Ministry and Life during COVID-19

What are we up to right now? Great question! Here's a bit about our lives these days--we know your lives have changed a lot, too, over these last few months.

Like much of the world, we're. . .you guessed it. . .at HOME! While no quarantine is officially mandated in Nicaragua, since school at NCA went online at the end of March, our family has been staying home in our neighborhood in La Veranera (empty again, except for one other family). We go out for necessary things such as weekly shopping trips and Andrew makes occasional trips to school or Tesoros de Dios. Once a week or so we attempt to "get out" as a family--maybe a hike in the woods or McDonald's drive-thru.

Biking down an under-construction road on a recent Saturday morning

Lego Master Ippel Family Edition, Episodes 1 and 2, were a huge success:)

Our kids have a regular morning routine of school, practicing piano, and doing chores. MOST mornings run smoothly, thanks to Ruth; I'm thankful they are motivated to get school work finished quickly so that they have more free time during the day. Short burst of obsession over forts, Legos, stuffed animals, drawing, camp-outs, and puzzles have all filled afternoon free-time. They swim every day in the neighborhood pool. This is the hottest time of the year, so we are VERY thankful for this option. We have another family next door, also in quarantine, so our kids (and us adults!) are able to have some playmates during this time, which is also a gift. We have weekly dinners together each Tuesday.

PE Class

I (Andrew) find a lot of my self-worth in work (I know that isn't necessarily a good thing), so this has been a difficult time in some ways as work has changed so much. "Going to work" just isn't a thing; I do most work in our bed (strange, I know!) as we don't have a home office. I have about 10 phone calls and 7 Zoom calls with students each week. My high school "Study Skills" class is on Google Classroom, which take some effort and maintenance. I help modify and adapt online assignments for a few different students on a daily basis, and have created a Youtube channel for my 2nd grade reading group.  I translate a Spanish teacher's communication into English for parents on a weekly basis. With two school weeks left, our staff is beginning to think about the 2020-2021 school year, and this week I'll be a part of 9 Zoom meetings with each grade level teacher to think about needed student supports for the future. Honestly, the joy in my work generally comes from face-to-face interactions with students, so this online stuff isn't really doing it for me as a teacher. Praying for patience and that we'll be able to have "in person" classes next fall si Dios quiere. 

NCA Elementary Staff Meeting on Zoom

Tesoros de Dios meetings continue to occur regularly, especially as we've recently seen a transition in our director role. Complex changes in the day-to-day ministry, closed for "in-person" services, have required some additional meetings as well. I continue to help manage the bank account, payroll, and bill paying during the transition time. I'm proud of the way this ministry continues to support students and families through relief provision of food/medicines, faithful prayer updates, and regular contact by staff with each and every family.

Ruth's ministries (House of Hope and AMOS) have not been meeting, though she has some responsibilities through her work at NCA as Expat Staff Care Coordinator and as a member of the Health Committee. She acts as the main "home-schooling" parent to our kids, ensures that we are stocked and well-fed, and keeps us informed about the news from both Nicaragua and the US. She works her tail off to keep out house clean, which is NOT easy when we're all home all of the time, even if the kids are "helping." I don't love talking on the phone, so I'm thankful to be married to Ruth who does a much better job of keeping social relationships and connections a priority during this time of social distancing.

We also have more leisure time now; honestly, this year has been full and busy, and having this forced rest is a gift from God. We read books. I am trying to become a birder (as of today I have 22 species on my life list after one week and not leaving home except for some morning runs!) We have a daily rest time (yes, we get tired, even just from being home!) Most things that needed "going through" have been gone through. We play games and cook and our dog Toby hasn't ever been happier with the extra attention he's getting.

Toby. . .is it any wonder we can't resist his begging at the table?

Can you name this board game?

We continue to support Hector Ariel, the college student that lived with us for a few months beginning this year. Because of COVID-19, and the continued need for him to attend medical school classes in person, we decided that he'd have to live elsewhere temporarily, and he is in a nearby apartment. Many of his classmates have dropped out of school due to the recent challenges, but he continues to attend classes and do well, though living alone is an adjustment for him.

We've enjoyed as a family worshiping each Sunday via YouTube with First CRC, our home church in Grand Rapids. Charlotte can leave for the sermon to our bedroom, where she does "Children's Worship" with a pre-recorded video from the church. Andrew was able to play piano for a "virtual band" a few weeks ago as part of a service.

Charlotte engaged in "Response Time" after Children's Worship

Normally at this point in the year, we'd be gearing up for our summer trip to the US. Flights in and out of Nicaragua have been suspended (one Facebook video showed the airport wrapped in plastic!) and are supposed to resume just before our planned trip in early June. We do not know if flights will actually happen or not, and if it would be wise to travel to the US at this point. It is hard to get accurate information and things are changing daily. So we wait and see what the next few weeks hold--if decisions will be made for us or if we need to make our own decision. Maybe we'll see ya; maybe we won't. We're trying to have peace either way, but it is hard and we do wish that things could be "normal."

Thank you for your support and prayers during this strange time; we ask for prayers for Nicaragua, and for the health and safety of our ministry partners, community members, and friends. Please also pray for our family as the uncertainty of the situation is wearing, as I'm sure it is for all of you.

Spring Update from the Ippels (in photos, mostly)

Here are some of the things we've been up to these last few months. Lots to be thankful for. 

The SOAAR Program was blessed to have Meindert Prins volunteer for January and February. He was loved by students and staff, and we hope he'll return in the future!

NCA Color Run--the one chance a year our kids can go to school with dyed hair, so you can imagine they really rub it in!

Wacky Tacky Special Color Day for Elementary

Ruth continues to coordinate NCA MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) drills every so often; she loves to scare the team members by creating surprise disasters!

In February, Hector Ariel came to live with our family. He is enrolled in medical school at UCN, or Central University of Nicaragua. 

Henry, Ruth, and Andrew were able to volunteer at Night to Shine in partnership with Tesoros de Dios and Vida Abundante, the church where we've been attending. 

Jose Angel, a carpenter from our school, made an incredible loft bed for Mae! She loves her new room!

Henry joined the NCA Eagles basketball team! Thankfully he's inherited more of his mother's athletic abilities than those of his father. 

NCA high schoolers were able to participate in Spiritual Emphasis Day, an annual event. Andrew gave a small group talk about Christianity and disability. 

Annie! This took over the lives of Henry and Andrew from January through early March , with multiple practices each week.

Nicaragua rose to the spotlight as Nik Wallenda walked across Volcan Masaya on live TV across the US. We would've loved to see it live but the volcano, only 45 minutes from home, was closed to visitor

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit! They watched Annie three nights in a row, ending our time together with a night at the beach. We're thankful they made it out of Nicaragua right as things began to get crazy in the US. 

They were able to meet Cristofer, their sponsor child through Tesoros de Dios. 

Mae has been part of a team called "Club Chiquilistagua," a soccer club made up of NCA and local community kids. She's the goalie! Her "dirt line" is quite epic at the end of each practice. 

Andrew is staying  busy coordinating the SOAAR program at NCA, working alongside of some awesome students and staff.

God provided a volunteer for the SOAAR program just as Mr. Prins was leaving to head back to Canada. Genesis is a recent grad from NCA Nejapa and has jumped right in, serving kids in many classrooms as a SOAAR volunteer. She's a natural, and I'm so thankful for her!

This last week of school was supposed to be "Kindness Week," sponsored by the Elementary Student Council, which Andrew co-leads. With low attendance and eventual cancellation, the week didn't pan out as we had hoped, but it was still neat to see kindness encouraged around NCA, even amidst uncertain times. 

While not teaching a daily class, Ruth continues to help at NCA in a variety of ways. She helps Andrew with his high school Study Skills course, is working on health curriculum and policy, and recently designed a sink near the cafeteria that was quickly installed due to eminent arrival of coronavirus in Nicaragua!