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Teacher background
A cruel comedian might talk about Nicaragua as a “disaster
magnet.” Throughout its history, this largest country in
Central America has suffered human and natural disaster of
every kind. Colonial oppressions and occupations, corrupt
governments, civil wars and the horror of massive natural
calamities – earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires and
hurricanes – intermix and compound the difficulty of
Nicaraguan society to prosper and grow.A
wiser and kinder observer might also note how, throughout
their history, the people of Nicaragua have persevered.
Oppressors and occupiers -- notably Spanish, British and
American governments and businesses – have been thrown off or
their interests subverted. Tin-god rulers and iron-fisted
dictators have been overthrown, with great and lingering
costs. Countrywide initiatives to overturn poverty have turned
the tide of misfortune and spread hope through the country.
With considerable grit and determination, Nicaragua has
recovered from earth-shakings, wind-batterings,
forest-burnings, flood-buryings and lava-spewings.
The love and care of people around the
world have assisted this tenacious people in their efforts to
live beyond poverty. Especially in recent history – the past
two decades – Nicaragua has been blessed by the forgiveness of
overwhelming international debt (incurred by its former,
corrupt governments), massive relief aid in times of
international disasters, the presence of observant and caring
members of the international community and continuing at this
time, the work of faith-based relief and development
organizations such as Lutheran World Relief.
In this session, participants see how the community of
God’s people – in this case the people of the ELCA working
with LWR – takes on the challenge of combating poverty and
hunger in this country. The work is God’s own, and so we
partner with Christ’s Spirit. We are blessed with this
mission!
Next: Preparing for the
session
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