Changes

We are approaching our six month "anniversary" of being in Nicaragua full time.  With that six month date comes a mandatory departure from the country for a period of a couple of days.  When we enter the country, we are given a 3 month visa.  At the end of the 3 months we are allowed to renew it for another 3 months and then we must go.   We arrived in Nicaragua with a round trip air ticket, but are strongly considering forfeiting the ticket and travel across the border to Costa Rica to satisfy the non-resident requirements.  This option would be far less expensive.

Which brings me to the topic of this blog:  CHANGES.   Through the last six months we have had a handful of people be very generous in their donations to our ministry.  However, these donations still did not adequately meet the financial obligations of operating in Nicaragua.  We have not taken any salary and our interpreter has only received a limited amount of money for the work that she has done for us and the ministry.   This lack has forced us to make some necessary changes which are vital to the continuation of the work that God has called us to in Nicaragua.  These changes do not affect the day to day operations within the ministry as much as it will mean drastic changes in our living conditions and comfort.

As of Monday, we will truly be living like Nicaraguans by operating the carpentry school out of our home. We canceled our lease on the building that was being used as a classroom and shop.  We moved all the equipment and wood into the front portion of our home.  Most Nicaraguans, whether professionals or shop keepers, use the front portion of their residence for work and live in the remaining rooms.

We rent a large home and had hoped to use it to house short term mission teams.  However, at this time, our home will be turned into a school and carpentry shop.   The front portion of our home had a living room, dining room and double car garage (yes, they park cars in the house next to their rocking chair).   We can still have a display area for the products that the students will be making and hope to sell.  We have an iron gate on the front of the house, thus we can leave the front doors open without fear of theft, and passer-bys can see inside at the work in the classroom and the products. We are still on a heavily traveled street with vehicles and foot traffic.  Word travels very fast in this community, so we will be easy to find despite the move out of the school.

We are also combining the morning and afternoon class sessions into one afternoon session daily.  This will reduce the cost of the salary for our interpreter.  Not only is she needed as an interpreter, but she has the potential to be an excellent instructor.  Scarleth enjoys the time with the boys, she has a heart to see them get ahead in their lives.  Scarleth has been faithful in giving of her time, but it is now time to begin to pay her on a regular basis at full wage.

The hardest part of having the school and shop in our home will be adjusting to the changes within the home and the "mess" that is sure to result with sawdust blowing everywhere.  We will also be entering the dry, dusty (dirty) season for the next 6-7 months and not only will there be sawdust everywhere, but the black volcanic dust combined with it.  For as long as is necessary, we have made a decision to lay-off our housekeeper, Teresa.  She has been with us for just shy of 3 years and it was with tears that we both said "goodbye".   This was an extremely hard decision because it deprives her of an income.  Her husband has been out of work for over 2 years and they have one teenage son.   We hope that this will  be a short and temporary change for us and Teresa.   The time needed to do all the work in the house will take precious time away from Sandra's responsibilities to the ministry, not to mention the toll on her physically.

We have had several people ask about what our house looks like and we had been planning to post a story and pictures to describe it. Now, the story and pictures will take on a totally new dimension.  Hopefully, within a couple of days, we will get this updated and posted.

With the challenges and changes that we have experienced in the last 6 months, it has stretched us in all ways.  We are more excited about what God has called us to and we would not want to be any where else.  It is a privilege to be used by Him to make a difference in the lives of teenage boys and equip them with the skills to one day become self-sustaining and to know the love and faithfulness of their Heavenly Father.

As we conclude this post, the thought comes to mind:  are we making "Changes" or are we just learning to live a life that is "Flexible"?

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