Life in Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, behind Haiti. Hunger has always been a problem, but now it is quickly getting worse because business owners, doctors and professionals have fled the country. The poor remain behind with little money, food or opportunity for a healthy life. Thousands of charities who were feeding and caring for the poor have shut down. Extreme hunger is setting in.
Human trafficking is major issue. People are subjected to forced labour in sex work, illegal drug production and drug trafficking. It is a cocaine smuggling point with arms-for-drugs dealing and a major destination for child sex tourists. This country desperately needs our prayers and our help.
“I no longer believe the lie…”
Thousands of people live and work on the garbage dumps in Nicaragua, Central America. They are terrible places to live. Yet people stay, from one generation to another, scavenging for scraps of metal, clothing and anything else they can sell.
Life can change for the children we help, like Manuel. He was eight years old and working as a garbage picker when he heard about the free food at a nearby church. He liked the food, the people and the Gospel teaching.
One day Manuel told his teacher, “I no longer believe the lie.” She asked him what he meant, and he told her, “The lie that I am worthless and can only ever be a garbage picker. I am worth something. I am a child of God.”
Today, food is regularly sent to churches around six of the 12 garbage dumps. Thanks to our donors for their acts of kindness that have turned Manuel’s life around, along with so many others.
On a ‘good’ day a worker can earn around $1.50, scavenging from the dumps.