Nicaragua Rehab Outreach

Author © Scott D. Zachary

       It is now August 1, 2021. I’m approaching the twelfth anniversary of my sobriety. That may not seem—in and of itself—exciting to some people; however, it did open a world of delightful experiences that would’ve been otherwise improbable—largely beyond my reach. Had I not latched onto such a substantial period of abstinence from alcohol, I certainly would not be going to Nicaragua next month to share my faith, hope, and experience with alcoholics and addicts at drug and alcohol rehab centers. What a privilege it will be to encourage attentive ears to restore their dysfunctional lives. What events ushered this opportunity into my life?

       Our Christian mission team had planned to spend the first week of August 2020 on a medical/dental/optical/veterinary/evangelical mission in the town of La Fonseca in eastern Nicaragua. Restricted travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceled our planned mission the previous summer. Instead, during the last week of November 2020, our team sponsored a Nicaraguan mission team made up of those who usually supported our team of Americans. The need for their aid in eastern Nicaragua was amplified by not one, but two Category 4 hurricanes that hit the same area prior to the team’s arrival: Eta and Iota—thirteen days and fifteen miles apart. The tons of beans and rice that our team donated could not have been better timed! Many of our American team members were blessed to share in that mission via online Zoom sessions.

       The Nicaraguan mission, led by Omar Barquero, was a tremendous success. Two or three times each day during the four-day mission, Omar spoke to us about the results of their mission, and he interpreted some of the villagers’ grateful comments. The doctors, nurses, dentists, and optician conveyed the enormous appreciation of their patients.

       Bobbie and I had begun donating walking canes several years earlier. That year was only the second time we had donated crutches to our “Hope for Nicaragua” mission team. On the third day of the mission, Omar introduced an elderly man on a pair of those crutches, who thanked us through his tears for enabling him to walk again. Omar translated the man’s profound appreciation. The man said he could not put any weight on one leg, thus making it impossible for him to walk without crutches. Even if crutches were available, he would not have been able to afford them.

       The Nicaraguan missionaries gave away hundreds of stuffed animals to children who never imagined having such an adorable gift. During the previous March, our Team Captain, Eric Paulsen, sent out an update requesting several items that were still needed, including stuffed animals. So, Bobbie and I drove to our local Dollar General store to buy stuffed critters, which turned into a clear-the-shelves shopping spree at several Dollar General stores. Undoubtedly, hundreds of little boys and girls sprouted the grandest smiles upon receiving a beautiful fluffy stuffed animal that will be their most prized possession for years to come.

       On the last day of the mission, Omar told us that he had worked with numerous alcoholics and addicts during the mission, and many had asked him to come back at least once a month to conduct Celebrate Recovery meetings. Omar said he told them he would when the money is available to fund his travel. Omar explained that BMDMI is basically broke because they receive much of their funding from the American mission team fees, and the pandemic had prevented mission teams from coming to Nicaragua.

       Only a couple of weeks before the Zoom mission, it occurred to me that I needed to share a substantial portion of the abundant blessings that had filled my life since God and Alcoholics Anonymous had enabled me to become sober eleven years earlier. Without God and Alcoholics Anonymous, I could not have achieved more than a decade of sobriety. I know. I tried to quit drinking on my own for forty years with scant success. So, I had begun scouting for such a way to repay this debt. And here it is!

       As soon as that Zoom meeting concluded, I emailed our Team Captain and asked him for Omar’s email address. Then I sent Omar the following message:

I am also a “friend of Bill.” I received my eleven-year Alcoholics Anonymous token a few weeks ago, so my heart was touched when you talked about the addicts and alcoholics there. What kind of funding do you need to meet with them once a month? I would love to help with that.

       Omar was far beyond delighted. He told me that during their BMDMI meetings the previous spring, they had set a goal to create a drug and alcohol rehab outreach throughout Nicaragua when their funding resumes. That inspired me to sponsor Omar’s rehab outreach.

       Omar started the Nicaragua Rehab Outreach in December of last year, and he continues to work with hundreds of alcoholics and drug addicts at rehab centers throughout Nicaragua. His efforts have initiated numerous Celebrate Recovery programs, and he is leading many alcoholics and addicts away from their addictions into lives centered on Jesus Christ. In addition, Omar is partnering with several churches, and they are baptizing many people who have accepted the Lord as their Savior. As Omar put it, “When an addict knows the Lord and is free from the slavery to any substance or addiction, the family has a living miracle showing the Grace, Love, and Mercy from the Lord.”

       I’m honored to say that Omar has invited me to come down to Nicaragua for a couple of weeks in September to work with him in leading alcoholics and addicts into a productive life of recovery. It’s time for me to gear up on my Spanish and prepare for giving talks to alcoholics and addicts.

       My last day visiting with Omar next month will be my twelfth birthday. Celebrating with Omar while sharing my recovery story will make it extra special.

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       During the week following their mission to La Fonseca, Omar provided us the below summary results of their mission. Before visiting the clinics, everyone heard the Gospel at least twice.

·        Medical Patients: 1,663

·        Dental Patients: 89

·        Tooth extractions: 78

·        Animals Treated: 558

·        Eyeglasses distributed: 488

·        Bibles Given: 288

·        Books of John Given: 1,200

·       Family Packs: $14,154 in beans and rice distributed

·        Cervical Cancer Screenings: 55

·        Cryotherapy Treatments: 7 (lives saved)

·        Ultrasounds: 64

·        Professions of Faith: 176 (eternities saved)