Our New Health Facility Will Be A Reality
Thanks to the generous members of Naples United Church
of Christ our new health facility will be a reality.
Read their report filed in May 2015.
Board of Missions and Outreach Report
on the Guatemala Medical Clinic Project
Congratulations and Thank You NUCC
Naples UCC is a truly remarkable community of caring people.
In our April 12th Mission Moment, church member, Mike Armstrong, described a project to build a medical clinic facility in the San Martin region of Guatemala. The goal is to bring medical service and care to an essentially publicly “undoctored” 90,000 people.
Lois and Ken Werner, founders of People for Guatemala (our mission partner on the highly successful Stoves for Guatemala project back in May of 2013), and Dr. Gabriel Hernandez who will head the clinic, were on hand to answer questions in our Gathering Place.
The 2,500 sq. ft. clinic will cost $130,000; yet, thanks to several generous up-front donations and a matching gift challenge, the goal was to have NUCC raise $50.000. The Board of Missions and Outreach had just approved a $5,000 grant, and the Wee Share Endowment Fund added $3,500 more.
Dr. Patterson held up a cement block to illustrate the impact of the matching challenge. His message was that each gift of $1, when matched, could buy this $2 block. His dream was that many gifts of all amounts might come together to help make this much-needed clinic a reality.
In addition to Dr. Hernandez and four Guatemala nurses, the medical clinic will provide a professional facility for the teams of U.S. doctors and nurses that come voluntarily to help provide their skills and expertise. Given the opportunity to talk with Dr. Hernandez and Lois Werner following each service, a number of our members explored helping out at the clinic.
Now to the good news – we are excited to report that in the month that followed over 250 members donated gifts ranging from $5 to $5,000 to reach the full matching challenging! Dr. Patterson’s dream has been realized – another beautiful example of how our congregation comes together to help others.
You can imagine the joy when we called to share the good news with our partners at People for Guatemala. Construction is expected to take six to nine months, and we promise to keep the congregation posted on progress.
In closing, please know that your willingness to help will make a real difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Guatemala.
THANK YOU
Board of Missions and Outreach