North Central U. Returns To Nicaragua

For the second year in a row we had the privilege of hosting an evangelism team from North Central University during Spring break. Ninedays.08, a team of 11 college students, ministered to hundreds of children, youth and adults throughout Nicaragua. They are called “Ninedays” because for literally nine days they come and share of their calling and love in Christ to those overseas. This year’s team was led by Elissa Fortner and Peter Johnson.


A great group of young people, Ninedays traveled to different Latin America Child Care schools (LACC) in the mornings and afternoons, then visited local churches for worship services and preaching in the evenings.


LACC schools are Assemblies of God sponsored primary and secondary schools in Latin America and the Caribbean. The children of these schools are supported by U.S. sponsors on a monthly basis. Nicaragua has 22 fully supported LACC schools where children are given a scholastic education, instruction in personal hygiene, snacks and meals, and school uniforms. The most important aspect, however, is the spiritual instruction the children are offered on a daily basis. Not only do students learn about the Lord in chapel and regular church attendance, but they have Christ consistently shared with them in all of their studies by their Christian teachers.


This year’s Ninedays team came alongside LACC and assisted them in spiritual development and the evangelization of their children. And they did a wonderful job. Through Bible stories, dramas, singing and testimonies, Ninedays gave their all to these children. We were so proud of this group. They honored not only North Central and the U.S. church, but they honored the Lord Jesus Christ by their purity and example. Children from Managua, Diriamba, Corinto and León were blessed by the group’s presence. The children of the Granada school, though a small and relatively insignificant primary school bordering Lake Nicaragua, were especially blessed by Ninedays, the first visit by any American group in their school’s history.






Thank you, again, NCU for giving us your best!

A Scholarship For Jairo

When Daniel first began teaching at the university, there was a young man in his Saturday class named Jairo Lopez (pronounced Hi-row). Jairo was barely 17 yrs. old when he began taking classes at UML, just a skinny little kid with a great big smile. Jairo was beginning to work on his high school degree at the time, majoring in Theology. He was a bright student then, one of the smartest in the class, and he loved the competition of getting the best grade in the class because that meant he would get a prize book from Daniel. But after the second semester Jairo suddenly disappeared from school.

It was sometime later that Daniel learned Jairo wasn’t attending classes because he could no longer afford the cost of tuition. This was because Jairo’s father was tragically killed in a car accident one evening near his home; a neighbor had struck his father while he was walking home in the dark. The neighbor had been drinking, and, as is typical in Managua after the felony, he fled from the crime scene (and the police). The man was never arrested, never brought to justice, but Jairo’s family was left with trying to pick up the pieces of their broken lives.


Daniel bumped into Jairo one day while attending the Nicaraguan Assemblies of God annual Conference (the equivalent to one of our District Councils). He discussed with Jairo the possibility of returning to school and finishing his studies. But Jairo said his mother didn’t have the money to help him with tuition. Daniel then, believing the Lord was speaking to him, asked Jairo if he sensed the call of the Lord on his life. Jairo answered affirmatively. Daniel then encouraged Jairo by telling him that he had a gift most didn’t have. He told Jairo that he was intellectually capable of going far in his studies, perhaps even to the university level. Daniel then said to Jairo that if he wanted to study that he (Daniel) would give him a full-scholarship. He only asked that Jairo go home and pray about it for a week, and then come back with his answer.

Well, Jairo returned the next week with his answer. Daniel wasn’t sure he’d ever see Jairo again, he was hopeful, but he wasn’t sure. Jairo told Daniel that he had prayed and the Lord told him “yes” to continuing his studies. What a blessing.
Today Jairo continues to study at the university. He is working on his high school degree, but once he finishes he’ll begin the university level.


What else is neat, is that Jairo has been chosen to assist one of the professors of the university to work with him at his church. The work is a revitalization effort that is near the school. So Jairo takes classes and studies in the mornings and afternoons, then goes to church in the evenings. What a wonderful opportunity. Thank the Lord also for the pastor, Brother Juan Sanchez, who has taken time with Jairo, putting him under his wing to prepare him for the work of ministry. “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.