3 Months

So, I went down to the Immigration office last week and renewed our Visas, which of course means we’ve been in Nicaragua for 90 days now. A lot has happened in that time, and I’ve been slacking with my writing, so a lot has happened since our last blog post. So, here we go… 

(*MountainCC people – look for an announcement at the end of this blog entry)

A trip to the immigration office is a lot like a trip to the MVA/DMV.

Erinn:

Although there wasn’t really any intention of teaching here when we moved, Erinn has been using her gifts as a part-time staff member at Nicaragua Christian Academy (NCA). There was a need for a calculus teacher back in September, and Erinn happily stepped into that role. So she happily took on a class of a whopping four students and has fit right in with the other staff at NCA. 

More recently, NCA decided that their Geometry class would be better served if it were split into two smaller sections. So Erinn took on an additional class – this time a class of 14 Geometry students. 

She really seems to like the faculty and students at NCA, and is enjoying her work there.  Looking at her teaching as her main ministry, Erinn has also been providing some math tutoring for students who need it.

Wendy got Erinn and early/surprise birthday gift - special delivery of Flavor Cupcakery!

 Since Erinn has been the main income provider, she has also been doing some contract educational writing, and we recently became incorporated. This will allow a broader range of contract work for both of us as needed, and was necessary for a specific contract that Erinn will soon be working on.

Jeff:

Mostly, I have been serving where ever I can, whenever I can. Along with the Willards, Erinn and I have been bringing missionaries and their families to Campo Alegria to explore how they might be able to use the facilities for their own ministries. I have been visiting various ministries regularly to help out, to see what God has going on around Managua and Granada, and to get some ideas for how I might fit in here long term. I am starting to get some real ideas for ministry here, and exploring how they might be put into place, which is pretty exciting.

Playing with the kids at the Managua dump is a highlight of our week.

In addition to serving, I have been taking Spanish classes at Universidad  Centroamericana (UCA), thanks to some friends who arranged the classes for college students they bring in to serve here. I just finished week 4 of a five week basic Spanish course. We meet twice a week for about three and a half hours. I’m still a very basic speaker, but I understand much more than I did a month ago.

I recently picked up where I left off in the states as a youth group leader. Last week, I had my first small group with a group of 8^th grade boys. Next week, I will be joining them in the 30 Hour Famine to raise funds for World Vision. I’m looking forward to getting to mentor and just have a lot of fun with a great group of kids.

I also have the distinguished honor of being the first one in the family to need a trip to the ER here in Managua. Many of you probably saw most of the details on Facebook - basically, I had a little banana cutting accident and had to get a couple of stitches and a tetanus shot. Overall, I was very impressed with the whole process. The check in was quick, the doctor was very friendly and professional, and without insurance, it was cheap (by US medical standards). 

A trip to the ER for 2 stitches + tetanus = 45 minutes and $89. Not bad.

For fun, I still get out and enjoy running whenever I can. Last weekend, I did a long run with Managua Runners on the trails of a coffee plantation in San Marcos - very cool. Pretty soon, I will be preparing for a 50k race on Ometepe Island in February called Fuego y Agua. The island consists of two volcanos, one of which I will summit and descend during the 50k. I have also been going to the gym pretty regularly with my friend Maynor.

Climbing a volcano as the last leg of a 31 mile race? No problem!

Nate:

Nate’s daily life has changed quite a bit in the last few weeks – probably even more than Erinn’s. A few weeks ago, after Erinn started teaching her second class, we decided to enroll Nate part-time at NCA. It’s been a great change for him, and he really seems to be enjoying it there. So, in addition to his homeschool English, Science, and Social Studies courses, he is now taking Geometry, PE, Bible, and guitar at NCA – and Erinn is his Math teacher.

Nate in a drama for the Kid's Program at the dump.

While Nate hasn’t had much of an outlet for his love of acting, he has been busy with music. Aside from his guitar class at NCA, he is improving his drumming by taking private lessons once a week. He play on one of the worship teams at International Christian Fellowship (ICF), where we usually attend on Sundays.

Julia:

Julia has been doing school online through The Keystone School, which is a very well designed online high school program. But, for any of you that know Julia, she is an extremely social creature. With the rest of us out and about doing our thing, she is often home alone. So as of January, when the second semester starts, we plan to enroll Julia part-time at NCA, along with her Keystone studies. Since she already knows many of the students there, she seems really excited to get to be in school with them. Like Nate with the drums, we plan to get Julia started soon with private guitar lessons, as well.

Julia serving for the Eagles (look at the ground - yes, there are rain outs and delays for volleyball here).

Julia has also been active as a member of NCA’s volleyball team, which is wrapping up its fall season. It’s been fun for her, and definitely a major social outlet for too. She has also been involved with Young Life here, which she really enjoys. Since their schedules are more flexible than Sammy’s (who is a full-time student), Julia and Nate have served in various ministries together with me when ever we can.

Sammy:

Ah, last but not least. As a full time fourth grader, Sammy has been the one in the family who has had a pretty consistent schedule since August. He has really turned it up a notch this year at school. Sammy works so hard, and his grades have been reflecting that. He has been making a lot of friends and really seems to be fitting in well. He sings with a cute fourth and fifth grade worship team for his Wednesday morning chapels. They practice together most Tuesdays after school. He was also elected as a representative in a school-wide election a few weeks ago. 

Is this the face of a politician?

For fun, Sammy still builds everything Lego. He’s currently in a Bionicle phase, but still love him some Ninjago. Since moving, he’s also become a huge Netflix/Power Rangers fan.

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*Mountain Christian Church short-term mission opportunity – Easter 2013:

What would be a better way to celebrate Holy Week than by being salt and light, serving as a family in Nicaragua?

Well, we want YOU to come and experience serving in Nicaragua first hand March 28 – April 4.  It would be VERY cool to have some Mtn families here to work alongside of us at Campo Alegria – to make Easter extra special for all involved. The cost of the trip would be in the ballpark of $1,000 each, but may vary according to several factors.

  

Maybe you can’t go, but please think of others who may be interested…Mtn families we might know.  We have been emphasizing families because this is a great, safe, family oriented trip for kids and with kids. But, by all means, singles are welcome too!

This trip may or may not be advertised broadly at Mtn…we are hoping to “capture” 4-5 families that want to go then get them ready to make the trip.

If interested, please contact Jeff, Erinn, or Tom Moen.