Pray for Nicaragua

Nicaragua is located in Central America.

It is bordered by Honduras in the north and Costa Rica to the south.
The Pacific Ocean lies to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

The capital is Managua.
The population of is approximately 6 million.

FACTS
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America.

Mangua is the second largest city in Central America.
A quarter of the population lives in Mangua.

The population is highly multiethnic.
The poplation includes indigenous native tribes and people of European,
African, Asian,and Middle Eastern descent.

The tropical climate and active volcanoes make Nicaragua a popular tourist destination.

DEMOGRAPHICS
61%  Mestizo(Mixed Amerindian and white)
20%  White
15%  Black
5%   Amerindian

58.5% Catholic
23.2% Protestant
1.6%  Other
15.5% None

HISTORY
By the 15th century, over a million Native Americans lived in Ncaragua.
Western Nicaragua was inhabited by both the  Maya and Aztec
The Caribbean coast was inhabited by Chibcha groups.
The Chorotega lived in the central region.

The Niquirano lived in the westward, highland areas.
The name Nicaragua is the name of a Niquirano Chieftain

In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach Nicaragua.

The Spanish Conquistadors conquered Nircaragua by 1529.
Much of the indigenous people died as a result of  slave labor or infectious disease

From 1936-1979 Nicaragua was ruled by several military dictatorships,
the longest being the hereditary Somoza Dyansty

In 1979 the Somozas were overthrown by the Sandista Marxist revolution.

The revolution led to an 11 year civil war between the Sandistas
and the Contras,(Rebel groups who opposed the new government.)

During the civil war, human rights violations were committed by both sides.

The war collapsed the country's economy plunging millions into poverty.

The Sandistas lost elections in 1990, but remain the opposition party.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch further devastating the nation's economy and infrastructure.
9000 people were killed
Thousands lost their homes.
70% of the population was rendered jobless.
The hurricane caused 15 billion dollars in damage.

CONDITIONS
Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America.
There is widespread unemployment and poverty.

48% of the population lives below the poverty line.
79.9 % of the population lives on less than $2 each day.
80% of the indigenous people live on less than $1 a day.

The government is still struggling to get Nicaragua back on track and get rid of its huge national debt.

The deep poverty has been both the cause and result of many political troubles.
Liberation theology and prosperity theology play major roles.

The traumatic events of 1979-1998 has caused deep divisions between politics, communities and families.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
The majority of the population is Catholic, although practicing
members have been declining.

Popular religion revolves around the saints.
In many communities, a rich lore has grown up around patron saints.

Evangelical groups have been growing.
A fifth of the population are committed Christians, active in their faith.
The number of evangelical Christians in Nicaragua has doubled in the last 40 years.

Mormonism is also growing.

Buddhism has increased with a steady influx of immigration

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that governmental corruption will be opposed.

Pray for economic wisdom and long-term development.

Pray that the strife and divisions be healed.

Pray for the thousands who are homeless and unemployed.

Pray for the thousands suffering through poverty.

Pray that the Gospel will continue to be preached and that souls be saved.

Pray that practicing Catholics look to Jesus alone.