Learn more about
oUR hISTORY
Since the mid-2000s, Tesoros de Dios has worked to promote the integration of children and adolescents with disabilities in Nicaragua by developing their skills and gifts. Throughout this process, God has demonstrated his faithfulness and mercy. Check out the timeline below to learn how God has transformed a small horse therapy program into the center now known as Tesoros de Dios.
-
2004
Lorena Mántica began providing equine therapy to children with disabilities at her horseback riding school. At the time, equine therapy was an innovative and ground-breaking therapy in Nicaragua, so Lorena founded one of the country’s first equine therapy centers, Rahamin (Mercy of God). In a few months, the center grew from one child to twenty and necessitated the addition of two more staff members. Michelle Adams, a special education teacher, began to volunteer periodically while dreaming of forming a school for children with disabilities.
-
2005
The Samaritan Foundation (Fundación El Samaritano), with the support of Nour and Carolina Sirker, adopted Rahamin to establish a formal center. In February, Pastor Jim Wilson from Ohio visited Rahamin, which led him to raise the funds for a building in honor of his own son with disabilities, Bradley. Construction of the first floor was completed by December and the building was named Bradley’s House of Hope. In 2005, Keith and Becky Taylor brought the first of many teams from Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital to perform evaluations and make therapy recommendations for the children.
-
2006
We began to use the first floor of the new building, and towards the end of the year we finished the second floor. A physical therapist was hired to work full-time, and Michelle Adams joined the staff as a full-time volunteer to begin the special education program. At the end of the year, Lorena Mantica resigned from her position as director.
-
2007
At the beginning of the year, Michelle Adams was named director of the center. More staff for horse therapy and a new teacher were hired. Missionary Jeannie Huyser began to work with the mothers offering discipleship to them.
-
2008
Friends of Bradley’s House of Hope was established in the States to serve as a channel to raise funds for the center.
-
2011
The Board of God’s Treasures was formed, and had their first meeting in Illinois. We also sent our first outreach team abroad to Honduras.
-
2012
In April, we became independent and were officially recognized in Nicaragua as an NGO (non-profit organization) with the name of God’s Treasures (Tesoros de Dios).
In October, we added the Outreach Program to Churches and hired a staff member to specifically work with the churches. By the end of the year, we had around 80 children with disabilities and 14 full-time Nicaraguan staff members.
We were growing and needing more space for the different programs and children. So, after prayer and the support of different churches and donors, we were able to buy a two-floor house next to our current building owned by the Sirker family, who supported the center while we were under Fundación el Samaritano. The house became the special education building, and is referred as Casa Carolina (Carolyn’s House) after Carolyn (Carolina) Sirker.
-
2015
We added the Autism Program since the number of students with autism was increasing. We also extended our outreach program by hiring staff members to do outreach work in Matagalpa, and to work with schools our children attend in Managua.
We bought two Toyota Coaster buses for the transportation of the children thanks to donations from various people, churches, and schools.
-
2016
Tesoros de Dios had around 120 children enrolled, with 25 full-time Nicaraguan staff members. Seeing the need to grow in infrastructure, EMI (Engineering Missions International) came to help us dream and make building plans for the future. We bought a parcel of land to begin the first building phase - the horse arena.
-
2018
The horse arena was built.
-
2019
We had around 130 students enrolled, with 32 Nicaraguan staff members. Outreach continued to grow in services to churches and schools around Managua and Matagalpa.
-
2020
Due to Covid and students being in delicate health, schooling and services were provided via Zoom or in-home visits. To provide extra support to families, food packages were brought to homes. Michelle Adams stepped down as Director, and Wendy Gomez assumed the role.