Impact

It's 9:41 A.M. With 4 ceiling fans whirring above, I begin teaching my third period Latin America studies class. It's winter here in Nicaragua, which means that it tends to rain more frequently, and sweat doesn't begin to trickle down your back until at least 10:00 A.M., instead of 8 or 8:30 A.M. This class section of nineteen middle school students hale from all over the world...literally. Some are from Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, some are missionary kids from coast to coast in the states, a few are from Canada, several are from Korea, one is from Zimbabwe, and believe it or not, one is from Kentucky. Diversity. It's one of the things that makes this school rich. 

NCA is rich in other areas, too. For example, this year I have prayerfully taken on two new responsibilities at the request of my principal and the school's director. I co-facilitate the school's student council, which thankfully is not a new endeavor for me. I am working with the students to effectively govern the student body at NCA. In doing so, I have introduced concepts that have not been adopted before such as job descriptions for the executive committee and a set of by-laws to ensure fair practices from the council, the student body, and administration. We have a meeting with administration next week to discuss the adoption of these by-laws.

The other new endeavor I have accepted is a facilitator for HACIA Democracy alongside the school's director. This is where the leadership goals of our school get real. HACIA is a student democracy similar to Model UN organized by Harvard University for Central American nations. Here, approximately 500 high school students from across Central America come together each year to discuss and collaborate with one another about a range of political and social topics. They present their researched ideas, precedents, and thoughts, and work together to provide solutions for the issues facing Central America. 

Team HACIA 2015

NCA has consistently sent a team of delegates to represent a biblical worldview for many years. And, we've made an impression. One of NCA's recent graduates now attends Harvard and is the Recruiting Director for HACIA. Currently, we are in the selection process for the 2016 candidates for the summit in Costa Rica next March. To learn more about HACIA, see this link: http://haciademocracy.org/english/

NCA Director and 2 students at HACIA Summit XXI

It's 10:31 A.M. The bell rings after only 50 minutes with my middle schoolers. But, I will see them later today for English. I see twelve of the girls each morning for ten minute devotions in homeroom. Next semester, I get to see them for an additional 50 minutes per day for Accelerated Reader. I see ten of girls monthly for a 3 hour Bible study. My daily impact varies from 2 to 4 hours with these kiddos. And now, I am blessed to lead the leaders of our school. I am humbled to lead the future leaders of nations. I pray that God will guide my heart and actions.

~Not many of you should be teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

                                                                    James 3:1