Community Health Evangelism Nicaragua: August 2011

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Introduction to Darling Lopez, Women of CHE Facilitator, Nicaragua

Darling and Kelly Diaz in folk dancing costume

I worked with closely with Darling during the 3 years I spent in Nicaragua as a Food for the Hungry Hunger Corps worker. It was a great blessing to learn under her leadership, and I treasure her friendship. We attended the first Women of CHE conference in San Jose with Charlene McWilliam (of LifeWind, who created the first Women of CHE classes). We were both part of the first Women of CHE National Gathering, in Nicaragua, along with Hermano (brother) Antonio Vivas, and Roger Pavon, held in Boaco, Nicaragua. In September, 2011, we will be attending the first Women of CHE conference for all Central America, in Guatemala.

Each year, since I left Nicaragua in 2006, my husband and I have gone back to Nicaragua, with a friend or 2, and Darling, our friends, and I plan activities for women in the communities that the CHE team chooses for us to work in.

I was able to ‘interview’ Hermano Antonio and Roger for this blog while we were in Nicaragua this year. However, during our time in the communities, Darling was either meeting with leaders, or dashing off on a motorcycle with a terrified Women of CHE leader clinging to her back, to visit other CHE groups, so her ‘interview’ will have to wait until Guatemala.

In the meantime, here is her prayer letter from autumn 2010.

Darling and her husband, Jose Antonio (Chico)

Prayer letter

From Darling Lopez,

Community Health Evangelism, Nicaragua

Dear brothers and sisters,

My name is Darling Lopez de Ramirez. I am 32 years old, married to Pastor Jose Antonio Ramirez, who worked with Medical Ambassadors for over 12 years in the Dominican Republic. I have 2 children: Alicia, 16, and Andres, 12.

Let me take a little of your valuable time to acquaint you with the beautiful life path that God has shown me over the course of the last 10 years. I refer to the ministry program, Community Health Evangelism, through which I came to accept Christ. He immediately sent me to work in the CHE ministry. I met my husband at a CHE residential training course in Guatemala. Thanks to the support of the Thomas family in Denver, Colorado, and God, I graduated as a lawyer and notary public. Now I work as resource facilitator for the women of the CHE program.

Isaiah 58 v6-12

Isaiah 58:6-12 (NIV)

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

[7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? [

8] Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

[9] Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

[10] and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

[11] The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

[12] Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.