26 Days and Counting!

I leave for Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua in 26 days...wow! I am very excited but still have lots of details to pull together before I hop on the plane on Monday, September 20th. I keep reminding myself that somehow, it will all get done.

In Ciudad Sandino, I will be joining the Center for Development in Central America (CDCA) as it serves the Nueva Vida community. The CDCA's mission is "seeking to address human needs created by poverty in the Western Hemisphere's second poorest nation by helping communities become self-sufficient, sustainable, democratic entities by working with Nicaraguan communities to help them realize their own goals, rather than bringing in 'ready-made solutions'".
The CDCA focuses on the following areas:

• Sustainable Economic Development: Women's Sewing Cooperative, Cotton Spinning Plant Cooperative
• Sustainable Agriculture: Farmers joining together to share the burden of lowering crop prices; CDCA helps export the product and secure a customer base
• Health Care: Health Clinic, Green Pharmacy (sustainable medicinal herbs), People's Pharmacy (medication donated and purchased by CDCA including medications for chronic conditions, antibiotics, anti-parasite medication, and birth control)
• Appropriate Technology: Biodiesel produced from used cooking oil, new Aquaponics fish farming system
• Education: Educating the global north through health brigades, delegations, and speaking tours throughout the United States.

I have the privilege of serving in the Nueva Vida Health Clinic as a RN alongside two part-time Nicaraguan physicians, a North American social worker (who is off September through January), and a part-time Nicaraguan dentist who attend to the people for a one-time fee of about US $1.58 or a half-day’s labor per appointment. My role will be to assess patients, administer nebulizer treatments and injections, provide wound care, provide education, and assist the physicians as necessary. I will be serving a wide variety of individuals, including pregnant women, sick or injured children and adults, and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or asthma.

Although I will share God’s love and provide physical help and healing to those I serve, I am entering Ciudad Sandino with an attitude of humility. The people I will meet and the culture I will enter into will teach me immeasurably more than I can give.

I am excited to share stories and insights into my preparation for and time in Nicaragua. I hope that you will follow my entries and reply to my posts. ¡Hasta luego! (Until later).