Merry Christmas from the Moran Family! Pat & Katy Ben (13), Rachel (12), Rebecca (10)
As we look forward to celebrating Christmas this year in Texas, we thank God for each of you, our family and friends near and far, who have joined with us on our continued mission. Pat continues to travel regularly to Nicaragua in support of the many ongoing projects, with Katy and the kids joining him from time to time.
As legal residents of Nicaragua desiring the ability to continue our work there, it is not prudent to offer too much commentary in print on the political crisis affecting the country. But, the economic situation and the conflict between the government and the church has continued to deteriorate. Currently, there is rarely violence in the streets, but widespread unemployment and lack of opportunity abound. That said, we continue to be filled with hope through our work with the Nicaraguan people and look forward to continuing our efforts in the new year.
Above are a few photos from a medical, dental and optometry clinic we did in a remote, rural area near Nandaime. We thought we were tough after riding through the mud in vehicles, but we were one-upped by the locals. The man on the white horse joked with us that he too came in a 4X4 all-terrain vehicle, but that his uses much less "gasoline," while the young boy came walking up on homemade stilts!
In 2020, in addition to operating the Christ the Healer Medical and Dental Clinics, we hope to:
Visit 18 communities like the one above with mobile dentistry.
Visit all 57 churches in the Diocese of Granada, providing eye exams and glasses.
Provide funding for medicine for children with chronic diseases.
Provide resources to locals who visit the sick in area hospitals, so that the hospitalized may receive the basics. (At the public hospitals, you get space with a mattress. It is up to the sick person's family to provide sheets, a towel, food, soap, toilet paper, etc., and often the families just don't have the funds.)
Launch a scholarship program to help qualified candidates without resources study at the newly opened Catholic University in Granada for degrees in Education, Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing or Theology.
Support formation and strategic planning for local church leaders so that they are more equipped to find solutions and serve the communities in which they live.
We'll leave you with one final photo for 2019... it summarizes how so often our Nicaraguan friends use ingenuity and find solutions when difficulties present themselves and resources are short...
When Pat got a flat tire while driving the old Caritas work truck and the rusty lug nuts would not turn, Pablo found the perfect lug wrench extender from a broken mop bucket! Flat changed and life rolls on. Despite the daily difficulties, hope endures for those we serve in Nicaragua. Thank you for your prayers and support, and may the hope of this Christmas Season reign in each of your hearts as well.
We wish you a Feliz Navidad and abundant blessings in 2020!
With love, Pat, Katy, Ben, Rachel and Rebecca Moran