Barbara Maurer graduated from Bible College in the spring of 1992.  She had always had an interest in children and a special gift for working with them. She knew that she would eventually work in children’s ministry, but she didn’t know exactly where or how.  While in college, Barbara had a roommate who was from Honduras and often talked about the country, about its beautiful people, about its tragic poverty, and especially about the unfortunate plight of the children.  Barbara began to feel a burden for these children, and when an opportunity to work with poor children in the capital of Honduras arose about the time of her graduation from college, she knew she was receiving her calling.  On July 7, 1992 Barbara left her belongings and her way of life to work in Honduras.
            Her first month living in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, was difficult.  She knew little of the Spanish language and even less about the culture of Honduras.  With God’s help, however, she was able to persevere through this trying period and was already making preparations to open a small children’s center in a church by the end of her first month.  The church was situated on a poor hillside neighborhood away from the center of the city, and they had agreed to allow Barbara to use the sanctuary for the proposed children’s ministry.  By August 1992, she was ready to “open-for-business.” 
Nueva Esperanza officially began on August 3rd, 1992 with 10 children.