On the first Sunday of March, members of the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa Carazo in Nicaragua mobilized to help the Church of the Nazarene in the El Ojochal community build its sanctuary.

Two ministries of the Carazo church were actively involved in the construction: Todo Terrano and Motores en Acción y Servicio (MAS).

Todo Terreno actively serves congregations and communities with great difficulties. Depending on the need, they deliver packages with food, toys, and clothes, among other items.

MAS is a group of motorcyclists who invite other motorcyclists for a time of prayer and reflection. Afterward, all are involved in community service activities.

The Ojochal congregation is located in a low-income rural area and has a small membership. Dimas Acuña, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Carazo, says that the members of Ojochal have gone through many difficulties, including the death of the pastor, Francisco Acosta, approximately two months ago. "The church is being reborn," Acuña said, so the church in Carazo decided to support this project financially and with labor.

Kenelma de Acosta, the widow of the former pastor, has been appointed pastor, and she is working to continue the church sanctuary construction project her husband started.

"We recently completed two years of pastoring the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, and in this time, God has made great changes in my life, my family, and the congregation," Acuña said. "We have exchanged religiosity for service and compassion. We have understood that it is not about us but about our neighbors. We have seen the hand of God in every visit we make to different places, and more than getting to bless, we are the ones blessed."

Acuña says that even with the help offered to their sister church in the El Ojochal community, the construction projects at the Carazo Church have not stopped and that they can see God's faithfulness there, too. Currently, the church is building four classrooms and an auditorium on site.

"We thank God for the opportunity he gives us to serve the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, and the MAS group of Managua and MAS de Carazo," Acuña said.

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region