Sunday, September 20, 2015

News and Prayer Requests


Back in February, I (Jessica) contracted the chikungunya virus, and although there are still some lasting effects, I have recovered!  Pray for the many others who are dealing with chikungunya now.  Although we have all been healthy for the past few months, Asher just started showing symptoms of it this morning.  The government has been proactive in fumigating profusely, and NCA has been fumigating (see photo of classroom doorway) as well in an attempt to keep the mosquito population down.

We give thanks to God for a great end to the 2014-15 school year at NCA, and a great beginning to this school year on August 10th.  God has provided a wonderful group of teachers, and we are excited about the growth that we see at NCA in its students, staff, program, and campus.

We also give thanks for a busy but fun summer, which was spent here in Nicaragua.  We enjoyed visits from old friends, said goodbye to friends who left Nicaragua after many years of living here, and spent time as a family.  We are thankful for God’s provision as we make a quick visit to Michigan in October for my sister’s wedding.

We are thankful for you!  So many of you have written to us or sent us cards and packages in the past number of months.  We are encouraged to know that you are praying for us, even those of you whom we have never met.  We are humbled to see how God blesses us through you, even when we don’t know exactly what we need—He does!

Two Opportunities


CRC Retreat: In April we enjoyed meeting up with other CRC missionaries from across Central America for our yearly retreat, which is held here in Nicaragua.  Each year we welcome a speaker from the United States, as well as a group to help lead our children’s programs for this retreat.  This year I am in charge of recruiting individuals for our children’s programs.  We are looking for 6-8 volunteers who are willing to serve and support the missionaries here by traveling to Nicaragua to provide a youth program for roughly 30 missionary youth, ages 1-18, at this retreat  The dates this year are March 19-23.  Please contact me if you want to find out more!  You could even write me if you aren't interested but can think of someone who might be.

CWF: For the past ten years or so, I have been a part of a ministry called the Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF).  CWF is a group of English speaking women who gather together with the purpose of fellowship, encouragement and Bible study.  We meet monthly, and each year in May we put on a women’s retreat; this past year we had around 90 women attend.
The group is very diverse; we have young singles, older retired women, mothers with kids of all ages, missionaries, business women, those who have lived in Nicaragua for 15 years and those who have just arrived.  Our goal at the retreat is to provide a time where each woman can step back from her ordinary responsibilities, reflect on what God is doing in her life, and hopefully go back to those responsibilities encouraged and with renewed energy.

In anticipation of our retreat this year, I am looking for some women in the states to come alongside us as we prepare for it.  One thing we like to do at the retreat is make each woman feel special, and maybe just a little spoiled.   We usually try and bring gifts and treats from the U.S., and since I will be traveling to the U.S. next month, I am looking for some women, or maybe a group of women (a Bible study group?) who might want to help fund or even shop for some special things to bring back for the women here in Nicaragua.   As women, you know that sometimes a bar of dark chocolate, a sweet smelling candle or a good book can erase all traces of a bad day.   If you would like more specifics about this, please shoot me an email!  I’m excited to partner with some of you to encourage the women that I know and love here in Nicaragua.

A part of our retreat group enjoying the sunset on the beach.

A Few Pictures... Just Because

Asher and Belen... dangerous with markers

I don't even know the story, but Caleb definitely has a plan here!

Judah, Belen and Caleb riding horses at a volcanic crater lake

Asher, Jessica, Belen and Liam's Dad

Liam's new office at school

Judah and his classmates in a school program

Rhonda, Brady and Liam during a wonderful visit this summer

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Chikungunya

All of you have heard of Malaria.  Many of you will have heard of Dengue Fever.  But have any of you heard of Chikungunya?  I (Jessica) had not heard of it six months ago, but now I know more than I ever needed to.  Chikungunya is a virus that is spread by mosquitos, and recently arrived in Nicaragua.  It has been prevalent in areas of Africa, Asia, Haiti, and South America for years, and it’s coming to a country near you.

I hesitated to write anything about it in a newsletter, lest it sound like complaining, but it has been a big part of my life for the past 7 or 8 weeks.  I contracted Chikungunya around the third week of February.  It begins with joint pain and 3-7 days of high fever, accompanied by a wonderful rash.  I also had a few days of horrible mouth sores that made it difficult to even drink water, along with a few days of depression, which is also a symptom.  Then it all fades a bit, and just when you think it’s gone…it comes back!  And sticks around for a long time.  Over the past 7 weeks I have had severe pain in my feet, knees, wrists, and knuckles.  Sometimes it is just a little sore, other times I can hardly walk on what feel like broken feet.  Opening any bottles, or sometimes even turning a door handle can be excruciating.  Picking up toddlers is difficult, and getting down onto the floor to play with the kids or then back up again, has been nearly impossible.

The internet, and friends who have had it, say that these symptoms can last up to a year, but that probably at the three month mark, things will be much improved.  I am thankful that no one else in our family has gotten it, and that you can only get it once.  It has also taught me a few important lessons that I think I have learned in the past but need to keep learning again and again.


  1. Good health is a gift!  A gift that I need to be thankful for each day.  This is temporary, but there are so many people who have chronic pain or illness, and they need our love, prayers, and practical support.
  2. It has made me wonder if I could still be thankful and honor God with my attitude if I had chronic pain…it has been a challenge to live thankfully and joyfully over the past weeks, but we know that our joy does not come from our physical bodies or life, but from a greater hope.  It is challenging to live in that truth despite our circumstances.
  3. No matter how self- sufficient or accomplished I may feel some days, I need to recognize that it is only through the strength, body, and mind that God has given me that I am able to do anything at all. We are not in control, which can be both reassuring and frightening at the same time!

We would appreciate your prayers that the pain would continue to lessen, and that even amidst our daily struggles that we would be able to have the joy of the Lord and point others to Him. Thank you!


SOAAR Program

This has been a year of much growth at Nicaragua Christian Academy.  Liam has kept very busy with helping provide direction to the school for many of these changes, including developing a new association of international schools in Managua, unifying preschool learning standards at our three NCA schools, overseeing the design and construction of a new library, and helping to develop a new child protection policy for the safety of our students and staff.

Another huge change that we are all very excited about is the SOAAR program.  Thanks to Andrew Ippel, the originator of the program and its first coordinator, the SOAAR (Students of All Abilities Recognized) Program will allow students with significant disabilities to attend NCA International.  Until now, there are no English-language educational opportunities for children with disabilities in Nicaragua (and very limited services available in Spanish).  NCA International will be the first to offer such services.

There are three primary reasons for the development of this new program.  First, we believe that as a Christian school, it is part of our vocation to reach out to all of God’s children.  By inviting students with disabilities into our school, we show God’s love and help them fulfill God’s calling on their lives.  Second, we believe it is important for all of our students to develop genuine and meaningful relationships with kids who are different from them in one way or another.  We hope that this will help our students be better advocates for justice and inclusion of people with disabilities in society.  Third, we know that NCA International’s unique founding mission is to serve the educational needs of missionary families.  In some past cases, missionary families have been forced to leave Nicaragua due to lack of educational services for their children with disabilities.  We are excited to take on the challenge of providing these services and enabling families to receive the support they need.

As we begin this new program, please pray for our school.  There are many new aspects of what we are doing and there will be new challenges along the way.  Our desire is that God will be glorified in the way we do this.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

"NCA Selfies" Teacher Conference



On January 28, a group of over 150 administrators, teachers, assistants and staff from our three Nicaragua Christian Academy schools (NCA International, NCA Nejapa and NCA Matagalpa) joined together for a full day of professional development and encouragement.  The directors of the three schools and the association (ANCA) led the opening session, introducing the new acronym GRACIA (Gratitude, Respect, Authentic love, Community, Integrity and Always learning) -- the word "Grace" in Spanish.  We talked about how NCA schools are a Community of Grace as we point our students to the message of the Gospel.

Speakers from Nicaragua, the United States, Guatemala and Costa Rica shared with teachers on topics ranging from special education, classroom management, technology integration, discipline, language arts instruction, and collaboration.  It was an opportunity for teachers to recharge, share a meal together, worship together, and connect with one another in collaborative relationships.

There was also a lighter side to the day.  The theme, "NCA Selfies" (to explore what makes our schools who we are) was celebrated as teachers were invited to visit a photo booth complete with silly wigs, hats and masks.  Student photographers helped them take pictures to commemorate this event.  This was the first event of its kind but certainly will not be the last!

  


A Local Haircut


A few weeks ago I (Liam) took Caleb and Judah to the market to get our hair cut at the usual place, which is the same place I have been going for over 12 years.  It is always busy and noisy with the sound of buses honking and pulling in and out of the bus station across the parking lot.  As we sit on our small flimsy plastic chairs waiting our turn, I can't help but see how very different this life is from where I grew up.  The small haircut shop has dated posters on the wall and no running water.  A radio plays popular Spanish songs.  At one point, Judah needed to use the bathroom, and was offered a small bucket in the corner of the room.  I decided instead to take Caleb and Judah across the parking lot (in slight fear of our lives due to the crazy bus drivers), through a dark part of the market and to the public restrooms.  Although not pretty, they appeared to be fairly clean and well-kept by the lady who was in charge.  The price for using the urinal was 3 córdobas, and the price for the toilet was 5 córdobas ($0.20).  After we returned to the hair salon and while Judah was getting his hair cut, a blind man and his companion stopped by to ask for money.  The owner of the shop stopped for a minute to give him a couple of coins.  Another interruption involved someone selling coffee, and again, the owner stopped to buy a cup of coffee for 5 córdobas (poured into a small styrofoam cup from a small thermos).

When we go to the United States, we are often asked what is different about life in Nicaragua.  Sometimes it is difficult for us to see what is different after having been here for many years, but when we look at our everyday experiences, we realize that what has become our normal is actually quite unique.

The cost of the haircuts?  I paid less than $5.00 for all three haircuts.