Nicaragua --the Place We Call Home!

Our Journey to Beautiful Nicaragua.

"After the kids are out of the house, we should teach for a few years in another country", a thought Jeff and I considered during in our marriage. But then Jeff took a sabbatical from teaching and I wondered if this desire was not a calling. After five years of not being able to get a full time teaching position, I also wondered if I need to find a new profession. Many questions; no answers.

In the spring of 2014, we heard about a service and learning trip to Nicaragua focusing on technology and working in schools. We thought it would be a great trip, but the timing and financial investment may be a hurdle. We inquired, but didn't think it would happen. Waiting until we were empty nesters was a thought, but then would we both be done teaching? Many questions; no answers.

The coordinator of the trip, who I will call Brady, encouraged our willingness to go and believed there were funds available for people who had a heart for mission outreach. Jeff and I prayed about the trip and then Katie, our oldest, truly made us feel we needed to go when she asked "What is our purpose in life?" We needed go where God was leading us. We agreed to go believing God would answer our questions.

October of 2014, we fell in love with Nicaragua. We both felt a calling to teach at Nicaragua Christian Academy (NCA) and began applying for the 2015-2016 school year. We were excited and knew that this is what God wanted us to do!! The excitement of our four children confirmed the calling! Then the position for Jeff was filled before we completed our paperwork. There was a brief inquiry for a position other than teaching, but there was not. Door was closed. Now what? Many questions; no answers.

I had been subbing, roofing with my husband, and was currently working part time as an educational assistant for early childhood in the public schools. I was very discouraged and confused. "God, you gave me a love for teaching and sharing your love with children, why can't I get a job?" was my cry in prayer and I didn't understand what He was trying to teach or tell me. Many questions; no answers.

 As I continued to struggle, Brady asked me to help lead the next Nicaragua trip June, 2015. I was excited and willing, yet it opened a new line of questioning: Maybe I could combine my desire to work in another country with my desire to teach by leading short term mission groups? Maybe I could work with missions here in SD?. January 2015, I inquired about a position with Mission Haiti thinking that it would be a great fit, but once again the position was filled before I could fully apply. Many questions; no answers.

I was now working as a lead preschool teacher in a daycare setting. It was not ideal in my mind, but believed it was God's leading and I was very excited to be teaching again!

The June trip renewed the call  to serving in missions and I encouraged Jeff to go in April of 2016. With deep reservations on many levels, Jeff went to Nicaragua. He committed to this trip before we knew we would be moving and God used the team driver to secure a furnished house for us which is below the projected cost.

My struggle and questioning continued, because my position was more daycare than teaching. After five years of closed doors, I asked "God are you leading me into an entirely new profession?".  I searched for other avenues. Many questions; no answers.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016, I took a personal day. Jeff had been working out of town for a week and was home one day before leaving for a four day religious retreat, While hanging out together, I noticed a posting on the NCA website for two positions that were a closer match to our teaching experience than the year before. I asked Jeff what he thought:
     "I'm sorry, but I'm happy where I am at and am not ready to apply again." he said.
     "That is okay. With a calling of this importance, it has to be clear for the both of us! I wouldn't want you to go just for me!", I responded.

After Jeff left on Thursday, I got a text from Brady about the openings and told him that Jeff didn't feel led to apply. Friday, Jeff and I received an email from Liam Starkenburg wondering if we were still interested in teaching at NCA. As Jeff read the email, he felt strongly that he needed to take it to the Lord in prayer. What a great weekend to be at a Bible retreat where he could focus many hours in prayer. He talked through his thoughts with many faithful men of God and then wrote this prayer request: "Pray that God would guide me to be content with where I am at or if I need to follow my heart and apply for this position". One of the pastors commented that Jeff had his answer in the way he had written the request.  As Jeff listened to God, it became clear that He is calling us to the mission field. I picked Jeff up on Sunday and he shared with me that he had prayed about the positions and believed we needed to apply.

We applied for the positions on Monday, February 28 and accepted the positions on March 18. In three weeks, we moved from "I'm not ready" to "We are going"! We had our answers, but this led to new questions and four months of huge planning and hurdles:

•  fixing up and selling our house,
•  finding and filling a storage unit with our household goods,
• holding a garage sale over three weekends in a row, 
• fundraising and visiting with churches and friends, 
• finishing out the school year and summer commitments for the children, 
• giving our notice to our employers, 
• securing passports and travel shots, 
• having teeth cleaned and physicals done, 
• standing by Jeff's parents in a Leukemia diagnosis,
• planning a wedding for next July (Katie and Joel are engaged),
• applying for and securing proper documentation for a work visa, 
• spending time with all of our immediate family and friends to say goodbye in MI and SD,
• asking for advice on how to plan and prepare for the trip, 
• procuring and packing ten fifty pound capacity suitcases to check as well as ten carrying bags for immediate necessities,
• shopping for last minute uniforms, underwear, and shoe needs (which was funded the week we needed it by my parent's military friends),
• and bathing it ALL in prayer!

We faced many hurdles, but could see God providing for us each step of the way. I am in awe of His grace, love, and provision in our lives, but especially through this Spring and Summer. July 20 after a tearful goodbye to Katie, we left Sioux Falls and arrived in Nicaragua.