Much prayer and planning enabled a medical team from the Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) Biology Department to travel in July to Nicaragua for MVNU’s first medical missions trip. This unique team, led by 1991 MVNU graduate Tami (Parker) Buell and current Biology Chair Paul Madtes Jr., comprised current students, MVNU alumni, a local physician, two Costa Rican interpreters, three Nicaraguan physicians, a Nicaraguan interpreter, and a Nicaraguan district superintendent.

God frequently reminds us of His faithfulness, provision, and presence. The first day there, when nearly all of our medical supplies failed to arrive concurrently with our flight, God saw that they would arrive in time to avoid any hindrance to our ministry. That first Sunday morning, we attended an inspiring Nazarene church service in Managua and that evening, we joined a wonderful welcome service in the San Isidro church. What a blessing it was for everyone to worship our Lord together; His presence was evident in the lives of our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters.

The next four days, clinics were set up in Sébaco, El Jocote, Cerro la Mina, and Santa Isabel, communities in northern Nicaragua. Small churches and schools were quickly turned into health clinics, and people came from miles around, many arriving long before the clinics opened. Clinics, whose opening each day always began with singing and devotions, included areas for triage, diagnosis, a pharmacy, and evangelism/public health training for the children. Furthermore, so many medical supplies and personal hygiene items had been donated by churches across the MVNU region that many were left with the Nicaraguan physicians to use in their work with the people.

The team had many goals and high expectations of what God would do through medical care, public health training, evangelism and discipleship. About 450 patients were diagnosed and treated. One particular day, many children bowed their heads and dedicated their lives to Christ; another day, a man re-dedicated his life to Jesus. In addition, many patients were touched by the kindness of the team members who sat, listened, and prayed with them. Through the tool of medical care, we joined the ongoing ministry of local Nicaraguan churches, helping open doors for the churches to continue ministering to the people of the community. Even though only a few team members spoke Spanish, language was not a barrier to building relationships. Through smiles and laughs, puppets and bubbles, stories and songs, God bound us all together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This type of missions trip is indeed unique. Current MVNU students interested in medicine are able to travel to another country, experience medical missions, and gain clinical experience. MVNU alumni stay involved with the school through service, which shows that connections with MVNU do not end with graduation; alumni can stay connected to MVNU through prayer, financial support, and even participation in mission trips.

It is our prayer that this inaugural medical missions trip is the first of many to come. We believe the work that God began with us in Nicaragua will expand so that similar trips will continue yearly. May God lead current pre-medical students and alumni to commit to traveling back as medical students and physicians. Even though we are now home in the U.S., the Lord’s work in Nicaragua continues. The seeds of His grace and love that were planted will be cultivated as He works through the local community churches there, reaping His harvest.

Note: For more photos, see this week's photo gallery on ncnnews.com.
--MVNU