Nicaragua News

As many of you know, I will soon be moving to Matagalpa, Nicaragua in order to serve the community as an English teacher at a new Christian school.  I am thrilled that the Lord has called me to this ministry, and at the same time I am sad to be leaving each one of you.  I deeply appreciate your prayers as I make preparations to transition out of my current ministry at Advent and into this new ministry in Matagalpa.  

Below, you will find some more specific information, and the answers to at least a few of the most frequently asked questions.  I would love to talk to you more about my plans and the Lord's work in Nicaragua - shoot me an email or give me a call!

About

My hope and heart is to witness the transformational restoration of Nicaragua through the work of Jesus Christ, who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Reconciler of everything.

As a Missionary Ventures Field Specialist, I will be a self-supporting, full-time missionary serving as a part of the MV team in Nicaragua. MV is an interdenominational mission organization with a vision for “Involving People to Impact Nations for Christ”.  I feel very blessed to be joining an international organization, and a team in Nicaragua, through whom the Lord has been working for quite some time.

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, following closely behind Haiti.  In the last three decades, Nicaragua has seen dictatorship, Marxism, and Capitalism – all promising better things but leaving the country destitute.  The political and economic spheres have been defined by corruption, power struggles, fatalism, and economic dependency.  In the country of 5.7 million people, 54% of the population is unemployed or underemployed, and the average income for a family of 4 is $120/month.

In a country that belongs to its youth (half of Nicaraguans are under the age of 20), Nicaragua’s public education system is broken.  Officially, 20% of the population is illiterate, although among rural poor the rate is 41%.  Teachers are underpaid, class sizes are large and lacking basic teaching materials and supplies.  The education system is plagued by a Socialist methodology set up during the Sandinista era which employs rote memorization and very little higher-order thinking.  50% of students do not pass grade 4.  31% of girls and 45 % of boys do not pass grade 6.  Only 30% of the nation finishes high school and 8% go on to obtain a college degree.  Whereas public schools are supposedly free to nationals, parents are asked to pay numerous fees, or students are denied test results or grades.

About NCA Matagalpa

Quality education opportunities in Matagalpa with a Christian emphasis are very limited.  Currently, there is one Christian school operating in the city offering classes from Pre-K through Sixth grade.  In response to the need in the community for academic excellence with a Christian foundation the Association of Nicaragua Christian Academy began researching the possibilities of opening a 3rd campus in Matagalpa.  

Nicaragua Christian Academy was founded in 1991 in Managua to educate the children of missionaries.  In 2005 the second school was founded, NCA Nejapa. NCA Matagalpa exists to equip the children of Christian parents with the spiritual discernment, moral courage, and academic excellence to make an impact on society with their Christian life motivated by a true love of God. NCA Matagalpa seeks not only to give quality education to the children in Matagalpa but also to be a model and mentor school to other Christian schools in the region.

NCA Matagalpa will begin with first though seventh grade with plans to add a grade or two each year as God provides infrastructure, students and teachers.

Support Information

If you are interested in supporting my ministry with Missionary Ventures in Matagalpa, I am honored and blessed.  There are several ways that your can make a tax-deductible donation:

1. You may write a check made out to Missionary Ventures, with a note saying “Field Coordinator Ministry – Preference for Elisabeth Elliott”, and mail it to:

Missionary Ventures International

P.O. Box 593550

Orlando, FL 32859

2. You may make an online donation using a credit card by clicking here.  You will find a secure online donation form.  Choose the amount you want to donate and in the section for Select “Field Coordinator Ministry – Preference for” write my name, Elisabeth Elliott.  There are options for one-time, monthly, quarterly, and annual donations.

3. You may sign up for monthly, automatic ACH or Credit Card donations by filling out the form found here.  In the “Missionary Support” section, fill in the amount you want to donate and write my name, Elisabeth Elliott.  This option allows you to avoid the credit card fees charged for online donations.

“Notwithstanding any other statements in this communication, please remember that any contributions to MV are under MV’s full discretion and control as required by the IRS regulations.”