Our Vision:
Finding and living God's plan for our lives as closely as possible.
Our Mission:
Ministering the empowering love of Jesus Christ to encourage, serve, equip and complete one another for His glory.
Overview
My name is Andrew Lang (Andres' Largo en Español). I have the privilege of stewarding Gloria Solo a Dios (GSD), a six acre property outside of Diriomo, Nicaragua in Barrio Granadilla, for the sole purpose of servingJesus Christ. To know my full story and how God brought my family and I to Nicaragua, and eventually GSD, please read Our Story which gives full details regarding our background. In short, in 2012 after my retirement and while embarking upon homeschooling our three children (ages 12-15), after a challenging course through my wife Rachel's, stage 3c breast cancer, I searched to find a full immersion two month mission trip to a third world country as my first homeschool "field trip". My hope was for my children to experience the every day life of families and children their age, while serving alongside, established, local third world opportunities. Finally, in the fall of 2013, after 13 months of searching, we Providentially landed in Granada, Nicaragua. That trip was the first step of God's plan for us to serve, then steward a property in 2017 to use to further serve and share The Joy's and Fulfillment of our Savior's Kingdom Life on Earth. The following years were filled with prayer, almost exclusively personal funding, physical labor, and building on Providential opportunities with local services that have well established service programs. It has been unbelievable how God is using our personal resources, donated resources and the GSD property to serve needs to our Barrio Granadilla community the six acre property is established in. Our growth and reach is limited only by those that would partner with us prayerfully and financially.
Our Property
My time in Nicaragua planted a dream to steward a property, used to serve the local needs of its neighborhood. In December of 2017, God answered a prayer and allowed me to steward Gloria Solo a Dios (GSD) - a six acre property in Barrio Granadilla, outside of Diriomo, Nicaragua. The property includes a two bedroom home, approximately six acres of fruit trees including plantains, bananas, oranges, mandarins, limons, mango, avocado, coconut and jocote, as well as cedar and mahogany trees. In 2018 a hand dug well of 267 feet produced only disappointing "wet mud"; however, in January of 2020 we were able to drill for water and God answered our prayer as we found water at 450 feet with a well that produces 45 gallons a minute! Beyond irrigating the six planted acres, this abundance led to an additional service of making water available to neighbors in the neighborhood.
I'd been praying to find residents for the home, and in 2021 that prayer was answered. Jesse & Yohana, nearby residents, moved into the home and now oversee operation, construction, improvements, maintenance and most importantly, they manage all the service projects done on and from GSD.
2022 brought major changes to GSD, starting with the construction of a much dreamed of and prayed for assembly building. The two story building contains a lower level kitchen, bodega, bathroom and a covered open air pavilion, with an upstairs apartment for me to reside in. Major construction was completed by May of 2023. By the fall of 2022 the literal fruits of the property had increased greatly to the following (approx.) tree count: Plantains - 60+, Bananas - 10, Oranges - 20, Mandarin - 10, Limon - 20, Mango - 10, Avocado - 50, Coconut - 4, Jocote - 10, Coffee - 50, Cocao - 15, Narahana Agria (bitter orange) - 10, Almond - 4, Nispero - 4, Caimito - 4, Guanavana - 4, Cedar - 8, Mahogany - 8, Mamey - 5, and Guanacaste - 3. The produce from these trees is largely given to the staff and their families for them personally and used for feeding distribution. I am honored to steward this property and praise God for his provision.
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My ultimate vision is for this property to be used for services to our neighborhood for as many future generations as possible. In my heart and mind, “I am stewarding this property, the resources, services, engaged people, and management for my Father In Heaven; HE Owns It ALL” I AM Fearfully a subjected steward, to be held accountable by my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ for ALL resources HE Has Blessed us with to steward. Regardless of who the next steward will be, Gloria Solo a Dios will remain just that...Glory only to God.
Our Funding
Every culture knows that one's commitment is defined by where they place their resources. I am “ALL IN” to date, having invested well into $xxx,xxx (six figures) of family funds to bring the property to where it is today. Also, taking out a $xx,xxx personal loan to finish what has been completed to date.
GSD is not a 501c3, non-profit, or NGO. I receive NO personal salary for the GSD work from anyone else. Donated funds go to where they are outlined in our "Prioritized Purchase List For: GSD Improvements" on our Support page, and for implementing services and logistics described in this website.
Our Story
Introduction:
Rachel had homeschooled our three children, Erick, Zachary, and Jacqueline for the first eight years of their education; then came stage 3c breast cancer August 2009. The cancer treatment fallout inclined her to decline continuing homeschool education for our children. Timing was such that I (Andrew) could take over the final six years of home education with my impending retirement spring of 2012. I did just that, and promptly started searching for my preferred, first, homeschool field trip, earnestly seeking a two month, immersion adventure into a third world country where we could experience how children our children’s age, and families, lived everyday life.
Fall 2013:
After 13 months of searching for a two month service opportunity for the children and I, literally anywhere in the third world, we were finally accepted to “come along side” a mid 20’s couple in Granada, Nicaragua. Erick (15), Zachary (14), Jacqueline (12) and I were off to Nicaragua with Rachel joining us for about two of our nine weeks there. In that nine weeks we were able to join in with services like: feeding people that scrounge for recyclables at the Granada dump, youth Bible studies, soccer team discipleship, Barrio Pantanal kid’s sports, girl’s home orphanage visits, jail discipleship, and visiting our Compassion International sponsored, six year old girl Noylin. We spent about half our time working in services, and half our time homeschooling. Our nine week immersion into the culture, services, language, and befriending local children during October through December far exceeded my service and educational expectations. Once we experienced that successful third world cultural and service adventure, my prayer was to be able to return each fall to deepen relationships and expand services, cultural adaptation, and language skills.
Fall 2014:
The LORD affirmed my service field experience prayer and Empowered me to finance returning with our three children fall 2014. I could NOT pass up this Providentially aligned opportunity to immerse the kids for a second, nine week service adventure to Nicaragua. Sensing The LORD Would Have us go, I saw circumstances and opportunity aligned exceptionally well. We again “came along side” the same mid 20’s couple, engaging in the same services we did in 2013. One of our many highlights was again spending the day with our family sponsored, Compassion International (CI) child, Noylin. As a family we started sponsoring Noylin March 18, 2013 in an area we hoped to do service work, facilitating a simplified visit to see her and see that Compassion International project site. Our second, nine week service adventure was very worthwhile, accomplishing what I hoped for.
Fall 2015:
After our 2014 experience, came an exceptionally good 2015 Nicaragua service adventure. Erick graduated our homeschool high school and is off to college. Our onsite service focus shifted a bit to “coming along side” an established service group with our participation largely spent feeding those that scrounge at the dump for recyclables, assisting with a five day a week children’s feeding program in Barrio Pantanal, and children’s Bible study classes. We also continued participation in jail discipleship visits. The vast majority of ALL programs we participated in were with children and adults living in broken families. Zachary and Jacqueline did exceptionally well. Rachel joined us for two weeks again this year.
Fall 2016:
In addition to the ministries listed in the previous year’s entries, we have consistently participated in weekly visits and services at the jail. For 2016 we dropped visits to the girl’s orphanage due to many visits there from other organizations, and increased our visits to the Granada, retirement home. 2015 and Zachary’s last Nicaraguan service year of 2016 ushered him into more teaching opportunities. He did well as did Jacqueline engaging with the service objectives, locals, cultural adjustment, and language understanding. Rachel joined us for another two week period which included her participating in our day long visit to our now two sponsored, Compassion International girls Noylin and Rubi.
Fall 2017:
Jacqueline’s fifth and last year of family services in Nicaragua (as she graduates homeschool, high school) brought many changes beyond merely more children from broken homes to feed (an average 190 fed). As a family, we took on and visited our third sponsored Compassion International girl Angelica. All three of our CI sponsored girls are at the same project site, located about 45 minutes drive from Granada. And, my prayers were answered affirmatively with a six acre property, 20 minutes out of Granada becoming available for me to steward. That stewardship opportunity is a hopeful, multi-generational commitment to services provided in that neighborhood near Diriomo, Nicaragua. Jacqueline blossomed in her last year of services being GREATLY received and loved by the children, peer group, service workers, and adjoining service organizations alike. She is a magnet with the young girls. Rachel joined us for another two weeks of our 2017 Nicaraguan service adventure. Jacqueline completed five, Zachary four, and Erick did two, nine week service trips in Nicaragua during their teenage years.
Fall 2018:
I returned to Nicaragua by myself since our children all graduated homeschool high school. Rachel does not join me there as the heat and humidity complicates her post breast cancer lymphedema. The six acres was about half planted with Plantains, Banana, Oranges, Mandarin, Limon, Mango, Avocado, Coconut, Jocote, Cedar and Mahogany trees. The products that are grown on the property are largely donated to the staff and their families, and handed out at other service opportunities. Construction of a 267 foot deep, hand dug well took place during CY 2018, but produced only “wet dirt” at the bottom. Having inadequate transportation, I rented lodging in Granada and continued “coming along side” dump feedings, the children’s feeding program, retirement home visits, and continuing an annual full day visit to my three Compassion International sponsored girls Noylin, Rubi, and Angelica during my eight week fall visit. My “mental wheels are turning”, prayerfully considering and offering the use of the two bedroom home constructed in 2014, and property to different service minded families. All had declined the opportunity as of fall 2018.
Fall 2019:
Again, for my 2019, eight week, fall visit to the Granada Nicaragua area I rented lodging in Granada and assisted mostly dump feedings, the children’s five day a week feeding program, youth Bible study classes, the retirement home, and other irregularly scheduled services. My roll continues to be investing in services, assisting with local service implementation, and logistical support. After a 2018 discontinuation of jail services, weekly service visits to the jail were resumed again in 2019. I was again able to visit my three Compassion International sponsored girls and the CI project site. More prayers are being launched as I so far, unsuccessfully, seek a couple or family who would live onsite and steward the property for neighborhood services, along with budding plans to build an assembly building and apartment after we drill for and successfully find irrigation water.
Winter 2020: Water is discovered after drilling to 450 feet. 45 gallons per minute!
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Fall 2020:
Covid 19 virus shutdowns in Nicaragua precluded a planned fall visit to Nicaragua. However, we drilled for and discovered water at a depth of 450 feet on January 27, 2020. The well produces 45 gallons per minute! As a service we began selling water to neighbors that don’t have water, for literally, "Cordoba pennies", a cost that doesn’t even cover the electricity bill. We are one step closer to fulfilling my dream of using the entire irrigated property to grow various crops while continuing to distribute water as a service to our neighborhood. Planting has begun to utilize the entire six acres of property for increased produce production. By fall of 2022, numbers of trees on the property grow to: Plantains = 60-70, Banana = 10, Oranges = 20, Mandarin = 10, Limon = 20, Mango = 10, Avocado = 50, Coconut = 4, Jocote = 10, Cashew = 1, Coffee = 20, Cacao = 15, Narahana Agria (bitter orange) = 10, Almond = 4, Nispero = 4, Pomegranate = 5, Caimito = 4, Guanavana = 4, Cedar trees = 8, and Mahogany = 8. Agricultural products are largely donated to staff and their family's, and other distribution opportunities.
Fall 2021:
Accessing Nicaragua through a flight to Costa Rica, I was able to return for another eight week service trip to the Granada area. First and foremost, Jesse and his wife Yohana were chosen to reside in and implement services from the GSD main home. Established services I was able to volunteer with were; dump feedings, the children’s feeding program, and Barrio Posentepe door to door services. MUCH work has gone into planning the next building project on Gloria Solo a Dios (GSD).
Fall 2022:
2022 was a BIG leap forward for GSD as construction began on the dreamed of, prayed about, and now realized, GSD assembly building, attached lower level kitchen, bodega, and bathroom, with an upstairs apartment. Major construction was completed in May of 2022. I lived on the GSD property, in the above shown apartment for my 2022 visit. EVERYTHING involved with the property and development such as well construction, produce planting, and now the nearly completed assembly building, kitchen, bodega, and upstairs apartment has been funded exclusively with personal funds. 2022 services I engaged in were the dump feedings, Bario Posentepe door to door services, hospital visits, the children’s feeding program, and GSD neighborhood sports. I continue to support my three Compassion International sponsored girls, but have NOT been able to visit them for three years now due to CI determined, Covid virus visitation shutdowns. The last photo shows me pictured with GSD services lead Jesse, and my other "best friend" Mario. We are pictured in front of the newly constructed GSD assembly building and the upstairs apartment. MUCH time and prayer was also invested in planning for completion of the pictured building and planning for future services on and around our GSD neighborhood.