Beverly Duke shares about her experience in aiding her church of First United Methodist Lawrenceburg start a partnership with their brothers and sisters in Amatitán, León. 

During the 1980’s, our hearts were moved by the plight of the people in Nicaragua as brother fought agains brother, father against son, and friend against friend. We were unable to condone what part our country played in the war. It was then that our church’s sponsored missionary in Hong Kong retired, and we were given the opportunity to choose another missionary to support.

The one we chose after careful thought and prayer was Carter and his wife Marty, United Methodist missionaries in Nicaragua. I felt a tug on my heart for several years to somehow be involved. I tried to convince people from my church and surrounding churches that we needed to get connected.

Marty then contacted me in the early 90’s with the opportunity to start a partnership with an Assemblies of God church in the village of Amatitán, close to León. After trying to get involved for a few years, I felt that God had finally heard my prayer.

I shared about the idea for the partnership with others in my church, and we agreed to move forward, but in my heart, I knew we could not truly be partners until we were friends. I tried to organize a group to visit Nicaragua by speaking with others in my church and writing to churches in the surrounding area. For two years, I prayed and wrote letters, but nothing happened. I told our pastor at that time that I was tired of trying to arrange this, and that if God wanted me to go to Nicaragua, then it was up to Him to arrange it.

I was amazed at how quickly God made it happen after I had tried for several years. I was invited to visit Nicaragua sponsored through an event at Witness for Peace out of Washington, DC. I was part of a delegation that attended a three-week seminar concerning conditions in Nicaragua. This was just two months after Hurricane Mitch had devastated so much of this beautiful country. I was so moved by what I saw.

After the seminar was over, CEPAD organized the opportunity for me to meet my friends in Amatitán. What a joyful experience! The people of Amatitán finally became our true brothers and sisters.

But even after the trip, I continued to reflect on the large number of homeless and hopeless in Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch. I struggled with that pain, but I remember thinking that God had prepared the way for me to go to Nicaragua, so there must be a reason for this.

In 2000, we sent our first work brigade to Amatitán to help build their new church building. It was then that I finally realized how our church could do something to help people in Nicaragua. I knew we couldn’t help every family, but maybe we could do something to at least help some families.

I spoke with María, Pastor Juan’s wife, and asked how we could help the families of Amatitán. She mentioned that her son had received a scholarship package from an international source and that he was able to attend school because of that help. So the Scholarship program began.

Since 2000, our church has sponsored between 150 and 200 students. Thanks be to God that the students now have new options, an so many students have continued their educations, even to the university level.

There have been so many memories that we as a church would not have had if God had not led the way for our partnership with the people of Amatitán. This is just one of the very precious memories we have.

We are so thankful for First United Methodist of Lawrenceburg for their partnership and long-lasting relationship with the community of Amatitán, and are amazed at how God divinely ordained their relationship, working all things out in His timing.