Medical
Medical/Evangelism Teams
“Offing hope to Nicaraguans”
Nicaragua has very serious health needs. Most Nicaraguans have free access to medical consultations and public hospitals, but cannot afford to buy the medicines and supplies that are prescribed. Often they are asked to bring their own to the hospital before being treated. Nicaragua depends on international medical teams that bring medicine into the country. There are over 300 such teams annually. However, not all of the teams bring with them Christ’s message of hope.
CFCI-Nicaragua began bringing international medical and dental teams to Nicaragua in 2003. The purpose is to bring much needed physical help to this hurting nation and to offer the healing hope of Jesus Christ.
Each North American medical team is matched with a local Nicaraguan church. The team and the church members work together — the team providing the medical care and medicine, the church issuing the medical appointments and presenting the gospel.
Before a team arrives in Nicaragua, CFCI works with local churches to train their members in personal evangelism. The medical outreaches provide an opportunity for these churches to share their faith with their neighbors in a loving and non-threatening environment. Health education in areas such as nutrition, balanced diet, proper food handling and preparation, and dental hygiene is also provided while patients wait to receive their free medicine.
Medical teams have the option of doing dental care or a construction project along with the medical outreach. Non-medical persons help with the many logistics and interact with the adorable Nicaraguan children.
With the success of this format we asked, “Why can’t we use the surplus medicines from the international teams to do shorter outreaches with Nicaraguan doctors and nurses?” Therefore, in 2005 CFCI-Nicaragua began hosting weekend medical outreaches. Just as they do with the international medical outreaches, local church members provide logistical support and evangelism during the clinic. Any medicines that are not used in these weekend medical outreaches are donated to Christian Nicaraguan doctors who provide medical care to poorer Nicaraguans.
If you would like more information about medical missions in Nicaragua, please email Mary Ezzell at maryezzellpt@yahoo.com.
