Running From Otto

We never dreamed that our first real trip up river would be because we were running from a hurricane. For days we watched the weather reports showing Bluefields right in the cone of the hurricane track prediction.

Our Thanksgiving tradition in Nicaragua has been to spend the holiday in Managua with the Buzbees. Donna went over on Sunday leaving Dan to oversee work being done on the boat. By Monday morning there was talk of closing the airport and he had to jump on a plane in a hurry if he was going to get his turkey in Managua. He also had a very important steering cable that needed to be extended. He took it in Tuesday morning and left it with the experts. By Tuesday night, he felt strongly to go back to Bluefields and take Caribbean Grace to safety. But it was useless unless he could take the cable which wasn't ready Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday morning he headed out from the Buzbees...the cable was miraculously ready, there was a seat on the plane and he was off.

By Wednesday afternoon Dan and his crew were headed up river. Here are some pictures of the trip...

 Heading for the light beyond the clouds.

 Pesca Nica...where many old fishing boats end up.

 It wasn't very rough...mostly lots of rain...

 Roberto

 Arriving at Kukra Hill with many boats already there.

 Caribbean Grace finding her place at the dock.

 From the largest to the smallest...all looking for a safe haven.

 Lunch onboard.

 Sunrise Friday morning...time to head home. 

Greatfully, Hurricane Otto had veered south and spared Nicaragua.

Dan getting some coaching from the expert, Aliside, the best mechanic in Bluefields.

 Everyone was heading home...

 The blue sky was such a welcome sight.

 Some boats lined up like baby ducks, getting a tow.

Safely home with the crew...Aliside, Alejandro, Roberto and Dan

The Coast Guard gave us permission to make this trip, even though we are still not licensed or registered, because it was an emergency. We are now working on getting this done. Please pray that this will be done with as little hassle and cost as possible. 

We are grateful for so many things...this will certainly be a Thanksgiving to remember. 

Happy Holidays, Dan and Donna Letton

A side ministry that has become my heart!

Pancake Saturday...we love to do this when we can...these kids can put them away! We made six batches and they ate every one!

What began as a few hours here and there spent at the children's home Verbo church started almost two years ago, has now totally captured my heart. Of course developing the mobile clinic is still our main purpose here, but it is mostly Dan's focus.

I now go out four days a week to teach the kids English and Wednesday has become Art day. You wouldn't think that one hour with only six kids (half of the 11 each time) would take much toil on your energy. Think again! But what a blessed sacrifice that little bit of energy is.

A short time ago, the house parents, Kevin and Julisa, had to go to a training that took them away for a week. We said that we could oversee the house during the daytime while they were gone. As soon as they left almost half the kids came down with a virus. So an occasional checking in turned into most of every day out there. But again, what a blessing those kids were. They just wanted to be near us...cuddle up on the couch or play cards...anything to be near. We got them all well, and even added another little girl before Kevin and Julisa got back.

This desire of ours to be nearer to the kids and have more input into their lives has led us to a decision to build a small house on the property. Right now we live a fair distance away...far enough that we don't make quick drop-in calls. If we lived there, we could be involved a lot more and in a more natural way. But having our own space will help to keep us sane. :)

 A friend of mine sent "Jesus Storybook Bibles" for the children...Tania is reading to Leiyanni...

...and Assadi is reading to Ingrid.

Dan and Tygy are deep in discussion about something ... 

Probably boats!

Here are a few things to pray about:

- Kevin and Julisa. They are a very young couple with a huge responsibility. Please pray for protection over their relationship and the wisdom and grace to put into these lives.

- The children: Anthony (12), Cesar (11), Luis (10), Dared (10), Richard (11), Tygy (8), Tania (11), Ashley (10), Leiyanni (10), Assadi (7), Ingrid (6)...Pray that they will be open to all the Lord has for them at this home.

- Our new house. It will be a tiny one, built much like the local houses. Please pray for the building and the relocating...that it will all go smoothly.

Thanks so much for your interest in our lives and your support in so many ways. We are so very grateful!

Blessings, Donna and Dan Letton

Launch, Dedication and First Run

What a couple of weeks we have had!! And what should be such a simple story has so many twists and turns...hope we can make it clear for you all. 
The timeline for the "end of the beginning" is:
August 24th, the Launch, September 21st, the Dedication, and September 27th, the First Run.

Inbetween these dates are so many ups and downs...you can't imagine.

But let's get into the pictures...that's the best part!

August 24th...the Launch

Launching a boat with a Caterpillar was new to us...

What a happy moment...and what a beautiful boat!!

The men in the water then walked/swam her over to her new berth at a dock almost nextdoor.

Next comes the Dedication on September 21st. It was a beautiful morning until about a half hour before we were to begin...then it started raining...and raining...and raining. In fact, the more we prayed and thanked God, the more it rained. Was He raining down his blessings? We like to think so...

Friends came from as far away as Arkansas and Florida as well as Managua. All of the boat builders were there, and many friends from Bluefields.

The rain stopped completely when it was time to cut the ribbon and have people come onboard and tour the boat.

Pastor Ed and Dan cutting the ribbon...

 It was a great day!

And last but not least, the First Run on September 27th. Santiago, the boat builder and the mechanic said they wanted to take Caribbean Grace out for a run to see how the engines were working. We don't have the registration or license yet, but they said it would be fine. Everyone was excited!

Captain Dan at the helm...

on the river...

 The "Tres Amigos"... Dan, Roberto and Santiago

So this is where we are now... a few more things to be completed inside the cabin and a few more changes to be made outside and we're off!

We do have a few prayer requests:

A number of items are being held in Customs in Managua (since the middle of July)...the radio, a generator, depthfinder...and more. 

Please pray that they will be released soon and that we won't have to pay huge fines/taxes.

We need our registration and license. The Navy needs to inspect, and the fees/taxes could be very high...we don't know yet. 

Please pray for a favorable inspection and low or no fees and taxes. (We were told at one time that there would be none...?)

We have hired a wonderful and Godly man to be Dan's assistant as well as captain the boat, Roberto Cash. 

Please pray for the money to pay his monthly salary.

Please pray for monthly operational expenses...which help support the local economy.

Thank you so so much for your interest, your prayers, and your support...it is a blessing to have such a great team behind us. 

"Fair winds and following seas"...

Dan and Donna Letton

Please pass this on...

Nearing the Launch Date

Ok...how embarrassing that we haven't posted for almost a year! It's not because things haven't been happening...they have. We've had a number of technical difficulties that have discouraged us in our blogging. 

One huge encouragement and a major piece of the puzzle was put in when Dan found his "right-hand man", Roberto Cash. What a gem of a man. He has proven himself on many occasions to be indispensible. He not only is a brother who loves the Lord with all his heart, he is a sea captain, a great translator, takes initiative, keeps Dan on track, and knows or is related to just about everyone in Bluefields. He and his wife, Carla, have 7 children who are also wonderful. (One of his daughters has become our Spanish teacher.)
    

        Roberto and Carla            

The boat is really almost finished. We are looking at weeks instead of months to the launch. Dan has set several launch dates that he likes to say, "God has ignored." Like any new project, there are so many unknowns. And once the outside of the boat was finished, it was hard to see the progress that was being made on the inside. Here are some recent photos of the work...

The hand rails have been put in and a cockpit roof has been added. This will make it so much more pleasant when going up river in the hot sun. It will also make the cockpit useable as a clinic station, eating and meeting area and there are 6 hooks for hammocks.

The view from the cockpit...

Part of the galley and the galley gas stove. There were only two of these beauties in Bluefields.

Inside shot of the main cabin and the new windows. They still have the protective film on them so you can't see out yet, but the view will be great! As you can see, there is a lot going on.

And the view of the windows from the front. The boat looks rough because they have sanded it down for its final coat of paint...which they are painting now between the rain storms.

So much has been done that can't be seen just yet...mattresses were made to fit each sleeping bunk and Donna has been busy making the sheets. So many things that you don't think about until you picture a night on the boat: pillows, towels, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, dish towels, tables, and chairs. And then all the nautical devices that are needed: GPS, VHS radio, depth finder, compass, safety equipment like life jackets and rescue rings. And ropes...all the ropes that are needed. And fenders and flares and fire extinguishers.

One last thing...some of you may have heard that one of our 85 HP engines was stolen. On a stormy night (when most robberies occur in Bluefields), several guys broke into the boat cabin and stole the engine. Our precious boat builder, Santiago, took it personally and was determined to get it back. He hired a whole group of guys to canvas the city and he found it! The thieves haven't been aprehanded as yet, but we are just so thankful that we don't have to buy a third engine.

Thank you so much for your prayers, your giving, and your encouragement. By the end of the summer you are more than welcome to come to Bluefields and take a ride on "Caribbean Grace".

A trip to Muy Muy (Very Very)

On the bus...we were packed in like sardines and at one time
Dan held a heavy little girl on his lap!

Dan, Sindy Sinclair (a local friend) and I went to see Herman and his family in northwestern Nicaragua. It ended up being a 10-hour trip Thursday by boat, two buses, and taxi, and then an hour Friday morning by pickup truck.

We stayed overnight in a little town called Muy Muy which means "Very Very." We wondered, "very very what?" At first we thought it may be "very very beautiful", until we got there and thought, "very very small", but by the end of our stay we decided it was "very very interesting".

On Friday morning we talked to Herman by phone. He and his family were to come meet us in Muy Muy. He was bringing his ill mother to the clinic to get an injection. He first had to carry her on his back (remember he is blind) down the mountain and across a stream that was up to his knees. He then put her on a horse and held her on while one of his boys led them down to the road. They were hoping to catch the one bus to Muy Muy that day, but got there late. We we talked to him, he was very upbeat and said not to worry, they could probably catch a ride with a truck going by. This seemed very iffy to us so we began looking for someone who could take us up to meet them and and bring them all down. At breakfast we prayed and asked the Lord to provide a way for Herman and his family to get to town. We asked two different men, but one was charging too much and the other couldn't go for an hour. (I neglected to add that Herman's 70 year old mother had had a fall and was no longer able to talk; we think she probably had a stroke.) Finally, we were told about a mechanic down the road who might know someone who could help us. We headed out to find him. What an answer to prayer he was! Juan Carlos Lopez is a strong Christian and travels all over Nicaragua sharing the Gospel and ministering when he isn't a mechanic. After we told him about Herman and what we wanted to do, he said he thought he knew of someone and he would like to meet Herman himself. He called his brother, who for a good price agreed to take us to Balsamo, the area where Herman was waiting.

Finding Herman and his family on the side of the road. 

When we got up the mountain, which took about 45 minutes, we saw the little band...Herman with his arms wrapped around his mother trying to keep her warm, and his four children huddled him around like a hen with her chicks. The kids were so excited to see us, they were jumping up and down. They had to look in the bag we had to see what we had brought them. The soccer ball was the biggest hit.

Talking with Herman on the way back to town.

The two younger boys...

Then we dropped the bag off at a neighbor's, and headed back down the mountain. Our first stop was the clinic to get Herman's mom set up with the doctor. She needed an IV that would take several hours. 

Sindy and the kids eating a hearty lunch.

We left Herman with her, and took the kids to lunch. We then took them to buy warm jackets, shoes and hats. It gets pretty cold at their elevation, especially during rainy season and they had left Bluefields so quickly when they heard the grandma was sick that they didn't take much with them...not even shoes, only rubber boots.We left Herman with her, and took the kids to lunch. We then took them to buy warm jackets, shoes and hats. It gets pretty cold at their elevation, especially during rainy season and they had left Bluefields so quickly when they heard the grandma was sick that they didn't take much with them...not even shoes, only rubber boots.

Dan and I on the back of the pick up truck riding all over town...

It turns out that Herman has four brothers and a sister, but he is the only one willing to help his mother. Even her husband quickly drinks up any money he is able to make. Cousins were supposed to come and help him get his mom back up the mountain...but no one came and he ended up carrying her on his back through the stream that was then chest high. Through all of this he has the most loving, grateful heart. He never complains, nor does he speak against his father or siblings. He just takes it all in stride, working when he can find work, taking care of his mother and his children and never once even mentioning that he is blind which makes everything harder.

The IV wasn't finished when it was time for them to catch the
bus home, so they took it with them and Dan tied it
to an upper rack in the bus.

So, when we start to complain about some little "inconvenience" in our lives here, we think of our friend, Herman, and his family and what they deal with every day, and we are humbled and grateful for the example Herman is to us.

Please continue to pray for him and his family that they can get home to Bluefields as quickly as possible.

Things are happening...

First of all, we would like to apologize for not up-dating this blog for quite some time. We have been busy with boat building and teaching and just learning how to live in this amazing place!

We have the most beautiful sunrises in Bluefields...it's a great way to start the day! For the past several weeks, it seems like everday something amazing happens. 

We have had to stop work again on Caribbean Grace because of lack of funds, but the Lord hasn't stopped working in amazing ways. We've made much progress in formulating the purpose and mission of the project. 

 Sunrise over Bluefields Bay...

Dr. Palacios, a dentist, and Dr. Tellez, a family practice M.D. 

These two doctors are interested in helping Dan build a local team of medical professionals to serve. We are also hoping to connect with the nursing and medical programs here in Bluefields to get the young people out into the communities. There is so much need even in the areas close to Bluefields.

Together with the leadership of our local church, Verbo, we have seen the importance of using local people for ministering to the communities up the rivers. We are very excited about the possibilities... getting medical personnel, young people, church workers reaching out to their own. 

Santiago and Oscar, the builders

Over the past year, these men have been invaluable. Dan has had many lively discussions with them on the specific design specifications of this boat and the ways to make the changes that will make her more useful.

Marvin, the fisherman, weaving a castnet. He is one of the first people Dan met when we came to Bluefields. He's given a lot of good advice and when it was time to work on getting a tender for "Caribbean Grace", Dan went to Marvin to see if he had something.

Marvin and the Panga he plans to re-fit for fishing on the bay

The 20' dory Dan purchased from Marvin to rebuild as a tender for "Caribbean Grace". This will used to transport people and supplies from the shore to "Caribbean Grace" at her mooring. 

Santiago with the rebuilt dory. Quite a tranformation!

Complete with a non-slip deck!

This boat will also be used for youth outings on the bay, taking the kids at Barnabas House (the Verbo Church's children's home) fishing on the bay or crossing the bay for a day at the beach. Dan also wants to learn how to sail this craft, using a local sail rig.

We would like to know if any of you want to be added to our newsletter mailing list. We try to get one out every quarter. If so, please e-mail us at dan.donna.letton@gmail.com and send us your mailing address.

Additional funding needed to complete construction of "Caribbean Grace":

Two 75 H.P. Yamaha outboard engines.....$13,600.

Finish the interior fit-out.................................8,000.

Sails, rigging, safety equipment......................5,000.

TOTAL........................................................$26,600.

If you would like to help financially, you can write a check made out to Global Outreach with Letton Account #1056 written at the bottom and send it to: 

Global Outreach International 

P.O. Box 1

Tupelo, MS 38802

We would appreciate any comments or feed-back.

We greatly value your prayers and support.

Blessings,

Dan and Donna Letton