The winding road to Avodah farm

 

Valley views

After four years of searching, and a full year of negotiating, we have purchased land for Avodah Farm! The property is located about thirteen miles (thirty minute drive), north of the city. The area is know as the hot lands. Where it is drier during the year and a bit warmer than the rest of the Jinotega department. The property is part of a large cattle ranch, where the family was willing to sell us a portion. 

I first saw the land in the start of 2022, when Darwin and I were on our way to a community where we heard there were hard working bean farmers. We had never driven into this area before so we unknowingly took the scenic route. It was a rough and winding road. About 3 km (1.5m) in we saw a flat open grass land, with fenced off pastures. I said "Look at this land, it is beautiful! There is no one around here, not a house in sight. Is anyone selling this, at least a portion?" Then we saw some pink underwear hanging on the barbed wire, and joked about that being a point of reference for the directions! (Were given a purple sack on a pole as a reference before, Nicaragua directions!) Once we reached the community we found a better road out, but still passed the same land. 

As our presence in the community grew, we would pass by the property frequently on our way down the plateau. I would always wonder who the owner was, so we started to ask around. We were told it was owned by a man named Ron* and he lived in the city of Jinotega. We started to look for Ron, but found out he died and now his sons own the property, but they all lived in Managua. In our frequent trips to visit farmers in the area, I would stop my truck and step out to hear the birds chirping, and calm breezy silence. In the early morning we would occasionally encounter fog during the rainy season. I started to pray, and asked God to help us find and contact the owners. Jari would ride with me on occasions, so we would drive by the land and day dream, and pray to ask God for help in purchasing land in this area. 

As time passed I continued my search for property in other areas. Along different roads and in the mountains. However, every good piece of land we found would always have the same issue, incomplete deeds. There would be old liens, 'caretakers' who sold lots illegally, and missing documents. I thank God we have a good lawyer friend, who always told me, "Keep looking." It got to the point of when I visited property for sale I didn't even ask about the price, or negotiate terms, the first thing I asked was, "How is the deed?" 

Grazing hills on Avodah farm

I did notice that Ron's property was still active, there were cows on the land and there was a hacienda. We would asked the workers for the owners phone number, they would respond to us "Why, what do you want to buy it for?" guarding the land from strangers. We found out Ron had a son, named Ron jr, and he came to Jinotega frequently. We would stop in the hacienda to ask if he was there, but we were never given good answers and were sent on wild chases to other towns where he was supposed to be at. We asked for his phone number but did not get anywhere. 

In November of 2023, Darwin and I took a ride to San Rafael del Norte to look for some property. We had a lead of some good priced land for sale in the area. I drove there on my scooter and he lead the way on his Honda 190CT motorcycle. Our trip turned out to be a loss, so he left to go further into the mountains to search for property, where I could not go on the scooter. I decided to head home to Jinotega. On the drive home from San Rafael de Norte, you pass Ron Jr.'s hacienda. There is also a sharp curve in front of it, while going down hill then curving back up. A dirt road also splits off to the south. As I approached the curve, I started to slip on gravel that washed down from the dirt road! I knew I was going to wipe out! I put my foot down to try and save myself from crashing to hard and sliding along the pavement and ended up rolling over the scoter and tumbled three times on my left side to the grass. The scooter slid under me and skated along the road for a good fifteen feet. I had the wind knocked out of me and could not breathe. I tried to get up, but was not able to. I sat on the side of the road wincing and groaning in pain, trying to catch my breathe. A pickup truck stopped and two men got out to check on me. They helped me sit up. Another man stopped to see if I was ok. This man was a pastor named Sergio. I knew him from a few workshop I had given in the past in Jinotega. He stayed behind to help me flag down a ride to the clinic in San Rafael de Norte. There was no cellphone signal in that curve. No one could call for an ambulance there. The two men in the truck had to leave because they were workers and pastor Sergio offered to help see me to the hospital. I knew I needed prayer, because I could not catch my breath, I asked pastor Sergio to pray for me and he did. During this prayer I felt tingling in my left ribs, close to my spine, I was able to breathe again! He stopped two men in another truck who took me to the clinic. When I got into the truck, these men were playing Christian music and took me right away to the clinic. 

I arrived to a small hospital with scrapes and bruises, but I didn't break any bones, thank God! The doctors gave me some pain meds, and sent me to the Jinotega hospital where I could get x-rays. There was worry about damage to my ribs and lungs. Now with cell phone signal I was able to call Jari and tell her what had happened. She was very worried, and waited for me at the hospital in Jinotega. I ended up staying overnight in observation to make sure my lungs were ok and I didn't have anything broken in my ribs. 

Around 7 a.m. in the morning, I decided to leave the hospital because there were no doctors around to see me. Thank God Jari was with me the whole night, I am blessed to have a nurse by my side! I walked out and recovered at home. We had a very important appointment the next week that we could not miss! I knew I could recover quicker at home with a visit to a general doctor I see. 

My scooter was brought to Ron jr.'s hacienda across the street from where I crashed. It had bent handle bars and other damage, but still able to run. Darwin went the next day to bring it back to my house. I asked him to take advantage of the accident and ask for Ron jr.'s phone number! He went to get the scooter with a friend of his who is a motorcycle mechanic. While picking up the scoter he chatted with the workers and was able to get a phone number for Ron Jr.'s brother, Al! 

A few days later Darwin was able to invite Al for coffee and ask about purchasing a few acres from him. Al said he would talk to his siblings, there were three more, and see what they said, but it was going to take time. It did take time, weeks past and we heard nothing, we called Al to see what the family concluded but he said they were still indecisive. 

Then while looking at a different property for sale by a man named Henry, we found out the land around it was owned by Ron Jr. and his siblings. We ended up not making any deals for Henry's land, because as always, there with problems with the deed! I had a friend who was buying property from Henry in the same area, close to where we were. I called him to ask if he had Ron Jr.'s number since he was buying land, and he did! He sent me Ron Jr.'s number! Finally, after so long I could finally call him! However, I prayed for God's blessing on my phone call with Ron Jr, I needed to get my confidence up, and be specific about what I was looking for. I called him the next evening. 

I called him around 6 p.m. and he answered fairly quickly. I introduced myself and asked him if they were willing to sell some of their land. He said they were open to talking about it, but wanted to know exactly where it was I was interested in. He agreed to meet at the site on the weekend when he was in Jinotega. 

When we met at the portion I was looking at, he was very helpful in asking what we were looking to use the land for. I told him to plant basic grains, and build a house. He suggested another area across the street, because where we were was very rocky. At one time they tried to make a baseball field there but the grader tractors couldn't move the rocks. We agreed to take a few days to think about the purchase and he also needed time to speak to his siblings. He said it would take some time, just like his brother Al! 

Time it did take! There was a lot of measuring land and remeasuring, then changes in our own minds started to make barriers. A few points during the negotiations I was ready to quit trying to purchase anything. I started to doubt it was going to happen and started talking myself out of land purchase. I would ask myself, was it necessary? Is this a mistake? I would tell myself I can continue our ministry without this land, and it wouldn't affect anything. However, there was always encouragement from the Holy Spirit! He would send me reminders, and not lift the charge from my heart. I would resist, and pray and ask what is the point? If this land is really for our ministry, why does it take so long and is a challenge? I also knew, that purchasing the land would bring even more challenges to our ministry! Our own family is growing, more responsibility! 

Orchids flowers on the property

A great benefit to this process was that Ron Jr. and his family did not needing to sell, I was knocking on their door. Therefore, I didn't experience sales pressure on their part. Ron Jr. was a kind, but serious man. We had some issues with the survey, and borders, two surveys were taken. These things also added to my discouragement, but God would not let me turn away. When the survey and pricing issues were agreed on, the sale was completed! A year after my first meeting with Ron Jr.! 

Purchasing land for Avodah Farm was not quick and easy. It was a a hard process to complete. Though out all of this time, I remembered the individuals donors and churches that gave to our ministry for this specific project, even while it was still a dream of the future. God provided us the funds, and we needed to put them to work for His kingdom! These reminders are what kept Jari and I moving forward in this advancement of our ministry in Nicaragua. When we finally had the deed transferred to us, I called Ron Jr. to thank him, he said, "Now its time to start working!" I laughed and said, "Of course! Let start on the fence." Were are just starting this new phase in our ministry, but we pray that our little corner of Avodah Farm will be a green beacon of God's kingdom here in Jinotega. May our community learn to worship the Lord Jesus, while we work and serve His kingdom!