La Semilla Ministries Team
There are countless aspects to the work that La Semilla Ministries does. We’re a diverse group, from a Canadian potato farmer to a Nicaraguan campesino, or «country man», to young Nicaraguan agricultural professionals. Our team here at La Semilla Ministries has been transforming since our beginning as our ministry has continued to grow. We pray that as a team we will work well together as God intends us to: encouraging each other to follow Christ, sharpening each other in the faith—as iron sharpens iron, and collaborating with one another to do God’s will. We invite you to read our individual stories, take the time to get to know our team, and pray for each one of us. Specifically, pray that God will lead us to serve La Semilla in the way that He intends.
Wally and Esther Wiebe
On a given day, Wally Wiebe can be found somewhere a few miles down a dusty dirt road sitting under the shade of a rancho, or thatched-roof, in a plastic chair on a dirt floor talking with producers whom La Semilla works with. He probably made his way down the back-country road on his Kawasaki 650 and has no lack of dust on his jeans. Despite the fact that Wally is over a foot taller than most of our producers, learned Spanish as his third language, and sticks out in Nicaragua with his light skin, he has a gift for connecting with Nicaraguan campesinos, or country-folk. His warm and inviting smile…more
Rob and Leslee Oudman
“¿Doña Leslee, hizo gallo pinto hoy?”, “Doña Leslee, did you make rice and beans today?”, asks Magdiel confidently partway through the lunch hour. As Leslee puts it in her constantly improving Spanish, “I’m willing to share, but you always have to ask”. She scoops a heaping three portions of the traditional gallo pinto, but with bacon, onto a plate and Magdiel walks gleefully back to where he, Franklin, and Marcelo are eating lunch…more
José David Jirón
is from the community of El Higueron, Masatepe, on the eastern edge of where La Semilla offers agronomic services. In an all-too-common scenario, David and his younger brother were raised in a single parent home by their Mom. But at a young age, he moved in with his grandparents as his mom went to Costa Rica to find work to support her family. Money earned in Costa Rica is sent back to Nicaragua to care for her sons and her parents…more
Nicolás and Liliam Sequeira
Kindness emanates from Nicolás and Liliam Sequeira. There home is a wonderful example of the beauty of a well-built and well-cared for house in the country here in Nicaragua. These two do not hesitate to host visitors either, who quickly make good friends with their well-mannered and especially cute children. We at La SemillaMinistries are especially blessed to work with this magnificent family…more
Franklin de Jesús Garcia
My name is Franklin de Jesús García, I am Nicaraguan, and I was born in the city of Jinotepe, in the department of Carazo. I am 26 years old, married, and recently graduated from the International Agronomy University of Agriculture and Livestock (UNIAG), in Rivas, with a degree in agronomy. I am very fond of the country and all agricultural activities.
In 2012, through my mentor Douglas Effinger from the organization Juán Marcos Nica Impact in the city of Jinotepe, where I was living, I had the opportunity to meet the director of La Semilla Ministries…more
Luis Marcelo Morales Maldonado
My name is Luis Marcelo Morales, I am Nicaraguan, and I was born in the city of Jinotepe, in the department of Carazo. I am 23 years old, and in 2015 I graduated from the International Agronomy University of Agriculture and Livestock (UNIAG), in Rivas, with a degree in agronomy. I also have a technician degree in agricultural sciences.
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege to meet Robert Oudman and his wife Leslee at my local church. It was there that we shared some of our experiences about agriculture as soon as we realized our mutual passion for this art. Later on he told me about a need for another agronomist…more
Eduardo has been a part of La Semilla since May 2019. He has studied agriculture and in 2018 achieved his title as an agronomist at the university UPONIC in the nearby city of San Marcos. His responsibilities are to train and advise the group of farmers in the SW zone of Carazo in their crop production methods. As with each of our agronomists, his duties also include getting to know each of his farmers personally so that he can also be an influence in their personal and spiritual lives.
Eduardo’s particular area of interest is in spiritual formation….more
