Nicaragua Update

We are in weekly contact with our partners in Nicaragua and we are prayerfully hopeful that we can return to visit our dear friends and our “Nica grandkids”. The situation there is still very precarious. The government continues to clamp down on any form of dissent. They have implemented new laws that declare any protest as a “terrorist act”. Police and the para-police are armed with automatic rifles and sniper rifles and they occupy all the major intersections in the capital city of Managua and are on constant patrol. Their focus on rounding up protesters has allowed petty crime, drug and gang activity to increase slightly.  The international community, including the United States, is putting economic and political pressure on the government to return to democratic ways and observe basic human rights. So far, the Ortega government has simply doubled down in their efforts to maintain control and power. 

Nonetheless, our church partners report higher attendance and more salvations since the trouble began in April 2018. We continue to help various churches in Managua, Tipitapa and El Rama. We also support the pastors’ families, other partners and our staff on a regular basis.

Below are brief updates about some of our partners and staff. Many of you will remember them from your own trips with us.

Juan continues to serve as the director of our Asaph Music Academy where instrument and voice lessons are provided at an affordable price. He also plays the keyboard at three churches each week and teaches music and worship at the Bible Institute. We recently provided help to him to move his wife and two daughters to a different house which has added to the safety, security and comfort of his family.

Oscar also serves as a teacher in our Asaph Music Academy. He teaches guitar and assists Juan with the piano students. His wife and two daughters live in their own home near Oscar’s parents, but the girls must travel to another town to attend Christian school where they are both honor students.

Pastor Martin is the pastor of the church in Tipitapa. He reports higher attendance and more salvations in the months since the country’s recent troubles began. He and his wife, two sons and a daughter live in Tipitapa and care for his mother-in-law. The children attend Christian school in Tipitapa. We helped start the church in Tipitapa, purchased the land and provided most of the funds for construction. In the next phase, we will provide funds for improvements and classrooms as we are able.

Pastor Samuel is the pastor of the church in El Rama, far from Managua. We helped start the church, purchased the land and provided some of the funds for construction, which is accomplished in phases. Pastor Samuel also reports higher attendance and more salvations since the country’s troubles began. He and his wife and two daughters live in El Rama. His son attends the Bible Institute in Managua.

Pastor Cesar is the pastor of our church in Managua. We started this church in a strongly Catholic neighborhood of Managua and it was growing before we had to leave Nicaragua. The church continues to minister to that neighborhood and has also experienced growth and salvations. Pastor Cesar and his wife, two daughters and son live in Managua and care for his mother-in-law. Cesar’s wife and one of the daughters has some serious health issues which have included hospitalization. We have been able to help them see private doctors and seek private treatment, which is better than the so-called, free health-care provided by the socialist government.

Pastor Mario continues to lead his house church and minister to the elderly in three different “casas de los ancianos” (old folks’ homes). We ministered with him many times at the old folks’ home in San Marcos. Now, our support is by prayer and a monthly stipend for the elderly in San Marcos. With the aid of the internet and Skype, Jody was recently able to speak to and pray for the residents of the old folks’ home in San Marcos.

We have been blessed by the Lord’s provision to assist these families with scholarships to Christian schools, school supplies and clothing, medical expenses and basic needs through our Nica Aid project. Since May of 2018, we have received more than $14,000 toward the Nica Aid project and we have spent more than $25,000.