This trip was a couple of years in the making, but oh my goodness was it worth the wait.
Everything about this trip confirmed why we chose to partner with OneWorld Health in the first place, and also inspired us to continue partnering with them for at least one more year so that we can contribute to the work they’re doing in other parts of Central America as well.
But before I share about our week in Nicaragua, I have to once again thank this incredible community for your generosity and support. Prior to taking this trip, we set a huge goal to raise $75,000 to build a medical diagnostic center right in the heart of Managua, where 25% of the population lives, so that specialized and quality healthcare could be attainable and affordable for the Nicaraguan people. Because that goal was met, OneWorld Health qualified for a USAID grant that provided an additional $250,000 to cover the purchase of medical equipment that would allow for patients to receive CT scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, mammography, eye exams, audiology exams, and preventative women’s health screenings. (We learned that cervical cancer is the leading cause of death for women in Nicaragua. Thanks to the equipment and trained expertise provided at this diagnostic center, signs of cervical cancer can be detected early.)
So thank you, THANK YOU for partnering with us here to change lives there!! Your prayers and generosity matters greatly.
Okay, now let’s jump into the trip!
Our travel day started early in Atlanta and ended late Nicaragua. Flights, bus rides, customs, rain, a 3-hour wait at the Nicaraguan border, followed by a 3-hour bus ride to our hotel landed us in our room a little after 10pm Nicaragua time (midnight Atlanta time) that night. And you want to know something? Two really cool things happened on this long travel day. First, our kids absolutely ROCKED the day. We were so proud of their positive attitudes and patience. And secondly, the Lord turned my mind away from a natural desire to feel frustrated or uncomfortable or tired, and instead made me remember my visit with the refugee women in Clarkston, GA back in March. I remembered their stories of fleeing their home country and looking for asylum in the US. They had no money, did not speak English, and did not know where they would be sleeping each night. Our group, on the other hand, knew where our end spot would be and we had each other to help navigate the day. It’s really amazing how a shift in perspective can impact an entire day, isn’t it? And I don’t doubt that our approach to the day helped our kids keep a positive mindset as well.
The OneWorld Health team was so kind and helpful with our kids on our travel day (and during the entire trip!). We were so grateful to them!
After a good night’s rest, our first day in Nicaragua was spent going to a church and school that partners with OneWorld Health, hiking a mountain, and bonding with the team. We were so thankful for this day to acclimate to the country and get to know the group!
The next day was spent touring various OneWorld Health clinics that were in the process of being built. This helped us grasp the need for affordable health care and the model OWH uses to meet the needs of the Nicaraguan people as best they can. The last facility we toured was the Diagnostic Center that the Making Home Here community was responsible for funding. It was days away from opening when we toured it, and seeing each room and hearing how it would serve the people of Managua and the neighboring cities really blew us away. All of the fundraising, support, prayers, and time lead to this point. To say it was incredible to see it almost up and running is an understatement.
The next two days were spent serving at a clinic in Tola, Rivas. These two days were everything we hoped they would be and more. Seeing our kids dive right in to their roles and connect with the people in the community was an experience we’ll never forget. We were so proud of the way they served!
Even our 3-year-old, Andrew, helped deliver prescriptions and tear wrist bands at registration. My mama heart was so, so full watching each of our kids in action over the course of those two days. And possibly one of the sweetest things of all was hearing Ryan tell multiple people after we returned that his favorite part of our entire 11-day trip (to both Nicaragua and adventuring through Costa Rica) was helping the people at the clinic. He genuinely loved those days and can’t wait to go back. Be still my heart. 🙂
After our service days came to an end, we traveled to the last leg of our trip to a resort called Rancho Santana. Here the kids swam in the resort pool, made crafts in the kids’ club room, enjoyed s’more’s by the campfire, went sand boarding by the ocean, spotted monkeys in the trees, and Matt and Ryan even enjoyed a surfing lesson where they both were able to get up on their boards!
When it came time to leave, we felt so connected with our group and started planning a future trip to Honduras next summer. It was all too good to not repeat. We are so grateful for the generosity of this community, the work and sacrifice of the OneWorld Health organization, and the memories we made as a family.
Next summer, we hope to take multiple families with us to experience a OneWorld Health trip and the joy found in serving as a family. Stay tuned for details on that trip!
