God's Hero in Nicaragua:    Last month we traveled to Managua, Nicaragua with a team of 10 to minister to the children of Nicaragua. I have traveled extensively throughout the country of Haiti over the past 13 years. I thought I had seen the worst of the worst when it came to poverty! I witnessed things and places on this trip that were worse than any place I had been before. We teamed up with Samaritan’s International for this trip. They have been working in Nicaragua for several years setting up feeding programs for the children in the poorest sections of Managua and the surrounding areas. Approximately 18,000 children are fed in Nicaragua alone. The ministry provides the children with one meal a day for five days out of the week. They feed over 40,000 children daily  in five different countries. Perry Brown is the founder of this organization and his goal is to feed 100,000 children. Healing Hands has teamed up with Samaritan’s International to help with this program. We are in the process of setting up a feeding program for the homeless and hungry children of  Haiti. Samaritan’s International has agreed to supply the food if we will maintain and run the programs. This type of teamwork is needed in all areas of ministry. There is very little we can do on our own, but together we can accomplish great things throughout the Body of Christ.     As I watched Mr. Brown love on these children and the homeless, I thought that God must be looking down with a smile on His face. It’s men like Mr. Brown that make this world a better place. If there has ever been a hero born in this world, it is Mr. Brown. He is hero to at least 40,000 children around the world.    Thank you Mr. Brown for the life long dedication to help others, especially the children. God has many rewards for your life. Not only has rewards for you in the life to come, but he has rewards stored up for you in this life also.  He has seen your dedication, He has seen your sacrifices, and He will reward you greatly. Most men at Mr. Brown’s age are slowing down; I had a hard time keeping up with him. I pray I have his stamina, strength and wisdom when I reach his age! Mr. Brown is  my idea of a true American hero.   Psalms 41:1-3  Go ye into all the world!    Part of our team took a day of rest and relaxation and visited the downtown area of Managua. Patrick Brown, Ralph Sawh and I took the day to go up the mountain to minister to people in the poor mountain areas. We loaded our four wheel drive truck with as much food as it would hold. We went from house to house ministering to the sick and giving free food to the ones in need. We gave away approximately 6,350 meals in that one day. We left enough food for a week or two at some homes. Other homes were left with enough food for almost a month.    There are several children in most homes. Their diet mostly consisted of cooked cabbage, beans, and dirty water to drink. We left them with a meal called Vita-Rice. If a child gets one meal a day of this product he/she will get all the vitamins and minerals they need for that day. It is an amazing product that has saved many children from starvation. At each house, Patrick would take the time to share how to cook the food for the family so that they could get the most from it. What Makes it Worth the Trouble?   We visited many of the feeding programs through- out the Managua area in the few days we were there. I was wondering what would make a man like Perry Brown leave his comfortable home, his family and his business to  come and help these people. It didn’t take long to figure it out. On the second day as we traveled to the different feeding kitchens, I walked into one of the small dining areas that was filled with small children. As I entered behind Mr. Brown, one of the small eight year olds shouted out, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” It nearly brought me to tears. Mr. Brown turned to me and said, “ That’s why I keep coming back.” That’s what makes it all worthwhile. From my experiences with the children from Haiti, I knew exactly what he meant. There is no greater reward than when a child says “thank you” from his/her heart. Thank You Pastor Mike & Penny   Pastor Mike and Penny Merritt from Newnan Ga. traveled with our team for the first time. Pastor Mike and his church have played a major role in supporting Healing Hands International Ministries. I am also licensed and ordained through his church and Ministerial Association (Abundant Life Faith Center Ministerial Association). Pastor Mike and Penny went home with a new and better understanding of what this ministry is about. Pastor Mike also went home with a new desire to help the people of Nicaragua. Thank you Pastor Mike and Penny for being  pastors that have a heart for missions. We have several pastors and churches that support this ministry. We encourage and invite you to come with us on a mission trip. We want you to see and experience first hand what your support means to us.  Without you, the pastors, to encourage the people to give, we would have a difficult time raising the money we need to continue doing what God has called us to do!