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

Expanding Our Network in Nicaragua!

We recently launched our 28th and 29th Local Church Initiatives in the Leon region of Nicaragua! These two churches, Iglesia Aposento Alto and Iglesia Luz y Vida, collectively serve over 150 children. The churches are members of a Florida based NGO, Twelve Churches, which has been working to train, equip and resource pastors in some of the poorest areas of Leon, Nicaragua since 2009.

Twelve Churches and ORPHANetwork have similar ministry models – we both work through the local Nicaraguan church to empower Nicaraguans to reach their communities for Christ.  Much of Twelve Churches’ work focuses on leadership development and each church serves about 25-100 people living in some of the poorest communities in the Leon region.

This need was realized after church members of  Killearn United Methodist Church went on three consecutive mission trips to Leon. Twelve Churches Executive Director, Chris Smith, recalls that “the team left that third trip realizing they had found men of passion and spirit, but without any form of pastoral training.” They felt a calling from God to partner on a deeper level with a church in Nicaragua, and He led them to not one, but twelve churches!

In addition to leadership development, additional programs that Twelve Churches offers to their local church partners vary from micro loans, to medical care and basic English classes. They have been providing basic feeding programs to four of their church partners for the past few years and when Twelve Churches learned about ORPHANetwork’s work in Nicaragua they were eager to learn more about a potential partnership. “God opened up the door. When we saw the values and methodology of ORPHANetwork, we realized so much of our vision and values align perfectly. We can learn from ORPHANetwork and we will both work together to empower Nicaraguans to solve the problems of Nicaragua,” says Smith.

Today the children of Iglesia Aposento and Igesia Luz y Vida’s meals have been nutritionally improved by our staff Nutritionist, Flavia Urbina, and the nourishing meals provide 850 calories for these children on a daily basis. Our medical team, led by Dr. Janice Hebbert, has administered de-worming pills to rid the children’s bodies of harmful parasites and thanks to our partners at Vitamin Angels, children ages five and under now receive Vitamin-A supplements. To determine malnourishment rates, the team performed health assessments, and children that were found to be malnourished (the average of the two locations was about 20%), are receiving soy fortified milk to aid in the restoration of their health.

Twelve Churches is a wonderful organization to partner with and they have done amazing work for God’s Kingdom in Nicaragua.  We are honored to come alongside their work, and most especially to have the opportunity to reach more children and families for our Lord!

Pastor Lopez (far right) presents the ONET medical team to his church

Iglesia Luz y Vida’s Pastor Reynoldo Lopez and his family

Iglesia Aposento Alto’s Pastor Eucebio Caceres cuts the ribbon at the official launch of the LCI

Vitamin-A supplements supplied through our partnership with Vitamin Angels were administered and will be every six months for kids under five.

The Orsini Mobile Medical Clinic provided by the Orsini Charitable Foundation transports medical supplies to all of our LCIs.

Dr. Juarez, a contracted Nicaraguan doctor, consults with a mother and her child

A new stove with new pots and cooking utensils is provided by ONET for each new LCI.

A special meal is always part of the launch of a new LCI.

Pastor Caceres, his wife, Juana, Pastor Sanchez (Twelve Churches), Pastor Lopez and ONET Nicaragua Director, Eddy Morales after signing all of the legal paperwork to launch these churches to Local Church Initiative partners.

 

Pastor Caceres’ church

 

 

 

 

 

Lives Redeemed in Bluefields

The dining room at Verbo Bluefields

For so many of the children we serve at our Local Church Initiatives, “love” is tough concept to grasp.  Growing up in the harsh realities of living below the poverty line, can make it hard to understand that there truly is a Father in Heaven with an infinite love for each of us.

At Pastor Ed’s Local Church Initiative at Verbo Bluefields, he and his staff welcome 185 children to the church each day.  It’s a safe place where they come to eat a hot, nutritious lunch and they are invited into a life long relationship with our savior, Jesus Christ.  They are taught about the forgiveness, mercy and grace that only the Lord can provide.  Many of them come to church on Sunday and they are encouraged to bring their parents.

When we receive updates that children, and adults too, have received this message and accepted the Lord into their lives we are overwhelmed with joy. When we learn of the public profession of faith through baptism, we feel like if we listen hard enough, we can almost hear the party in Heaven!

This past weekend at Verbo Bluefields, five people made the public profession of faith to follow Him, and two are girls from the LCI.  What a blessing it is to be an eyewitness to God’s redemptive work here on earth!

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…”go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.  I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of age.” Matthew 28:19-20 MSG

In July, ten boys were baptized! Take a look at this memorable day:

The eight boys that were baptized in July!

Lindo, age 12

Martin, age 12

Gerald, Age 12

Daylon, age 12

Kerwin, age 15

Can’t you just feel the joy?!

Colgate-Palmolive, Nicaragua – Our New Partner!

When Colgate-Palmolive, Nicaragua heard about ORPHANetwork’s mission and our focus on health and hygiene they quickly wanted to get involved and contribute. Two Colgate representatives attended our recent quarterly trainings where they instructed our church partners and orphanage directors on dental hygiene, and explained the products in the 12,000 kits that Colgate-Palmolive would soon be donating for our children.

Last week we received 4,032 kits containing toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap as well as posters, brochures, and DVDs with great messages on dental care and the importance of hand washing. The next 8,000 kits are on the way and they will go to our partners, On Eagles’ Wings, in Northern Nicaragua.

Colgate-Palmolive, Nicaragua, we thank you for caring about our children’s health and for the lives that will be blessed because of your generosity.