January 2015

Time Flies!  6 weeks in Nicaragua now!

First of all, just a few days ago we learned that we will be new parents!  Linda is 2 months pregnant and we’re so thankful to God for this wonderful blessing to our lives.  

Arriving here in Nicaragua, we were uncertain of what to expect, living in a foreign country.  We’re happy to have responded to God’s calling to come here.  Our transition is going very well.  Of course, we do miss our family, friends and church and our Mexican food, but we’re getting used to the new changes.  We’re excited to be a part of Campo Gonia Ministry and serve alongside Jaime and Monica Arista.  We’re also very happy that soon, we’ll be starting the new Campo Gonia Men’s Discipleship Program.  We have several projects lined up and we continue to pray for God’s provision to raise up the new dorm buildings for the men.  

At the same time, we’re serving with different ministries: visiting the prisoners, ministering to troubled youth in a poor community, ministering to the homeless, and teaching home bible studies with the neighbors.

Nicaragua

We want to share a little bit about Nicaragua in this first blog.  Nicaragua is a beautiful country. Our first impression was amazement with the lush surroundings.  Amazing views, filled with volcanoes and lakes. The people are very kind and have a simple way of life. They’re open to the gospel and have a hunger for God.

But at the same time, we’ve also found that it is a very poor country.  Jobs are lacking and those that do have jobs, have to work very hard for very minimum wages (90 cordobas, equivalent to 3.00 dollars a day).  Food prices are very high.  Unfortunately, seniors over 60 are not offered jobs and end up being homeless.  We also see on the streets a high rate of alcoholics that are also homeless.  There’s a high rate of single mothers, many of which are adolescents.  

We know these aren’t problems that will disappear overnight.  We also don’t intend to point fingers or judge the situation here.  Rather, we have a burden in our hearts for the people.  We’ve met many people that live and work in the fields and struggle every day to take home their daily bread.  We ask for your prayers for this country that has suffered so much instability.  That God may send his blessings here.

Prayer Requests

•Good health for Linda and baby during pregnancy

•God’s provisions for construction funds to build the Campo Gonia Men’s Discipleship Program

•For God to bring the men that will be participating in the discipleship program

•That the people of Nicaragua would find their hope in God

We would ask for you to pray and see if the Lord would have you support us financially. (Tax deductible)

Mail to: Shepherd's Staff 6739 Academy Road, NE Alburquerque, NM. 87109 MEMO: 4108 CAMPO GONIA - EDUARDO & LINDA

Thank you for praying for us. We love you all.

Eduardo & Linda Fernandez