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?

The Centennial State!

In less than a week, the Kanes will be in Colorado! As many of you know, we did not intend to visit the United States until our three year initial missionary commitment had ended. It simply was not in our budget. However, we have some dear friends that bought the whole family airline tickets to visit them! Jeremy and the kids will be in the Delta area for three weeks, while I will only be in town for ten days. We have also asked to share with our sponsoring church what God is doing and has done in Nicaragua during the past two years. If you would like to hear from us, we will be presenting at Surface Creek Community Church in Austin, CO on Sunday June 26 at 10:00 A.M. If you are in the Colorado area, we would love to see you there! If not, we will be posting in our blog again in a few months about our new endeavors for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support!

From....Lava river of Masaya Volcano

To...Near Ouray, Colorado

March...In Like a Lion and out Like a Lion

HACIA Democracy XXII

The Kanes have had a crazy busy month of March! Many of you already know that I took on the role of HACIA Democracy Advisor this school year. As a reminder, HACIA Democracy is a simulation of Organization of American States put on by Harvard students each year. Students from schools all across Latin America prepare for months to meet and debate real world topics with the goal of reaching a resolution.

Coaching my girls in between committee sessions.

I have been working with a select group of students since September to prepare them for the summit in Costa Rica March 9th. They debated topics such as "The War on Drugs" "Uber's Effect on the Economy of Argentina" and "Bitcoin and Currency Controls." Spencer also attended and discussed "The Rights of Indigenous People in Latin America" and "Education Reform in Latin America".

Delegates and Advisors from NCAI

In order to prepare, students had to research their topic, formulate a position, and compose a full position paper to submit to their committees prior to arrival. At the end of the summit, the best delegates are given awards. Several students from our school won awards at this year's summit. It was an amazing experience to train up tomorrow's leaders!

Spencer debating his point.

Spencer with our school's director.

Jeremy leading devotions on the first day of the conference.

Making an Impact

I have heard it said that teaching is a thankless job and educators rarely see the fruits of their labor until many years later, or not at all. However, I am already seeing amazing things in some of my 8th grade students. I love the fact that I am able to spend 2 class periods per day with them, and this is my second year teaching this same group of kiddos. And maybe this is why I am seeing changes in them so soon. When I arrived last year, there were no identifiable writing units built into the plans. The school had identified grammar and literature units with built in writing components, but no dedicated time to teach the writing process. I wrestled with the idea of implementing writing units in 7th and 8th grade units because it is incredibly time consuming to grade and coach due to the individual and often subjective nature of the beast. I also considered the fact that the majority of my students speak English as their second language. Still, after gaining approval from my principal, I decided to give it a whirl. I spent countless hours restructuring  the units to add in 4 distinctive wiritng units per year per grade level in addition to the learning objectives that were mandatory for me to teach. I knew my task would be challenging since many of my students could barely formulate a 4-5 sentence paragraph with no real topic or closing sentence. Wow. What had I gotten myself into?

Fast forward to the 3rd quarter of my second year of this implementation. My 8th grade students have now completed 7 of the 8 newly implemented writing units. They just finished their very first 5 paragraph (40-50 sentences) persuasive essay complete with a parallel thesis statement and supporting details. That is what growth looks like. Here's the best part of all. On Thursday, one of my Nicaraguan students came to me before class and asked if she could speack with me. She proceeded to tell me that she has decided to write a novel--a spy novel to be exact. She said that she wanted me to know that because I had taught her that she has the ability to write, she was taking on this challenge. Teachers: don't ever doubt your effectiveness. You may not see the fruits of your labor immediately, but don't give up and continue to do the hard stuff. It is what we are called to do. 

1 Corinthians 15:58~ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Jeremy's Jobs

Jeremy has been working diligently on several carpentry projects for the school and church. Recently, he constructed a mobile locking bookshelf and remodled the green room for the theater department at school. The elementary teachers have been nudging administration to approve a makeover of their teacher's lounge, too. Also, Jeremy continues to teach culinary arts at the school. To most, this doesn't seem like a big deal. But, keep in mind many of the students at NCA have never lifted a spatula. Most families have empleadas to cook for the family, so the kids never have a chance to learn. In this, Jeremy has an extra special challenge!

The portable and lockable folding bookshelf.

Spencer & Hannah

Spencer has been leading his 4th grade boys' small group, playing on the worship band, and is an assistant leading youth group. He stays busy with basketball and school. Hannah is working with the elementary students teaching them how to play volleyball and teaching preschool classes at church on Sundays.

Spencer leading a group at the elementary retreat.

Hannah teaching Sunday School.

Hannah playing with the preschool
kiddos before class.

Blessings

I saved the best for last! Recently, I decided to pursue my master's degree in teaching to earn state licensure once our mission is complete in Nicaragua. In that, I was required to take a one week intensive course "on site". The school has been working to develop satellite campuses, and lucky for me, there was one in Orlando over NCA's spring break. Thanks to school loans and other financial blessings, I was able to fly to Orlando and finish an entire college course in one week. OUCH.

While I was there, I met my twin. She took notes like me, she was organized like me, she even color coordintaed her pens and notebooks like me. Scary. On the last day of class, Jeremy called me and asked if there was any way I could get several sandpaper belts for his belt sander (Nicaragua does not have them). He had broken the last peice while he was working on the book shelf. I had no car and no way of getting to a home improvement store. My twin-friend Jennifer offered to take me--30 minutes out of the way--to get the sandpaper. Not only that, she insisted on paying!

We don't look like twins, but we certainly act like them!

The blessings don't stop there. This summer, we had planned to stay home with the exception of me traveling to Virginia for 2 more intensives and 5 exams for my certification. However, some very good friends of ours blessed our whole family with airline tickets to fly to Colorado for a few weeks! They are covering food and lodging too! We are so incredibly excited to visit our friends!