Pictures are worth WAY more than words:)

Sometimes, pictures say so much more than words. Here is a glimpse into the life of my PreK2 classroom at NCA International this school year during our first few weeks. I think these kids are pretty special! Enjoy!

School Decisions 2.0

In the US, we had many conversations—as a couple and also with friends—about whether to send our kids to a public or private school.  Here in Nicaragua, we are involved in many of the same debates, but instead of Christian vs. public, the two contenders are English-language schools vs. Spanish-language schools.  There are obviously pros and cons to both. Here is a sample debate to give you a feel for some of the issues that make this decision tricky.  Andrew will play the role of the open minded optimist, and Ruth will play the role of the negative pessimist.

Andrew:  I think we should have the kids attend Nejapa (which is Nicaragua Christian Academy’s Spanish language campus in Managua) so that they are fully immersed in Spanish and will eventually become fluent.

Ruth: But what about their English language skills?  Will they learn to read well in English?  Will they learn proper grammar?  Will they receive the same quality of education they would at the international campus? Will this mean that we will end up homeschooling on top of sending them to school? I don’t have the time or patience for that!

Andrew: But think of all the meaningful relationships that they could build with Nicaraguans classmates and teachers…

Ruth:  Can you imagine walking into a classroom where you know no one, and no one speaks your language.  I don't think I’d make any friends… I would just lock myself in a bathroom stall. 

Andrew: Kids learn languages so quickly and have the gift of developing friendships with no words.

Ruth: But what about the fact that the Nicaraguan schools are on a whole different calendar… you wouldn't even have the same summer break.

Andrew:  Yeah, that would be a pain…

This is obviously not a real dialog, but reflects many of the views we have spoken or heard.  What is real is the fact that it is hard to make these decisions that have such significant long term effects on our kids’ lives.  It is hard to know what challenges will push them to eventually being better people and which ones will just simply push them over the edge.  For now, we are trying to find a balance.  Henry and Mae attend NCA International where most of their instruction is in English, but for an hour (Henry) or two (Mae) a day, they are getting excellent Spanish instruction.  They both attend Sunday school at our Spanish speaking church where we hope and pray that they are being challenged to use their Spanish and build some of those meaningful relationships “Andrew” referenced earlier.  Charlotte just began attending a Nicaraguan preschool, where we hope that because of her young age she will learn Spanish quickly and develop a good bilingual base.  As all parents do, we pray that we are making the best decisions for our children, and are so thankful that really all we have to do is place them in God’s hands and have faith that although we don’t always know what’s best, He does.  

PreK2, take 2!

Another year of preschool teaching begins tomorrow. I'm mostly excited: for the songs and stories and routines, the energetic passion for life that is a natural part of being 4, the unconditional love and countless leg hugs from these tiny learners. My room is ready and walls are decorated. Student names are laminated and appear everywhere in my room: on the tables, by the coat hooks, on the cubbies, on the floor where they line up, on the job chart, on the behavior chart, birthday chart, center chart, word wall. . .their names are everywhere! Lesson plans are done (for the year, really). We had Open House on Friday and 15/16 families were represented in my classroom, which is a great indicator of a good year!

But while I feel ready, I have two things that keep my mind busy and my prayers occupied:

1) Language: Last year, I had 19 students, 7 of whom came from English-speaking homes. These kids were dispersed through my learning groups, so that the native Spanish-speakers could hear and learn language from their peers. This year, I have 16 students. Only 1 student is bilingual, and he is extremely shy, unlikely to speak up much during group lessons. It will be a challenge to teach language as the sole "English teacher" in the class. . .but that is one huge objective of the program--to get these kids learning a new language at such a young age. After a week of school I'm sure I'll have a better picture as to what this year will look like from a language learning standpoint.

2) My Afternoons: Last year, my school day was finished at 12:30. I spent 12:30-3:00 eating lunch and then prepping, lesson planning, getting materials ready. This year, I have the added responsibility and joy of working with three NCA elementary students as a Learning Resources teacher. I will spend 90 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with a first grader, 4th grader, and 6th grader (30 minutes with each child). Special education is my background, education, and passion. I spent 9 years in the US working with learners with diverse needs. Yet, I'm a little nervous! I've never supported a general education teacher using a "pull-out" model, so this is new. And in the US, I was working with kids with moderate cognitive impairments, whereas this year I will be supporting learners with much "milder" needs, like learning disabilities and dyslexia. I know it'll take one week before I'm loving this new part of my job at NCA, but I'm going into it feeling a bit like a "newbie" for some reason.

As I begin a new school year, take a moment to lift up these 19 boys and girls who will become a huge part of my life and ministry tomorrow: Alejandro, Alvaro, Jessel, Miriam, Mateo, Anthony, Xioli, Benjamin, Josias, Jade, Fernando, Angel, Sebastian, Hanna, Jaiyen, Grace, Slaton, Min Gyu, and Hudson.

Thank you!

Las Semillas: Another year!

Time to dust of this blog and get informing again! After a 7-week summer through Michigan, Tennessee, New Mexico, and Colorado, visiting supporting churches and gracious family and generous friends and clean parks and freezing beaches and relaxing cabins, all while living out of suitcases and only losing one sandal, a teddy bear, and a blanket, we are finally home! And unpacked, too. Dexter was pretty happy to see Henry again.


While last year's initial journey to Nicaragua was filled with the adventure of having NO IDEA what life would look like for our family, this year we had the bizarre feeling as if we were coming "home." (Though that particular word is very confusing, especially to Mae and Charlotte!). Last year, we were picked up from the airport by our school director and deposited into our home with only beds and a table. We knew no one. We had no car. We then spent the next few weeks gathering things,(from couches and trashcans to vegetable peelers and hangers), making acquaintances, buying a vehicle, and learning to navigate the city. And this was just figuring out life here, not to mention work and volunteering and school and church.

What a gift it was to come into a home with already-made beds, internet for which we know the password, plenty of kitchen utensils, and a box of Legos after being picked up from the airport by a friend! What a gift it is to instantly lose our children in our neighborhood for hours at a time while they play with their long lost buddies! What a gift it is to be back at church and give hugs to people with names that we know (and have some Spanish conversation, too)! What a gift to be able to drive to Pricesmart and know how to get there and what to buy to refill our empty cupboards. Things that were stressful, draining, and new are now just part of our lives. So many reasons to be thankful.

We start Year 2 with so many advantages that come with having been in a particular place for a year. Seeds (semillas) were planted and roots have grown. A lot of the groundwork--the figuring-out-life-in-a-brand-new-place stuff--is finished. We are poised to  jump right in to the work we're called to do here in Nicaragua without having to worry so much about the "newbie" stuff. And that feels good. We're not experts, and there remains adventure and unknown. Yet, it is a gift to be here for Year 2, and we thank God for that, and we look forward to another year of sharing with you what God is doing here in Nicaragua.