Shining Beacons – Part 2
Author © Scott D. Zachary

       We had more stuffed animals this year than ever to give away. I quickly ran out of the ones Bobbie had shipped in a box labeled for the eye clinic and made several trips to fetch more of them from family packs and the dental clinic. Soon, twelve-year-old Kayden, who worked in family packs, took it upon himself to deliver a continual supply of stuffed animals to me in the optical clinic. I told him that he was my hero. And he was! I watched Kayden’s interactions with everyone and was thoroughly impressed with his level of maturity and compassion, a degree to which many adults never approach.

       Early Monday afternoon, I tended a patient who was uncommonly far-sighted. This 55-year-old man couldn’t read any lines on our eye chart. We had never stocked readers with a magnifying power higher than 3.25x as we had never needed them before. I grinned emphatically and removed one of the pairs of 5.00x readers from its box, saying, “Prueba estos anteojos, por favor.” (Try these eyeglasses, please.) The man put them on, looked down at the eye chart, and his face instantly ripened into a broad smile.

       I asked him which lines could he read on the eye chart. He answered, “Todo!” and proceeded to read the smallest line at the bottom. He confidently pronounced, “Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en El cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.” (John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.)

       The man looked into my eyes and rattled off a lot of Spanish words so quickly that I could only interpret two: Dios and bendiciones (God and blessings); however, I knew what he meant from his beaming smile, his grateful grasp of my hand, and the joyful look in his tear-filled eyes.

       Thanks to Dr. Wizzle urging me to bring stronger readers for this mission, we enabled this man to read for the first time in years.

       “Es mi placer y mi privilegio a servirle, señor.” (It is my pleasure and my privilege to serve you, sir.) I removed his hat and placed around his neck one of the more elegant men’s necklaces with a beautiful cross having the Lord’s prayer inscribed on it in Spanish. Do you think there’s any chance that he will ever forget that moment? I know I won’t.

       Abraham and I made a good team evangelizing to the patients coming into the clinic. After tending to the people’s eyeglass needs, I usually asked something like, “¿Ha usted aceptado Jesucristo en su corazón como su salvador?” (Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as your
Savior?) Many said, “Sí.” Many others said they had accepted Jesus during the worship service. I responded, “¡Fantastico, usted es mi hermano (o hermana) en Jesucristo!” (Fantastic, you are my brother/sister in Jesus Christ!) and shook their hand warmly.

       I encouraged those who replied that they hadn’t accepted Jesus Christ to do so now. Whenever my limited Spanish began to fail me, Abraham took over. We were blessed to lead a young man named Máximo to accept Jesus Christ into his heart as his personal Savior. Being an instrument of the Lord in that way is the highest honor. Abraham ran to retrieve one of the local pastors who wrapped our new Christian brother in prayer.

       A well-dressed, poised gentleman carrying a book bag came into the eye clinic for readers. I asked him if he was a pastor, and the man introduced himself as Pastor Victor. I asked him if he happened to walk long distances. When he said he did, I told him, “¡Tengo un regalo para usted desde mi hijo Jonathon en Kentucky!” (I have a present for you from my son Jonathon in Kentucky!) I presented him with the CamelBak hydration pack that Jonathon had given me the previous Christmas. The pastor told me this is a godsend for his many miles of walking. During our conversion, Pastor Victor mentioned that he had three young children. I gave him a children’s Bible storybook for them and a cross necklace for his wife.

       (I thought it was cute that a couple of weeks after this mission, Jonathon asked Bobbie, “What can I get Scott for Christmas?” She replied, “I’m sure he’d love to have another hydration pack.” Jonathon retorted, “Really? He’ll just give it away.” I wonder how many other people consistently ask for a Christmas present that they fully intend to give away.)

       I didn’t settle in one place for long. On one of my journeys, I talked with the lady who was cleaning the restrooms. I asked if she had any children and what their ages were. I ran back, retrieved gifts for Maude, her three children, and her husband. She was delighted. I thanked her for keeping the restrooms clean. The restrooms on our mission trips are usually outhouses, but this year, we men were blessed with genuine ceramic toilets in proper toilet stalls. The water to the bathroom was disabled, so we had to dump a bucket of water in them; however, it was still an improvement. The women were relegated to using typical outhouses.

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       Tuesday—a stressful day for Bobbie. Standing continuously on concrete for hours in the kitchen had caused her to have severe cramps in the back of her left thigh. Shirley exiled her to the courtyard behind the kitchen with the chickens, bunnies, and turkeys. There, the Queen of Sheba luxuriated on padded wooden storage crates. Mandy suggested waving palms to keep Her Highness cool. Shirley suggested feeding her grapes but was only able to come up with a huge can of black olives. Bobbie said that was beneath her regal standards.

       As soon as I heard about Bobbie’s difficulties, I visited her royal courtyard. She was frustrated that she couldn’t help in the kitchen. I told her to relax and enjoy her downtime with the other turkeys. Bobbie said all of the local helpers, including Pastor Victor’s wife, were so caring that when she began bawling, they were all massaging her leg at the same time trying to relieve her agony. Bobbie was overwhelmed by everyone’s passionate concern for her well-being.

       Shortly after returning to the optical clinic, an 82-year-old lady came in and told us that diabetes had deteriorated her eyesight so much that she hadn’t been able to read her Bible for sixteen years. She looked at the eye chart but couldn’t make out the top line. I helped her try on a pair of 4.50x readers as Abraham held up the eye chart. She brushed it aside, reached down to retrieve her new Bible from her bag, opened it, and smiled the biggest smile we’d ever seen. That sweet old lady wished us many, many blessings. I told her that having the opportunity to enable her to read her Bible was all the blessing we could want. She hugged Abraham and me endearingly.

       Dr. Wizzle did it again! I think we all have that little voice; it’s just that some of us don’t listen for it, or to it. Could it be God?

       Abraham and I were blessed to lead another young man, Brian Sanchez, to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. Abraham quickly retrieved Pastor Victor who led Brian in committing his life to serve Jesus Christ. What a joy! Praise the Lord!

       Walking through the gym, I saw an elderly lady hobbling in the stifling heat. It was apparent to me that she needed her spirits lifted after waiting in lines for hours. I ran back to the clinic, grabbed the third fan necklace out of my duffel bag, placed it around her neck, and turned it on. The breeze from the fan cooled her bedazzled face. If I were a wagering man, I’d bet heavy odds that she will always remember this moment, as I will.

       Speaking of odds, how improbable is this? This is my seventh mission as team lead for an optical clinic, and this is the first time that we assisted a patient who had one pupil severely out of alignment with the other. What’s more, soon afterward, a little girl named Daniela came to the clinic with the same disorder. Compound those two firsts with the unlikely factor that Mandy was the first person ever to work in our team’s eye clinic who could diagnose the affliction as strabismus (crossed eyes or walled eyes).

       As Mandy tested these two children, she described this condition where the person’s eyes are not in alignment, causing an unclear perception. Mandy explained that strabismus is treatable with therapy, special eyeglasses, or surgery. She stressed that if this condition is not treated, then amblyopia (lazy eye) may result wherein the non-dominant eye may gradually cease to function altogether.

       With Mandy’s expert guidance, our team leaders selected both youngsters for Project Life (funding and follow-up to provide treatment for patients who need medical procedures beyond what our team can offer in the field). I had been debating about donating to our team’s Project Life fund, and this opportunity settled it. I told our Team Captain Eric that I would fund whatever treatment this seven-year-old boy and the ten-year-old girl needed. (Several months after this mission, I received a team update saying that Daniela’s surgery successfully corrected her eye affliction.)

       Roberto, a charming BMDMI administrator, delightfully surprised me when he visited the optical clinic. During a previous mission in Rancho Grande, Roberto craned his neck into the optical clinic and asked if everything was okay. I had been waiting like a spider for just the right person to stumble into my web. I exaggerated a frown and demanded, “Look how much this cost me!”

       Concerned, Roberto walked straight into my trap as I held up my squirt-gun calculator. The realistic display screen showed “9,256.25”.

       “Look,” I repeated. “Look how much I spent!”

       Roberto looked closer and closer at the calculator, trying to make sense out of the numbers. I moved it closer to his unsuspecting face, and then I pushed the total button. It splattered Roberto right between the eyes. His flabbergasted expression was priceless.

       Looking back, Roberto and I shared a great laugh. There’s nothing like a good practical joke to enhance camaraderie!

       Tuesday evening late, Eric and I had a heart-to-heart talk about God. I looked into his sincere blue eyes as he spoke of people who often talk about giving time to God. His rejoinder was that ALL of our time is God’s time; it’s a matter of how we use His time. Eric summarized his perspective by telling me that he was committed to this mission for life. The obedient and enthusiastic way that Eric answers God’s calling is my shining beacon on the hill.

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       Wednesday—another big day for Señor Dondo Elefante! After breakfast, I began taking inventory of the gifts that I still had to give away. Maude, the cleaning lady to whom I had given presents on Monday, stopped by the clinic dressed in her official city uniform. She voiced her sincerest appreciation on behalf of Las Sabanas for our team’s tremendous charity and thanked me again for my gifts to her family. I told Maude that we were honored and blessed to serve the graciously sweet people of Las Sabanas.

       Shortly after that, Mario (one of my favorite people I’ve ever known) and I were chatting near the showers when one of the other interpreters asked me for one of the “FORGIVEN” bracelets. I was out of bracelets, but I did have two cross necklaces around my neck that I was planning to give away. I put them around his neck and stipulated that he had to promise me he would give them away before the end of the day. Mario reiterated my condition in Spanish, and the interpreter agreed. As the interpreter walked away, Mario chuckled.

       Upon returning from the restroom, I stood at the top of the stairs overlooking the buzzing beehive of teamwork in the gymnasium and admired the concert of compassion displayed before my eyes. The humility of the local people also struck me, many of whom walked for hours to get here. They stood in line to attend the worship service followed by standing in long lines to enter the gym, and then they stood in line at each of the clinics. Not once have I ever seen an instance of impatience, just pure thanksgiving. Even the kids are well behaved throughout all of this waiting! Can you imagine how a few thousand “entitled” Americans would react? Those Nicaraguans could teach us a few things about being a decent human being.

       Bobbie had bought some multi-colored windmills for me to bring along. I thought about not bringing them as I couldn’t figure out what to do with them. Dr. Wizzle had nudged, “Take a few, Scott.”

       “Okay, but how do I keep them from being smashed?” I had countered.

       “You have size 24 green plastic clown shoes to protect them.”

       “Oh, yeah!” It was settled; the shoes and the windmills accompanied me to Nicaragua.

       I had always taken gifts for everyone of all ages, except the infants. The windmills were a hit with the babies. Their cries silenced in amazement at the sight of the colorful twirling windmills. And one of the guys used my big green shoes in a funny prank with Adolpho, the Nicaraguan gospel singer who wears size 16 shoes.

       After supper on Wednesday evening, most of us missionaries attended the last worship service under the big tent. That night, we experienced the most touching display of love and goodwill that I have ever known. All the missionaries put their hands on the eight local pastors and prayed for them in front of the congregation. The pastors similarly prayed for us missionaries. God’s presence was unmistakable as the 200-plus Christians of all ages in attendance streamed by us missionaries, every one of them hugging every one of us. Positively extraordinary!

       Before lights out in the men’s quarters, Tim stopped by and delighted me with news that the couple sitting on the curb the first night had given their lives to Christ during one of the services that day.

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       Thursday, as Ramón and I packed up the optical equipment and the inventory of eyeglasses, he commented that my Spanish had improved significantly. Mabel came over while we were packing, and we hugged good-bye. She told me that she’d been watching me interact with all of the people during the mission and that my spirituality had increased noticeably.

       Pastor Victor walked by, and I had to finish dressing him. He needed something to spruce up his attire, so the huge polka-dotted bow tie became his. He smiled grandly and wore it all morning.

       A darling little girl walked past me as I was packing my few remaining belongings in my backpack. I asked her to tell me her name. She said, “Rosita.” I introduced myself as Señor Dondo Elefante (Mr. Silly Elephant). Rosita giggled. I took a stance and insisted it was my name. She laughed. My serious pretense crumbled, and I laughed along with her. Rosita gleefully accepted my pink camouflage sheets, polka-dotted blanket, and bright pink towel and washcloth.

       While waiting for the trucks to be loaded, Rosita came up to me, took my hands, and we began dancing ring-around-the-rosy. Shortly, her baby sister joined us in our merriment. What a sweet send off!

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       Dinner that evening at the mission home in Managua was yummy. Afterward, Eric stood and asked all of the missionaries to share their most memorable experience during the mission, if we so wished.

       Serese, one of the nurses, said, “Upon seeing the box of 36 canes, I initially thought, ‘What in the world are we going to do with all these walking canes?’ It didn’t take me long to figure that out.” Serese described a 90-year-old lady who had many scrapes and bruises from falling. The cane they gave her provided the stability she needed, and she was overjoyed. Serese also told a story about a young man with cerebral palsy who used two rickety sticks for crutches. She said he joyfully smiled as he walked away using two of the canes.

       I expressed what a blessing it was to have Mandy working in the eye clinic this year with her vast optical experience, and I shared how much I enjoyed evangelizing to the patients with our interpreter Abraham.

       Other missionaries told stories about the children’s church, Beau’s terrific job of laying the ornate brick foundation for the showers, the graciousness and caring of the village volunteers, and how God seems to multiply the inventory in family packs when there isn’t enough to go around. Most of the missionaries shared a touching story.

       After dinner, I pulled Eric aside and told him that I am also committed to this mission for life. At the least, I would do my best to help supply and fund the Hope4Nic mission team. We shared a brotherly hug.

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       Friday—the team enjoyed sight-seeing: Half of the team chose to go zip-lining through a coffee plantation, and the other half went to Lake Nicaragua for some boating fun. Since Bobbie and I zip-lined two years before, we joined the group going to Lake Nicaragua. Besides, we looked forward to cruising past San Pablo Island where we were formally engaged by Pastor Vance two years earlier. The engagement ceremony, attended by some 30 missionaries and interpreters, replicated a wedding except Pastor Vance could not legally pronounce us husband and wife without a license.

       Both adventure teams regrouped for lunch at Los Pollos restaurant. We then went shopping at the “clean market,” as Eric calls it. Abraham guided us through the maze of shops. Unexpectedly, we ran into Charlie. I delighted in visiting with him as it had been three years since we last shared our faith. Charlie, an astute young man who polishes shoes for a living, is a shining Christian beacon. The light of the Lord shines brightly from his eyes.

       While Charlie and I were talking in Spanish, a young Nicaraguan man came up to Bobbie and asked her if she was a Christian. Bobbie happily replied, “Yes, I am! Are you?” He responded, “No.” (Bobbie later said she could see the joy of the Lord in his eyes.) With the little Spanish she knew, Bobbie asked him if he would like to accept Jesus into his heart. Bobbie, not fully understanding his response, motioned for Abraham to help with translation.

       Abraham spoke with the young man in Spanish and relayed to Bobbie that the young man wasn’t quite ready to accept the Lord. He wanted to, but something was holding him back. Charlie and I joined their conversation. Since Charlie knew the young man, Charlie volunteered to mentor him, and we dashed off to the bus.

       We ate supper quickly Friday evening because many of us had packing to do, and we all wanted to hit the sack early since the bus would leave for the airport at 4:00 a.m. At the Managua airport, melancholy tinged our good-bye hugs. We were eager to be with our families in the States, but we were also sad to leave our missionary brothers and sisters.

       “See you all next year!”

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Following is a summary from our Team Captain Eric Paulsen describing the results of our mission trip to Las Sabanas, Nicaragua:

Thank you so much...

After a steep hike and climbing the spiral staircase of an observation tower, the view was more beautiful than I had ever expected. There at the top sat a young man with a Bible he had just received from our team, indicating he had recently made a decision for Christ. He chose to do this.

The Holy Spirit was moving, and this community was ready for the Word of God. Many people took hold of the message of salvation, and most started digging into their Bibles the moment they received them. Thank you to all who prayed ahead for the people’s hearts to be ready in Las Sabanas. 

In all of our preparations, in all of our prayers... we answered the call to be His hands and feet... to serve the beautiful people of Las Sabanas. He accomplished the following through us: 

·         2,846 patients through the medical clinic

·         15,235 pharmacy prescriptions dispensed

·         7 Project Life commitments (serious medical needs requiring surgeries or other major procedures at a hospital)

·         345 dental patients and 628 tooth extractions

·         76 women through cervical cancer screening with 22 positives who received cryotherapy treatment (lives saved!)

·         312 head of cattle, 10 horses, 18 dogs, 20 pigs, 4 donkeys, 2 oxen, and 2 mules vaccinated

·         1,216 pairs of eyeglasses distributed

·         $15,000+ in family & baby packs plus 8 tons of rice and beans distributed (4 tons each)

·         1,601 meals prepared in the field

·         1,000 Bibles, 500 Books of John, 1,500+ tracts given (the word of God in the hands and homes of people)

·         558 professions of faith (eternities saved!)

With thanks and blessings,

Eric Paulsen

Team Captain