Imagine a child, seven years old, living in a garbage dump and watching both her mother and father die slowly of AIDS-related illnesses.
This was reality for Erminia before she joined Forward Edge’s program for at-risk girls in Nicaragua called Village of Hope.
If Erminia had continued to grow up living in the dump, she likely would have had a teenage pregnancy (one in four girls do in Nicaragua). That could have happened through rape, a drug-induced mistake, or even forced prostitution—all things not uncommon among girls living in the dump.
One thing is almost certain: if Erminia had stayed in the dump, she would have dropped out of school, married a much older man to relieve the economic burden for her parents, and borne her first child before the age of 15. Depressed, uneducated, and undervalued, she would have been another link in the endless chain of heartbreaking poverty.
She came to under the care of our Nicaragua Directors at the Village of Hope, Wilbert Alvarado and Gloria Sequeira. One of the first things Wilbert and Gloria did was tend to Erminia’s medical needs and test her blood to see if she had contracted HIV from either of her parents; thank God she hadn’t.
Erminia’s new life at the Village of Hope came with regular nutritious meals, safe drinking water, clean clothes, professional counseling, and the chance to go to a first-rate Christian school.
Today, nine years later, Erminia’s life is completely transformed. She is physically and emotionally healthy; flourishing in her school work; and growing in her relationship with Christ. She now dreams of being a doctor someday so she can, in her words, “help others with more problems than mine.”
There is a specific moment in Erminia’s story that profoundly illustrates why we do what we do together through Forward Edge. It was when Erminia went to the hospital to visit her mother for the last time.
As Erminia held her mother’s hand and said goodbye, her mother told her in a weak, defeated voice, “You’re going to be an orphan now.”
“No I’m not,” Erminia replied. “I have Papa Wilbert and Mama Gloria.”
The amount of suffering among children in this world is great—sometimes overwhelming to think about—but as Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one.” For that one, our help means the world.
Looking For Joy? Have you ever felt like you were on a hunt for joy? An 18-year-old boy was surprised to find it surrounded by people who had very little. He found it where you’d assume you’d find sadness. He went on a trip unsure of what he would experience
2021 has been an incredible year. At Forward Edge, our hearts swell with gratitude for all God has done. His awesome faithfulness through another difficult year has been such a blessing to witness. Children around the world are discovering their true worth and purpose and growing in intimacy with Jesus,
Ileana has been in our Nicaragua children’s program for the last eight years. Our team has poured into her heart, spirit, and education, and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman of God. Her life hasn’t been easy, but as you’ll read in her letter, she has learned to
The decision to join a mission team It all started with two sisters who chose to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua. Val spontaneously joined her sister Donna at a trip team meeting, and decided during the meeting that she too wanted to serve with the team. A Humbling Experience During
6 yrs. old
Entered the program: November 2023
Joy lives with both of her parents and little sister in a two-room sheet metal house on loan to them temporarily by a good Samaritan. The house has a cement floor and small solar panel lighting. The family uses firewood for cooking in an open kitchen, and they have a bathroom facility that is in good condition. Rain water is collected for usage during the rainy season, otherwise tapped water is borrowed from a neighbor.
Joy’s mother works as a casual laborer and is the sole provider, since her husband is essentially unemployed. He gets an odd job now and then to help buy food but does not support the children in any other way. There is barely enough to meet the basic needs of the family. Joy’s father is physically abusive and her mother is considering leaving him as she fears for herself and the children.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
