Where We Work: Jinotepe, Nicaragua

Jinotepe Campus: Overview

In October of 2003, Doug and Julie Effinger joined us from the Vineyard in Vancouver, Washington. Doug and Julie shared the core vision of Arms of Love, but also dreamed of a large campus that would care for children in a more peaceful environment in a smaller community away from the problems of Managua. With funding from a private foundation they had a relationship with, called the GO Fund, that dream has now become a reality.

In late 2004, Arms of Love purchased about 20 acres of beautiful forest on the outskirts of a medium-sized town called Jinotepe. Jinotepe is conveniently located less than an hour from the beach, Managua, Granada, and other sites. The region is also known for having some of the best private schools in the country.

As illustrated on the site map to the left, five children's homes will eventually be built on the property, together with various recreational facilities, a swimming pool, a vocational training center, and a short-term team center for hosting short-term ministry teams. Arms of Love is preserving the rest of the property as a large natural park, with literally miles of hiking trails and countless fruit trees and lush vegetation, for the enjoyment of the children and visiting ministry teams. The children and staff are also cultivating a wide range of fruits and vegetables throughout the property. We believe that this will offer the children an optimal combination of growing up in a beautiful, natural setting while still being integrated into a thriving local community with excellent educational and recreational opportunities.

Construction of our new facilities commenced in early 2005, and our boys moved into the first home in July 2005. As of mid-2006, the first two homes had been completed, along with the short-term team center, a playground, a basketball/soccer court, a vocational training center, and a swimming pool. Three additional children's homes will be build on the property between now and 2008. Other pages within the Nicaragua portion of our website contain additional photos and information on these other facilities.

Pictured below are the main entrance to the campus, the road leading up to the short-term team center, and some of the hiking trails on the campus.