We have been in Nicaragua for over six years now.  Many times we have been approached with request for help.  Food, employment, and medicine have been the requests.  Our support only allows us to help a certain amount of people.  It is very difficult to watch people suffer and not be able to do anything about it. But, when you do find a way to make a difference; when you do have a viable vision then there is hope. 

We have had a vision for about five years now.  A way to provide employment to the unemployed and better paying crops to poor farmers; that was that vision.  We started a business called Seeds of Hope with that in mind.  An LLC that we would be only board members but would be a Nicaraguan company.  The idea and hope would that it would be self-sustaining once it was up and running and that it would exist beyond our being in Nicaragua; providing hope for many.

We found crops that were in demand in the international market and we got our import and export license.  Still we needed help.  The items we needed were the initial investment for our basic equipment, a reliable source of water, land, and the money to pay for the first couple crops.  Amazingly, land and buildings were supplied by the church of one of our board members.

We still had two major hurtles; water and the money for the first two crops.  We watched as the agency we worked for in the past (One Collective) held a successful crowdfunding campaign for $20,000 for their chicken business.  The advantage here was rather than looking for an investor or two; that by getting donations from many people of as little as $5, that the goal could be met.

To that end we began preparing to hold two campaigns.  The first was for a water harvesting system and a drip system to allow for a year around water supply.  The second would be for the purchase price of two crops that would get the business up and running.  We developed a business plan and expanded our staff to include an attorney and an accountant.  We then had a Facebook page built for the business and then a website and Twitter site.

As of eight days ago at the writing of this blog we began the campaign to raise $5000 for the water harvesting and drip systems.  We are asking you to read the write-up at this link:  GoFundMe and whether or not you donate, we would still like you to consider sharing this over your social network.  We are praying that God will move those He chooses to donate and that we can touch the lives of many people here in Masatepe.

Just like when we started this mission, we used water purification to develop relations and home Bible studies to share the Word of God.  Jesus fed the 5000, because their physical needs did matter.  To provide hope and to answer this very real need in this struggling country matters.  When we do it for the least of these, we do it for Him.

Please prayerfully consider helping us in this endeavor to make a physical difference among the people of Masatepe.  Please feel free to respond with any questions or comments.

for His glory,

Stephen Goff
Stephen.Goff@SeedsOfHopeSA.com
www.SeedsOfHopeSA.com
www.Facebook/SeedsOfHopeSA
GoFundMe Campaign

Nicaragua has been our home now for six years. We have been blessed with close relationships with many brothers and sisters in Christ. Year in and year out we have watched the struggle that these friends go through just barely making a living.

We have prayed. Given out beans and rice, when individuals moved by the Holy Spirit have donated funds specifically for food. Over the last year, the situation has become more desperate. So many people without employment, without the ability to buy the basic needs of life.

About 5 years ago, I began noticing opportunities to change that. I have always had an interest in agriculture. Add that to wanting to find a way to do something and things started to ‘appear’ to me. Neem was the first tree I noticed. It is all over. It is draught resistant and thrives here. It is also the fastest growing organic pesticide in the world. The demand for Neem seed is outstripping supply. Each season I would watch the seeds fall from the trees and think, that is just money falling on the ground. More specifically, the harvesting and processing of those seeds meant employment.

We are making a dedicated effort to move forward with this vision to provide employment through agriculture in these despreate times. A business model that once it is up and running (run by Nicaraguans) will be able to continue without us and hopefully become a model. We have prayed at great length about this and now we want to see wether or not God will open the door by drawing people to support this effort.

This Facebook page is just one of the first steps. We have property and buildings that have been provided to us. We are growing seed stock right now. Next month we will be developing our website further (www.seedsof hopesa.com) . Then we will be sharing our business plan and financials as well as starting a crowdfunding campaign.

All these methods are only effective if God is behind us and we have traffic on these sites. We ask that if you would, please go to out new Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfHopeSA ), like it (if you do), follow us, and give us feedback. This is the second step to developing a successful campaign, the first is your prayers. Please pray. We have a great opportunity to make a difference, but only if God makes it happen.

for His glory,
Stephen Goff
stephen.goff@seedsofhopesa.com
www.n-response2.com