For Dave and me it was our second time to Nicaragua. It was great to see the camp we worked at in 2010 when Lester and Darlene Olfert were there—the same custodian was still taking care of the camp.

Why do we continue to send money to Nicaragua when we haven’t had missionaries serving there since the early 1990s? Aren’t they self-sustaining yet? Couldn’t we use our funds for other ministries that are more valuable? Doesn’t this cause them to be dependent on us?

The most unforgettable Christmas for me and my family was Christmas of 1972. Just two and a half months earlier, Hilda and I with our two young sons had made the 5,000-mile trip from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, to the fascinating Republic of Nicaragua, our new home and mission field. We had just settled into a unique house in Jinotepe and were trying hard to befriend our neighbours and learn to communicate in Spanish.

Nicaragua is an extraordinarily beautiful country with amazingly resilient people. Sadly, these people live in a geographical region that is susceptible to natural disasters and political instability.