Managua: One Year Later

The Year of Hope and Reconstruction

MANAGUA, Nicaragua—The center of this once thriving capital city is a no-man’s land. Block after city block of gutted buildings and leveled sites remain as mute evidence of the massive earthquake that struck just two days before Christmas last year.

Although many of the city’s 450,000 inhabitants have left Nicaragua for neighboring countries since the earthquake, the majority moved into the suburbs and the outlying towns only to return and try to rebuild.

What once were suburban residential areas of Managua are now embryo business sectors. These areas did not receive the full brunt of the earthquake.

Attitudes of Managuans run from extreme pessimism at the destruction of their city to extreme optimism at the economic boom created as some industries are reborn stronger than before.

Everywhere, signs and stickers proclaim “The Year of Hope and Reconstruction” as the majority of Managuans seek to reconstruct their homes and their lives.

What of the 1,700 Latter-day Saints in Managua; how are they faring?

Of the two branches in Nicaragua’s capital city, the chapel for the Managua First Branch was so badly damaged that a new chapel must be constructed. In the meantime, the Saints meet under canvas in a temporary structure. The Managua Second Branch did not have its own building, but the house in which the members were meeting was completely destroyed; members now meet in the home of Branch President Armando Garcia.

President Garcia recalls the night of the earthquake when he, with his brother and their respective families, ran out of their home after the initial earth tremor. “We immediately knelt down and thanked the Lord for our safety and then asked him to bless the members of the branch. As we prayed we felt an assurance that all would be well. Even our children lost the fear that they had.”

President Garcia then went to the house the branch had been using as a chapel and managed to save the branch records and funds. Then he and his brother checked on the safety of the branch members, who were all found to be safe.

All the faith-promoting stories that came out of the earthquake have yet to be recorded, but those that are known have been great testimony builders for the local Saints. For instance, a widow sister who operated a small store in her house told of wall blocks tumbling down onto her children’s beds, but not one child was harmed. She and her family then walked barefoot out of the building over cases of broken glass without receiving a scratch.

Most members of the Church lost their homes and their possessions in the earthquake, and many lost their jobs as businesses and industries also were destroyed. In the discouraging months that followed, help came through the Church welfare program. Administered by Central American Mission President Quinten Hunsaker, the program provided food and supplies for the Managua Saints.

Now, as the Saints have worked to become more self-sufficient, the welfare program has been discontinued. Slowly but surely, members of the two branches are repairing and rebuilding their homes.

As they rebuild their homes so they rebuild their lives and rededicate themselves to serving the Lord. For many, the earthquake served to strengthen their testimonies and helped to unite families and branch members.

Missionary work is going forth with added strength as the members provide more referrals for the full-time missionaries. Many nonmembers are working on the Church construction projects. Several baptisms have already been recorded with several other families now being taught. Those who once rejected the gospel message are now requesting the missionaries.

The overall attitude of the Saints is reflected in their reaction to a sign in downtown Managua that reads, “Managua sleeps but is not dead!” Not so, say the local Saints. The earthquake neither killed them nor put them to sleep; it awakened them to their blessings and responsibilities as members of the Church.

1. Although the earthquake created a massive disruption in their lives, the members in Managua still meet together each week. 2. The Managua First Branch chapel, damaged beyond repair by the earthquake, was razed and now is under reconstruction. 3. President Armando Garcia and his family. 4. Nonmember workers on the Managua First Branch chapel are being touched by the gospel. 5. While their chapel is being rebuilt, members of the Managua First Branch conduct their meetings in a temporary building under a canvas roof.