Throughout my 63 years as a Sister of St. Agnes, I have been blessed to work in various exciting and fulfilling ministries. Without a doubt, roles I played in Adelante Mujer these last seven-plus years were the ultimate definition of exciting and fulfilling! Working with Sister Ann McKean, CSA, PhD, the Foundress of Adelante Mujer, was never boring because her brilliant mind and daily ideas to improve the world were forever expanding. 
Interacting with more than one hundred medical students who overcome challenges beyond our comprehension was inspiring. Collaborating with numerous personnel in Nicaragua was a privilege and blessing as was working with our own office staff in Fond du Lac. Continue reading “Passing the Baton”
News
Happy Students
Thanks to so many people who responded generously to the request for donations to purchase laptops for Adelante Mujer students. During June, Adelante Mujer was able to provide much needed computers to 27 students! What a blessing. Please take a look at the smiles when Kathy Levy, the Adelante Mujer Coordinator in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas presented the electronic treasures to medical students who will no longer be forced to study using cell phones they own or borrow.
Can You Hear It Now…My Heart?
Since the first class of Adelante Mujer students took the Hippocratic Oath on December 12, 2014, each new doctor has been presented a Littmann stethoscope as a graduation gift. We would pack them into our suitcases when we travelled to Nicaragua and observe the smiles, Continue reading “Can You Hear It Now…My Heart?”
Where Have All the Doctors Gone?
We can proudly tell you where one of the Adelante Mujer doctors has gone and what she has accomplished. On March 26 a member of the first graduating class of Intercultural Medicine and of Adelante Mujer earned her title as Pediatrician from UNAN University in León, Nicaragua. Her letter below describes her gratitude. Each and every donor can celebrate her success which may not have been possible without your help.
Hello. I am Joice. I was part of the Adelante Mujer program almost from the beginning and with its support I was able to conclude the Intercultural Medicine career of URACCAN University. I have so much to thank for and I have so many memories of Adelante Mujer.
I still remember the day I arrived at the interview with Sister Ann McKean. I remember that Sister Ann thought I could be her interpreter because my friend Ana, who also was coming to ask for support of Adelante Mujer, told Sister Ann that I could interpret for us. That was a moment that caused us all to laugh. I do know some English but I could not be an interpreter! Continue reading “Where Have All the Doctors Gone?”
Sixty-One Doctors and Counting
Several years ago when Sister Ann McKean, CSA, PhD and I were talking with Dr. Manuel Salas about the goals of Adelante Mujer, we asked how many doctors Nicaragua would need. Thirty? Fifty? About how many? His reply was simple. “We will never have enough; there is such a terrible shortage.” “All right,” we decided, “Adelante Mujer will continue to provide financial assistance to women medical students for as long as God and our donors help us.”
On March 24, 2021 another glorious success of Adelante Mujer’s mission became a reality. Seven industrious students pronounced the Hippocratic Oath to become devoted physicians.
The Promotion Ceremony begins with the formal introduction of each student and her escort. Here Jenny and her father are announced as they enter the assembly. Continue reading “Sixty-One Doctors and Counting”
In Her Own Words…
First of all, everyone receives a cordial greeting. I hope you are all in perfect health.
I am Jessica Ruiz Taylor, I am 19 years old, and I am a student of the 5th semester (year 3) of the Intercultural Medicine Career. I am originally from the City of Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas. I come from a poor but hardworking family, I have 9 siblings, I am one of the youngest. I have two excellent parents who struggle to bring us food home every day, who have instilled in me great values and that today I try to put them into practice to become in a great professional in the health area.
Hello from Nicaragua
I was born in a small village in Nicaragua just along the border of Honduras. Named Catherine Elizabeth Levy Wilson, everyone calls me Kathy. I was the second of five children, two of whom were born with disabilities and are the angels of our family. With them, our family learned to accept and love others just as they are.
My great grandfather on the Wilson side of the family was a Moravian pastor who dedicated his life to serving God and the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean coast. The son of this pastor and my great grandmother became the first bishop of the Moravian Province Nicaragua-Honduras-Costa Rica. Their grandson became the second bishop. He is my mother’s brother. Religion and service have always been a strong part of our family.
The Good News and the Sad
The Good News…
Donors sometimes ask about former medical students who became doctors. Well, after they pronounce the Hippocratic Oath the new doctors spend one year as interns who work in the local hospital or in local clinics. Following the internship, they are required to spend the next two years in “social service” which is a partial payment to the government for the government’s contribution to the cost of their medical education. The total of nine years is culminated by the presentation and defense of a research paper required by URACCAN University. Continue reading “The Good News and the Sad”
The Wind Was Wild
It started about 10:00 on the night of November 16. The wind roared as the strongest bands of hurricane Iota barreled across the city where Adelante Mujer students attend medical school in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. It was the second devastating hurricane to slam their “university town” in two weeks. Together hurricane Eta and Iota caused $743 million in damages. Continue reading “The Wind Was Wild”
God Provides the Offices; We Gratefully Work in Them
When Sister Ann McKean, the foundress of Adelante Mujer, became a resident of the CSA Nazareth Court assisted living facility, her most serious concern was how we would manage the business of Adelante Mujer from her very small bedroom. With providential timing, a small office was vacated just down the hall from Sister Ann’s room. That little office became ours for the next five years. We were always grateful and regarded it as a gift of God.
When Sister Ann’s residence transferred from Nazareth Court to God’s Heavenly Court and because of other circumstances, we were notified that Adelante Mujer would need to find a different office. With the help of God and, we believe, Sister Ann, another office-gift was located. It has an inner and outer office with ample storage, the furniture was donated for our use, and rent is miraculously low. Our Adelante Mujer Board of Directors believes the new office heralds an evolvement and growth of Adelante Mujer which, thanks to our generous donors, has already financially assisted 54 women who are now medical doctors and an additional 49 students in various years of medical school in Nicaragua.
We invite you to visit our new office via the photos below. Please rejoice with us in the consistent and gracious ways Adelante Mujer is blessed to continue assisting women in Nicaragua who rely on us to help them pursue a medical degree.
