Cascabel Report (Aug. 28- Sept. 2, 2008)

We were just in Nicaragua bringing supplies and funding for the many projects we are involved in with the Kids of Cascabel. Thank you again for your donations. You make a difference!

Below are some of the Highlights of our trip and the progress taking place there but first a…

Funny moment at the airport

When I picked up Chuck at the airport we had a senior moment when I couldn’t find him. We were both on cell phones, both by the curve, right by the Delta sign, we were both waving to make contact. We both started to describe the approaching bus. But no Chuck. I was getting frustrated because a traffic officer was waving to me and I had to move on. Six minutes into this Chuck asked a wise question. Is there also a lower level in this airport? It is good to go on the mission field with someone smarter than yourself.

When we went last March we had another comic moment at the airport when we grabbed all the bags out of my car. Linda pulled away to return to a meeting. Thirty five minutes later on the slow passenger line, I was wondering why Chuck wouldn’t carry his bag and he was wondering why I was leaving my bag for him. I thought the green bag was his and he thought it was mine. Embarrassed, I finally asked the passengers in line, in Spanish, if I had accidentally stolen a bag from someone. No one spoke up. Looking inside, it turned out to be my wife’s bag, who had to return from the meeting to pick it up. Chuck laughed, Linda laughed, the Bible study laughed, the passengers on the line laughed, the Delta counter laughed and so did I!

I got in yesterday at 5 am and wanted to write a report while everything was fresh in my memory!

Chuck Caine and Erik Sampson brought:

Puppets for 3 ministries
Clothing
2 guitars, flutes and penny whistles
Art supplies for older kids

Donated by Publix Supermarket we brought:

Small knapsacks
Coloring books and crayons
Pot and pan
Many towels
Fruit candy for the 6 year celebration
Kid’s vitamins and medicine
Baby wipes
Tooth brushes and paste
Umbrellas

Offerings came in from:

Chuck Caine’s joint Efforts Team
Lifeline Church of the Nations
Erik’s customers,
Sales of Missionary flutes and bird whistles
4 Bamboo Piggy Banks
Cascabel God Squad

One of my personal highlights of this trip was to show and give the kids and staff the first calendar with their artwork. Thanks Mike Zulinske!

Donations went to purchase:

*200 lbs . of flower $40
*90 Eggs $10
*Roof for dinning area and screws $555
*6 bunk beds with mattresses and sheets $1,200
*Kitchen: Water piped in, wood pantry, cement sink $320
*66 egg laying chickens $200 and $50 to expand the chicken coop
(Thanks to Chuck’s neighbor who sold some of her clothes to donate for chickens and made $125 matched by Chuck who is presently out of work)
*Chicken feed $20
*Electric wiring of kitchen, dinning room and corridor $100
*Special offerings were given to:
*Two children to have a doctor’s consultation $10
*Medicine $100
*Back pay for cook $90
*Dennis with the giant head to help pay for his soft food $50
(His father leaves for work a month at a time and his mom at times runs out of money at home and has to ask Carlos for help.)
CD player for Dennis to listen to children’s programs $40
*Building crew $110
*Art teacher $21
*3 helpers at Cascabel $60
For Carlos to have pocket money to run the project $200

Present Needs at Cascabel

I also need a corporation or private donor who would like to build the 2 story home. $25,000.

When I hear about surrounding needs I like to try and help. I have decided to begin a Mercy Fund.


Mercy Fund.

It was established Sept.1, 2008 with a deposit of  $400 for…
2  pastors in the mountains whose families are sleeping on plastic on dirt floors. They get around $3.50 per month from the poor they minister to.. They have been coming to Carlos for help.

Medicine for Arnold Bilche a 14 year old, with chronic epilepsy whose father ran off when he was 2. Arnold at times has 20 severe seizures a day when there is no medicine. Durning these times he cannot leave home. His mother lost her job because she needs to attend to her son. Arnold needs $50 per month for his medicine to be able to stop the  seizures from occurring.

Carmen Milagro, 12, has Cerebral Palsy. Her dad abandoned her when she was 2 days old. Mother does domestic work and makes $25 per month. She is  supporting Carmen and her 16 year old daughter who is studying. An offering for this family for nutrition and child care would be helpful.

Mari Ellen around 10 years old, had her eye pecked by a rooster and she is blind in it. It causes her pain and needs $40 per month for her eye-drops.

Edwin Lopez is 8, he has no motor skills and sort of sits on a potty surrounded by a wood crib-cage the size of a garbage can. The last offering that came to him was in 2007. It was for milk, a toy car and a bed. If someone would like to take on Edwin as a project of mercy for better food, therapy and education, I can find out more about him and his needs. Please remember his name if you wish to pursue him.

Torivio is the night watchman at the project. He volunteers but it would be nice to get him out of his plastic roof at his home that leaks. He has 3 kids under it. Carlos is giving him the tiles presently on the kitchen. I need a $100 donation to buy him some wood beams to put his roof on. Done!

We would also like to enclose the cook’s small outdoor kitchen at her home. She owns the house and this would be great. $400 Thank you to a lady in Ohio who met this need! Oct 10, 2008

 I also want all the workers at the children’s home to be able to get paid. And the kids to eat. I thank my customers who are helpingme with this. In October 2008 you helped to raise $550. In November $850 and in December $1,600.

Possible Micro investments to help the poor get out of poverty and become self sufficient.

1) Invest in a bean field $140

$25 to rent 2 ½ acres of land to plant
$75 for 100 lbs . of beans to sow
$40 fertilizer
A good return could pull a family out of poverty.

2) Invest in a nursery

$600 will buy many plants for resale. The land for the house in Cascabel is cleared and until I find a donor to build a 2 story house, the space can be used to house a nursery business. The nursery can easily be moved to another location once we start building the big house. There is no such nursery anywhere near this town. And they are right off the Pan American Highway . The returns will let them buy more plants and support the kids.

 

3) Build a Store and buy provisions to stock it.

A store could sell cold drinks and meat from their freezer. Also corn, beans, rice, coffee, clothes, shoes, plants and the crafts of the kids to support the project.

location is in the town of Uniles where we will put in a large oven.

The Stotre is up and running! And heping with many needs.

4) Bakery Oven

Build a large bakery oven with a screened in work place and roof, and buy the supplies to bake. We have professional bakers and sales people who are eager to own their own bakery. They travel far, are paid little and this would benefit the community. A large oven costs about $500. The structure can also be turned into a bread store with clothing, plants, and grains sold there as well. The ½ acre is already owned by the children’s organization.
Thank you to the Canadian lady who donated for the oven to be built in October 2008. We could still use help to complete this project. Project begins in Jan. 2009 after the rains ceace.

Anyone who feels moved to help with any of these needs or projects can donate directly via Paypal or send along a check to Flutemaker Ministries. In the memo please mention what it is for or include a note. Send to the address below. We will send you a tax-deductible receipt.

Flutemaker Ministries

14701 SW 18th Ct.

Davie, FL. 33325

Thanks for the support!

God be with you in all you do.

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given, the Lord will repay.” Proverbs 19:17

 Erik and Chuck with Flutemaker Ministries