Coni’s Perseverant Prayer

The following testimony comes to us from our Local Church Initiative partners at El Faro. It is the remarkable story of a 49 year old woman, Coni; her family’s struggle and determination to survive, and how God has answered her prayers.

15 years ago, due to living in extreme poverty, the Gutierrez Sanchez family moved to a place close to the Managua Lake, better known as “La Chureca.” They made their living by collecting recyclable materials in the dump and selling them for a small profit. There were 10 people in the Gutierrez Sanchez family – five adults and five children. One of the adults is mentally disabled. Despite their challenges, the family worked together to survive.

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When the Nicaraguan government (along with Spain) built 300 homes for the families of the dump, to form a new community known as Villa Guadalupe, circumstances changed for the family. The family got a home and was promised a job at the new recycling plant, but they did not receive the work needed to make an income. So the family made a new way of getting an income by recollecting large used bags (that often held rancid food). They had to clean the dirty bags with chlorine and then resell them for 2 cords each (about $0.07 each). They barely had enough money for food.

Villa Guadalupe Community Street

Concepcion (Coni), the matriarch, had been praying to God for over a year to help her family provide food for their home. Just recently, some members of El Faro church visited her. They asked her if she would consider using her home as a feeding center where the kids that live close by could go to receive their lunch. She saw this as an answer to her prayers and willingly opened her home.

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Today Coni is currently serving around 60 children lunch from her home, and it guarantees that her family has food as well. Realizing that He heard her prayers caused Coni to reconcile with God and accept his call upon her life – to be a disciple for His children. She feels she’s been called to grow the capacity of the lunch program to serve the other hungry children in Villa Guadalupe.

We asked Coni where does she see herself in five years, she answered:

“There are some children that only get one meal per day and sometimes they get none. I want to get involved so much that we will be able to open more feeding centers and serve more children and serve God as well. In five years I hope I am still serving God because he has changed my life.”

It’s hardly possible to contain all the emotion and feelings we got when hearing her story. What is left for us now is join Mrs. Sanchez in her exciting dream to become a complete server of God.

~ El Faro Ministry Team

A Personal Testimony from the LCI at El Faro-Tipitapa

Lesbia and her children outside their home.

We are excited to share this testimony that came in from one of our LCI Initiatives that is located at El Faro (The Lighthouse) Church in Tipitapa, Nicaragua. Lesbia’s story is laced with the tragedy and darkness that is all too common in impoverished communities. We are grateful to report, however; that her story is also one of light, life, and ultimately redemption thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and the powerful way He is working through the local church to empower the poor. Please take some time to share in the celebration of what God is doing in Lesbia’s life – as well as the lives of thousands of other families in Nicaragua through our Local Church Initiatives.

Hello my name is Lesbia, and I am originally from Granada. I was raised by my grandmother because my mother gave me away and my father was out of the picture. I always worked and was never sent to school because there were no resources or will to make it happen. When I was 12, my grandma sent me to Costa Rica to live with my aunt. At 14 years old I had my first (sexual) experience with a young man with whom I had planned to spend my life. We had two sons together, Maycol and David, but then the young man quickly abandoned us.

My life changed in a way where I was feeling lonely so I took refuge in several vices. I was smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, and selling crack cocaine which was the only way to help my family survive – selling drugs. At the time, I would consume the “bad” (unsellable) drugs, and (because) my kids were suffering, I decided to move back to Nicaragua when I was 18 years old. While in Nicaragua I became involved with a man who was physically and verbally abusive and we had a son, Isaac, together. Soon after that, he kicked me out and took Isaac away, and to this day I’ve not seen him again. 

My life continued to go from rough to worse. When I was 23 years old I became involved with a 50 year old man who took good care of me. He was responsible and cared for my kids, but soon after we got together I discovered that he was married with a family. I spoke with him about it and made the decision to separate myself from him, but I was already pregnant with his baby (my daughter Paola). As a single, 25 year old mom, I met a man, Leonardo, with whom I share my life now. We began working together in the Tipitapa dump-living off of the trash and recycling that we picked up. While we worked, my kids were alone in our home in the community of Cristo Rey Tipitapa.

One day, while we were working in the dump, someone told my husband Leonardo and I that there was a feeding program. I went to the feeding program with my children and they told us about the Lord Jesus, and I accepted Him into my life. Soon after I began attending the El Faro church, the pastor asked me where I worked. When I told him that I worked at the dump he asked me if I would want to work as a cook for the church’s feeding program, and with tremendous joy in my heart, I said yes!

Once I started working for the church and started receiving some economic help, my life started changing both spiritually and tangibly. I started serving in the church and now I am part of the worship team and I also work as a Sunday school teacher for the toddler and preschool aged kids. I am in charge of a program in my church that distributes milk to malnourished children. I am so thankful to God that I was introduced to La Iglesia El Faro Tipitapa (The Lighthouse church) because it is where I have grown and developed. Now I am praying that my husband would come to know the Lord and that we would live happy lives. We have had another daughter named Selchi who is 3 years old. I covet your prayers for our family.

Lesbia Granja

The road to El Faro Tipitapa

The Local Church Initiative at El Faro Tipitapa serves 220 children daily

Lesbia Granja with her children