Around the year 2003, Gene was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease.  Gene assessed the resources he had amassed over the years and through his post-retirement accounting business.  He decided he wanted to invest his remaining resources in something significant while he still had time. 

Gene planned to assess many options, one of which was medical missions in Nicaragua.  Gene got in touch with Teresa Miller about her medical missions work in Nicaragua.  The eventual plan was for Gene to visit a small town in northern Nicaragua called Quilali (Kee-la-lee). When Gene first arrived in Nicaragua, he planned to connect with a doctor who was supposed to provide for his transportation and housing needs.  For some reason, the doctor was unable to see to this and Gene was left stranded in Managua.   Gene rented a car for nearly $1000 and drove to Quilali where he found a small poor-quality hotel to stay at. 

Gene began to ask around the town for someone who could speak English.  He was eventually directed to a woman in the town from the Perez family.  She knew a man named Jose who might be able to help him.    Gene stayed several nights with Jose’s family and lifetime bonds were formed from that day on.  It was literally a match made in Heaven.

Jose’s family had endured a great deal over the years.  Jose grew up in the midst of the Sandinista – Contra war (of the 1980’s Iran-Contra/Oliver North scandal fame in the United States).   The Sandinistas were out to kill many Christians they felt were siding with the Contras and the town of Quilali was right at the center of the conflict.  Jose’s father, being a pastor, was one of the targets.  The family was forced to split and flee to Honduras and other areas when Jose was not yet a teenager.   He spent his childhood selling items on the street to provide for himself.  Eventually they reunited in Costa Rica and made their way back to Nicaragua after the war settled. 

Slowly, they began to rebuild their lives.  Jose worked and put himself through college little by little.  He earned a law degree and became licensed as a pastor.  Despite his degree, he continued to work on a farm and pastor a small church in the mountains.  However, he began to feel God leading him toward something different and began to pursue and earn a masters degree in education.  Eventually, he was selected as the president of Martin Luther University, a school with secondary, college and seminary programs at 23 different campuses around Nicaragua.

Jose was a perfect fit with the vision of Gene, who had been an educator until retirement.  Gene believed education was crucial for the long-term advancement of the community and so developing and expanding the campus in Quilali became a priority.   In addition, Gene saw further potential in many other projects in the community.

Gene, as a former educator, believed in supporting long-term projects that would benefit the greatest number while also providing some assistance for short-term needs as well.  One of Gene’s major projects was the construction of a Christian school that would provide for secondary education, university classes and a seminary.  In addition, he also provided for church construction, housing and equipment for the local hospital.  Another major investment was scholarships for students.  Gene believed this was one of the best ways to significantly assist the area in the long-term.  Other ministries involved spiritual counseling, medical care, medication assistance, and ministry to the sick.

Over the last few years, it became clear that Gene was very ill and his health was failing.  Gene searched for someone to continue the work in Nicaragua but no one seemed like a clear fit at the time.  Before he could finalize plans, Gene passed away February 24, 2010.  His obituary read:

 “From his first mission trip to Quilali, Nicaragua, Gene’s heart was knitted with the people there. In his last seven years he made over a dozen trips to Quilali spreading God’s love by financially supporting work projects at the hospital, country churches, a community college, education scholarships and benevolence funding for the poor and needy. His ministry there continues through his indigenous assistants in Quilali and through his granddaughter, Staci Bryant and brother in Christ, Paul Caszatt.  

Gene’s favorite song, Con Que Pagaremos–translated “With What Can We Repay,” expressed his sentiment best when surveying his body of work and service to the Lord. He regretted not having more time to give his loving Savior an even greater sacrifice of love and devotion.”

A dear friend of Gene's, Paul Caszatt had accompanied Gene on a few trips to Nicaragua and agreed to make a few more visits to Nicaragua to continue the work until it became more clear what should be done for the future.  Please click the next tab below to continue the story.

I am an adventurer.  I love good adventures and stories and I have been fortunate for so many.  This is the story of the greatest adventure I’ve been blessed with so far.  I hope you’ll come along for a few minutes to learn about, and hopefully become part of it!

Last spring, I paid an overnight visit to a dear friend and long-time ministry partner, Paul Caszatt.  After catching up a bit, Paul invited me to enjoy a crisp spring morning on the pontoon boat, cruising the small lake adjacent to his home.  As I enjoyed the fresh lake smells of spring and the crisp breeze, I listened as Paul shared his heart with me about a little town called Quilali (Kee-la-lee) in the far off Central American country of Nicaragua.  Though I had very little interest in Latin America, I tried to understand his love for these people I had never met and knew only through random pictures. Paul always displayed them amidst a few warm tears and so I knew they must be special.

Paul shared with me on my visit that he was hoping to put together a few people to visit Nicaragua in the summer, mentioning Gene’s grandson and other potential companions.  I’m not really sure why or how it came out of my mouth, but I found myself casually saying, “Hey, I might be able to go if I can work out the time off and the money.”   I believe Paul asked if I was sincere, which I wasn’t sure I was, and we left it open-ended as a vague possibility. 

A few months later, I received a call from Paul asking if I was serious about my offer.  It seemed that the rest of the team wasn’t able to go and Paul was left going on his own.  After a brief discussion of how we would handle the costs and getting approvals for vacation time, I found myself somehow agreeing to an adventure I knew little about. 

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I had never had any interest in Spanish or Latin America whatsoever so I wasn’t expecting anything incredible.  My interest was always in Africa previously.  I had long been hoping for a future opportunity there.  In fact, in mid-June 2010, just before my trip to Nicaragua, I took advantage of a last-minute opportunity to visit Tanzania, Africa for a tour of a coffee cooperative.  At the time, I began brainstorming options for assisting with programs there.  I believe God was opening up my heart through something familiar in order to prepare me for my next journey!  Just two days after returning from Africa, I quickly repacked and was on my way to Nicaragua.

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After a long layover in Houston, we arrived in Managua, Nicaragua in the evening.  We were greeted by our friend Jose and Freddy, our translator in Managua.  Our first destination was a restaurant we were assured was “safe for gringos” so we could catch up and talk about our plans.  The next day, we set off for the five hour drive on treacherous roads from Managua to Quilali, the town where we do much of our work.

By the second or third day in Nicaragua, I began to fall in love with it as well.  I could see what Gene saw in his friends and “Family” there and I was instantly hooked.  As I quickly became more family than visitor, I knew God was filling a significant void in my life and offering me the chance to help them, too.

Over the course of the visit, I began to hear about several areas of ministry potential there that required certain gifts, talents, abilities and education that I just happened to have. With Gene gone, the ministry was left with an uncertain future and a lack of leadership.  The ministry team Gene had established was concerned as to whether the ministry they loved would continue.

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Prior to his passing, Gene asked Paul to continue to bring funds and evaluate projects in Nicaragua as he was able.  However, Paul’s area of expertise is in national chemical and paint sales, not developing country economics.  In addition, Paul planned to pursue local ministry here in the United States and was concerned about how much he could commit.  As of July, Paul conceded that he would not be able to return to Nicaragua for at least two years.

In addition, due to his leadership obligations to his family, church, the university and his own farms, Jose’s ability to provide sufficient local leadership was in question.   Jose began to pray that God would provide someone to help but had no idea how God would do so. 

As I listened to the needs in July of 2010, something stirred in me.  I had spent the last ten years studying international business.  My specialization was in sustainable development, particularly in issues affecting developing countries.  In addition, I had spent time running my own business and working in project management, strategic planning, politics, local missions, poverty work and ministry to men and youth. I saw many other areas of my life that fell in line with the heart, skills and experience needed in Nicaragua.  I couldn’t ignore the possibilities. 

As I started sharing a little of this with Paul and Jose, I started to see how God may be bringing Jose’s prayers and my life together.  I told him I would pray about it and we said our goodbyes.  With a big hug, a few tears and a breaking heart, I walked off towards the plane, looking back repeatedly.

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Over the next two months, God continued to open my eyes to the possibilities.  I committed to three weeks over the holidays to do little but spend time with Jose, his family and the Perez family to assess whether I would be able to live in the culture. I also hoped to get a lot more information about work and life there. 

After a few meetings and some discussion, Paul and the Nicaraguan team decided to offer me leadership of the projects as a successor to Gene.  I quickly set off assessing the situation and setting vision and objectives for the future.  However, it became quickly clear to me that it was not possible to cultivate these relationships and opportunities from a distance.  I would have to be closer to the need.  I became convinced that God was indeed asking me to come to Nicaragua.  It was an invitation I happily and gratefully accepted.

 

The current situation is unfortunately dire.  Without funding from Gene's and other donors, there are no scholarship funds available.  The lack of these scholarships, which amounted to over $10,000 each year,  is a crushing blow to the university and the employees who depend on the enrollment of these students.  Hundreds of students have been dependent on these funds to receive a quality Christian education and to have hope for a better life and opportunities.  Without the subsidies provided, many of these students will not be able to attend the university this year, resulting in plummeting enrollment and laying off of teachers and employees. 

In addition, there is no funding for local ministry programs.  These investments made a significant impact on the spiritual and physical health of the communities we work in.  We will not be able to fund outreach and medical assistance or to help meet the most basic needs of the poorest.

Though the situation is difficult, it is not without hope.  We have developed a strategic plan to establish funding, support education and impact the spiritual and physical needs of Nicaragua.  Please click on Projects to the left to see our objectives and how we hope to continue this important work.