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.

Meet Dexter!

So. . .maybe we missed the session in our CRWM training entitled "10 Things New Missionary Families Should Never Do," but we bought a monkey. Sort of. Here's how Dexter the white-faced capuchin monkey came to be in the Ippel household.

Our neighbor Nathan, the director of the association of the three NCA schools, travels frequently to Matagalpa, a community in the forested mountains of Nicaragua. It isn't uncommon for him to see monkeys and parrots for sale along the side of the road. Ruth has often joked with Nathan, "Next time you go to Matagalpa, just buy a monkey for us!" Well, evidently Ruth joked a few too many times. Nathan called us on Wednesday evening and said, "I'll be by your house in 30 minutes. I have a monkey in my car. You can keep it or if you don't want it, we'll keep it." (Nathan grew up in Brazil and always had primate pets as a child, so I think he was glad to have an excuse to make this happen).

So, 30 minutes to make a decision that is sort of a big deal. Where does one go to seek advice in this situation? GOOGLE! 30 minutes of finding page after page of saying that monkey ownership is terrible, sinful, that your life will be over, that the monkey will eventually kill or maim all of your children and burn your house down. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the general tone of internet discussion is that we should NOT own a monkey. So we decided to go with Google, and were prepared to tell Nathan "thanks for your impulsiveness but no thanks." We'll enjoy being neighbors of crazy people who own a monkey.

Well, Nathan pulled up to the house and Ruth and I went out to look at the monkey and to let Nathan know that he was the proud new owner of this monkey. Then the monkey climbed into Ruth's arm, and Ruth said (without looking at me), "We'll take him!" Yeah. Just like we DIDN'T decide! But for those of you who know Ruth (or her mother Jan), you probably aren't that surprised.  So suddenly we have a monkey in our house.

He's a boy, about 1 year old. Very clingy and loves to grab on to your forearm and just stay there all day, preventing you from doing dishes or changing your shirt. Dexter (his name is from the monkey on Night at the Museum) is on a short leash, but it isn't needed right now. He won't go far from us, though he is beginning to explore a bit. We need to construct some kind of house outside for Dexter. Right now, he is sleeping in a small room that had bikes/stroller in it, but as he hates being alone, his little cries echo through the house until he is sleeping. And yeah, monkeys do smell a bit like BO, so for that reason too we'd like an outside cage. He doesn't mind showers, though! We are experimenting with "preemie" diapers right now while he is inside. Yes, we slice a little hole in them for the tail. Ridiculous.

The kids LOVE him. . .Charlotte the least (love from a distance) and Henry the most (first thing Henry does in the morning is get Dexter from his room and play with him). We know it isn't going to be all fun. We are now the crazy neighbors with the monkey. And supposedly monkeys get less loving when they hit puberty. And they smell. And you can't do dishes or change your shirt when he is attached to your arm.

We know ALL pets take some time and energy, but yet we do NOT want pet ownership to take away from ministry opportunities that surround us. So while we are thankful that our kids have this fairly unique experience of ACTUALLY OWNING A MONKEY AS A PET, we have our hesitations and our excitement is tampered with a reality that this monkey is a fun thing for our family, but that monkey ownership won't dictate or consume our lives.

Our neighbor friend Taelor is the monkey's official aunt, and she spent all day with him today while we were at a Love and Logic seminar at my school. We are pretty sure the principals we learned today will not work on Dexter. "I see that you are hungry. I am so sorry that you feel that way. But I only give bananas to monkeys that clean up their poop off of the couch." Taylor is already planning on monkey-sitting the whole time we are in Michigan and New Mexico this summer, so we are thankful for that!

Anyway, I'm sure you'll hear more adventures about life with a monkey. Or, if we end up realizing that the internet was right all along, we'll let you know who the lucky new owners of Dexter are! Thanks, Grandpa Bandstra, for providing the Christmas monkey. . .I mean money. . .for this new addition to our family.

Disparities in Health Care. . .some observations. . .

I need to preface this blog post by admitting that I am still very ignorant and have a great deal to learn about health care here in Nicaragua (you will notice that I throw out many facts and opinions with no references—I have done my best to represent reality but please don’t use this to write a paper or anything), but I would love to share some of my observations and thoughts so far. 

Nicaragua has a government-run healthcare system, so most people have “access” to free health care at government-run and funded hospitals and clinics. I use the word “access” very hesitantly, because in order for the people of Nicaragua to benefit from these services, they have to be able to get there, which means having the means to pay for transportation and also the ability to take time off work or away from the responsibilities of their families.  It is especially difficult for the many people living in the rural areas of Nicaragua to get to hospitals and clinics when they are in need of medical attention. 

There is also much skepticism about the quality of care that is received at these hospitals and clinics.  Marlene, the woman who works in our home and takes care of Charlotte while I volunteer at clinic 2 days a week, has a niece, Isabella, who is 5 who was diagnosed with leukemia about a year ago.  “She’s just like Mae,” she often tells me.  The family was told recently that she doesn’t have much longer to live.  She has been receiving chemotherapy at a public hospital here in Managua, and my mom, who is a physician, guesses that the treatment she is receiving is what someone in the US would have received 20 years ago.  A 5-year old diagnosed with leukemia in the US has a 80 % survival rate, but a child the same age with the same diagnosis in a developing country, like Nicaragua, only has a 30% chance of survival.  I got to meet Isabella recently, and spending time with her made my mind and heart race… but mostly my heart.  I have a 5-year old daughter, and if she was diagnosed with leukemia, I would do everything I possibly could to give her the best chance of survival—and I would have the means too.  How is that fair? What if I were Isabella’s mom and she were me?

Mae fell off the trampoline and hurt her elbow over Christmas break, and we were for the first time faced with the decision of where to take her for medical attention.  There is no such thing as 911 here in Nicaragua (Mae just tried calling it recently).  There is a number that you can call to request an ambulance, but they cannot guarantee that one will be available to come.  And I can guarantee that there is no way I would be able to tell them how to get to our house.  So, we won’t be relying on that service. One of our options were the public hospitals and clinics that I have already talked about.  There are also many little private clinics and diagnostic centers that you can go to and pay to have whatever test—x-ray, EKG, ultrasound, lab work—done that you want for fairly cheap (to have an x-ray done costs about $15).  The clinic that I volunteer at, Clinica El Samaritano, is a small private clinic where you can get quality health care for less than $5/visit (which unfortunately is too expensive for many Nicaraguans). 

The place we ended up taking Mae is called Metropolitano, which is JACHO accredited (held to the same standards as hospitals in the US), and by far the nicest hospital in the country.  I have heard that the president had this hospital built so that his family could have a place to go for quality health care. This hospital is interesting because it also does “Medical Tourism,” which I had not heard of until recently.  Basically the hospital offers packages to foreigners who want to travel to Nicaragua to have procedures done at a much cheaper rate than in the developed world.  They make it sound all cushy by offering to plan a Nicaraguan vacation for you while you are here getting your knee replaced or whatever.  I’m not sure yet if I recommend it or not, but just in case you’re curious, here is the link to their website: http://www.metropolitano.com.ni/internationalpatients/

As you can see, there are a wide variety of health care options available here is Nicaragua, which unfortunately translates into a huge disparity in the care people have access to and receive.  As my eyes are being opened to the different ways that people live, I am experiencing a mix of emotions.  Selfishly, I am so thankful for the many blessings and options that I and my family have (we even have evacuation insurance that would pay for us to travel back to the States should there be a problem that can’t be dealt well with here in Nicaragua), but the injustice of it all makes my stomach sour.  I don’t understand why in our world the presence or absence of money has so much power, and especially the power to dictate the quality of health care that we receive.  So, for now I look for ways to get involved with offering quality care to those who might not otherwise get it, and I pray.  I pray that God will find a way to redeem this broken and unjust world.  And I usually have faith that He will do it…. but it isn't always easy.

Costa Rica? Nah. . ..Nicaragua!

School has been out for a few weeks now, and the other ministries in which we are involved (AMOS Clinic, Tesoros de Dios) also closed for the holidays. Many missionaries and expats head "home" to the USA for a few weeks to be with family for Christmas, but we stayed around in Nicaragua. . .both to avoid paying for five plane tickets and also to enjoy some free time exploring this beautiful country. Ruth's parents and our nephew are spending time with us over the break, so we've enjoyed seeing some of Nicaragua with our guests that we've not seen before. It's hard to believe sometimes that a) we actually live here and aren't just tourists! and b) it is Christmas time and we are enjoying places like the rainforest and the ocean! Nicaragua is a beautiful country. Yes, Nicaragua is poor and developing and the roads aren't always great and there are many needs here, but there is amazing natural and cultural beauty in this place that is only beginning to be discovered by outsiders. So. . .planning a trip? Skip Costa Rica--everyone goes there! Head on down to Nicaragua, spend some much needed tourism dollars here, and the Ippels will help plan your itinerary and give you a free place to stay! Here are some places we've tested out for you this Christmas break--much thanks to our guests and Christmas gift money for helping to pay for some of our explorations!


1. Los Cordones Surf Lodge--Driving time from Ippel house--1.25 hours

Relax under palm cabanas while watching the beautiful waves on the Pacific ocean. Take surfing lessons or just enjoy body surfing in the warm waters. Find great shells and abundant sand dollars. Eat local, healthy food--don't miss the ceviche, Henry's favorite. Get a massage. Try out the slackline, ping pong table, or hammocks.

2. Masaya Volcano Night Tour--Driving time from Ippel house--50 minutes (Steve's pick)

Enjoy a guided tour of a nearby active volcano, exploring dark lava tunnels, inhaling dangerous gases from the billowing smoke, and watching large bats fly out of caves for their nighttime feeding! Mae and Charlotte don't recommend the part in the caves where the guides make everyone turn off the flashlights.

3. Redondo Bay (San Juan del Sur region)--Driving time from Ippel house--2.5 hours (Andrew's pick)

Rent a house or hotel room in this region known for beautiful rocky bays and sandy beaches. Enjoy the water, snorkeling, sunbathing, kayaking, and exploring rocks for sea creatures! Look for monkeys hanging out in the trees near the beach between 10-11am. Of course, you can't miss the sunsets.

4. Mombacho Zip-lining and Cloud Forest Hiking--Driving time from Ippel house--1.25 hours (Micah and Henry's pick)

Swing through the trees on 14 zip-lines, going from platform to platform . Ages 2-70 are okay--even Charlotte had a great time, strapped to a guide. The guides are funny, knowledgeable,  and make you feel safer than you probably are:) Then board a large truck to ascend Mobacaho volcano, stopping by a coffee plantation on the way for a cup of hot or cold locally grown coffee (Café Las Flores). As you head up to the top of the volcano, watch out for the eminent rain and prepare for cloudy, cold weather. Bring a sweatshirt! Enjoy hiking around the cloud forest, lush with plant and animal life, before heading down in the truck again.

5. Masaya Artesianal Market--Driving time from Ippel house--1 hour

Nicaragua's finest tourist market, enjoy pursing incredible handmade arts and crafts to remember your journey with. From pine needle and wooden bowls, brightly colored paintings and jewelry, to hammocks and slingshots, there is something for everyone.  Listen to loud mariachi bands play, drink fresh fruit smoothies on chairs 20 feet in the air, and enjoy a snapshot of life in a busy Nicaraguan town.

6. Managua Explorations--Driving time from Ippel house--Varies

We have malls, movie theaters, McDonalds and Pizza Huts with play places, and modern grocery stores. We also have local fritangas (roadside food stands), boat tours of Lake Managua, zip-lining over crater lakes right downtown, and plenty of cultural and historical things to explore. Don't forget the zoo, where you can get so close to the monkeys and tigers that they can pee on you. A good quarter of Nicaragua's population live in or near Managua, so it is busy, but the roads are good and you can find pretty much anything you need. You'll fly in and out of this city, too. . .the airport is about 45 minutes from our home.

We are grateful for these few weeks to relax, rejuvenate for ministry, and enjoy time with family even while we are away from so many we love. I hope this post inspires a few visits; Nicaragua really is a great place to explore and enjoy and we'd love to show you our "backyard" and introduce you to some wonderful people as well. Service opportunities abound as well--it is very feasible to do some short-term projects at NCA, Tesoros de Dios, AMOS, and many other ministries around Managua.

Book tickets today; we'll see you soon!

Poverty

Nicaragua is the poorest Spanish-speaking country in the world and the 2nd poorest country in the West. But we live in Managua, the capital city, and cities do a decent job of masking poverty, hiding it behind Christmas lights and billboards and businesses like McDonald's and shopping malls. And I work at NCA International and students at my school can afford to pay tuition, so the families that I work with at school do not represent the poor of Nicaragua (though many serve the poor directly through various ministries). So while we "drive by" poverty nearly every day, surprisingly enough we have not had many opportunities to interact with the poor of Nicaragua.

After school a week or so ago, we ventured out into the country with two families in our neighborhood to a smaller town called Mateare, about 45 minutes drive from our house towards the city of Leon. On the outskirts of town is a smaller village, consisting of 6 or 7 rows of 15-20 house each, as well as a covered area used for a church, a rehab center, and a few small pulperias (stores). The entire village was constructed by Project Hope, which our neighbors help coordinate, over the last few years, and are occupied by Nicaraguan families who lost homes during a hurricane a few years ago. The homes, made of concrete bricks and wood, are tiny--think about the size of one bedroom in your own home--and most homes have at least six residents. The homes are safe and sturdy, and residents have access to clean water and electricity.

As wonderful it is for these families to be homeowners, they have very little in terms of resources and access to income, and the poverty we witnessed was difficult to see. Besides a preschool, the town has no other educational opportunities for the many children living there. If families don't have money for transportation/uniform/food, they don't send their kids into the larger town for schooling at all. There are little to no job opportunities within the village, though it is amazing how resourceful people are in terms of making enough money to survive.

We witnessed some income generation while we walked around the village. A man was there in a pick-up truck, buying peanuts dug up in a field that sits on the side of the town. Any resident can dig up the peanuts and then sell them to this man; kids had small buckets of these nuts, while some adults had multiple sacks that they were selling to this man, who was weighing the peanuts and handing out money. I'm guessing he works for a company that would then process the peanuts into sellable product. It was initially exciting to see how many people were working in the fields, gathering peanuts to sell. But then I heard that kids were getting at most 10 Córdoba for their buckets of peanuts--less than half a dollar--for a good day of work. And adults weren't getting much for their huge sacks of peanuts either--a few dollars at most a for hours of digging. That made me sad. I heard later of a woman who works in the village making hammocks, and gets next to nothing for her completed products--less than a dollar for two days of work.

Residents of this town were friendly and excited while our family helped distribute Christmas "sacks" from Project Hope. The sacks had some food staples in them--hopefully a bit of -relief during the holiday times for these families--but certainly no long-term solution to the day-in, day-out poverty facing these families.

It is easy to live in a place like Managua and "see" poverty without really "seeing" it. Pray for our eyes to stay open to poverty, to not become accustomed or numbed or okay with people barely making it, barely surviving. Pray for those who lack access to food, to clean water, to education and job opportunities, and pray for change in the systems that keep poor people poor. We long for human flourishing--for Shalom--here in Nicaragua--and poverty is a huge obstacle to this Biblical vision of restoration.

NCA Sponsorship Information

I received an email from Marilyn Loftsgard about a month ago, a woman helping to expand sponsorship programs at NCA's other school campuses--NCA Nejapa (here in Managua on the same campus as the Nehemiah Center) and NCA Matagalpa (about 2 hours away from Managua). These are schools that serve Spanish-speaking, lower-income families (different than NCA International, where I teach). NCA's vision is to provide quality Christian education for all Nicaraguans who desire it. . .but there are SO many obstacles to Christian education, even if there is a Christian school nearby! Money is a big reason why many kids do not attend even "free" schools here in Nicaragua, as kids still need to be able to buy supplies, books, and uniforms to attend public school. Consider sponsoring a child's education at NCA Nejapa or Matagalpa--God is at work in these two growing schools, and it is exciting to see how the three schools with "NCA" in their names can begin to collaborate, share resources, and support one another more and more! Here is the email from Marilyn below, with a contact email as well for anyone interested!

Email: As many of you may know, I am working with the sponsorship program for the Association, raising funds for the children attending NCA International's sister schools NCA Nejapa and NCA Matagalpa. As I look at the people who are currently sponsoring children, I see that the great majority have either a direct or indirect connection with NCA International - they are current or former teachers and their relatives/friends. There is a percentage of the sponsors that have come down on short term teams but that is not the majority. Based on that knowledge and that we really need to build this base because of the growth of the Association, I would like to challenge our current teachers and alumni to reach out to your circles to generate an excitement for the LIFE happening in our sister schools and an invitation for them to partner with us by donating toward the sponsorship program. Anyone interested in sponsoring a child and/or donating could also e-mail me directly at sponsorship@nca.edu.ni.

 In our 16 years living by faith through monthly support, we have found that God has always blessed our efforts to promote other ministries (in addition to informing them of what we are doing). We have never perceived that promoting another ministry takes away something that would have gone to our own support. I hope that you will prayerfully consider making the needs at these schools known to whomever the Lord puts on your heart. He is doing GREAT things through these schools!

Thankful for each and every one of you!

 Marilyn Loftsgard

 

NCA Nejapa

NCA Matagalpa