San Jose de Bocay

It's Wednesday and we're back in civilization.  We started the day reading Psalm 91, we all got choked up from it, our guides and the Mayor and her husband and another official all stood around in a circle while we read it as if it were a prayer.

We spent the day going around the greater San Jose de Bocay region and visited other needy families giving gifts for children and picking up the other children needing various surgeries.  We picked up mothers to go along with the kids as well.  By the end of the day we had eleven people traveling with us.  Here are the medical cases:

- Little boy special surgery lower abdomen generic correction, he is also an orphan and his sister is with him here- when we first met him he would only look at the floor but after hugs and love he is already happy:

- Little girl cholostemy correction surgery shown here being held and loved on by our traveling friend and reporter-writer Ashley:

Rest of the cases:

- Baby girl with profound cleft lip and palate correction 

- Older young girl issues with feet and legs possible surgical need and definite major physical therapy need

- Two year old boy for phase two cleft palate surgery 

- Infant with bronchitis coughing harshly for one month 

Moms came along with every kid except the girl with the legs issue.

Pretty tree:

The Mayor and her husband are very compassionate and specifically took us to a few additional houses where we could bless the poorest of children and also where we discussed potentially helping build better housing for these families.  Thus little boy has a handmade little truck and was happy to have his picture taken with his new matchbox car.

We gave out crayons, stickers, white paper and some toys- I never, ever dreamed two crayons and three pieces of paper and a few stickers could be like an unbelievable Christmas to these kids.  The kids would just stand around in shock holding their new stuff - they wouldn't epit it down.  I choked up all morning.  The flip side is anything I bring would be overwhelmingly appreciated 

Building a new bridge:

Growing young Cacao trees for chocolate, Nicaraguan chocolate is so amazing by the way:

A poor family we blessed with toys, bracelets, etc - also considering building them a small home.

This is the interior of their current home, the roof is leaves and it leaks quite clearly:

Dr Eric is a Chiropractor who is with us - he helped assess the older girl who needs intense help with her legs:

Part of the group we are helping.  The lady on the left is from twelve hours deep into the jungle via river and doesn't speak Spanish- only the ancient Mosquito language, her son is having Phase two cleft palate surgery. The rest of the group are inside two trucks.

Truck totally loaded with bananas as we headed out in our caravan to San Jose de Jinotega.

Tomorrow we take everyone to Leon.