June 2016 Mission Trip
This year’s summer trip was filled with the energy of teens and young children passionate about serving others. Our team of 17 volunteers was composed of 10 adults and 7 children under the age of 16. These young men and women taught us that anyone can make a difference in this world. Our youngest team member, 6 year old Gracie, spent several days helping the team labeling envelops for medications. Brandon, at only 9 years of age, came prepared with hundreds of tracts to share the good news of the Gospel with children in Nicaragua. One of the teens used his boy scouts training to help with vital signs at the clinic, another used his Spanish skills to translate for the medical providers, while others worked and loved on the children of Nicaragua through the vacation Bible school.
Our medical team was able to care for 793 patients with a wide variety of medical needs. We provided specialty care in gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine and audiology. Our pharmacy was able to fill 2,180 prescriptions for life saving medications. Dr. Peter Tinsman spent eight extra days training gynecologists in the Boaco Hospital on laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. He also trained our staff physician on cervical biopsies and other procedures. 
Our audiology team performed full hearing evaluations on 39 new patients and provided follow up hearing aid care to many of our established hearing impaired patients. Our children’s ministry team led a powerful vacation Bible school titled “Jesus, Our Life Saver!” The kids learned through singing, story time and crafts about Jesus’s love for them. Our team also demonstrated God’s love through the washing of feet and donated over 100 pairs of sandals to mostly women and children. 
On the last day of VBS, the church was packed for “movie night” and over 100 children quietly and attentively sat as they watched the Jesus Movie. Our construction team blessed a family of six by providing a new roof and strong foundation to their home.
We spend the last day of our trip zip lining across the Tiscapa Lagoon in Managua, visiting an active volcano in Masaya and relaxing by the shores of the Apoyo Lagoon in Catarina.
We grew closer to God, to the community of Empalme de Boaco, and to each other. We would love for your church’s youth group or mission team to consider Nicaragua for your next mission trip.
If you are interested in joining us in 2017 please contact us at: Laluzministries@ymail.com.
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