Reporting in, after three weeks
I can see now that it has been three weeks since we've moved to Puerto Cabezas..and we haven't updated our blog in those three weeks.
Much has occurred in the last three weeks. Here are the highlights:
Friday-October 5th, 2007:
We stopped by the Nicaraguan Consulate to finish up the paperwork to import our dog, Sheba, into Nicaragua. While we were there we stopped in to see the General Counsel, Luis Martinez. Luis introduced us to a gentleman that was there in his office named Norman Uarte. Norman owns a hotel in Managua and after he heard of our mission he offered us a free night at his hotel in Managua. (blessings from God, through Norman Uarte). We stopped by the Cooper City Church of God to drop off our truck for safe-keeping and spent the night in a Super 8 Hotel in Lake Worth.
Saturday-October 6th, 2007:
After a few worries about the temperature in Managua and Miami (carriage of pets is restricted to times when the temp. is BELOW 85 degrees fahrenheight) Carolyn managed to get the dog onboard. There was a TSA lady that absolutely refused to let Sheba onboard due to what she perceived was the small size of the kennel, but Carolyn had Sheba stand, sit, turn around, etc...all while inside the container. The lady STILL wasn't going to let Sheba fly, but a kind man that worked there helped her out and Sheba was able to fly to Managua with Carolyn. (blessings from God, through this man) I flew separately on GRUPO TACA airlines. I dropped Carolyn off at American Airlines, spent the next couple of hours returning the rental car and mailing our last few "issued" items off to our old workplace, Flight Options. We met in Managua and got a ride out to the Selve Verde Hotel (Norman Uarte's). It was a nice place. We had dinner with a very good friend of ours that evening.
Sunday-October 7th, 2007:
Our first day in Puerto Cabezas as "residents". We were met at the airport by Bishop Zavala, Calmore Williams, Marisol Bowie (and daughter). They walked us over to the house we are renting. We had looked at this house previously on other trips to Puerto Cabezas and were unimpressed...but it's "home" now! We had church service at 5:00pm at the Iglesia de Dios, Central. Afterwards we had dinner with Brother Calmore and Brother Zavala. The electricity was "out" after church, so we walked home in the dark.
Our address in Puerto Cabezas is:
Iglesia de Dios, Central
Richard Becton 613-5824
Barrio: 19th of Julio
Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas
Nicaragua, Central America
I just realized that I really CAN'T put everthing we've done, every day, on this BLOG. You would be bored to tears. Anyone that is truly interested in our daily activities just let me know and I'll photocopy my journal and send it to you.
The "highlights" are these:
On Tuesday the 9th we met with Lomberto Campbell (think of him as the "second" President of Nicaragua...as far as La Miskitia is concerned) and he agreed that the Nicaraguan government would supply the gasoline to operate the Aztec in relief services here in Nicaragua. I have been told that if he says it, it will happen. We are still waiting for these arrangements to be made...things take SO LONG out here!
I started NOT to mention this, but it's just too good! Carolyn washed laundry BY HAND, using a scrub board and well-water for the first time on Wednesday the 10th. Her poor hands were RAW. Quite a sight to see "my girl" out there scrubbing next to Clarissa (she was "schoolin" Carolyn). Fortunately Carolyn won't have to do that anymore. Her hands broke out too much so we've hired a local girl to do our laundry.
Hallelujah! On Saturday the 13th, the fumigator finally arrived! We had cucaraches (cock roaches) and mosquitoes and bugs of ALL SORTS dropping everywhere! At 4:30 that afternoon we also met with a fellow named David Campos. Reverend David is the President of the Bible Society of Nicaragua. After or meeting Rev. David offerred to pay for the gasoline to fly the Aztec from Miami to Puerto Cabezas (about $2400). What a blessing that will be, when he gets it approved, and sends the check, etc. (things take SO LONG out here).
On Monday the 15th of October the Church of God (Iglesia de Dios) Central had a special service for Carolyn and I to welcome us to Puerto Cabezas. It was an inter-denominational service. The Baptists, the Verbos, the Moravians, the Assembly of God, and others were all there. We had a Nationally renowned speak (Dr. Javier Williams) there too! After the service EVERYONE in the church and from out in the yard filed past us, one by one, and hugged us and said welcome in one of several different languages! There must have been 400 people there! That's a LOT OF HUGS!
After six days of trying we were finally able to open an account at BanPro (local bank) on Tuesday the 16th. The banking system here is VERY STRICT. Nicaragua is a major drug transhipment point and the banks are very different than what we are used to in the United States. People here were amazed that it only took us six days to open an account. We stopped by the bank every day, of those six days with more paperwork, etc. We needed recomendations from two different people here in town, ... just LOTS of stuff!
On Wednesday the 17th we were able to arrange a meeting with a local doctor named Dr. Salas. We have been trying to get a "good introduction" to the medical community here and this was it! Dr. Salas took us over to the director of the Hospitals office and after chatting with him for 30 minutes or so he said "hang on a second" (in Spanish of course). He arranged an ambulance to take Carolyn and I over to the Government building where we walked into a meeting of the Council on Health in Nicaragua. I mean EVERY member was there! It turned out that the President of the Council (Sister Marisol Chalmers) was a member of the Iglesia de Dios, Central Church! Before we left the meeting (about and hour and a half later...all in Spanish of course) the council had agreed to not only supply the equipment necessary to outfit the Aztec as an air ambulance, but had further agreed to exert the council's influence to speed the process of arranging the gasoline for the ambulance from the "civil side" of the government! What a meeting!
We met our Spanish and Miskito teacher on Thursday the 18th of October. Her name is Catherine Leevy. Sister Catherine has spent ten years in the United States and speaks almost perfect English, as well as Spanish and Miskito of course. We arranged to take two lessons a week from Catherine for the amazing price of $40 per month (for BOTH of us).
On Saturday the 20th we had a boat dedication. The Church of God in concert with other donors (including the Bethlehem Baptist Church) reached out to satisfy the need in this community for a "panga" (a boat) to reach the far-flung communities of Sandy Bay, Auastara, Para, Kukira, and many others. The Pastors here have been crying for God to make a way to check on these communities and see how they have fared after the hurricane. It was very rewarding personally for me to be at this dedication ceremony, since I was personally involved in the process of acquiring it for the Pators.
On Monday the 22nd Brother Richard Baker (Office of Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief, World Missions) came to Puerto Cabezas. We know Brother Baker, and it was exciting to have the opportunity to deepen our relationship with him even further. Brother Baker brought MUCH help to the devastated areas of La Miskitia with him too! It was an exciting and "tough" five days while he was here. We bought and delivered tons of foodstuffs, building materials etc. What an impact the Church of God is making on this area in the relief effort. There is still much, much more to be done of course, but thank God that the Church of God (and others) are responding as they are!
We spent the next four days shuttling relief items to REALLY far-flung communities, by boat, by truck and walking. What an exhausting but rewarding few days that has been! Brother Baker left Puerto Cabezas on Friday the 26th and he will be missed! Later in the afternoon, Carolyn and I accompanied the Iglesia de Dios to the town dump to minister to the poor people that live out there (IN the dump)....wow. We had a blessed time while there, there were three people that sincerely gave their lives to Jesus, and one that may have just been a bit drunk and gregarious (they call that blah, blah, blah...here). Praise Jesus it was a wonderful time, and we will be doing this every Friday...pray for this important ministry, please.
You must know of course that these highlights of what we've done in the last three weeks are simply that, highlights. There has been much work on a daily basis to get our household in order, buy food, and conduct our daily lives. Carolyn and I have been super-impressed with how much God has been blessing our efforts here in Puerto Cabezas. I mean, talk about being validated! So far it seems that ever time we turn around, God is blessing us with meeting the "right" person, or presenting an opportunity to further our mission. Our relationships with the people here are deepening and strengthening! We are excited about hosting our first "team" here in the very near future, the first of MANY MORE to come. We have a goal of hosting two teams a month...if God will put La Moskitia in that many people's hearts!
Good news too! There is a chance that the Church of God will help us to build a "missionary house" to live in here. We will need teams to help with the construction process of course. So keep this in mind. It will be nice to have a simple little house that has water more than the currently two days a week that we have it now. We expect the contruction to take about two months, but that is on an agressive schedule, so please pray that God will provide for the funds and for the efficiency (things take SO LONG out here).
Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 0650497
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)
http://www.casadeservicio.org
flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/
Much has occurred in the last three weeks. Here are the highlights:
Friday-October 5th, 2007:
We stopped by the Nicaraguan Consulate to finish up the paperwork to import our dog, Sheba, into Nicaragua. While we were there we stopped in to see the General Counsel, Luis Martinez. Luis introduced us to a gentleman that was there in his office named Norman Uarte. Norman owns a hotel in Managua and after he heard of our mission he offered us a free night at his hotel in Managua. (blessings from God, through Norman Uarte). We stopped by the Cooper City Church of God to drop off our truck for safe-keeping and spent the night in a Super 8 Hotel in Lake Worth.
Saturday-October 6th, 2007:
After a few worries about the temperature in Managua and Miami (carriage of pets is restricted to times when the temp. is BELOW 85 degrees fahrenheight) Carolyn managed to get the dog onboard. There was a TSA lady that absolutely refused to let Sheba onboard due to what she perceived was the small size of the kennel, but Carolyn had Sheba stand, sit, turn around, etc...all while inside the container. The lady STILL wasn't going to let Sheba fly, but a kind man that worked there helped her out and Sheba was able to fly to Managua with Carolyn. (blessings from God, through this man) I flew separately on GRUPO TACA airlines. I dropped Carolyn off at American Airlines, spent the next couple of hours returning the rental car and mailing our last few "issued" items off to our old workplace, Flight Options. We met in Managua and got a ride out to the Selve Verde Hotel (Norman Uarte's). It was a nice place. We had dinner with a very good friend of ours that evening.
Sunday-October 7th, 2007:
Our first day in Puerto Cabezas as "residents". We were met at the airport by Bishop Zavala, Calmore Williams, Marisol Bowie (and daughter). They walked us over to the house we are renting. We had looked at this house previously on other trips to Puerto Cabezas and were unimpressed...but it's "home" now! We had church service at 5:00pm at the Iglesia de Dios, Central. Afterwards we had dinner with Brother Calmore and Brother Zavala. The electricity was "out" after church, so we walked home in the dark.
Our address in Puerto Cabezas is:
Iglesia de Dios, Central
Richard Becton 613-5824
Barrio: 19th of Julio
Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas
Nicaragua, Central America
I just realized that I really CAN'T put everthing we've done, every day, on this BLOG. You would be bored to tears. Anyone that is truly interested in our daily activities just let me know and I'll photocopy my journal and send it to you.
The "highlights" are these:
On Tuesday the 9th we met with Lomberto Campbell (think of him as the "second" President of Nicaragua...as far as La Miskitia is concerned) and he agreed that the Nicaraguan government would supply the gasoline to operate the Aztec in relief services here in Nicaragua. I have been told that if he says it, it will happen. We are still waiting for these arrangements to be made...things take SO LONG out here!
I started NOT to mention this, but it's just too good! Carolyn washed laundry BY HAND, using a scrub board and well-water for the first time on Wednesday the 10th. Her poor hands were RAW. Quite a sight to see "my girl" out there scrubbing next to Clarissa (she was "schoolin" Carolyn). Fortunately Carolyn won't have to do that anymore. Her hands broke out too much so we've hired a local girl to do our laundry.
Hallelujah! On Saturday the 13th, the fumigator finally arrived! We had cucaraches (cock roaches) and mosquitoes and bugs of ALL SORTS dropping everywhere! At 4:30 that afternoon we also met with a fellow named David Campos. Reverend David is the President of the Bible Society of Nicaragua. After or meeting Rev. David offerred to pay for the gasoline to fly the Aztec from Miami to Puerto Cabezas (about $2400). What a blessing that will be, when he gets it approved, and sends the check, etc. (things take SO LONG out here).
On Monday the 15th of October the Church of God (Iglesia de Dios) Central had a special service for Carolyn and I to welcome us to Puerto Cabezas. It was an inter-denominational service. The Baptists, the Verbos, the Moravians, the Assembly of God, and others were all there. We had a Nationally renowned speak (Dr. Javier Williams) there too! After the service EVERYONE in the church and from out in the yard filed past us, one by one, and hugged us and said welcome in one of several different languages! There must have been 400 people there! That's a LOT OF HUGS!
After six days of trying we were finally able to open an account at BanPro (local bank) on Tuesday the 16th. The banking system here is VERY STRICT. Nicaragua is a major drug transhipment point and the banks are very different than what we are used to in the United States. People here were amazed that it only took us six days to open an account. We stopped by the bank every day, of those six days with more paperwork, etc. We needed recomendations from two different people here in town, ... just LOTS of stuff!
On Wednesday the 17th we were able to arrange a meeting with a local doctor named Dr. Salas. We have been trying to get a "good introduction" to the medical community here and this was it! Dr. Salas took us over to the director of the Hospitals office and after chatting with him for 30 minutes or so he said "hang on a second" (in Spanish of course). He arranged an ambulance to take Carolyn and I over to the Government building where we walked into a meeting of the Council on Health in Nicaragua. I mean EVERY member was there! It turned out that the President of the Council (Sister Marisol Chalmers) was a member of the Iglesia de Dios, Central Church! Before we left the meeting (about and hour and a half later...all in Spanish of course) the council had agreed to not only supply the equipment necessary to outfit the Aztec as an air ambulance, but had further agreed to exert the council's influence to speed the process of arranging the gasoline for the ambulance from the "civil side" of the government! What a meeting!
We met our Spanish and Miskito teacher on Thursday the 18th of October. Her name is Catherine Leevy. Sister Catherine has spent ten years in the United States and speaks almost perfect English, as well as Spanish and Miskito of course. We arranged to take two lessons a week from Catherine for the amazing price of $40 per month (for BOTH of us).
On Saturday the 20th we had a boat dedication. The Church of God in concert with other donors (including the Bethlehem Baptist Church) reached out to satisfy the need in this community for a "panga" (a boat) to reach the far-flung communities of Sandy Bay, Auastara, Para, Kukira, and many others. The Pastors here have been crying for God to make a way to check on these communities and see how they have fared after the hurricane. It was very rewarding personally for me to be at this dedication ceremony, since I was personally involved in the process of acquiring it for the Pators.
On Monday the 22nd Brother Richard Baker (Office of Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief, World Missions) came to Puerto Cabezas. We know Brother Baker, and it was exciting to have the opportunity to deepen our relationship with him even further. Brother Baker brought MUCH help to the devastated areas of La Miskitia with him too! It was an exciting and "tough" five days while he was here. We bought and delivered tons of foodstuffs, building materials etc. What an impact the Church of God is making on this area in the relief effort. There is still much, much more to be done of course, but thank God that the Church of God (and others) are responding as they are!
We spent the next four days shuttling relief items to REALLY far-flung communities, by boat, by truck and walking. What an exhausting but rewarding few days that has been! Brother Baker left Puerto Cabezas on Friday the 26th and he will be missed! Later in the afternoon, Carolyn and I accompanied the Iglesia de Dios to the town dump to minister to the poor people that live out there (IN the dump)....wow. We had a blessed time while there, there were three people that sincerely gave their lives to Jesus, and one that may have just been a bit drunk and gregarious (they call that blah, blah, blah...here). Praise Jesus it was a wonderful time, and we will be doing this every Friday...pray for this important ministry, please.
You must know of course that these highlights of what we've done in the last three weeks are simply that, highlights. There has been much work on a daily basis to get our household in order, buy food, and conduct our daily lives. Carolyn and I have been super-impressed with how much God has been blessing our efforts here in Puerto Cabezas. I mean, talk about being validated! So far it seems that ever time we turn around, God is blessing us with meeting the "right" person, or presenting an opportunity to further our mission. Our relationships with the people here are deepening and strengthening! We are excited about hosting our first "team" here in the very near future, the first of MANY MORE to come. We have a goal of hosting two teams a month...if God will put La Moskitia in that many people's hearts!
Good news too! There is a chance that the Church of God will help us to build a "missionary house" to live in here. We will need teams to help with the construction process of course. So keep this in mind. It will be nice to have a simple little house that has water more than the currently two days a week that we have it now. We expect the contruction to take about two months, but that is on an agressive schedule, so please pray that God will provide for the funds and for the efficiency (things take SO LONG out here).
Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 0650497
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)
http://www.casadeservicio.org
flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/
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