At the urging of two Nicaraguan priests, Mustard Seed planted a seed in an impoverished place in 1999. The country of Nicaragua is roughly the size of New York State, with a population of about 5.3 million. Heartbreakingly, half the population lives below the poverty line-including many thousands of children. Many of those children are without a home and most will never be adopted by a loving family. Mustard Seed Communities worked with Mi Familia, a division of the Ministry of Health, to place 25 children with physical and mental disabilities in a specially equipped facility near Managua. Known as Hogar-Belen (Spanish for Bethlehem Home) it is one of only a few orphanages in the entire country for children with disabilities. But there are many more children who need a home.

There are several ways that you can contribute to the efforts of Mustard Seed Nicaragua's Hogar Belen.

Money
We gratefully accept your financial donations to fund our programs and services. More than 90 cents of every dollar you contribute goes directly to the center in service of its residents. You may choose to write a one-time check. If you wish to give a specific amount monthly, we can charge a credit card.

Goods and Services
We are always in need of essential toiletries such as diapers, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, baby powder and baby oil, toilet paper and facial tissue. Sample or hotel sizes are particularly useful. Frequent flyer miles can be donated to fly children and accompanying staff to the U.S. for critical surgery unavailable within Nicaragua.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers play a key role in the grass-roots success of Mustard Seed Communities. Your skills, abilities and experiences are welcome in Hogar Belen for a week, a month, six months or a year. Any skill or talent could be helpful. Not able to make a trip? A great deal of work can be done locally.

Prayer
If you can't donate money, goods or time right now, we hope you will keep our efforts in your prayers. Every Mustard Seed employee tithes 10% of his or her time back to God, spending a minimum of 2.4 hours in daily communication with God, whether it is while bathing a child, driving a van of children or meditating in the Chapel.

Who is this boy?
Omar Belen came to us when he was about 10 years old because there was no other home that could take him. There is not much known of his history except that his parents abandoned him. He has no surname or birth date that we are aware of so his new home (Hogar Belen) gave him the surname "Belen" and a birth date. His language consists only of babbling and giggling like a baby. Doctors have diagnosed him with severe mental disability, epilepsy and abused child syndrome. Thanks to Mustard Seed he has food, medical care and love.

The majority of children at Hogar Belen have physical disabilities; many also have mental disabilities. We provide transportation for Mustard Seed children and for children in the neighborhood to public school. Medical care is provided through regular doctor visits, as well as in clinics and hospitals in Managua. All the children's meals, clothing, religious instruction and recreational activities are covered. We give financial support to Fundacion Leon, an organization that provides books, uniforms and school supplies to children that might not otherwise be able to go to school. Our trained staff of 18 dedicated individuals includes physical therapists, caregivers and security personnel who work in two shifts to provide round-the clock care to resident children. The Mustard Seed philosophy is that our children have a home for life. When they turn 18, if they are not able to enter the community or choose not to, they can stay at Hogar Belen. Once a Mustard Seed child, always a Mustard Seed child.