Hopkins Update – June 30, 2018

Civil unrest continues in Nicaragua; the fighting and violence have not abated. Ronnie and our staff

have continued to try to provide relief for families in need as well as continue the work on the Rio

Bocay.

Last week we were able to pick up

the items that had been donated by

the American Nicaraguan

Foundation (ANF) here in

Nicaragua. We received computer

desks, tables, teachers’ desks and

beds for the teachers’ quarters in

both Kayaskita and Saladios. We

also received tables and chairs for

the preschool children, whiteboards,

bulletin boards, boxes of pencils and

paper.

Harry and Javier traveled by bus to

the river on June 27th. They

experienced some difficulties getting

there due to the road blockages. The

people had the roads blocked in Matagalpa, El Tuma, (near La Dalia) and in El Cedro (near Bocay).

There was no transportation between El Cuá and Bocay so they had to look for new ways to travel.

They finally got to the river after

asking for rides and walking a few

miles. While on the river, Harry and

Javier bought materials for projects,

checked on the clinic and delivered

medicine and parts for the

ambulance boat, took care of

scholarship tuition, and the project

supervisor as well as various bills.

Javier also did some repairs at the

clinic. It is raining constantly now and

the river was very high. They

returned to Managua June 30th.

Last week we were also able to travel

to Chinendega to pick up all the items

that had been shipped down for us

per container by Amigos for Christ.

Supplies donated by the American

Nicaraguan Foundation for schools on

the Rio Bocay

Harry & Javier traveled to

the Rio Bocay this month.

We packed these items nearly a year ago and it is always like Christmas when they finally arrive in

Nicaragua. One of the highways was blocked but we were able to get around it.

On June 30th, Juancito married his girlfriend, Angelica.

It was a beautiful wedding. His wife is from Tipitapa; they met through the youth leadership program.

They and several members of both of their families have gone to Costa Rica until the situation in

Nicaragua settles down. They will be working in a local church and hope to return in August.

On July 1st the youth leadership class

for Somoto and Ocotal had their

graduation; eighteen youth

graduated. Diana, Noel, Yesman and

Honán were the teachers for this

leadership class.

Donated ítems shipped down by container

Harry unpacks t-shirts from a

donation facilitated by Kyle Clark,

St. Luke’s UMC, Hickory, NC.

Juan marries Angelica

Eighteen more youth graduate from the

Youth Leadership Program

Meanwhile, Angi, Peanut and

Lotti (Angi’s mother) are in the

US. While Peanut is at camp,

Angi and her mom have had the

opportunity to visit some of our

supporters and donors. At right,

counterclockwise, lunch with

Byron Colindres of Caucali and

Joxsan Montiel of San Diego,

current Nicaraguan interns with

the Dalton First UMC, Dalton,

GA. They are joined by our

nieces Kayland and Polly

Hopkins, Frances Mobbs, Polly’s mother, Ann Warren of Dalton FUMC, Erenia Pozo (former Dalton

FUMC intern) and her husband Jeffrey Wilson.

Ronnie will be arriving in the US on July 2nd. Our plans are to return to Nicaragua in August. In our

absence, Harry will carry on with the ministry. He will house sit for us and is on salary full time for the

next six months (thanks to Dalton First UMC).

Please join us in prayer that the political situation will resolve and that Nicaragua may experience peace again. Needs During this crisis, many Nicaraguans have lost their livelihood and are struggling to provide for their families. Please consider making a donation to help with the relief work. Harry will be overseeing this until we can return to Nicaragua, hopefully in August. Funds are needed for food, medications and emergency needs (one of our families had to relocate to another country as a refugee). We are also committed to helping our ministry staff (interpreters and helpers) who have lost their income. We are trying to provide them with work until the crisis resolves or they are able to find other work. This will also allow us to continue some of the ministries. This month we plan to send our translators and workers to Pearl Lagoon (east coast of Nicaragua) to do a Sunday School Conference and Leadership Training - $1,000 for their salaries, travel, food, material and housing - Funded This month we would also like to send a small group to the river for training - $500 for their salaries, travel, food, material and housing. Donations may be sent to TMS Global at: TMS Global, P.O. Box 936559, Atlanta, GA 31193-6559, please note Hopkins Special Project #0287 on the memo line. OR electronically via www.tms-global.org/give Click on Give to a Project and type in our names Ronnie and Angi Hopkins Alternatively, donations may be sent to Acts 1:8, P.O. Box 23, Cedartown, GA 30125; please make check out to Acts 1:8 and include a note designating Relief Work. If you make a donation, please send us a note to let us know. Many thanks to all of you who have volunteered to help sell crafts for the sewing circles. Ronnie and Angi Hopkins ronnieangi@mail.com 706/506-1972