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“With My Friends in Nicaragua” project
In late 1998, after pulling moisture into its clouds for three days off the coast of Honduras, Hurricane Mitch went inland and dropped 4 feet of rain in 24 hours on Central American Mountains at elevations above 10,000 feet. The resulting mud and rock slides wiped out villages and everything in their path.
By March of 2000, Orphan Grain Train sent a total 16 semi-loads of food, medicine, and housing kits to the countries of Central America since the end of Hurricane Mitch. These shipments were sent to secure distribution networks in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua.
“With My Friends in Nicaragua”
Was a cooperative effort of Orphan Grain Train and Lutheran Hour Ministries. In 1999-2000 the Reverends Rudy Schaser of Lutheran Hour Ministries and Ray Wilke of Orphan Grain Train visited Nicaragua’s Chinandega province and talked with students, parents, teachers and local community leaders. They met the local missionary who struggles to convey the message that God—and the members of God’s Family, the Church—care about them. The response to their needs is called Con Mis Amigos Nicaragua (“With My Friends in Nicaragua”), one part of a special effort to bring help and hope to the people of a devastated region in Nicaragua.
This effort began in the winter of 2000, and continued for several months.
The situation in Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch:
- Hurricane Mitch wiped out bridges and ruined drinking water supplies.
- A simple thing like milk was viewed as an unattainable luxury.
- Many kids had no shoes on their feet.
- Many children could not attend school—for lack of school supplies.
- Many children walked 7 kilometers to and from school every day and arrived at school feeling dizzy because they had no breakfast.
- Children dressed in tatters.
- Six-year-olds selling tortillas to provide family income.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) was common.
- Also common were hair lice, ringworm and
- “Cataracts” (traced to a vitamin deficiency).
Since the initial effort in 1999-2000, Orphan Grain Train’s shipments to Nicaragua have helped local villages with special projects such as new water systems. We have also worked with hospitals and schools to provide needed equipment and supplies. These efforts have expanded to include the Leon, Nicaragua, area as well, thanks to the cooperative efforts of Lutheran Hour Ministries.