We are grateful to be sharing the impact of our annual mission trip to Managua, Nicaragua. These mission trips are an essential part of our commitment to connect with our mission associates. They enable us to better understand the impact of their work and how the support we provide helps to bring health and hope to deserving communities.
Our 2025 mission team was welcomed by our mission associates, who did an excellent job hosting and briefing the team. The team not only felt love and appreciation from the leaders of each ministry, but also from the children, the families, the patients, and the students they served.
We are proud to report the following accomplishments during this trip:
The mission team met with Priscilla Urcuyo at the Fundación Ortiz Gurdián (FOG) clinic. She provided history and updates about their programs. The information she shared included the following:
The breast cancer program started in 2003.
95% of the women that come to FOG have never been screened before.
3,000 women come to FOG for check-ups each year.
225 women are currently undergoing some type of treatment for breast or cervical cancer.
Dr. Simon Garza, the dentist on our team, treated 22 patients and provided 9 fillings, 4 extractions, and 9 cleanings at Clínica El Samaritano’s dental facility. Most of the cleanings were for patients that had never had a cleaning.
The mission team met with Dr. Gabriella Woo and staff members of Clínica Villa Guadalupe (CVG) and Clínica El Samaritano (CES). Dr. Woo provided the following updates:
When the government required all clinics to stop charging fees last year, the number of patients seeking treatment increased dramatically. Therefore, it became necessary to begin scheduling appointments for pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and dental. These services were previously provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Due to Austin Samaritans’ support, an extra day of ultrasounds is now being offered each week at CVG. The demand for this service has confirmed the value of adding an extra day.
AMOS now offers laboratory tests at CVG.
Medical staffing at the two clinics currently consists of three general medicine doctors, one pediatrician, two radiologists, and one obstetrics/gynecology specialist.
The mission team worked with the AMOS dental staff and applied fluoride to children’s teeth at CVG and CES. At CVG, fluoride was applied to 38 children. Thirteen of the children previously had fluoride applied when they participated in AMOS’ Oral Health Preventive campaign in 2024, and 25 children had participated in the program in 2025. Six children treated were less than 6 years old. Thirty-two children were 6-to-12 years old. At CES, 35 children received fluoride applications.
The mission team distributed reading eyeglasses at CES. Persons desiring reading glasses who lived in Villa Guadalupe or the Hialeah community by Colegio Cristiano Presbiteriano (CCP) were transported by van to CES to receive their eyeglasses. Our mission team provided 182 reading eyeglasses to individuals.
Mission team members attended graduation ceremonies for pre-school, elementary, and high school students at CCP. There were 29 kindergarten graduates, 24 sixth-grade graduates, and 20 high school graduates.
Club Esperanza shared the following with the team:
They are currently providing financial assistance to six university students.
They provide 37 high school scholarships, which help students cover the costs for books, uniforms, transportation, etc.
The total number of students involved in the school and programs is 348.
They have a long-term plan to add a high school to their programs.
We return feeling truly blessed that we are able to continue making great memories with our mission associates while being amongst the beauty and culture of Nicaragua. We also continue to learn more about the need and appreciation of our support, the transformations and impacts achieved by our mission associates, and the possibilities for the future identified by our mission associates as they prioritize the needs of their communities.
John Doty, M.D., Founder
Peggy Gentry, COO, Board Chair, Mission Team Leader
