward to our return in 2012.