International Efforts - The Americas
Nicaragua
Hurricane Felix Response
Sept. 13, 2007 - On Sept. 4, 2007, Hurricane Felix, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Nicaragua resulting in severe damage, heavy flooding and mudslides. At least 130 people were killed.
In response, relief supplies provided by Orphan Grain Train were distributed by ministry partner Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (Christ for all the Nations) on Sept. 7. According to CPTLN representatives, this was the first relief delivery in the area.
Hurricane Felix over the Nicaraguan coast.
CPTLN helpers load up relief supplies to be distributed from the OGT warehouse in Nicaragua.
The first truckload on its way.
Instrumentos de Dios
Mar. 30, 2006 - The following story was provided by Ken Peterson, regional director of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Central America. It is reproduced here in its original form followed by an English translation provided by Mr. Peterson.
Instrumento de Dios es la palabra que expresa a Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones una Señora llamada Maria, de ochenta años de edad, que hacía más de dos años que luchaba en cama con una enfermedad de los huesos en sus pies. Para poder caminar se le tenía que llevar cargando, para su familia era un calvario, pues ella es bastante pesada y tenía que ser un hombre o alguien fuerte que pudiera caragarla para trasladarla. No tenía movilidad en lo absoluto.
Sin embargo en ruego a Dios por recibir sanidad Divina Maria solicitó ayuda al Ministerio donde se le facilitó una silla de rueda y también un andarivel, lo cual cuando se les entregó a la familia sintieron un alivio y paz para con ellos y aquel rostro cansado que había en aquella anciana, se le convirtió en un rostro de felicidad cuando la tomaron y la sentaron y ella comenzó de alegría caminar por el patio de su casa dándole la gracia a Dios y expresando “estas personas de esta organización son Instrumento de Dios pues Dios escuchó mi oración y ha usado a estas persona a través de mi oración.
El agradecimiento de los familiares de Maria no se hizo esperar, quienes expresaron que nunca se imaginaron tener la silla de rueda así como el andarivel, pues les era difícil adquirirlos en las tiendas por tener un costo de mas de U$500.00, sin embargo ese deseo se le hizo realidad gracias a Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones y el apoyo de OGT.
La señora Maria expresa ahora cuando sale de paseo y dice “ese Ministerio es un Instrumento de Dios porque no solo me ha beneficiado a mi si no que a mucho cristianos en Nicaragua.”
Instruments of God
“Instrument of God.” It is the word that Maria, an eighty-year-old lady, expressed to LHM in Nicaragua. She had suffered in bed with an illness of the bones in the feet for more than two years. To be able to walk she had to be carried by her relative - she said that for her relative her situation was very hard, because she was overweight and to move her required a man or somebody strong to pick her up and move her into the house. Maria didn’t have any mobility at all.
However, she always requested to God to receive divine health and also requested help to LHM, where our representative with the Orphan Grain Train [relief shipment] facilitated a wheelchair and walker. It was wonderful to see when she received the donation - her relatives were very happy and they felt a relief and peace towards them. The sad face that Maria had turned to a face of happiness when they took her and sat her down in the chair. She began to happily walk along the patio of her house, giving grace to God and expressing that these people of this organization are Instruments of God since God listened to her prayers and had used LHM through her prayer. The gratefulness of Maria’s relatives expressed that they never before imagined having the wheel chair and the walker because it was very difficult to acquire them. The price in the stores is more then $500.00, however that desire became a reality thanks to partnership and support that LHM-Nicaragua received through Orphan Grain Train.
When Maria now goes out for a walk, she expresses “That ministry is an Instrument of God because these people are helping a lot of Christian people in Nicaragua.”
New York Division helps Nicaraguan hurricane victims
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were not the only storms to cause extensive damage in the Gulf over the past few months. Hurricane Stan brought its own destruction to Central America on October 4, 2005, causing at least 225 deaths and forcing over 225,000 people from their homes.
Orphan Grain Train’s New York Division recently sent a shipment of medical supplies, medical equipment, blankets and clothing to Nicaragua. As Grain Train’s Nicaraguan contact, Rev. Sandor Arguello of Chinandega, Nicaragua, reports:
“It was a great blessing for many people who were affected by Hurricane Stan. [There are] many elderly without any social assistance, living in complete poverty and abandonment. They lack the most basic human necessities [such as] shelter and food. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we are providing some assistance to help in some of their basic needs.
“Please share our gratitude to those who make possible your blessed OGT ministry around the world. May our gracious God bless you always in Jesus, our Lord.”
In His service,
Sandor Arguello, Lutheran Church-Canada missionary
This 85-year old woman was one of the grateful recipients of the medical supplies and equipment from the New York Division’s October shipment to Nicaragua.
Nicaragua still recovering from storms
The number of children orphaned by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and the storms of October 1999 might total 10,000. Thousands of people still live in temporary quarters or under plastic tarps. Your prayers and gifts on their behalf are greatly appreciated as we continue to help survivors.
In early October 1999 Orphan Grain Train received the following message from Mr. Ken Peterson of Lutheran Hour Ministries. He said Nicaragua was having many rainstorms and floods.
“You may not see much about that in the U.S. news,” he wrote, “but here the rains are causing terrible havoc. ...One missionary in Nicaragua reported that the situation was just about as bad as after Hurricane Mitch, the year before. ...Many of the new bridges built to replace those lost in Hurricane Mitch were destroyed. Just like the year before, there were deaths and destruction among the various communities.”
The October 1999 flooding caused a long list of related sicknesses and maladies such as diarrhea, cholera, malaria, gastroenteritis, kidney infections and flu. Also, most of Nicaragua’s 1999 harvest of rice, soybeans and other grains was lost in the Chinandega area.
Some of the orphans who survived Hurricane Mitch.
Orphan Grain Train has sent shipments (semi-trailer truckloads) of requested supplies to Nicaragua continuously since 1998. In the last three years (02-04), 14 semi-loads were shipped to the area. Items shipped include medical supplies and equipment, clothing, an x-ray machine, school supplies, washers and dryers, and bicycles.
You can help keep the supply of aid moving. Please make your contribution with our secure on-line credit card page or send your check or money order payable to “Orphan Grain Train,” PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702, marked “Nicaragua.” Your gift will help ship clothing, food, medical supplies, and other items needed by disaster survivors in Nicaragua.