Misión Para Cristo
Sharing Jesus as we serve
people in Nicaragua and Honduras since 1997.
March - May
The start of the mission in Nicaragua has several different dates that can be used. March 26, 1997, is when we first meet Mario Roque in Ola, AR and the statement was made, “Let’s open a medical clinic for the outreach of the Church.” Grand Opening of that clinic was Saturday, October 25, 1997, and clinic opened for patients October 27, 1997. Whether we take the March date or the October date we have the blessing of being into our 20th year of working in Nicaragua with the objective of sharing Jesus as we serve people. None of this would have been or continue to be possible without God’s blessings of your support, encouragement, and prayers.
On May 20th, we welcomed our first group of the summer, Texas Tech School of Health Professionals. Our interns for the summer also joined us! They are: Elizabeth Gracia(Lipscomb), Ciara Gracia (LCU), Austin Slidell (Johnson University), Emilianne Wheeler (Sanford), Hannah Russell (Texas A&M), and MarisaHorne (ACU). Marisa is back for her second summer with us. Also, arriving on the 20th was Travis Stewart from the Grapevine congregation coming to spend six weeks with us.
An excellent way to start our summer and to continue to celebrate 20 years of sharing and serving in Nicaragua.
The mission during March was bustling with Spring Break groups. Our first group came the last day of February from Burleson, Texas, and the last group from Couer d Alene, Idaho, stayed until April 3rd. In March, we had guest from Texas Tech Medical School, Olive Branch Ministries, South Plains in Lubbock, Harding Spring Missions, and Harding’s Lady Soccer team, Dr. Perry/Ziva and friends, and West Memphis Christian School. What blessings these groups bring to the church, the mission, and the people of Nicaragua.
During the first week of April, we had the privilege of helping host a retreat for North Americans working in Central American at Barcelo at the Beach. A very special thanks to Beth Reese and all from Intermission by whom the retreat was funded.
The last week of May, Highway, Peoria, and Eureka arrived for their annual trip to Nicaragua. The blessing this group of 45 brought to Nicaragua is immeasurable by any standard. This group did many things during their week in Nicaragua: built houses, provided clean water, shared God's love and His Word, brought supplies for Casa Materna (over 1,300 diapers!), made at least 45 Kingdom Kids visits, built a latrine, built a location for a church, and the list and blessings go on and on. There was just something special about their part with Mobile Library. They opened up the world to one child at a time through books.
We ask that you continue to keep the Kingdom Kids’ projects in Jinotega, Apanas, Yali, and The School of the Good Samaritan in your prayers. Misión Para Cristo, along with Kingdom Kids, is now serving almost 800 children in these locations.
To sponsor a child in Nicaragua go to Kingdom Kids - Nicaragua to sponsor a child in Honduras go to Kingdom Kids - Honduras
Most of you are aware that Jonathan, Sheila, and Alejandro will be moving back to the states in July. Words cannot express gratitude for the work they have done and the lives they have touched in the almost six years with us in Nicaragua. They have been especially effective in their work with children and in getting eyeglasses to those in need.
This a link to their update: Holland's update. They and we ask for your prayers and support for their transition back to the states. To locate ways in which you can assist them during this time, contact them directly at bikercoach@gmail.com or coachandshiela@gmail.com.
The List:
- Thanks for all the prayers for Benny’s surgery in April. In the realm of shoulder surgery, it was minor and healing continues.
- We need $350 a month for IPO in Chinandega, San Jose Bocay, and Ocotal. Your support of one of these locations would be greatly appreciated. This support covers food, transportation, and material for the students.
- Xiomara Garcia, the wife of Luis Garcia, needs a life-saving heart surgery that is not available in Nicaragua. We have found a doctor in the DFW area to donate their service and found a hospital that will donate the care. More details need to come together and VISAs need to be secured. Please keep the Garcia family in your prayers.
- This summer our Nicaraguan Youth Baseball team has been invited to Searcy in July. We are now down to the Visa applications for the team; please keep that process in your prayer.
- SMILES 2017 - IT IS TIME TO START PLANNING ON HOW YOU CAN BRING A SMILE FOR A CHILD AT CHRISTMAS. A VIDEO OF LAST YEAR’S SMILE DISTRIBUTION IS ON OUR WEBSITE. LETTERS AND UPDATE BROCHURES GO OUT SOON. Also on the website, you can find a printable copy of the Smiles brochure. SPECIAL NOTE – THIS YEAR WE ARE WANTING TO HAVE SMILES AT SHIPPING POINTS BY SEPTEMBER 15th. THE EARLIER DATE WILL HELP TO GET THE CONTAINERS OUT OF CUSTOMS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
For over three years, Sheila Holland, Colette Price and Jonathan Holland have been working with some gifted leaders who have been training some willing teens to take the lead in two very unique children's outreach programs. Juan Carlos Rizo in Apanas and Felipe Cuadra in Jinotega have been taking the final steps in making the program entirely theirs. They have written, organized, prepared, and implemented the first series of children's 2017 outreach lessons. Presently, they are working with over 100 children in each location. We need to raise $60 per week per center to cover the cost of materials, training, food (the children are fed each week) and other special activities (which includes Bible class for the mothers of some of the children in Jinotega). A total of $520 a month is needed for expenses of both programs. Please keep this children’s outreach program in your prayers as many young lives are touched.
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