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Oshkosh parish renews ties with Nicaragua sister parish

OSHKOSH -- Members of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish traveled to Nicaragua for eight days in February for the parish's 10th International Mission trip.

The trip was led by Carla Altepeter, who has organized and coordinated each international trip since the first one, also to Nicaragua, in 1999. The 10 team members included: Mark and Jan Hatton, Claire Kleinschmit, Paula Pedretti, Kristin Neilsen, Randy Schmiedel, Jane Chapin, Tom Donovan and Glenmary Home Missioner Fr. Neil Pezzulo. Fr. Pezzulo is pastor of St. Jude Parish in Waldron, Ark, the sister parish to St. Raphael.

The Nicaragua trip was a medical mission with some members also working on a patio gardening project in El Ojoche. Food for the Hungry, an International Aid Organization working in 70 countries, provided the in-country support team and services to make the mission a success. In Nicaragua, the team leader was Andrea Kamouyerou.

The St. Raphael group was based out of a guest house in Somotillo, north of Leon, near the Honduras border. From there, they set up medical clinics in El Ojoche, San Miguelito and La Carreta, all within driving distance of Somotillo.

At the clinics, Fr. Pezzulo, who speaks Spanish, conducted the intake sessions. Patients were then examined by either Dr. Mark Hatton or nurse clinician Kristin Neilsen, with assistance of Food for the Hungry interpreters.

The Oshkosh group had brought over-the-counter medications with them and had donated money for Food for the Hungry to buy the necessary prescription medications.

The other St. Raphael visitors worked with El Ojoche's community leaders on a local food garden, preparing the soil and planting crops.

All members of Sr. Raphael's team paid their own way to Nicaragua and other parish members made donations to pay for supplies, in-country support staff, and medications. The Oshkosh St. Vincent de Paul Store and the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein made donations of clothing, suitcases, supplies and over-the-counter medications.

Seven of this year's team have traveled on mission trips before while three - Randy Schmiedel, Jane Chapin and Fr. Pezzulo - were first-timers. Next year's trip is already being planned, though a destination has not yet been chosen.