Albert Schweitzer  said, “I’d decided I would make my life my argument. I would advocate the things I believed in terms of the life I lived and what I did.” John accepted Schweitzer’s statement as his personal challenge and motto.

Nicaragua is the poorest Spanish speaking country in the world. John first went to Nicaragua in September 1992. While working with Dr. Nour Sirker, a Nicaraguan surgeon, John saw a way to use mission trips to collaborate with Nicaraguan doctors and non-profit organizations to provide improved, continuing medical care to the people of Nicaragua.

Austin Samaritans grew out of mission trips, which went annually to Nicaragua. It was apparent that more could be done than could be accomplished by short-term mission trips.  The decision was made in 2007 to form a 501(c)(3) organization, Austin Samaritans, to provide ongoing support for ministries and other nonprofit organizations in Nicaragua.