After the crisis of 2018, we are working towards reconciliation, providing workshops for rural community leaders to assist their neighbors. Freddy (Pastoral Leadership Training Program Manager), Ramona (psychologist and Women’s Economic Development Program Manager), and Yuri (psychologist and Refugee Office staff) help community and church members to understand the cycles of violence, how to spot them, and how to escape them, allowing communities to resolve conflict because of the crisis.

Pastor Orlando is just one pastor who has received these trainings. “We received workshops on how to help people in crisis after what happened in our country in 2018. It’s especially important for me as a pastor to help people in all types of crisis: emotional, matrimonial, familial, economical, so I can help them.” Pastor Orlando isn’t just helping those affected by the sociopolitical crisis, but also through other difficult situations.

Orlando shares just one example of the ways he has helped those in his community of Las Piedras. “There was a woman here who lost her son. We’re not sure how he died; some people say there was an accident, others say he committed suicide. The woman was very sad and angry. Other members of the family wanted to act out. Other church leaders and I sat with the family in their grief to pray and read the Bible together. She now feels at peace and her home is a calm place.”

After a crisis or traumatic situation as the one Pastor Orlando shared, it can be a common response to look for ways to get their anger out. Some of those ways can include getting drunk and looking for a fight or trying to get revenge on who they feel is the “enemy”, both of which only cause more hurt to themselves and those around them. Instead of acting out in violence, community members are being guided by the church to seek God and His peace.

Orlando shares a word of thanks: “We are so thankful for your support, because it allows us to advance in life. We can help people now and know more on how to resolve a crisis. We can relate to each other and be more sympathetic and caring.”

Thank YOU for how YOU are helping change Nicaragua! Consider giving so more pastors can receive the training they need to resolve crisis in their communities.