Saturday, August 25, 2018

Different Start at NCA International


As most of you know, we are back in Nicaragua after a busy yet relaxing summer in Michigan, New York and New Jersey.  We have just finished the first week of school, which is an amazing testimony to God’s faithfulness!

Roll back the timeline 3 weeks to our first day back with all of our teachers and staff.  I led devotions for this week each year, and during the singing of Do It Again (Elevation Worship) in Spanish with all our staff present, I found myself overcome with emotion, crying uncontrollably with tears of mixed joy, relief and trust in God.  In the midst of a summer marked with civil unrest and incredible uncertainty, the words, “Tu promesa sigue en pié, tú eres fiel” (“Your promise still stands, great is Your faithfulness”), took on new life and meaning!  Sung by our staff from 7 different countries (Nicaragua, United States, Canada, Australia, France, South Korea and the Netherlands), united in our love for God and calling to serve Him at NCA International, the song was an anthem of hope that seemed to be written exactly for our group at this time and this place.  “I know the night won't last, Your Word will come to pass.”

It is incredible to me that even in the midst of our present situation, God has fully provided for our school in terms of staffing.  On the first day of school, we had every essential staff position filled.  Our enrollment is down significantly, and although some students may return next semester, our school’s budget is still a big question mark this year.  On the other hand, our teachers are enjoying smaller class sizes.

We started the school year with a modified schedule but will soon be returning to a normal class schedule and adding some extracurricular activities.

Our other two schools have also been affected in major ways.  NCA Nejapa had to lay off 17 staff members after several months of enrollment loss and the need to combine multiple class sections.  NCA Matagalpa held classes in two off-campus locations for over a month due to barricades preventing access to the school.  They have now returned to school on their own campus.