Views from our morning walk...

Here are some photos we took today on our morning walk...we went from fairly populated areas to much more remote sections. The people here really know how to use what they have and their love of color makes everything brighter!

An elementary school next door to our compound.

We followed this chicken all the way to her home...

A lovely picture of the Caribbean

Do you see the turkey in the yard?

This is the real meaning of "cage free chickens"

These houses have a wonderful view but not easy access...

And you have to cross a small river to get to this one in this beautiful setting.

No one is afraid of hard work...

Dan is making great progress on getting the boat in working order again. He had a team of guys come out this week and get all the floors and decks sanded and painted in one day. The engines are working and the barnacles have all been scraped off. A team of guys from the church have committed to help move this project forward...in whatever way the Lord leads. We are very grateful!!

Back in Bluefields

Hello Friends!

We are so happy to be here...to reconnect after a year with dear friends. Not much has changed...the Spirit keeps us connected so that we can pick up right where we left off. The fellowship is sweet! But there have been changes...kids have grown, some things are harder to get, and many people have left for work in other countries. 

Church last Sunday

There is a lot of work to be done on Caribbean Grace... painting, cleaning, engine work, electric and water systems and more. Dan got a crew from the YWAM base to help clean the boat and scrape barnacles off the bottom. They all had a great time...especially with a pizza party at the end.

The YWAM team with their leaders & the leaders' children.

 Some of the YWAM girls scrubbing the barnacles off the bottom of the boat...it's hot here now so the cool water felt good!

A lovely lady from England, Margaret, started the Saturday Lunch Club a few years ago especially for the homeless and elderly. When we are here we love to help...these people are so happy to have this to come to. We have a devotion, singing, lunch and then always a game.

Here are a couple of shots from our neighborhood...

Have you ever seen a jackfruit? They are massive, but have lovely little fruit pods inside. You can pay $40. for one in a US grocery store and we have them all around our house. They are a little hard to open, but are worth the trouble.

This is a little vegetable, fruit, clothing, and more shop just down the road from us. Many people have little shops like this in their homes...

We will be here a total of 3 months, which isn't that long, but we are hoping that it will be long enough to get the things done that need doing. 

Some of you may not know that we are transitioning out of our overseas ministry. After 35 years, we believe the Lord is saying, "Come home." We are praying and seeking Him as to whom we can pass on the ministry of Caribbean Grace. We have committed to financially supporting the maintenance and upkeep of the boat until the end of this year. There is still much to be done to finish strong.

Please pray with us that the right person, people, or group will come along that has a vision that needs a boat! There are so many things Caribbean Grace could be used for: medical, dental, well-drilling, evangelism, church planting...the list is long. And if you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass on this blog or our contact information.

As always, we so appreciate those who have supported us in prayer and giving over the years.

Blessings,

Dan and Donna Letton

dan.donna.letton@gmail.com

 Here is  our latest news...Please read and pass on. Blessings, Dan and Donna

Our latest newsletter...

 

Sheltering in place...

Dear friends...

It's been awhile since we have posted here, but we wanted to post our most recent newsletter so that you can see what's happening with us during these crazy sheltering-in-place times.

We hope you are all safe and healthy...please try and keep that way.

Love and blessings, Dan and Donna Letton

We are now cleaning teeth!

For a couple of years, we have been looking for a portable dental unit that we could use to clean and fill teeth. If we found one, we didn't have the money for it and if we had the money, we couldn't find what we needed. This past spring, a couple who works in central Nicaragua came to visit our church in Bluefields. They got to talking to Dan, and he told them about the dental work up river. They immediately said that they had a portable dental unit that they were no longer using. All we had to do was to come and get it!

So in August, our wonderful dentist, Dr. Vania Sevilla taught 5 people how to do teeth cleaning. They practiced on the people in our church which made everyone happy. In October, we took our first trip doing both cleaning and pulling teeth. It was great...there was so much activity on the boat. 

There were three people from Pennsylvania who had actually raised the funds for the trip that came along. One was a nurse, who got on-the-job training on pulling teeth and a young lady who is a Spanish speaker who played with the children while their parents were waiting on the dentist. We went to only one village this time, but had 3 days of clinic. We were able to service 127 people and handed out dozens of Bibles.

Street seafood market in Bluefields. Delvis, our cook (on the right), shopping for the trip.

Chillin' along the river

Lunch Break...and what wonderful food we had!

Shelsy using her newly acquired skill....cleaning teeth.

Some patients waited all day in the rain to be treated.......

Kara, a nurse, (on the right) and Mariana with new friends. The little girl on the left wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Whenever we come to her village she is always out on the dock waiting for us.

Aaron, is taking a turn at cleaning teeth. (Newly donated dental unit in the background).

Dra. Sevia, assisted by Mellissa who is a local nurse.

This is one way to get a horse across the river, and actually, the most common way to do it.

More friends...

Cafribbean Grace at Pueblo Nuevo dock

Dra. Sevia and Mariana with a crowd looking on.

Lunch break in the main cabin...Dra. Sevilla is trying to cool off.

Dra. Sevilla and Delvis...Two tired but happy workers

What a great team this was...though they didn't all know each other before the trip, they worked together as if they had been friends for years ... working together to help those in need.

If you would like to help finance a trip in 2020, you can make a donation through Global Outreach at www.globaloutreach.org. account #1056.

Each trip costs approximately $3000. This includes fuel, food, dental supplies, medications and staff wages.

Thanks for reading our blog.... please pass it on.

Dan and Donna Letton

The Local Team Takes Shape...

There were a lot of firsts... 

A 6-day trip...our longest.
A team of nine...the biggest crew yet.
Four women...first time to have women along.
Two from the States...the first time with foreigners.

Our dentists were both Nicaraguan as well as our nurse. The two girls from the States were EMTs. We went to three communities, Haulover, Orinoco, and Pueblo Nuevo and saw a total of 216 patients...the team worked hard and blessed a lot of people.

At one point during the trip, Dan looked around and saw everyone happily working...doing their specific jobs and he thought, "This is just how I envisioned it." Dr. Sevilla and Dr. Leon have been such a blessing and seeing them eager to serve their own people has further encouraged us in developing a local team. We now have a pool of twelve people from which to draw...for piloting the boat, cooking meals, triaging and treating patients, and doing a host of other duties. 

To have local team members, funds are needed. These doctors and medical workers, as well as the crew, have to take time from their normal jobs and we feel that it is only right to compensate them. 

Here are some specific ways that you can support this ministry:

• $15. pays for dental care for one patient.
• $50. pays a doctor's salary for one day.
• $400. pays for one day...medical staff, food, fuel, medical supplies and crew. (Most trips are 4 to 5 days.)

Donations can be sent to Global Outreach, account number 4448

Here are a few pictures from this latest trip...

Our female crew: Ashanti Cash, R.N., Dr. Vania Sevilla, dentist, Beth and Martha, EMTs

Our two dentists: Dr. Jesse Leon and Dr. Vania Sevilla

It's almost impossible to keep the kids off the boat...we are like a magnet for them.

"Captain Adorable"

Ashanti organizing instruments and getting ready for the day's clinic.

Our chef made sure we ate well. Here we are in the main cabin which serves many functions.

The city dock at Orinoco...people were waiting for us when we got there.

Dr. Leon usually likes to work in the cockpit, but it was raining.

Dr. Sevilla ended up working on this man for over an hour.

The EMTs did triage in the cockpit while others patiently waited their turn.

They had a pediatric blood pressure cuff that calmed and entertained the kids.

Beth with a baby and her new toothbrush.

Sunset over Pearl Lagoon.

Entering the Wawashan River

Motoring up the river to the next stop, Pueblo Nuevo.

Arriving at Pueblo Nuevo,.. our first time here.

Dockside clinic...

It was Market Day so there were plenty of people in town to see the dentist.

Dr. Leon back in his favorite work space...

A local beauty...

Innovation...

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our blog space. Please pray for the ministry here. Caribbean Grace is under the umbrella of our local fellowship, Verbo Christian Church. 

Blessings, Dan and Donna Letton

We would love to hear from you! dan.donna.letton@gmail.com