NPMI Negotiates $1.12 Million Donation

Managua, Nicaragua - October 11, 2006

Nicaraguan Prison Ministries, Inc. has negotiated a large donation for the Nicaraguan Prison System. In total, 14 shipping containers of medicines, medical equipment, beds and office furniture are being donated from Food for the Hungry International. The total value is expected to exceed $1.12 million.

The first container, filled with medical supplies, was distributed to eight prison districts on August 25, 2006. The second container, which arrived a week later, held commonly-used medicines with a combined shelf value of over $700,000. The other 12 containers, comprised of bedding and office furniture, are still in transit.

As part of the agreement, NPMI staff and volunteers, including two board members and an accountant from Costa Rica, are supervising the distribution and use of these medicines and products.

NPMI negotiated this donation on behalf of the Nicaraguan Prison System, which just a month before requested 200 mattresses. At that time the NPMI Board could promise only 50, and money for them was not yet available.

Scott Martin, an NPMI board member and director of FHI in Costa Rica, is excited. “Imagine, over 450 complete beds are headed across the ocean. Imagine our joy of this gift after years of frustration and agony at having to say ’no’ to many urgent requests for medicines. NPMI devotes $225 per month for medicines for the prisoners, just a tiny fraction of the real need. It is pure joy to receive and distribute this gift to the prisoners who need it so badly.”

Prisoners echo this joy. Josefa, a 54-year-old, suffers from asthma. With tears in her eyes, she recalled, “I couldn’t sleep. I prayed and I cried and told God to do a miracle for me.” She normally cannot get expensive treatments, but NPMI staff recently brought her medicine. Their caring greatly impacted Josefa. “Thanks to God I have learned and changed my life. Thanks to your prayers, I’m a new person”

NPMI is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the USA. Its mission is to bring hope to those incarcerated in Nicaragua through relationship with Jesus Christ and to demonstrate the love of Christ by meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the prisoner and his/her family. The mission is accomplished by encouraging, equipping, training and supporting volunteers.

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Ben Goerz

Media Developer

NPMI

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