Nicaragua
As May Chung shared about The 10 Commandment project with Dr. Alicia Robertson, a native of Nicaragua, she became very excited and offered to make the arrangements to meet with the National Assembly of her country. Gerry, May and Dr. Robertson, spent many days with a prominent law-maker in the Assembly, meeting with the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to name a few. The leaders requested they address the National Assembly, which they did, answering many questions. They were the only non-political group to address the Assembly. They were very encouraged to see the love and compassion the leaders had for their people, and their hearts were very receptive and open to what Gerry had to share. One in particular, even wept over his people. They want everyone in Nicaragua to have a copy of The 10 Commandments.
In 2000, while at a huge evangelical conference in Panama, Gerry met Jimmy Hussan, a resident of Nicaragua, from Campus Crusade for Christ. Jimmy urged Gerry to go to Nicaragua, so Gerry did. They met at the airport, but Gerry’s luggage got lost, he had no clothes, no Ten Commandment posters, and Jimmy had other appointments, so he took Gerry to his hotel. During this time, there were protesters demonstrating in the streets, burning tires, and setting off explosions, and Gerry could hear it all from his hotel room. For two days, he was in his room, feeling depressed that he couldn’t do anything or go anywhere, how he needed to be home earning money, and that this was a wasted trip.
While lying on his stomach on his bed, he picked up his Bible and opened it up to Joshua 7:10 and read “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” This was a clear providential moment and Gerry immediately felt God strengthening him and giving him courage. He got up, cleaned himself up as best he could, and went downstairs to speak to the hotel clerk. The hotel clerk suggested he get a taxi, so Gerry waved one down, not a very nice or new one, but just the one God had ordained for him. As it turns out, the driver and owner of the taxi would play a crucial role in God’s plan for Gerry. The man didn’t speak English, but the owner of the taxi did.
After settling on a price, the owner agreed to take Gerry on a tour of the city and translate for him. While they were driving, Gerry was telling the owner, who was with us along with the driver, about The 10 Commandment project, and she, the owner was very excited about it. As they pulled up to a stop light, there was another car full of people yelling and pointing at them. After driving off, Gerry asked what that was all about, the driver said “You don’t want to know.” Gerry replied, yes, I do, what was that all about? The driver said they offered me a lot of money if I turned you over to them. Gerry said “Thank You for not doing that”.
The next day they came back and went to the airport to see if they could find Gerry’s luggage. Miraculously, they did, amongst other old dusty pieces inside of a chain-linked fenced area where old luggage was kept. Once Gerry was cleaned up and had the copies of The 10 Commandments, they went to a Catholic Church. Upon hearing the Cardinal was going to be in town on Sunday, they decided to attend church that morning.
The owner of the taxi, being a great facilitator, boldly went up twice to try to get a meeting with the Cardinal, meeting with rejection both times. The owner of the taxi finally said, let’s just walk back there. So, they did. People were looking at them as they passed by, but no one said anything, until this dignitary dressed in fancy religious clothes came up and started questioning Gerry, and pointing at his chest, wanting to know who he was, how did he get back there, and where did he go to church.
Gerry knew if he told him where he went to church, he wouldn’t be very happy, so Gerry started speaking very slowly, drawing out his explanation as much as he could. The dignitary was getting impatient, then just as Gerry was about to tell him where he went to church, he relaxed as the Cardinal walked up behind Gerry. The Cardinal was a very genuine, nice gentleman, and Gerry presented him with a framed copy of The 10 Commandments. He was in favor of everyone having a copy.
The next meeting was with Jose Pasos and the Sandinista’s at the Sandinista Headquarters. On the walls of the meeting room, were pictures of the leaders, from the 1930’s up to the present. Gerry asked “where are all of the leaders?”, Jose replied, they are all dead, except Daniel Ortega, the last one. Gerry explained, that is why they were there, because the killing had to stop, with us turning our hearts to God and allowing Him to help us. Jose said he wanted The 10 Commandments in all the households of all the villages. The men embraced and Gerry left.
On another visit, 6 years later, Gerry was traveling with May and Dr. Robertson. They had been meeting with leaders of the Assembly, but Gerry was determined to meet with Daniel Ortega. It became a joke among them every time Gerry would mention meeting with Mr. Ortega, they would tell him no one could arrange it. So, Gerry decided to call the owner of the taxi, they had become good friends, and she said there could possibly be a meeting, after she contacted a friend at the university, but Gerry and friends were scheduled to leave on Sunday and they would have to reschedule their departure. The ladies decided to go home believing there would be no way the meeting would happen.
The driver called with good news, Miguel, one of the leaders of the Assembly, agreed to meet Gerry at a restaurant several miles out of Managua. Miguel was very quiet initially, not saying much, but when Gerry asked him about his family, he opened up. Suddenly Miguel, got up, had the food boxed up to go, and said “we must leave now”. He took Gerry to a village in the jungle surrounded by armed guards. There were 100’s of people at the rally complete with a large trailer equipped with chairs, speakers, T.V. cameras, and a brass band. After some speeches, by Miguel and others, they handed Gerry the microphone. Gerry was very aware of being in a village on the back of a flatbed truck with TV cameras making a speech along with leaders of the Sandinista’s in Nicaragua. He was willing to talk to anyone who would listen about the Word of God, no matter their political position. He shared how honored he was to be able to give Mr. Ortega something written with God’s own hand, and that he would like everyone to have a copy of The 10 Commandments. After the speeches were made, Gerry requested to speak to Mr. Ortega, it was agreed, they met in a house close by. This happened nearly 20 years ago.
Today there are many on the ground in Nicaragua, spreading the message of Christ and The 10 Commandments.
Recently, this year 2019 and last year 2018, Gerry visited Nicaragua and once again met with President Ortega and this time also with Vice President Rosario his wife and they want to teach all the people about Christ and the law of God. While there, he spoke with 1000’s of people and was a guest on several T.V. stations. Gerry is optimistic God will bless Nicaragua because the leaders and families are not ashamed of the Law of God and Jesus Christ.