Finishing Strong

We have been very busy the last few months! Below is a monthly account of first quarter happenings in Nicaragua with the Kane family.

January

This month, we were involved in two big events at NCA. The first was spiritual emphasis day. Our administration sets aside an entire day for connecting with God through guest speakers, worship, and a variety of seminars delivered by local missionaries. Students choose topics that interest them, spend quality time learning about God, and listen to His plans for their lives. 

Also in January, ANCA held its annual teacher conference at our campus. This day is devoted to professional development of teachers and collaboration with colleagues. I was honored to be able to lead a workshop to help teachers better match learning objectives with instruction and assessment. I loved being able to share the things that I have learned and strategies that work well in my own classroom. 

Objective Driven Approach to Instruction

Demonstrating an easy, effective, kinesthetic way to
complete a formative assessment in the
classroom: "Choose a Side"

Explaining how this can be applied to all subject areas:
Our school's director as well as art,
Bible, and P.E. teachers pictured.

February

Jeremy finished up the cafetin this month. The school now has a more effecient way to serve students and teachers. Some are resistant to the changes made, but as people get used to the new way of entering and leaving the cafetin, paying for items, and disposing of waste and returning dishes it gets a little easier everyday.

New Cafetin

New Paint & Decor (unclaimed
student artwork)

His next project is a complete remodel of the elementary teacher's workroom. He has designed a more efficient space to relax, prepare, and collaborate for support staff and teachers. This is currently the most high traffic work space. Used by administration, teachers, and support staff, this space must function well. Here are some "before" pictures of the space. The project is slated to be finished after Easter. 

Before: Entrance, lockers, laminator, manipulatives

Before: 3 support staff work stations on the right, more
lockers, and a coffee station. 

March

March brought hotter weather along with many big events! This year, I took on the lead advisor role for both Student Council and HACIA Democracy. In March, Student Council hosted a media night for secondary students complete with movies, games, snacks, and inflatables. This bi-annual event is always a big hit. On March 8th, a group of 47 students and advisors flew to Panama for the 23rd Summit of the Americas. Preparing for debate since September, selected students from 3 NCA campuses debated issues like cybersecurity and tax havens. Other students served on special missions councils reenacting the Sandinista Cabinet, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Impeachment of Brazilian President, Delma Rousseff. Our school took away 12 awards! I have been honored to advise these students over the years in debate skills, research skills, and public speaking.

Year 3 of working with these ladies on public speaking,
research, and debate

Team NCA International

Honorable Mention: OAS Permanent Council

Best Delegates: Cumbre de Las Americas, and winner
of the art contest

Just last week, my 9th grade girls and I took a service field trip to a home for sexually abused girls. We spent the morning sanding and painting playground equipment. Then, we worked together to cook and serve lunch to 50 people including the girls and the staff of the home. Finally, we finished up by painting the girls' nails and playing games with them. We were not allowed to photograph the girls, so the images you see are of my 9th grade girls working.

Note: Varnish DOES NOT wash off easily.

10 heads of lettuce, $10, 20 tomatoes, $5
7 cucumbers, $3, time with these ladies,
priceless.

The Kids

Spencer is preparing to go to Costa Rica twice in the next month for an international basketball tournament and again for an international ultimate frisbee competition. He is enjoying the last few months of his senior year by serving as the Secretary of student council, leading small groups, assisting the PE teacher and theater department as a teacher's aid, and recycling each week with the National Honor Society. 

Hannah just finished her first theatrical role in NCA's Beauty and the Beast. She was cast as a silly girl and a knife. 

"Oh Gaston!"

"You simply can't marry Belle, Gaston!"

Finishing Strong

As we announced earlier, we will be returning to Indiana in June. Our lives are once again filled with some anxiety, a little sadness, and bit of excitement for God's next steps for the Kane family. I am in search of a teaching position in a district near our home base. I just decided yesterday to obtain dual licensure in both social studies and English. Please pray that God leads me to the job that He has lined up for me!

Finally, we realize making a committment nowadays is tough. For those of you who have faithfully supported us financially over the course of this three year mission, there are no words to express our gratitude. Unfortunately, over the years we have lost several supporters, and it seems more have discontinued their giving in the last few months. This leaves us financially strained as we head toward the finish line. Please prayerfully consider continuing your support through the end of our mission, and pray for our family as we transition back to a truly different world. 

Merry Christmas!

Perhaps one of the toughest times of the year as missionaries is Christmas. Traditionally, this is a season of parties, gatherings, celebrations, and time with friends and family. Many missionaries do, in fact, travel back to the states or Canada to be with family over the holidays. However, with a family of four and a limited budget, it simply is not feasible for us. So, we make the best of it! We have some very close friends here that have become like family to us. We were blessed to spend a few days with them at the beach before Christmas relaxing, singing karaoke, and eating delicious food. Spencer gamed with his close friend who graduated last year from NCA and traveled to Nicaragua to spend time with his parents for the holidays. Hannah spent time in front of the TV and climbing rocks at the beach.

Enjoying an air conditioned room and video games
with a friend

Yummy food and a TV for Hannah.

Building a sand castle just before high tide. They wanted
to see it destroyed.

Relaxing with friends

Decisions
It's difficult to believe we have been in Nicaragua for nearly three years! When we came in 2014, we knew we would commit to a minimum of three years at Nicaragua Christian Academy. Following this, we would prayerfully consider our next steps. Would we stay here for Hannah to finish school at NCA, or move back to the states? With much contemplation, prayer, and family discussion we have decided to return to the states this summer. Factors weighing on our decision included decreasing financial support and family needs. We have grown to love the NCA community and this country. Although it has often been challenging, we have been blessed and honored to serve God here. 

Our home base will be Indiana. There, I will seek employment as a full time teacher. As Jeremy decides on his future plans, he will be doing some much needed work and maintenance around the farm. Spencer will be attending I.U.S. majoring in education (YAY!!), and Hannah will begin as freshman at a local high school. It will be a challenging transition for us as we came here with only 12 suitcases. We will most likely return with less. Essentially, we will be starting over from scratch with the few boxes of items we kept in storage. Please keep us in your prayers as we wrap up life here in the next several months.

Car Update

We want to thank all of you who donated to our car fund! As a reminder, our red Toyota stopped running a few months back. The estimated cost to fix her was in the range of $4000-$5000. This was still less expensive than a replacement vehicle. Vehicles here are quite expensive. Our 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser with umpteen thousand miles, no A/C, and cosmetic imperfections cost us $5500 when we moved here. 

With our decision to return this summer and the lack of funds, we thought it was unwise to purchase a vehicle. So, some missionary friends of ours loaned us a vehicle which is not currently being used. In return, we have done some maintenance on it including new tires, a front-end alignment, and brake repair. We have done this and plan to do some other "fixer-uppers" to the car with the donations from our GoFundMe account. The donations have benefited another missionary family as well!

The little car affectionately known as "Pikachu"

It's tiny, but it gets us from A to B!

 

As always, thanks to all of you for your prayers and financial support. We appreciate you! Have a wonderful holiday season and blessed new year.

The Kane Family

Photo Post

This morning as I write, I am blessed by the coolness of the morning (that's 76 degrees for you non-tropical dwelling readers). It is rare that I actually enjoy a hot cup of coffee, but as we approach the cooler season of December and January, I look forward to non-iced java. I scroll through my images of the first quarter of our school year at NCA and ponder what to write about today. Life seems to move so quickly, and so many things have happened in the last two months. Instead of writing a lengthy memoir of the Kane life in the mission field, I am filling this post with pictures and captions that tell our story.

In September, we celebrated Fiestas Patrias, the celebration of Central America's independence from Spain in 1821.

My ninth grade students performing a reenactment for
Fiestas Patrias. The littles are entertained by their acting
abilities!

Fiestas Patrias: 9th grade students performing
for elementary students.

Fiestas Patrias: The Seniors Spencer decided to be a
stagehand (He is third from the left)

Spencer is very involved in planning for his senior class. He is a leader on the senior trip committee and the senior gift. The senior gift is a token of appreciation given to the school.

Spencer preparing to present senior trip options. I guess
trip planning runs in the family :-)

Spencer discussing options for the
class gift to the school.

Life at Casa de Kane....

Sometimes, the afternoon heat is unbearable.
Here we are all eating dinner in the bedroom,
the only room with A/C.

After our 14 hour layover on our way back to Colorado
this summer, Jeremy was determined to find a solution
for the trip home. For just $19.99, he found a self-inflatable
"couch." Jeremy and our neighbor Steve enjoy life.

Popsicles on a hot day in the A/C.

Jeremy has been waiting for me as I walk
home from school since we have no car. Today,
he met an amigo and talked about life.

Nuevo Amigos.

Helping Hannah with homework. Oddly, I have another
photo of Jeremy helping Spencer with science several years
ago out of the same textbook.

Spencer still attends Elevate where he and a team of students visit an orphanage on Saturday mornings to teach them to play basketball while sharing the gospel.

Also, as part of the student leadership class that I teach, I encourage students to participate in community service. Two years ago, one of our now graduated seniors began a program called "Leamos" which means, "We read." Students travel to a nearby community center and conduct reading lessons with children. One of my student leadership students decided to revive the program.

Students use Play Dough to build relationships and make
story pictures.

Reading with all age students. Education is a privilege here,
not a right.

One of our leaders organizing materials.

Using plastic letter tiles to play word games.

Life at Nicaragua Christian Academy....

My homeroom girls for the 3rd year in a row. We talk about
EVERYTHING. This day, they were making pricetags to
where at school. Why? Because Jesus bought each of them
at a price. No one else could ever pay that high of a price.
Their tags said things like "Priceless" and "You Can't Afford
Me." I try to instill in them their value everyday that we meet.

Spirit Week: Pajama Day! As an advsior for
Student Council, I help coordinate
these events.

Twin Day! The science teacher, Mrs. Stuebner, and I
surprised many people this day.

Teacher Day! This is one of my 7th grade
boys dressed up like Mr. Kane.

Some of my 9th grade homeroom girls and
I in our "class shirts." I am affectionately called
"Fresh-mom" (Mom to the freshman class).

Jeremy and the cafeteria staff. Jeremy has been working on
improving efficiency in the cafeteria with thsese ladies. He has
built quite a reputation and an incredible relationship with them.

Hannah's artwork. The pot on the left was
thrown using a manual pottery wheel.

Hannah's pencil art. These were on display during parent-
teacher conferences in mid-October.

This sums up our world in Nicaragua right now. Also, many of you already know that in early October, our vehicle's engine siezed. It will cost $5000 to fix, or at least that much to buy a new vehicle. We have developed a "GoFundMe" account to help raise money, as transportation is necessary for us to live and work here. We are very thankful for those who have already helped. The link to donate is below. Please remember, every little bit will help. Jeremy and I calculated and if all or our facebook friends would donate $10, we would have the money we need!

Kane Car Fund

Back to School!

A Wonderful Summer

Our summer began with a reminiscent visit to Colorado to visit friends and provide an update on our mission in Nicaragua at Surface Creek Church. We were showered with blessings of airline travel, a car to get around, food, lodging (including an amazing stay in a mountain cabin on Grand Mesa), entertainment, and even train tickets to get from Grand Junction to Denver to fly back to Managua. I was also blessed to be able to complete a very large portion of my master's program at Liberty University this summer. I am well on my way to completion by May 2017.

Liberty University School of Education

Back to School

This year Spencer is a senior and Hannah is in 8th grade. On the first day of school each year, we have shortened classes followed by an assembly, pizza, and games for the second half of the day. The last game of every year is the infamous "tape game." Envision an episode of "Wild Kingdom" paired with "Survivor." Packs of hungry lions (each grade level) prey upon lonely unsuspecting wildebeests that have strayed from their herd. Once surrounded, the poor wildebeest is tackled to the ground, its limbs held down by at least four or five lions while the tape is ripped off its abdomen.At one point I heard a senior yell, "Spencer's down!" Suddenly, an entire pack of angry seniors came running toward Spencer who was being attached by two of the teachers. Within seconds, they had freed their companion and taken out the coveted teacher tape. It is brutal, but they LOVE this game. The goal: get as much tape as you can--especially teacher tape.

"We Are International" is this year's chapel theme.

Spencer missing his buddy Joel who graduated last year.

Spencer taking down two teachers in the tape game.

New Endeavors

Jeremy was asked to take on a new role of "Special Projects" this year. He is charged with improving the efficiency of many areas of the campus. For example, he is currently working on a plan to remodel our school cafetin (cafeteria) to improve efficiency in service, preparation, and clean-up. Other projects on the horizon is the development of office space for existing employees and remodeling the elementary teacher workroom. He gets to use is profound sense of logic and reasoning to make the best use of NCAI's current resources, and he loves it! He works as the special projects coordinator in the morning and teaches his elective classes in the afternoon.

I am still teaching middle school English and social studies, but I have passed the baton of public speaking on to someone else. This year, I requested to teach a class on student leadership. This class works closely with student council developing biblically based leadership skills. Students learn team-building, conflict resolution, time management, organization, and how to lead like Jesus did during His time on earth. My prayer is that these students will emerge with a heart for servant leadership, ready to change the world. I have also taken a lead role in HACIA Democracy this year. Our director, who typically leads, has been charged with creating a school-wide accounting system which takes him away from many extra-curricular activities. I am excited to lead students in this way, too!

Students using technology to learn about history.

Using critical thinking skills to solve a mystery in history

Team-building in student leadership

Team-building in student leadership

Zika

Our family has been sacked by the Zika virus. As I write today, I am in sitting in bed with an itchy, speckled body, achy wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles, typing with fingers swollen like vienna sausages. Jeremy was the first to be attacked a few weeks ago. Spencer and I began showing symptoms late Wednesday night. Hannah is the only one in our household who has not seen the wrath of Zika. It is sweeping through all of Central America and taking no prisoners. 

"Oh no, now three of them have Zika!"

Speckled and itchy

You Are Appreciated

Thank you to all of our faithful supporters for your prayer and monetary gifts. God is doing great things in Nicaragua, despite the political upheaval surrounding Mr. Ortega and his wife. As Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world...But my kingdom is from another place," (John 18:36, NIV) we must remember that there will be no perfect kingdom on earth. Our goal is to tell as many people as we can about the kingdom that will triumph over all others, the Kingdom of God. "From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron...And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:15-16). Won't that be a glorious day?