Mission trip to Nicaragua, Central America, January 21, 2008 to April 21, 2008

Ministry Description:
Culture and/or State Information
Nicaragua is the largest nation in Central America, and contains regions of thick rain forests, rugged highlands, and fertile farming areas. About half of Nicaragua�s territory consists of the eastern lowlands, known as the Mosquito Coast, which extend 40 miles inland from the Caribbean. Tropical rain forest covers much of the area, threaded with rivers that begin in the highlands and empty into the Caribbean. War and natural disasters, including earthquakes and hurricanes, have wreaked havoc on the area. Hopelessness abounds, as Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Half of the country�s urban residents live below the poverty line, with an overwhelmingly higher rate in rural areas. An estimated 82% of the population survives on less than $2 a day. Children are especially hurting, due to the lack of two-parent families. Adolescent pregnancy rates are excessive and its not uncommon for a Nicaragua homes to have a woman as head of household. To escape the brutal conditions and lack of unemployment in their homeland, a staggering number of Nicaraguans have been forced to emigrate to nearby Costa Rica or the United States.

Ministry Description:
The needs are great in Nicaragua but the opportunities for ministry are even better. There is a vibrant ministry waiting for you in the temperate hill towns outside of Managua, Nicaragua�s capital city. Children's ministry, open air evangelism in the plaza and at the dump, and community help are all possibilities. Some construction on a new orphanage complex may be included and there is the possibility for rehab center visitation. You may also be involved in the feeding program at the dump.

Recommended Prayer
- Pray that God will open up opportunities to share his love with the people of Nicaragua.
- Pray that God will provide the Nicaraguan people with a sense of hope, despite the overwhelming poverty that surrounds them.
- Pray that God will go before you and soften the hearts of the Nicaraguan people who have rejected the gospel or might be resistant to your message of hope.

Shots & Vaccinations:
An updated Tetanus shot is Strongly Recommended for ALL projects. Hepatitis A is recommended.

Suggested Travel Agency:

Angie Lepley, CTC
Tangerine Travel, Ltd.
16017 Juanita Woodinville Way NE, #201
Bothell, WA 98011
Phone (800) 678-8202
Direct (425) 354-6910
Email Angie@tangerinetravel.com
www.tangerinetravel.com

Suggested Travel Insurance:

We highly recommend all program participants have health insurance coverage for international trips. It is important to know that most regular health insurance plans do not cover you overseas. Health coverage is not a requirement for domestic trips, but still recommended.

Location Description:
Nicaragua is the largest nation in Central America, and contains regions of thick rain forests, rugged highlands, and fertile farming areas. About half of Nicaragua�s territory consists of the eastern lowlands, known as the Mosquito Coast, which extend 40 miles inland from the Caribbean. This area once contained extensive stands of tropical hardwoods, but most have been cut. Tropical rain forest covers much of the area, threaded with rivers that begin in the highlands and empty into the Caribbean.

Weather:
Nicaragua�s climate is tropical, with temperatures determined largely by elevation. The coastal regions have a hot climate, with a mean average temperature of 81�F. In the central highlands, the temperature varies between 60� and 80�F. The rainy season occurs from May until early November.

Area Attractions:
Poetry is one of Nicaragua's most beloved arts, and no other Central American country can match its literary output. The Archipi�lago de Solentiname in Lago de Nicaragua is famous as a haven for artists, poets, and craftspeople. Sandinista street art in the form of modernist murals is especially prominent in the university town of Le�n.

Nicaragua's indigenous people were mostly killed or enslaved after the Spanish conquest of the area in the early 1500s. It remained a minor part of the Spanish colonial empire until Central America gained independence in 1821.

Nicaragua is the most urban country in Central America. Its people are mostly mestizos (mixed European and Native American descent). The population is 69% mestizo, 17% European descent, 9% African descent, and 5% indigenous peoples.

Spanish is the language of Nicaragua, but English and several Indian languages are spoken on the Caribbean coast. Nicaraguans of African descent, known as Creoles, dominate the towns along the Caribbean coast. Coming from the British West Indies, notably Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, they speak English and are largely Protestants. The mestizo population of western Nicaragua is predominantly Spanish-speaking and Roman Catholic.

Baseball is Nicaragua�s national sport, reflecting U.S. influence. Cycling, basketball, volleyball, and soccer are also popular. The typical diet of the region is based on rice, beans, yucca, and tortillas. The nation is known for its variety of tropical fruits.

The main religion is Catholicism (73%), although there are several Protestant sects (16%), such as the Pentecostals and Baptists.

Since independence, Nicaragua has had a republican form of government, with an elected president, a congress, and a supreme court.

In the 1990s, Nicaragua was among the poorest nations in Central America, after suffering from years of corrupt dictatorships, natural disasters, revolution, and civil war. Nicaragua�s economy is based largely on agriculture, especially on crops grown for export, such as coffee.

Population:
5.4 million (UN 2003}
(news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles)

Poverty Rate:
50% live below the poverty line; highest in rural areas

An estimated 82% of the population survives on less than $1 a day. In the eastern lowlands, poverty levels exceed 90%.

Literacy Rate:
65.7% of Nicaraguans age 15 and over can read and write.
(www.worldatlas.com)

Average Annual Income:
$710 U.S. (World Bank 2004)
(news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles)

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