July Newsletter

Greetings from Nicaragua,

We have entered our 4th year of being involved in the lives of the young men of Nicaragua. Over a year ago, we moved to Nicaragua to be full time missionaries and now we are more than half way through 2011.  

In planning our move to Nicaragua, we were to drive from the United States in our large truck loaded with tools and equipment to be used in the workshop of the vocational school.   When it became apparent that the plans were changing, we sold the truck and donated all the tools and shop equipment to another ministry.  We arrived in Nicaragua empty handed.

We started the first class with the “loaves and fish” premise.  We asked ourselves, what do we have to work with?  We had a tape measure, a saw, a hammer and some scrap wood.  We literally were teaching the students that you can, in time, start a business with whatever you have on hand.  It was important that the students learn how to work with hand tools; not only from a cost savings but also because electricity in this area can be undependable.  Even now, after we have acquired electric tools, it is important that the new students master using the hand tools.

The school was started with “nothing”, much the same way that our students will begin  to work if they choose to make carpentry their life vocation.  We now have saw horses, work tables and storage closets.  The boys have built a workshop from scratch.  We have been blessed by givers that have provided us with power tools to use in the shop.  We have the beginnings of a very fine teaching facility and workshop.

 


In the last year we have had 36 teens and young adult men attend the carpentry course in the vocational school.  There was an adult pastor in our first class.  He has since taken what he has learned back to the village where he pastors. Currently we have 12 students in the class.  We discovered very early that fatalism and a depreciation of physical work and those who do it, is a mindset that needs to be altered in this culture.  As a ministry we have learned that it is not the numbers that determine success or failure, but change and growth.

In our current group of students, there is one boy who was exploited by family members and forced into prostitution before the age of 9, another boy killed a family member after years of sexual abuse, and another boy was involved in a group mugging that resulted in the death of a person. There are others who tried to escape the harsh realities of their existence by turning to drugs, glue AND alcohol.  Yes, all 3 substances; it’s common to have more than one “drug” of choice and to use them all in a day’s time.  Whatever they can get their hands on to help numb the pain of abuse, loneliness, abandonment and hunger, the substance makes no difference to them. 

We have witnessed an extraordinary group of teens transform from invisible “nobodies” to embracing confidence and self-acceptance.  They have been willing to allow the Lord Jesus to enter their lives and walk along side them in their journey to find themselves.  We recognize the miracles that have taken place in their lives and are sure that they are recognizing them too.  It is a miracle that a couple of these boys are alive today.  It is a miracle that they are thriving and coming to believe that they are worthy individuals.  Worthy of a second chance and most important, worthy to be loved.   

These precious boys are God’s chosen.  They’ve been chosen for a second, third, and maybe a fourth chance.  God sees value in them.  God has plans for them.  We, too, see the potential in them; and where there is potential, Satan lurks to destroy their future.  

Everyday there is a battle that rages to get these boys to forsake the commitment they have made to the Lord.  We see weekly if not daily, one or more of the boys struggle with issues.  No matter how much truth they are learning, sometimes it is easier to believe the lies.   We’ve seen them self-destruct before our eyes and at times it seems there is not enough prayer that will overcome the situation.  We can only keep praying and give them up to the Lord’s care.

Not only does the battle rage on for the boys, but we, too, fight a constant battle in attempts to get us to withdraw.   We have been attacked in our marriage, in our relations with our own children, in our finances and in our thoughts.  As, I said in the above paragraph, where there is potential, Satan lurks to destroy the future.  

We came here to help make a difference in the lives of the teen boys and young men of this nation that society didn’t want to bother with.  We call these young guys the “forgotten generation”.  Their families don’t want them, their community does not look out for them and most all mission minded ministries overlook them. We are accomplishing what we came here to do.  We are making a difference in the lives of a few.  We can’t reach or touch all the young men of Nicaragua.  But, we trust that God is bringing the boys to us that He has chosen to rebuild their lives.  If we can help to change these lives, we believe that they will give back to their country what they have received.  

There are a lot of stories and events that we have recorded and posted on our blog www.restorationofthenations.blogspot.com  The stories range from team visits, to biographies of some of the students, to life as we experience with the boys.   The best way for you to stay informed would be to subscribe to our blog and you will be notified of all new postings automatically.

God has been so faithful in providing for the basic needs of the ministry.  This has truly been a miracle because we have not sent out updates or newsletters in many months.  The individuals that have continued to donate have done so because God has quickened their hearts, it was not because of reading a newsletter.   It is important to know up front what our monthly committed support will be.  It is impossible to plan the programs each week for the school agenda without this information.  The ministry cannot grow because of the lack of funding.  To apply for grants it is required to have the basic budget underwritten first.  We are stretched beyond our physical, emotional, mental and financial needs to meet all the demands of this ministry.  There are a several needs which are essential to us right now:

• We need a translator.  It is impossible for us to teach the boys in class.  We have a very limited Spanish vocabulary.  Not only to we need to be able to teach, but we need to be able to communicate with them.  This is SO important; they need to be able to talk and to be heard.

• We need a housekeeper.  We dismissed our long time housekeeper last October because of lack of finances.   We spend a minimum of 3 hours each day cleaning house and laundry.  That is 2 people times 3 hours EVERY day.  We did not come to Nicaragua to clean, we came to teach.  This country is very dirty, there are 19 volcanos.  There is volcanic ash and dirt every where.  We can dust a table and within 5 minutes know where a glass or book had rested after being picked up. 

• We need lumber.  We need a constant supply of lumber.  Wood here is very wet and it is necessary to have a small supply of lumber drying at all times.  Most projects require dry lumber so that it does not twist or crack.

• We need school finances.  We have acquired a new building for the school.  For 9 months we have operated out of our home, it was time to move.  We needed more space for the students.   It was essential to regain our privacy;  we needed our home back.

• We need funds for the students.  We provide them their own tools, we have snacks, we celebrate birthdays (this is the only cake that some of them have ever had), we are now including medical & dental care.  (see our latest blog on their 1st trip to the dentist)

• We need 1 or 2 volunteer interns.  We need someone who has the ability to teach basic math, reading and writing to join us for a minimum commitment of 6 months.  We also need someone who can double as an instructor in carpentry so that we can begin to introduce the other phases of construction skills.

• We need personal support.  We have need of dental & eye care.  We need clothing and shoes.  We both have lost a great deal of weight and our shoes are worn out.  We need to be able to budget for our tourist card renewals every 3 months.  Every 6 months it is mandatory that we leave the country for 3 days.  To go to Costa Rica it costs a minimum of $600.  We would like to come back to the states for a true vacation to see friends and family.  A trip to the States would cost in the thousands.

• We WANT people to see what we are doing; organize a small group and come for a visit.  Your lives will be forever changed.  We need people to spend time with our boys.  They crave attention and recognition.  They need personal ministry and healing.  Whatever your gifting, we can utilize it.  There are communities full of young boys that need help.  We can tailor a mission trip for you.

We are aware of the change in finances among so many of you.  Times are difficult now for everyone.   It is not easy for us to ask you to commit monies out of your already stretched budgets.   We have learned that people hesitate to give when they cannot offer a sizable gift.   Ministries exist due to the multitudes of people who faithfully give $5, $10, $20 each month; these gifts add up.  Here in Nicaragua, the 2nd poorest nation in the western hemisphere, these kinds of gifts go a very long way in providing what is needed.  Would you consider partnering with us?  Lives are being touched and radically transformed by our presence in Leon, Nicaragua.  We need your help to continue our work.  You can donate safely online at https://www.egivingsystems.org/37718.  You can make a one time donation or sign up easily for a recurring monthly amount which makes it easy and convenient for you.

We all have a part in spreading the gospel and loving our neighbors.  Some have been called to physically go out into the world and the others have been called to send them.   This week, we have an outreach project that we will do with the students.  A local woman who sells hotdogs and snacks out of a vending cart in the park is in desperate need of work to be done on her cart.  The floor in the cart has rotted and she is in danger of falling through and physically harming herself.  The doors to the cart cannot lock at night and she is being robbed on a regular basis. This is an opportunity for the students to give of themselves into the community by rebuilding her floor and replacing the doors.  She works from 8 in the morning until 10 at night for a few dollars total every day.  She does not have the money to repair her cart.  This cart is vital to provide for her and her family.  She will experience first hand the love of Jesus through the efforts of our students.   You, too can be a part of what we do here.  You not only will be sowing into the future of our students, but you sow into the lives of our community through our various outreaches.  

In His Service,

Preston Barnum

1st Time to the Dentist

We came to Nicaragua to teach vocational skills to the at-risk youth and young men. Almost immediately we learned that we would be wearing many hats.  We not only teach, but we sometimes provide for the boys most basic needs: haircuts, medicine, meals, fun and lots of love.  During the last 2 days, we have taken them to the dentist.  The boys had never had dental care. For a couple of the boys, the experience bordered on traumatic.

There was a mission team from Tennessee visiting another local ministry and a dentist was among the group. We were invited to bring our students to receive dental treatment. There were many people waiting to see the dentist when we arrived at the facility.  The people of Nicaragua know that when you go to have any type of medical treatment there is always a WAIT, there are no appointments.   For us gringos, this is a new concept.  The boys know how to play the waiting game and amuse themselves accordingly;   sleep is also a precious way to pass the time.  Days here can be very long, it's not uncommon for many people to be up by 4AM.  Before the day was done, it became apparent that there was not enough time for our boys to receive care. After waiting 4 plus hours, we agreed to return the next day. The visiting dentist told us that he was certain that there was someone among the boys that he NEEDED to see.

We went back to the dentist on day 2 and he fit the boys in between other waiting patients.  The first boy to receive treatment was Claudio and he deserves applause.  His teeth were cleaned, that was easy! But, there was a problem with a "muscle" that attaches the lower lip to his gums.  It was too tight and pulling the gums away from the teeth; eventually he would lose his teeth.  The dentist explained he would have to cut the muscle.  The procedure would not be a problem to his speech or anything else.  The gums would grow back to cover and support his lower teeth.  

Now, this is where it gets tricky, we did not have a translator.  People just assumed that Preston could speak Spanish and all translators left with the mission team for the day's activities. How do we explain to Claudio, a boy that has never been to a dentist, that he needed surgery inside his mouth?  With the limited Spanish and gestures, it was "explained".  Did he fully understand? Probably not.  But I believe he has trust in Preston's love for him and allowed what needed to be done.  The other students looked on and their concern was evident on their faces.

In the midst of all this, power was lost to the building.  Preston helped the dentist continue his work by holding flashlights to help him see.

The second most serious dental care was on our advanced student, Michael.  His gums were horribly inflamed and the plaque buildup was an accumulation of his 18 years.  When the dentist produced a syringe to gave him a shot, it brought tears to Michael.  The assistant lovingly wiped the tears from his cheek.  The work was intensive and it was like breaking up concrete to get the plaque off his teeth.   Because of the tenderness of his gums and the amount of blood staining his teeth, the dentist felt he should not do any further work on on Michael.

We are extremely grateful to Dr. Steve for coming to Nicaragua and devoting himself to caring for our students teeth.   The doctor has informed us that all the boys need ongoing care.  There are still some additional fillings that need to be done.  At least 2 of the boys have teeth that need to come out.  The youngest of the boys, Pablito, at 12 years is on his way to having major problems caused by consuming too much sugar.  He loves candy.  Michael has a severe gum disease (worse than gingivitis) and if he lived in the States, Dr. Steve would want to see him weekly for several months.  He said that Michael's condition was very severe for a boy of his age.  He talked to us about his eating habits and also about stress.  He was trying to get an idea to the cause of the disease.

We are going to do all we can to follow up with dentists here in Nicaragua in order for the boys to receive the necessary dental treatments to finish the work begun by Dr. Steve.  We will begin by talking with them about proper nutrition and teaching them how to brush and floss their teeth.  We do not have the funds in our ministry to pay for the upcoming dental treatments.   We believe that God will be faithful and provide for his  precious  children.  Some of them do not have parents and are "on their own" and others live with an extended relative in extremely impoverished conditions.   

If you have a desire to help us with the expense of their dental care, please make a donation via our secure online giving.  We will designate an account entitled "Students Dental & Medical Care" and all funds will be set aside for them.   Your donation will be tax deductible as allowed by law based on your tax status.  We are a 501 (c) (3) US non-profit corporation.  Donations can be made securely online at: https://www.egivingsystems.org/37718