An unexpected encounter unites donors hearts

After her daughter returned home from a mission trip to Nicaragua, Lara Overy, an ICM supporter, found it hard to contain her own excitement. Witnessing her daughter’s joy rekindled Lara’s longing to go on a mission journey herself. Lara had learned a few things about fundraising and felt called to support a cause for children in Nicaragua.

“I recently raised money to run for a seat in the House of Delegates. At the end of the race, I thought “What did that money do?” What could I do if I put all of that energy and effort into something else, something greater than myself,” she said. So, that’s just what she did.

In a few months Lara, along with friends and family, managed to raise nearly $65,000 for ORPHANNetwork – an organization that feeds children in Nicaragua.

Lara and a friend from ICM traveled to Nicaragua and met a pastor there who was associated with ORPHANetwork. Unaware that an ICM employee was present, the pastor casually disclosed that they had submitted an application to ICM because they were in
need of a church building.

“How can God be so good that He’d bring these two ministries together,” Lara says. “These two organizations couldn’t have come together by chance.” Touched by the incredible way that God’s plan unfolded, Lara worked with ICM to fund the new church building for the pastor in Nicaragua. Lara and her friends and family continue to help ICM build churches in Nicaragua, while also supporting ORPHANetwork.

“I know this is out of the box, and I’m encouraged to find ways to work with others” Lara says. “God is going to move forward on the projects that He knows will do the most work for His Kingdom.”