Angel

For the last month, our family has hosted a 7th-grade NCA student in our home during the school week. Angel is Nicaraguan, but spent all of his growing-up years in the US until coming back to Nicaragua to live with his grandmother about two months ago. After struggling through the first month of school at NCA, Ruth and I decided to offer our home as a place to stay during the school week for the rest of the school year. We're able to keep Angel from having to use the public bus system to get to and from school. . .his grandmother lives about 45 minutes from NCA, and it is not easy to navigate the buses here for a new-to-Nicaragua 7th grader! We're also able to help support Angel with schoolwork, something his grandmother could not do as well as she'd like as she is struggling with her health.

We've enjoyed getting to know Angel. He comes home with us on Monday afternoon, and goes back to be with his family on the weekends. School is difficult for Angel, and we spend between 2-3 hours each night by his side, encouraging him on his projects, helping him study, and working on organization skills. This is stretching for Ruth and I (and our kids have learned to be patient as they "share" us with another "sibling"), but it has been rewarding to see him become more successful tackling the tough academic load of NCA!

Angel is awesome with our kids. . .he plays Clash Royale and Geometry Dash with Henry (he even has his own YouTube channel!), swims with Charlotte, and chases Mae around the house. He keeps count of how many times he scares people around the house (I think he is at 23). He is a constant conversationalist. He asks for "more" chapters after each Bible story for our dinner devotions, which has made our own kids more excited about family devotions, too. We're thankful he likes a busy family environment, and that we have space to give him at least a small room (very small--think Harry Potter, but his own!) to which he can escape if needed.

I'm thankful to be married to a hospitable wife who was excited to open up our home to an NCA student (it was really and truly Ruth's idea, which if you no her, is no surprise)! I'm thankful for our three kids who are flexible, kind, and willing to share space and attention! I'm thankful for Angel and how he has become a part of our family this semester.