HOME!!

All of us from Nebraska are now home from Nicaragua!  The last from our team, Dean & I, Jody & Sherilyn flew to Managua yesterday and then left early this morning for home.  From Managua, we flew to Houston and then to Omaha.  We had another amazing trip.  On Tuesday, we spent time buying food for the orphanage.  Last week, Pastor Earl had told us about the dire circumstances of the orphanage and that at some meals, the kids only receive a cup of milk and a slice of bread.  We had money that was donated and we decided that we would spend that on bags of rice & beans, oil, sugar, eggs, fruit and vegetables and meat for the kids.  We have already started to look ahead to next year as to what supplies and things we can take for the kids.  They have gotten to the orphanage under such sad circumstances so we hope to help them in some small ways. 
During our time at the hospital, Rich and Mark did 87 surgeries.  There were more scheduled but some were cancelled for various reasons: fevers, some had eaten the morning of their scheduled surgery, broken equipment, no shows, etc.  We accomplished a lot under the circumstances!
We had a great team this year combining the Nebraskans and Californians.  The doctors, Rich & Mark, were great to work with and we hope to be able to work together with them again.  We couldn't have done it without the help of the Nicaraguan nurses and OR people as well.  They are hard workers and have been a tremendous help to all of us and have truly become our friends.  They are so appreciative of our help but probably don't realize what a privilege it is for us to be there working along side them to serve their people.  The need is so great there and we barely scratch the surface but the satisfaction we receive from these trips is extraordinary.  Thank you to all who have been so supportive of this mission through your donations and especially your thoughts and prayers.  God willing, we will return to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, next year!  Carolyn
PS  We will be posting more pictures!