Nicaragua 20s #2

We started the day early with a two-hour ride from Managua to León. On the ride to León, we were able to meet David, who has worked with OrphaNetwork since 2012. He shared with us the history of the organization and how it has grown and changed over the years. Hearing his firsthand experience gave us a deeper appreciation for the work we're a part of this week. ORPHANetwork recently had changed their name to Nourish International.

A Little Background on Nourish International:

Formerly known as ORPHANetwork, this organization began in 1997 with just five people in Nicaragua and five in the United States. Initially, they served 70 children living in orphanages. Over time, their mission has evolved—moving away from orphanage-based care and into local churches and communities. Their heart remains the same: to build relationships with children, families, and the Lord, while helping break cycles of poverty and inspiring children to believe in themselves.

One of their earliest breakthroughs came through church-based feeding programs, which provided lunches for children in need and has grown to impact more than 33,000 people.

Today, Nourish International partners with 65 churches across Nicaragua, offering two types of support:

• Life-Saving Program Churches provide meals cooked by volunteers.
• Life-Transforming Program Churches go a step further, offering not only meals but educational, health, and spiritual support to the children in their communities.

Woodmen Valley Chapel began partnering with Nourish International in 2022 and now helps support 170 individuals in Nicaragua annually through these programs.

Our Day in León

After arriving in León, we visited Iglesia Cristiana Verbo Posoltega, one of Nourish International’s partner churches. As we arrived, we were welcomed by the staff and several kids already gathered for lunch. The church runs a feeding program Monday through Friday, providing children with a reliable, nutritious meal each day. 

We helped serve lunch, which was chicken and rice. It was simple but meaningful to be part of something that plays such a steady role in the lives of these kids.

After lunch, we gathered everyone together for a short Bible lesson. We told the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den using puppets, coloring sheets, and a fun lion craft. The kids really enjoyed the hands-on activity, and we talked about how God is with us in all situations, just like He was with Daniel.

The rest of the afternoon was spent outside playing soccer, chatting with the kids, and enjoying the time together. Even with the language barrier, it was easy to connect through simple games and conversation though our wonderful translators.

As we made the drive to our hotel, it started to rain but our driver Guillermo did a wonderful job at keeping us safe and dry. Then we all had dinner together in downtown León and took time to talk about the day and prepare for what is next.

- Erica for the team