Via Panga to Kukra Hill
With clear skies and temperatures at a perfect 75 degrees, we traveled by panga boats to our next destination. With the reggae music blaring and loud chants passing from boat to boat, energy was certainly not lacking — despite our 5:30am wake-up call!
So off we went to Kukra Hill! To greet us was one of our very own happy, fun-loving Nicaraguan interpreters, Samuel, who is originally from the area. We soon realized where Samuel got his welcoming spirit, as the pastor of the church emanated an equally boisterous positivity and willingness to accommodate in any way he could. With an open platform before us, the transition was seamless and we picked right back up where we had left off the day before. This allowed our fearless leaders to take some time to interact with the locals, which led to two very touching stories we feel moved to share with you.
During the last trip we met a gentleman who was suffering from extreme tremors that rendered him disabled and unable to work. It turns out it was that very job that caused his life-altering deficits. He had been working as a fumigator on a plantation when he fell into a septic tank full of chemicals. The medications, which are also used to treat Parkinson’s, were far too expensive to maintain, but P4GH rushed in to help. We raised enough money to cover a year of his medications and then some — so we can continue to delegate more for years to come. When he showed up to clinic today, he challenged Brita to a foot race to show off how well controlled his symptoms were and the gains he has been able to make toward normalcy in his movement.
As one story blossoms, another falls heavy on our hearts. A 10-year-old boy waited quietly for his turn in line. As most patients travel from seat to seat to secure their spot in line, he stayed stationary. A doctor was called over to evaluate and what first started as drop foot, quickly turned into so much more. A story unfolded full of heartbreak and despair. He was abandoned by his mother at a young age due to complications following hydrocephalus. A craniotomy and multiple back surgeries saved his life, but left him with a uphill battle only He was fit to handle. An angel came in the form of a woman in the community who took him in and has cared for him over the years as one of her own. Across language barriers it is easy to witness the unbreakable bond these two have formed. Despite her best efforts, with no feeling below the knees he is unable to walk and has developed sores — and a nasty infection — from crawling and dragging his feet to get around. It was imperative to educate the woman on the reality that both feet would need to be amputated if immediate attention was not given to the infected areas.. The pastoral counsel helped pray over this decision, which helped her garner the courage to make the trip cross country to the capital city to have him evaluated. A known immediate need was to purchase a wheelchair for him so he could go to school, and this was a need P4GH could meet quickly and easily. This will not only save his feet, but allow him to return to school as his mother’s — and she has certainly earned that title — only wish was for him to be able to return to fifth grade.
We are reminded that He blesses us so that we can bless others. The more we are loved, the more we are able to share love. We are the hands and feet to what God already has planned and He did not put us on this earth to struggle. We must trust in His plan. This has been a common theme among the messages we have heard through multiple pastors of our trip, including a moving devotional done by lead translator and pastor, Alvaro, to close out the night. A spur of the moment song broke out led by Pastor Danny’s beautiful wife, Claudia.