In2theRiver

Good morning from Westminster, MD!

I recently had the chance to visit Nicaragua, and as always, I returned even more hope-filled. Rather than keep it to myself, I would like to share a few updates with you so that you can be more hope filled as well.

In January of 2024, almost exactly twelve months ago to the day, Frutivera secured a new location for the sweet corn farm. As you may remember, the Frutivera sweet corn project was in full operation in its original location but had to move in the middle of 2023 due to circumstance outside of their control. This was a great challenge for the Frutivera team, but they believed God had given them a vision for difference it could make and held onto hope.

Now one year later, I am excited to share the Frutivera sweet corn project is steaming ahead! There were many steps in reestablishing the farm such as drilling the well, installing irrigation, setting up a germination greenhouse, and more, but beginning in September of 2024, Frutivera was officially harvesting corn again. The harvest has only increased over the past few months. As of my trip in January of 2025, Frutivera is in a pattern of continuous planting and harvesting, ensuring that they will be to provide corn to their buyers. I, along with a couple of friends, even had the chance to help a little with a harvest while in Nicaragua.

While the story of Josh and the team’s resilient effort to relaunch Frutivera is compelling on its own, the impact it has on people is what makes all of the difference. Baruc is a picture of this. Baruc is a carpenter by trade but is currently out of work as he does not have an adequate space to do carpentry projects. This has put a great strain on his family. Already living in the midst of poverty, Baruc was unsure how he would provide for his family’s basic needs.

That is until Josh came to him with an opportunity. Once the corn is harvested and sorted by size and quality, it needs to be processed. This includes husking the corn and sometimes cutting it into smaller pieces or removing the kernels for bagging. In the past, the processing was completed at one location. However, recently the Frutivera team decided allowing people to do it from their homes would open the door to work with more people, including single mothers and people without transportation. Baruc was one of the people Josh approached. Jumping on the opportunity, Baruc and his wife are now able to support their family during this challenging season. This has been a huge blessing to them and an injection of practical hope.

Baruc is just one of the people who has been impacted by the reopening of Frutivera. From salespeople to team members in the field, and beyond, Frutivera is creating real opportunities for people in Nicaragua, and this will only increase as it grows. Josh and the Frutivera team continue to look for ways to be catalysts for spiritual hope as well. They are committed to helping people understand the hope that comes from Jesus, and the truth that they were created on purpose and for a purpose by a God who loves them.

Another great source of spiritual hope has been the home church groups with which Josh and Flavia, as well as a number of the Frutivera team members, are engaged. Spread across Managua, as well as other areas of Nicaragua, the home church groups have provided a community focused on helping each other grow in their faith. They have also been able to support each other’s practical needs and share the love of Jesus with people around Nicaragua who are in desperate need of hope. The stories of life change that have come from their ministry is incredibly encouraging and fills me with hope.

Both NicaBike Shop in Managua and Ciclo Sport in Bluefields continue to grow and evolve. Working as a team Josh, Flavia, Andrew, and Karen provide great leadership to the teams. It is always incredible to see how they take preowned bike from the United States and give them new life in Nicaragua. I am excited to see what is next for both bike shops.

One exciting piece of news is the new location for the carpentry shop. After operating in El Canon for a number of years, the carpentry shop is moving to Ruby Ranch. Similar to El Canon, the community surrounding Ruby Ranch is greatly impacted by poverty. Now with a carpentry expert in Todd, the Pops Frank Carpentry Shop, named after two men who had great impacts in Nicaragua, will be even more equipped to provide training and opportunity for people living in the midst of hopelessness. Additionally, the equipment will be a big help to Ruby Ranch, an outreach to young people in Nicaragua. While still under construction, I can’t wait to see how God uses the carpentry shop to spread hope, both practical and spiritual.

Reflecting on my time in Nicaragua, I am reminded that the power of hope is not circumstantial. When people are given a real opportunity and understand that they were created on purpose and for a purpose by a God who loves them, real change can happen. God is at work in Nicaragua, and I find myself filled with hope from being a part of what He is doing.

I hope you too find yourself a little more hope-filled after reading it!

James Belt

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