Our Temporary Replacements are Here!

Mark and Tianna Owens from the Boise Vineyard arrived a week ago to help Julie and I out as we head back to Vancouver, Washington to welcome a new grand child into the world. The Owens are from Boise, Idaho and are part of the Boise Vineyard church. We came to know them through Boise Vineyards I-61 program which has a missions center in Managua, Nicaragua. Nica Impact is a partner NGO with I-61 as we are one of their training stops for the teams that come for training. (See I-61.org for more information on that ministry)

Mark and Tianna were looking for a short term mission opportunity that was a stretch for them yet didnt require that they sell all their worldly possessions to go serve in a foreign country for eternity. We are glad to have them as their presence will help provide some stability to Nica Impact while we are away. Their main responsibility is to manage the money flow and to help us set up a weekly Skype conference call with our Nica staff. Once that is done each week, they will have to implement beach ministry protocol at our Tupilapa beach house. This is an important component of a newcomers training, to enjoy time watching the ocean, reading books, and spending time in prayer and meditation while enjoying Gods creation. A daily walk on the beach completes the therapy.

Please pray for the Owens time in Nicaragua and for Julie and I as we travel back to our hometown.

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Los Gomez Bridge Complete

We complete the bridge near the community of Los Gomez, providing year around access to health care, education, and shopping to residence of 4 small communities. The design and financing were provided through engineering students from Colorado School of Mines. Bridges to Prosperity provided technical support and the support cables for the bridge along with basic design and implementation support. Nica Impact (we) provided logistical support and correspondence between all the players. Everybody worked on the construction, from excavation to mixing concrete, to collecting rock. It was a team effort and very rewarding. 

This stuff is fun, folks. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

42 Meters across and 5 meters above the river floor.

High water will come to about 6 feet from the bridge 

Engineer Todd Wang and wanna-be engineer Doug Effinger (me) listening to the mayor inaugurate the bridge. 

Mayor of the Municipality of Santa Teresa Ivan Dinarte walks across .

Students from Colorado School of Mines share their appreciation.

Seven year old Noalisa. So many cute kids.

Another little munchkin. Julie takes great photos.

Todd Wang looking on. We wouldnt be involved with bridges were it not for Todd taking an interest and leading the projects. He is a retired Colonel with the Army Corp of Engineers and has many years of experience doing these types of projects. 

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Osmany Jose Ramos

Osmany is finishing up his third year of nursing school in the town of Masaya, about an hours ride by bus. He is 23 years old. He has two more years of school before graduation. (The school year in Nicaragua ends in December)

Osmany is a very responsile young man. In addition to his studies, he volunteers at the old folks home in town. And he is a leader in the local church, serving as an usher in the youth services (under 30 age range). He is a model student, very creative, and has a heart to serve others.

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Student Training

As North Americans, Julie and I (Doug) are careful with the time we spend with our students. Our intent is to have a predominantly indigenous ministry where our Nicaraguan staff are the principle guides for our students. Having said that, we look for opportunities were we can speak into their lives to implant life skills and values.

The video shows one such opportunity where we took small groups of students (5 at a time) out to a suspended bridge site, hiked up river, and built our own rope bridge. Then we trained them on how to make a Swiss seat and secure themselves to cross the river. The goal was to all cross the river while working as a team. At the same time, we were able to talk about career goals, Hopes and dreams, next steps in life, etc. It was a fantastic time.

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Manuel Pavon

Manuel is 20 years old and is studying Electro-mechanical Engineering. His courses are on the weekends in Managua, an hour away, so he spends his weekday mornings volunteering at a local mechanics shop, then in the afternoon he has study time, and in the evening he is learning English at a local school. He will complete the English course at the end of the year. He still has over three years left with his university degree.

Manuel is very motivated to learn anything he can. He is a hard worker and has a plan for his future.

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Ivan Bismarck Gutierrez

Ivan has been with us for a year now and is finishing up his first year at the same agricultural school and Franklin attends. He is from San Gregorio where Milton is from. Ivan is another one of those students that constantly shows his gratitude for the opportunity to study. He and Franklin travel to Rivas every day, Leaving on the bus before  6 am and returning from class after 6 pm. Ivan is 18 years old.

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Plant Growth

Howdy Everyone :)

I got a quick update on my system. The Deep Water Culture (DWC) grow bed is doing great!. The arugula has gotten much bigger and is producing new leaves each day! My heirloom tomato plant is a CHAMP! It has been growing since day one in the expanded clay grow bed. That is much more than I can say about the herbs I bought and tried to transplant. Only a few rosemary branches survived. The dill and parsley did not like it, but I blame this on the plant. When I bought and washed it, the roots did not look too good but I decided to plant anyways.

Here are some pics, Enjoy!

Both grow beds doing well!

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Erling Jose Perez

At 19 years of age, Erling came to us a few months ago with hopes of studying medicine. His goal is to be a Doctor of Surgery. He still needs to take the entrance exam and pass with very high scores if he is to continue in our program. Presently he is volunteering a lot of time at the old folks home during the morning hours and studying for the exam in the afternoons. Erling is also very involved in the youth movement at church. He is a solid kid who comes from a very poor home south of Rivas about 2 and a half hours away.

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