2023 Mission Recap From Austin Samaritans Founder John Doty, M.D.

We had another successful year providing support to truly deserving communities in Managua, Nicaragua. Earlier this month, we were especially pleased to once again lead a team on a mission trip. This gave us an opportunity to connect, in person, with the ministries we support, to provide additional services in the areas of education, health and dental care, and to observe the impacts of the work of our mission associates.
 
Our mission team consisted of nine participants; and we were welcomed by our mission associates, who were excited to host and brief us. Not only did we feel overwhelming love and appreciation from the leaders of each ministry, but also from the children, the families, the patients, and the students they serve.
 
We are proud to report accomplishments from this trip, which included the following:

Women’s Clinics were hosted at both Clinica El Samaritano and Clinica Villa Guadalupe. Dr. Shannon Abikhaled, Austin Samaritans board member and OBGYN doctor on our team, treated 20 gynecological patients and 17 obstetric patients.

The dentist on our team, Dr. Russell McFarlane, treated 22 patients and provided 9 fillings, 4 extractions, and 9 cleanings at Clinica El Samaritano’s dental facility. Most of the cleanings were for patients that had never had a cleaning.

Vision clinics to distribute reading eyeglasses were held at 4 ministries. Our mission team distributed over 350 reading eyeglasses to individuals.

Mission team members attended graduation ceremonies for pre-school, elementary, and high school students at Colegio Cristiano Presbiteriano (CCP) and pre-school and elementary school graduations for Centro Educativo La Esperanza. Dr. Doty gave the message at the CCP graduations.

Our mission team distributed 54 gift bags at Bertha Calderon Hospital, a public hospital that cares for women with cancer. The bags included bandanas and sample-size hygiene products. The bags were donated by Bosom Buddies, an Austin support group for women who are survivors of breast cancer.

The team was given a tour of the women’s cancer clinic, Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian (FOG) by Annie Ortiz and Priscilla Urcuyo. Dr. Ana Patricia, clinic director for AMOS, accompanied our team on the tour. There was a discussion about the possibility of FOG and AMOS coordinating their efforts in a way that would be beneficial to both groups.

We return with great memories of the beauty and culture of Nicaragua. However, and more importantly, we also remember the need and appreciation that we witnessed, the transformations and impacts achieved by our mission associates, and the possibilities for the future identified by our mission associates as they continue working to improve their communities. For that we feel truly blessed this Advent season.

John Doty, M.D.
Founder

AMOS HEALTH AND HOPE, NICARAGUA: MESSAGE FROM 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Executive Director, Dr. Gabriella Woo, MD

Every day in Nicaragua, people struggle to drink clean water, or afford even the most basic food items. Moms agonize with worry, with no means to take their sick children to hospitals located hours away. Families fear getting sick with a deadly virus, or worse, spreading it to their neighbors.

This past year has reminded us of our fragility. We have been affected with uncertainty, vulnerability, and grief. We have stumbled and fallen. And yet, this past year has also ignited within us a spark of hope - a small fame of faith, and a promise of renewed purpose that we are called to reinvest back into the world. You are our spark of hope. Your compassion, commitment, and contributions to our ministry have inspired us to keep going. Even when it seemed like there was only darkness ahead, you continued to light our way.

You ignited change throughout our ministry in Nicaragua in so many ways: You equipped our 25 urban and rural community clinics with needed medicines, supplies, personal protective equipment, and handwashing stations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You supported health promoters in educating families on how to protect themselves and their neighbors from COVID-19. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to adapt our programs to a new reality. We took drastic measures to protect the health of our patents, community health volunteers, staff members, and their families. We had to temporarily suspend operations for brief periods of time during peak rates of infections. Yet through it all, we were blessed by your outstanding support as generous individuals, churches, and partner organizations.

You brought a spark of hope to life’s highs and lows… to every pregnant mom who gave birth safely and held her newborn baby, to every patent who needed and sought emergency care, and to every parent who felt a sigh of relief when their child was treated by a health promoter in their own community. We know there are still challenges to come. The light at the end of the tunnel may dim, and the unexpected and the unknown may cast shadows upon it. But when the shadows subside, our spark of hope will be brighter. It will reflect the light of God, and our strength in community. It will guide our way as we rise towards what is to come. Thank you for igniting little fires for hope all throughout our AMOS ministry. May we share in the light together, that soon, we may rise together. With immense gratitude, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8

Dr. Gabriella Woo, MD Executive Director

MAY 26, 2020 REPORT ON NICARAGUA AND VILLA GUADALUPE CLINIC, BY AMOS HEALTH AND HOPE

As of May 26th, Nicaraguan health authorities have officially confirmed 759 cases of COVID-19 within our borders and 35 deaths from it. Experts have indicated that most likely we are already transitioning to the phase of community transmission. For comparison, the phase of spread of the virus in Nicaragua is approximately two months behind that of the United States.

As we continue to monitor global and local news, and follow the guidelines from CDC, WHO, and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA), we believe the next 4-8 weeks will be the most crucial for Nicaragua in terms of the spread of COVID-19. 

For AMOS, the health and safety of the people we serve, health promoters, and our staff are our highest priorities. That is why we have taken the following measures:

• Further support the 23 remote, rural villages where we serve by (1) training health promoters on how to prevent the spread of the virus, which symptoms to watch for, and what to do with a suspicious case; (2) providing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies to health promoters; (3) training them on effective hand washing and home and personal hygiene practices so they can share with families; (4) fully stocking community clinics with essential medications to treat common diseases in their own communities; (5) Weekly tracking the number of respiratory cases in our communities to assess whether there has been a spike compared to the previous year; (6) staying in touch with health promoters via cell phones they have received from AMOS to share updates and accurate information, address emergency needs, and let them know they are not alone.

• Keep our two urban clinics in Managua open to offer critical health services for impoverished families in Nejapa and Villa Guadalupe, while providing personal protective equipment to our staff, disinfecting common-used surfaces, enforcing frequent hand washing and social distancing in waiting rooms, having a separate waiting room for patients showing symptoms of respiratory illnesses, and other preventative measures suggested by the CDC and WHO.

• Suspend all scheduled mission teams through June 30th for the overall safety of our visitors, community members, and staff. This decision will be reviewed on a monthly basis, and our delegations staff will be reaching out to mission team leaders for regular updates as the situation evolves. (Even though borders remain open, all international airlines with service to Nicaragua suspended their flights until at least early June, and Delta Airlines has suspended flights to Nicaragua indefinitely). 

We are committed to continue our work and do as much as we can to protect the people we serve and our staff. We are constantly monitoring the situation and will keep you updated.

Our special gratitude to everyone who so generously has made a financial gift to help us respond to this health emergency and help save lives in Nicaragua. You are helping us reach out to some of the most vulnerable people in the world and give them hope.

VILLA ESPERANZA

Here is the latest news about one of our Mission Partners:  

Forward Edge--Villa Esperanza

Three More Girls To  Graduate!

One in five girls in Nicaragua give birth by the age of 18, most often forcing them to drop out of school, and trapping them in a cycle of poverty. But the girls at the Villa are taught the values of finishing school and staying pure until marriage. Completing high school and pursuing advanced education are two of the greatest tools they can have to break free from poverty and build brighter futures. That’s why we’re excited to share that this December, we will be celebrating our sixth, seventh, and eighth Villa girl to graduate high school! Praise God with us for the hard work of Luisa, Elaysa, andMassiel (pictured below, from left to right), and pray with us for them to see clearly the next steps in God’s plan for their lives.

But education is just one part of what makes this “Village of Hope” a program that holistically meets all the needs of these girls.

The new Life Skills Center (LSC), pictured below, is officially up and running! It’s already been used for pastoral training, a family day, and a small celebration on Teacher’s Day to honor the Villa’s tutor, Josenit. Once the funds come in to finish the kitchen, and buy computers, the LSC will be used for computer training, cooking classes, and other forms of vocational instruction for the girls. The LSC opens up a whole new world for them to explore career opportunities.

But the Life Skills Center is just one part of what makes this “Village of Hope” a program that holistically meets all the needs of these girls.

Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian

Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian

In October, members of the Austin Samaritans Board visited Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian (FOG), a clinic that provides screening and treatment, free of charge, for breast and cervical cancer to women of limited means in Nicaragua.  The women served by this clinic have a monthly income of $175 or less and are not covered by the government insurance program.

Screening is provided at the clinic.  Treatments, other than surgery and radiation therapy, are provided at the clinic.  Surgery and radiation therapy are provided at a nearby hospital and the cost of these treatments is paid by FOG.  Follow-up monitoring is provided for a period of five years.  If at any time during those five years, or later, the cancer reappears, treatment is again provided.

FOG has a very active public awareness program.  Women who are cancer survivors, called “prometoras”, talk to family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of screening and early detection and treatment.  Historically in Nicaragua, cancer carries a stigma; and women do not seek treatment until the cancer is in an advanced stage where it is difficult or impossible to treat.

FOG also has a program to provide cancer survivors with skills and increased self-esteem Approximately 20 women meet each month to participate in this program.

Austin Samaritans is currently exploring assisting the clinic to obtain some biopsy supplies that are not available in Nicaragua.

Colegio Cristiano Presbiteriano (CCP)

In October, members of the Austin Samaritans Board visited Colegio Cristiano Presbiteriano (CCP). CCP is a Christian school run by Korean Presbyterian missionaries. It serves Barrio Hialeah, a poor neighborhood in Managua.

It was exciting to see the growth in the school and the engaged students. In 2012, the highest grade offered by the school was the 6th grade. It has added one additional grade each year so that in 2016 the school offered classes to students in pre-kindergarten through 10th grade. It plans to offer the 11th grade next year. In Nicaragua, the 11th grade is the highest grade offered in high school. Classrooms have been added, and existing classrooms have been improved to accommodate the additional students. There are currently 256 students enrolled at the school.

The computer lab added in 2015 has proven to be very beneficial as well as being one of the most popular classes at the school.

A major source of funding for the school is a student sponsorship program operated by Austin Samaritans. The sponsorship program provides an opportunity for supporters of the school to connect with a specific student and provide encouragement. For more information on becoming a sponsor contact Ki-Mi Fields at kfields@austinsamaritans.org.

Villa Esperanza

In October, members of the Austin Samaritans Board visited Villa Esperanza.  Villa Esperanza was established to provide a safe environment for girls whose families lived in the Managua Municipal Dump and who were at high risk of being physically and/or sexually abused. Most of the girls living at Villa Esperanza originally lived in the dump.  However, when the dump was restructured, the residents of the dump were moved out.  Now, some of the newer girls at Villa Esperanza come from other communities, but they all still come from situations where they were significantly at risk.

Villa Esperanza is a residential facility with four houses.  In three of the houses, there are up to eight girls and a housemother.  The youngest girl is 12.  In the fourth house, the transition house, four of the older girls are developing their skills to live independently.

It is truly incredible to see what has been achieved.  The girls in the transition house are obtaining skills and degrees that will enable them to support themselves.  Perla has completed a course to become a beautician.  Luisa and Katherine are attending the university.  Reyna is completing a technical course in hotel management/tourism.  Reyna is applying for a Walton scholarship to attend a university in the United States.  The staff is encouraged that she has a good chance of obtaining the scholarship.  These young ladies are all looking forward to a life that will be dramatically different from the life they would have experienced had they remained in the dump.

While all of the girls live at Villa Esperanza full time, they are not isolated from their families.  They spend some of their weekends or other time with their family, and the staff at Villa Esperanza stays in contact with family members and works with the families as well as the girls.  From time to time all of the families are invited to social events at Villa Esperanza.

The staff at Villa Esperanza works with the girls to address health problems, educational achievement, spiritual development, and life skills.  Developing skill in English and computers is a priority.  Also, there is a full-time tutor to assist them with school work. A prayer group, Bible study and devotionals are provided by Pastor Ricardo and his wife Leyda, who serve full-time at the home.

Austin Samaritans provides funds to Villa Esperanza to help defray medical costs for the girls.  There are also plans to take netbooks that the girls can use as part of the April 2017 mission trip.

Clinica Medica

In October, members of the Austin Samaritans Board visited Clinica Medica in the Villa Guadalupe barrio.  Villa Guadalupe is home to the families that lived in the Managua Municipal Dump before Spain rehabilitated the area.  Those who live there are severely disadvantaged economically.

Clinica Medica is operated by Manna Project International. The clinic provides the services of a general practitioner and a gynecologist.  The charge for a doctor visit is 20 cordobas (about $0.70), and medicines that can be provided by the clinic pharmacy are free.  The pharmacy at the clinic does not stock all medicines, but it does keep a stock of the ones most commonly prescribed.

The clinic currently has over 2,300 registered patients.  They see approximately 300 patients each month.  The vast majority of those (90%) are women and children.  The patient load continues to increase.  Austin Samaritans is working with Manna Project International to find a way to provide expanded space and services.  Manna Project staff would like to be able to provide the services of a pediatrician.

The clinic has achieved a very important milestone.  After working on it for nearly two years, the clinic recently received full certification and a five-year license from MINSA, the Nicaraguan health agency, to provide primary care, gynecology, and obstetrics.  This will enable the clinic to participate in governmental vaccination drives, provide direct referrals to government facilities for specialized exams and care, and participate in public health campaigns.

The clinic recently had a survey done to determine whether patients have been satisfied with its services.  The survey asked clients to rate the services provided by others (including a free clinic in the barrio that is operated by the government).  The reported level of satisfaction with patient experience at other clinics ranged from good to very bad.  The reported level of satisfaction with patient experience at Clinica Medica was consistently rated as being good or very good.

Club Esperanza School

In October, members of the Austin Samaritans Board visited Club Esperanza in the Villa Guadalupe barrio.  Villa Guadalupe is home to the families that lived in the Managua Municipal Dump before Spain rehabilitated the area.  Those who live there are severely disadvantaged economically.

The Club is doing amazing things for the children, youth, pregnant women and nursing mothers in the community.  The club serves 256 students through four pre-school classes,  tutoring for the higher grades, and financial assistance to high school and university students.  They feed the students two meals each day and also provide meals to pregnant women and nursing mothers.  One of its newest efforts is a program for special needs children.  There are seven children in the program, including children with severe disabilities, autism and Down’s Syndrome.

Hope Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas,  provided funds that enabled the Club to create two gardens to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the feeding program: a small one on the site of the school that has fruit trees (there was a stalk of bananas in the kitchen that had recently been harvested) and a larger garden a short distance away.  The larger garden is planted in a type of squash that is a very popular part of the Nicaraguan diet.  (yes, strange as it may seem, Nicaraguan children like squash!)

Austin Samaritans took additional computer supplies (additional netbooks, batteries and mice) for the computer room.  An Austin Samaritans mission team completed the room and provided it with computers in April of this year.  The computers and computer supplies provided in April and October were donated by long-time supporters of Austin Samaritans.  Chachi, the school administrator, expressed how truly valuable the computer room is and how much it is appreciated.  Students in Villa Guadalupe do not have computers at home, but access to computers is needed to complete their homework.  Before the computer room was placed in operation, these students had to go to a cyber café or just not do the work.  Going to a cyber café was not always an option; and, in any event, it cost money that was not always available.  In addition to being available for homework, the computers have also proven valuable to the tutors during tutoring sessions.

It is truly amazing to see how much this school, the buildings, and the grounds have been improved since it was acquired on short notice by Open Hearts Ministries in February 2013.