From the Mouth of Carla. . .

We were joined last week by two visitors--Jan Arrowsmith (Ruth's mom) and Carla Marion, a dear friend/former neighbor/First CRC church family/pseudo-family member (see below!). The furthest Carla has traveled from her hometown, Grand Rapids, is Indiana. . .until now! From the moment we told Carla we were moving to Nicaragua last spring, she was determined to visit. She began saving money from her monthly checks, and was able to save enough for a passport, the majority of a ticket, and enough to pay for food and gifts while here in Nicaragua! We admire Carla for her determination to make this dream a reality and we thank many First Church members and certainly Jan for doing their parts to make this happen. We absolutely loved hosting Carla and seeing things already familiar to us through her unique viewpoint, which is why I wanted to interview Carla before she left. I tried to type out word-for-word Carla's responses to my questions. . .here they are! Enjoy reading and getting to know Carla a bit if you don't already. We are thankful to have Carla in the life of our family, and we thank God for building and sustaining this relationship even as we are apart.

Andrew: Why come to Nicaragua?

Carla: To be with the family, my neighbors . . .my parents. . .I call you my parents.

Why do you call us your parents?

Because I made you my parents; I kind of used to help you out and you’d help me out and I’d do my washing and I felt that you were a good family for me, which I really never had. . .a religious, loving family that I could call a family until I met you guys. . .I just feel that I’m a part of the family. I love the kids and I’ve taken to Mae; she’s still as cute as a bug’s ear and so is Charlotte. Henry is kind of a shy person towards me.

 

How did you feel when you found out we were moving to Nicaragua?

I wanted to come; everyone asked me at church. . . “Carla, are you happy you can go visit them? Carla, we wish WE could go to Nicaragua”. . .I was just so excited and wound up that I could see you for a whole week. . .the plane was a whole ‘nother thing, since I’ve never been on one before. . .and it was alright as long as the turbulence was alright and the plane doesn’t tip! I watch every movement. I was really. . .I just couldn’t lay down and rest and sleep, really. I dream about you guys and that made me miss you more as a family, and I missed the kids. And I was really interested to see if the kids had grown since you left for Nicaragua.

What were your highlights of your trip?

Being on the plane, which I’d never been on before.

Being at that orphanage, and the day care that Ruth took me to.

Seeing the volcano; I’m glad I didn’t get no closer to that volcano than I did. It smelled gassy, but you couldn’t hardly see down in it because it was so smoky.

The [Preschool students] enjoyed me reading and I know I surprised you guys.

 

What were some things that surprised you?

The narrow streets and the busses. . .city busses are school busses! The little moto. . .mototaxis and motorcycles. I don’t see them in Grand Rapids until the snow goes away; a lot of people on horses and buggies. And the horses! I never thought horses would be here. I love horses. And the palm trees. I never imagined they were here. . .I don’t know why I didn’t. And I didn’t realize you lived in a villa; I thought you lived in a regular house. . .and seeing the maid. . .I loved seeing the lights of the city from up in the plane, too.

 

Did anything make you feel sad?

Seeing those kids in the orphanage and seeing the kids in the handicap thing made me feel sad. Being in your room didn’t make me feel sad , reallybut it reminded me of working in the schools in Grand Rapids.

What would you say that Nicaragua needs?

The people living in these run-down houses need money. ..so run-down. It takes me back to where I live; you see it all over.

What did you think of the weather?

I liked it! It reminded me or summer or spring in Grand Rapids. Every morning I’d wake up and say “Where am I?” I had to remember I was in another part of the world. I haven’t missed my bed and my stairway I have to go up it; my narrow stairway. I said goodbye to it and I’m sorry I’ll have to say hello to it when I get back.

And the monkey?

They said at church--Klasien said, “Be sure to bring that monkey back here. I need it back.” And I began to wonder if it was her monkey or yours. She told me that at church, twice. I told her I don’t know if I can bring it back; not on a plane; I don’t think I’d look cute on a plane with a monkey; that’s what I told her.

 

What’d you think of the food?

The food was kind of spicy and you know. . I loved the watermelon and the smoothies and the French toast that Ruth had made. The grocery store was similar to the grocery stores in Grand Rapids.

Would you recommend visiting Nicaragua?

Yeah. They all be hollerin’ about they want to come.

Was there anything you didn’t like?

No, I don’t think so. . .there was nothing. Change the way they live different here; even the rich looks like they live as poor people do.  . .the rich help out poor people here. And the neighbors are nice. . .or just. . .you had them all wound up when you told them about me coming! Cause I was really wound up! My insides was all wound up. . during Joys and Concerns I couldn’t even think of your names. Randy kept saying “Who you going to see? Who you goin’ to see?” I just couldn’t wait to get here! Being at the airport was just such a hubbub.

Did you learn any Spanish?

A little bit. Thank you is. . .I can’t remember it. . .and uh. . .senorita. “Senorita” is a woman. And uh. . .then I learned. . .I tried to learn “thank you” in Spanish but I couldn’t remember. Spanish sounds like some mumbo-jumbo-upped words and I can’t understand it.  I kept sayin’ to people ‘I can’t speak your language . . . I’m not from here. Just go to Andrew or Ruth or Jan. I don’t speak that language.

Did you miss anything while you were gone?

No. I was kind of happy here! A lot of things in here are similar to things in Grand Rapids. People live similar. But they don’t have the motorbikes and they don’t have the horses going down the street. They have the cars and if you want a horse and buggy you have to go downtown and pay a pretty penny!

Do you think it was a good decision for us to serve here in Nicaragua?

I think God put you in this world to be missionaries and be thankful that you got a job here teaching and Ruth once in a while has her job nursing and I mean. . .I’m just gonna have to get back to the change of being in GR and seeing that snow that I don’t want to see. I’m gonna have to go back to it.

 

One cog in the wheel. . .

I am teaching preschool at Nicaragua Christian Academy International. A little known secret that some of you may or may not know: teaching at a school for missionary kids and for nationals able to afford quality Christian education in a developing country wasn't ever really my dream. . .I always wanted to do the "real" work of educating and equipping the poor, the destitute, the kids with disabilities that have zero access to services and no hope for a brighter future. And those kids aren't really present in our school. We serve a different clientele altogether. Yet, we are here. . .and now that we're here, I'm finding out first-hand the important role that a school like NCA International plays within this community.

Post-"calling" to NCA International--and I really did/do feel called to this school--I'm finding that I am truly excited to work and serve in this organization for a variety of reasons. One reason, of course, is to teach and plant seeds within the 12 Nicaraguan kids in my classroom. These kids are the future leaders of Nicaragua. By the time they graduate from NCA 12 or 13 years from now, they will be bilingual. They will have received a really good education, enabling them to continue on at college or university here in Nicaragua or abroad. And most importantly, they will be rooted in the love of Jesus, and equipped to sow seeds and bear fruit wherever God calls them in life--my prayer would be that many would remain in Nicaragua as transformational leaders in government, business, the church, and education.

I'm grateful for my role as teacher of the 7 missionary kids in my classroom, too--for the same reasons listed above, but also because of the role I play in allowing their families to live and serve in Nicaragua. Without a place to educate their children, many families would not be able to serve in Managua. Home-schooling and local public schools are not viable options are all families. So while I still don't always feel that I'm "on the field" or "in the trenches" of Nicaragua, I'm finding vicarious joy in supporting the work of the missionary parents of my students! Check out some of the ministries represented in my classroom:

Beckett's dad teaches high school social studies here at NCA and his mom supports families that come to Nicaragua to adopt. Micah's dad and mom have planted a few churches in Nicaragua, and his dad currently shepherds a vibrant faith community in Managua. Sadie's parents operate a feeding center, an orphanage, relief and development work through an organization called "New Life Nicaragua." Katherine's mom teaches 3-year old preschool here at NCA (my school neighbor!) and her dad teaches music lessons and music at an area Christian school. . .he's an amazing classical pianist, too! I appreciate his vision for music education in the schools. Lucas's dad directs the Nicaragua Christian Academy Association, providing support to and building bridges between all NCA schools, especially those that serve Spanish-speaking lower-middle class students (NCA Nejapa and NCA Matagalpa). Ruth's parents work with the Vineyard church and are working on providing a place for teams to learn and serve here in Managua. Mae's dad is. . .oh yeah. . .me. You know what I do!

(As a disclaimer, this was NOT a complete list of ministries represented in my classroom, by any means. . .I don't even know all of the ministries that my parents/spouses are involved in. . .this is just a glimpse! Know, too, that many of my Nicaraguan parents are also involved in local ministries, even if they aren't technically "missionaries" here!)

So know that as you support my work at NCA, you are directly supporting the many, many ministries represented by the families within my classroom! So even if I'm not working with the poorest of the poor, I'm connected to the poor through the mission and vision of at least 6 other families living and working in Nicaragua as missionaries. Even if I'm not working directly with those marginalized by the education system of Nicaragua, I'm connected to them on another level. And even if I'm not serving the orphans, the hungry, the widows on a daily basis with my own two hands, I'm serving those that are serving those folks through many incredible Christ-centered ministries. And actually, so are you! Thank you.