By Kathya Sandavol, Miriam Lopez, and Zach Dodd
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.”
-Psalm 146:7
I (Zach) have known Kathya and her husband Jason Soares for many years. Our kids have grown up together and Jason once served on our WEGO board. I knew she moved to Florida from Costa Rica but it took me awhile to discover her roots in Diriamba, just miles away from our ministry in Nicaragua. (Crazy story: I actually personally interviewed and hired her cousin, Moisés, to be our English teacher at New Hope School without even knowing the connection!) I will never forget the first time I heard Kathya’s story at one of our WEGO prayer gatherings. She was stirred to share this testimony with us as we were praying for a child in our ministry along with a church in Diriamba. Within moments, we were all in tears.
“I once was that girl.
My name is Kathya Sandoval and I am from Managua, Nicaragua.
When I was six years old, I was taken to live at my maternal grandmother’s house in another town called Diriamba. It feels like it was yesterday when I said goodbye to my mother. It was a very sad and dramatic situation. I didn’t understand many things, only that they told me it was for my own good. When I arrived in Diriamba, I realized my sister and I had to work selling bread so we could eat. Many times, we ate the bread we were supposed to sell because they always sent us to work hungry. Despite that sad reality we were just kids and we had fun in the streets of Diriamba. I remember when night came, my grandmother would have us read the Bible and pray that the next day would be a blessing. That prayer was answered when I was in the first grade.
We got up to go to school one morning and I remember being so hungry because we had not eaten the night before. I remember very well sitting in my chair at school and not being able to concentrate because my hunger would not allow it. Suddenly, I saw two young people walk through our school doors. In my mind they looked like angels with blue eyes and blonde hair. One had a box of cookies and the other had a very rich and traditional drink from Nicaragua called pinol. They shared a message with us but the only thing I remember is focusing on the box of cookies and the drink. I wanted to eat it all. Thanks to these people who showed up to feed us at school every morning without fail, I managed to make the honor roll that year. Ever since I was 7 years old (I am 33 years old now), I have lived eternally grateful to them and the ministry that came to save us from hunger.”
What a moving testimony of God’s Hand and kindness. Jesus saw her sitting there empty-bellied and met her need in the most practical of ways. He brought her a snack. That cookie mattered because Kathya matters just like every child we have the privilege to know and serve.
Our ministry in Nicaragua is in a season of much transition and we are so grateful to have recently relaunched our Bible Club at a local church in Jinotepe. And you’ll never guess where we are also launching a new Bible Club this Saturday. Yep, in Diriamba! As we enter into this new season of serving kids and communities in Nicaragua we have had to change much of our strategy and cut many expenses. But I’ll let you figure out how we answered the question about whether or not to provide a snack.
Join us in praising God for His work in Kathya’s life and join with us in praying for the work He will continue to do in the lives of children through our Bible clubs in Nicaragua.
How You Can Pray
Pray For Miriam Lopez
We are so incredibly grateful to have our long-time WEGO staff member and friend, Miriam Lopez, as our new full-time Local Missionary. She is leading our Bible Clubs in the Roman Esteban and Las Colinas communities, reaching out to New Hope School students, and discipling our college scholarship recipients. Pray Jesus continues to intimately draw her to Himself even before she pours out her life in ministry. Specifically, be praying for her health this week as she is not feeling well.
From Miriam: Pray for the salvation and spiritual growth of the children in our Bible Clubs
Snacks, games, music, and Bible Clubs are just means to an end – children knowing how loved they are in Jesus and responding in belief, repentance, and faith for the rest of their lives and into eternity. Join us in praying the Holy Spirit draws children to Himself and that every broken heart will be made whole in Christ.
From Miriam: Ask God to give us His protection and favor every day
More than an event, our Bible Clubs daily push back darkness, despair, and hopelessness in the hearts of vulnerable children. Pray God’s grand protection covers these gatherings like a shepherd and a Psalm 3 shield. Pray God’s blessing on Iglesia Getsemani for hosting our club in Roman Esteban. Pray every local leader sees and discovers the gift of these gatherings to the children in their communities.
From Miriam: Pray for God’s provision for the families
Some of the children in our Bible Clubs have shared they don’t always have food at home. Join us in praying for economic provision for their families and jobs for their parents.
To that end, will you also be praying for us as we discern a call for a new adult literacy program for the Roman Esteban community. A lack of basic education is preventing many parents from finding the work required to adequately provide for their children. We believe God might be calling WEGO to help stand in this gap and offer a new ministry to empower parents to read, write, and gain the skills required for employment – resulting in full tables and filled bellies. Maybe, just maybe, that’s also how God will provide a snack.