Men of The Fields

A few of the sick men of Bethel

The primary opportunity for work in this area of Western Nicaragua is agricultural labor in the sugar cane fields where men spend their lives laboring long hours for meager pay. However, it is a job for which they are thankful. They must have a job in order for their families to eat. But there is a problem. A significant number of the workmen find that they are slowly dying of kidney failure from the chemicals used in the cane fields. When they eventually get too sick to work, they are let go from their job, and returned home to die soon or a few short years later. These sick men range in age from the mid 20s to the 50s. Over 3,000 men in the region have been sent home where they die an ugly and painful death as their kidneys shut down. But the men must have a job to feed their families, and many choose this work, as it is a source of income.

God has called us to help the small community of Bethel. Bethel is a small village outside the city of Chichigalpa, and has 135 concrete block homes built through Vision Nicaragua. Those families of the sick men (about 65 men in Bethel) are sponsored by friends like you in the U.S. with a small food and medicine allowance, and help the many widows in the same manner. The way we are helping the future of the community of Bethel is helping them find or create alternative sources of income so that they do not have to work in the cane fields. David's father (left) died in 2008. David is also a sick man, with 2 children.

Because their kidneys are already beyond recovery, there is little else we can do for these men except help them to support their families, and possibly provide employment that does not require strenuous work.

But the most significant impact we can have is with the kids - providing them a decent education so that they have opportunities for employment outside the cane fields.

To Sponsor Please contact inquire@visionnicaragua.org