The situation for food in La Miskitia

FOOD

A disaster struck the indigenous people ("The Miskito People") that live on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, on September 4th, 2007. An already absolutely impoverished area of the world, that is practically on America's back-door step, was hit hard by the largest recordable strength of a Hurricane...A CATEGORY FIVE!

Hurricane Felix was an unthinking, unfeeling devastator of lives and property. The EYE of Felix passed directly OVER the people of Puerto Cabezas, and a small community called Sandy Bay, as the natives clung to trees and huddled together for strength and prayer. Most came together in the one strong building available, the church. That night, the church was packed well beyond capacity as the prayers for safety flew into the night. Roofing tin, as sharp as razor knives, flew through the air and embedded itself in trees, and buildings, and flesh.

The Miskito people originated from a mix of Mayan and Incan ancestors that migrated from North-Eastern Colombian about 700 years ago. As time passed, they settled in the coastal plains of both Honduras and Nicaragua. The Indians, not yet known at that time as "Miskitos", settled into a life of barter, and sustenance from the nearby jungles and what trade they could find with the pirates that frequented the shores of the Caribbean sea. In fact, that is how the Miskitos got their name, through their trade with these ancient pirates. The natives traded food, and wood from the forests for muskets as well as necessary foodstuffs. When other nearby cultures tried to invade and subjugate these natives they were met with fierce resistance, by gun and knife and muscle. The natives became known as the Indians with muskets, later called "The Miskitos".

It is a hard life on the Atlantic Coast. There is fish from the sea, if you can afford a boat, but few crops can be grown in the native soil. Through perseverance the people have survived, but never prospered. Some things have changed in the last 700 years since this culture began (compare it to the 230+ years of American history) and much remains the same. The Miskitos are a SMART, and beautiful people. Given the chance this group of people WILL PROSPER, but right now they need THE BASICS.

It is hard for some people to understand the poverty here. You must encourage yourself, and others to visit, then they will "get it". When hurricane Felix hit, almost every house in Puerto Cabezas had at least SOME damage. Mostly roofs, some walls, and SOME completely destroyed. Most Americans know what a hurricane can do. Remind yourselves that the houses in La Miskitia are comparable to a kids treehouse, as construction methods are poor.

The physical damage is immense, and some help has come in for repairs, and the immediate needs.

There is a BIGGER PROBLEM. Unfortunately, the world while good-hearted and generous (for the most part) has a short memory. When we remind people that there was a hurricane on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua they say "Oh yes, I remember that...didn't we send some stuff there?". AND THEY DID! It was a real blessing and many bellies were filled, and roofs were covered with plastic tarps.

You have to understand though that the main sustenance (food) for the Miskito people is the Cocoa nut. 95% of the cocoa nut trees were knocked down, completely. That means that 95% of the food for these indigenous people is gone, and new trees must be planted. IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 8 YEARS FOR A TREE TO GROW TO THE POINT OF PRODUCING FRUIT. That's eight years MINIMUM. So although people have helped, they rarely understand the depth of the problem on the coast.

Basically, there are 318,000 indigenous people who will struggle daily for a meal, a single meal, for the next eight years. There are no jobs here, and no tourism. There are no resources except native local hard-woods. Approximately 40% of the trees in the forest have also been snapped off, looking like the discards of some fairytale giants meal...80 feet tall "toothpicks", splintered, and showing the starkly white patches of arboreal entrails.

So FOOD is on the minds of the Miskito people right now.

God is striding MIGHTILY in the La Miskitia region, and His hand is upon these people. In the next five to ten years the prospects will be better due to the help of people like you, and the committed members of the Church Community, and the God Guided help of secular friends.

Please pass along my deepest gratitude for your help.

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

eagerly anticipating a blessing!

Hi Folks,

I am sitting at the Managua airport, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Pastor (and Doctor) Jim Chamberlain's team from ChristWalk church in Florida. They aren't due to arrive until Wednesday (tomorrow), but I am still eagerly anticipating their arrival. I am here a couple of days early to "finalize" the paperwork for Pastor Jim's teams visit.

Please join me in prayer for their safety, and their blessings, as they venture forth through service to Christ in Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua.

God Bless,
Richard


Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

blog updates

Hi Folks,

There has been a server change for our website. Nothing has changed as far as you are concerned, you can still visit our website at: http://www.casadeservicio.org/ and our blog at: www.casadeservicio.org/blog

The last three or four "updates" to the blog didn't post correctly, but we got that sorted out now.

In addition:



We have been able to meet with Ramon Canales as of yesterday here in Managua. It was an invigorating meeting. I think we should be able to get back on track towards getting fuel supplied for the Aztec. It has been a slow, and for me, a painful process.

We have also received final permission from MINSA for the medical group to visit Puerto Cabezas on the 25th of this month! Hallelujah!

This group, from ChristWalk church, is going to help the local people of Puerto Cabezas by supplying free eyeglasses in several visits to Puerto Cabezas. We are all very excited to kick this groups first visit off with much prayer and rejoicing! They will be here from the 25th, for almost a week.

Richard


Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org/

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

A rare gift

I am writing this email to many people.

It is often said by truly insightful leaders, that there is no higher goal inherent to human nature than the desire to SERVE.

In your life have you EVER had the opportunity to create an act of absolute nobility?

This sort of opportunity is rare, and sometimes overlooked.

If you had been in Germany during the initial stages of the reorganization of the German government under the Reich would you have realized what an impact it would make to shelter Anne Frank, or to protect the workers in Schindler's plants?

If you had been in Cambodia during the takeover by the Khmer Rouge would you have seen the importance of helping those educated people survive, that were being targeted by the new councils?

If you had been in Virginia during Patrick Henry's speech in congress where he spoke those hallowed words: "Give me liberty, or give me death" Would you have cheered and supported his idealism?

Though rare, there ARE opportunities in this world to make a difference.

This is an appeal:

We are beginning construction on a school in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. This school will serve the native Indian people on the Atlantic Coast (often referred to as the "forgotten coast") of Nicaragua. Many circumstances have come together at this place and time to make this school a reality. We believe that God has directed our path to build this school, along with our other outreaches and ministries here in La Miskitia.

We have the participation of several churches to build this project. These churches have deep faith and a keen knowledge of the will of God in their ministerial service. These churches are taking the lead in making a difference in the lives of over 200,000 people, the Miskito Indians on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua.

One church has offered to supply the entire school building, including the labor to construct it. Amen! The school building will be delivered directly to Puerto Cabezas, and constructed by a team of experienced workers, in THREE DAYS.

We can be teaching classes inside a brand new school building by the 13^th of July!

Hallelujah, and praise His name to the highest! What an opportunity…a once in a lifetime opportunity, I would say!

You are invited to participate in this opportunity, this "once in a lifetime" opportunity to better humanity.

Another church has offered to help our ministry to purchase the land necessary to build the school on! Amen!

There is a ship which is going to make a one-time trip from Miami to Puerto Cabezas, which will carry a shipping container full of the construction materials for the school (and donated items such as food and relief goods). Amen!

All of these items are "in place", and ready to go. What we lack, is the funds for educational materials, teacher salaries (very minimal), and operating costs for the first year. These costs are not high, due to the lower economic status of operations in this part of the world, but the costs DO EXIST. Those of you that know our mission, and our drive for our missions success, also know that we operate on a day-to-day budget. We quite simply do not have the funds for this.

Here is YOUR opportunity, to sacrifice a small bit for the betterment of your fellow man. We aren't going to ask you to sacrifice your car, your house, or your life to help these forgotten people. We aren't going to ask you to change your life in any way of significance.

It is a miracle that a SMALL sacrifice in YOUR life can truly make such a dramatic impact in the lives of our Christian brothers in La Miskitia.

Our Church of God, World Missions project number is: 065-0497

If you really do understand the impact you have the opportunity to make, please respond. Sometimes we think that "others" will meet the need. "Others" with more money will certainly fulfill the need. "Others" with more time will certainly help.

I am telling you now that it isn't "others" that will get the job done right now in La Miskitia. It is YOU that WE are depending upon. My experience here in the land of jungles and rivers says that if YOU do not respond, then neither will those "others".

We are praying for His intercession in YOUR spirit right now, so that you can see beyond my pale words into the heart of the need in this matter.

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If you want to help already, stop reading and make out a check.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Send it to:

Casa de Servicio

Missionary Richard Becton

1135 Ponderosa Drive

Cleveland, TN 37312

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission needs the funding NOW! To get money to us faster, send it to:

Bank of Cleveland

Attn: Customer Service

PO Box 5000

Cleveland, TN 37320-5000

IMPORTANT: Mark the back of your check "For deposit only, acct: 20029381

Please attach a small note saying: "please deposit this check into acct: 20029381

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The slowest method is to send a check or credit card information to:

Church of God, World Missions

PO Box 8016

Cleveland, TN 37320-8016

PUT THE PROJECT NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK OR LETTER TO INSURE WE RECEIVE IT, IF YOU SEND IT TO WORLD MISSIONS, PLEASE!

You DO HAVE an opportunity at this precise moment in time to impact an entire people group. You can impact the Miskito Indians positively, and for their entire future, through no greater action than to donate a small sum of your disposable income to our ministry at this precise moment. Do not think that "someone else" will do it, although we pray that MANY "someone else's" will help, because it is YOU that we are asking for help.

We are not asking for help with our living conditions, although we could use such help. We have running water two days a week, and the conditions we live in are less than ideal, yet we aren't asking for help for ourselves.

The early Greek philosophers, revered thinkers, gave their entire existence to the betterment of mankind, in service to one another. The Greek philosophers are studied by every educated person in the world, because of their keen insight into human nature, and the seminal work which they created by describing and categorizing the nature of mankind. We all remember the phrase, "I think, therefore I am". This is a simple yet deeply meaningful phrase, which pretty much sums it all up.

Other areas of the world produced remarkable thinkers and "doers" as well. The Chinese for centuries have relied upon the original works of the philosopher Confucius. Every country in the world has a citizen that can and will quote "Confucius says", at any convenient moment. Confucius exemplified himself by giving the world what it needed; a commonsense list of sayings and clichés which make everyone's life simpler. This is a great service to us all, the world of humanity, and the experience of HUMAN incarnated practicality. Confucius was many things, but everyone agrees that in addition to his human failings, he was VERY WISE. The wisdom of Confucius, like the insightful mentality of the Greeks philosophers shares a common seed…the desire to better humanity.

There are others of course:

Gandhi,

Mandela,

King,

Walachia,

Constantine,

Alexander,

Einstein,

Copernicus,

Pythagoras,

Salk,

Origen,

Moses,

Ignatius,

Polycarp,

Clement,

Martyr,

Tertullian,

Irenaeus,

Eusebius,

Curie,

Sitting Bull,

Austin,

Washington,

Jefferson,

Lincoln,

…and of course the ultimate in perfection and sacrifice for humanity,

Jesus.

I can only bring to mind the ones above from memory, there are MANY MORE.

All of these women and men, and the ones that this list brought to YOUR MIND are very different individuals. They are all different races, all different personality types, and cultures which encompass the world.

Why do we know their names? The most easily identifiable thread which connects each and every one of them, is their idealism used to fulfill their desire to better the human condition. The desire to better HUMANITIES overall condition is a desire of the highest possible virtue, a desire born of LOVE for others. This is a desire of the heart, and the soul, contrary to those innate drives with which we are born…and cursed with; It is a desire of sacrifice and uplifting clarity of purpose.

In your life have you EVER had the opportunity to create an act of absolute nobility?

ALL of the people on the list above and the ones which you thought SHOULD BE ON THE LIST gave their entire being, some their very lives, to better HUMANITIES future.

What a thing to want to do!

Why would anyone want to do it?

You have figured out by now that I am bringing these great men and women to your minds because I would like to motivate you to emulate the self-sacrificing lives of these renowned people.

You don't really need me to motivate you though, it is inside you…that noble and sometimes sacrificial desire to change someone's life for the better, to create an opportunity for a better future for a small group of friends, to impact decisively the historical role of a native people group, and by doing these small things to ACTUALLY impact and better humanity as a whole.

We are praying for His intercession in YOUR spirit right now, so that you can see beyond my pale words into the heart of the need in this matter.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to help already, stop reading and make out a check.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Send it to:

Casa de Servicio

Missionary Richard Becton

1135 Ponderosa Drive

Cleveland, TN 37312

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission needs the funding NOW! To get money to us faster, send it to:

Bank of Cleveland

Attn: Customer Service

PO Box 5000

Cleveland, TN 37320-5000

IMPORTANT: Mark the back of your check "For deposit only, acct: 20029381

Please attach a small note saying: "please deposit this check into acct: 20029381

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The slowest method is to send a check or credit card information to:

Church of God, World Missions

PO Box 8016

Cleveland, TN 37320-8016

PUT THE PROJECT NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK OR LETTER TO INSURE WE RECEIVE IT, IF YOU SEND IT TO WORLD MISSIONS, PLEASE!

Richard Becton
1135 Ponderosa Drive
Cleveland, TN 37312
flight@flash.net

011 505 613-5824 (telephone in Nicaragua)
210 392-9574 (telephone for US dialing, for messages)
http://www.casadeservicio.org/
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog



Richard Becton
1135 Ponderosa Drive
Cleveland, TN 37312
flight@flash.net

011 505 613-5824 (telephone in Nicaragua)
210 392-9574 (telephone for US dialing, for messages)
www.casadeservicio.org
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog

What a time in Nicaragua...busy, wonderful, glorious.

Hi Folks,

 

     We have tried all week to meet with our government supporter, Commandante Lumberto Campbell...to no avail.  Commandante has been extremely busy with the OTHER hurricane (Alma) which hit just north of Managua on Thursday.

 

     We have important things to discuss with hermano Lumberto...please pray that our "reaching out" will prove to be effective soon.

 

     Since I have returned to Nicaragua MUCH has happened, and yet so little too.

 

 

     This is a country like that.

 

     The first thing I did was to register for the leaders conference which God has blessed our ministry with an invitation to attend.  Almost immediately, the next day...I hopped on La Costena to fly to Puerto Cabezas to bring our truck to Managua. 

 

     We needed to get the truck "emissions tested", and they ONLY do that in Managua.  So I got up at 4:00am to catch the flight, jumped in the truck and drove for 11 hours and 30 minutes down some roads that you can't even IMAGINE...to get back to Managua in time to attend the leaders conference.

 

     A long day believe me.

 

     The leaders conference was AMAZING.  What a privilege to be there with those strong leaders, both men and women.

 

     At several points during the conference I had to excuse myself because I had to make meetings with both MINSA (department of health) and Aduana (taxes) to ease the journey for the group from ChristWalk church that is coming to Puerto Cabezas THIS MONTH.

 

     All in a "days work".  You know what we used to say at Flight Options....working 14 hours, that's only slightly MORE than half a day.

 

     Gratefully, thanks to the help of our Lord, these meeting were fruitful, and on the last day of the conference, sitting in the hotel lobby on my laptop...we completed the last of the paperwork required by MINSA and emailed it off.  We heard just yesterday that our efforts were successful and we now have "in hand" the required letter from MINSA.  All that remains is to take this letter to Aduana, and get THEIR permission too!  We expect no difficulties there.  Please keep our efforts in your prayer though, because you never know how difficult the "easy things" are here, until you make the effort.

 

     There is much more that has gone on... but I have received word in the past that I tend to be "lengthy" in my blog, and these communications.  So I will cut it off for now, and try to remember to put the rest up next week.

 

    God loves us each and every one, and that includes YOU!

 

Richard

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
 
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
 
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

 

http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

 

ADDRESS IN NICA:

 

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

Richard Becton 
 1135 Ponderosa Drive
Cleveland, TN 37312 
 flight@flash.net 

011 505 613-5824 (telephone in Nicaragua)

210 392-9574 (telephone for US dialing, for messages)

www.casadeservicio.org

www.casadeservicio.org\blog