After missing my flight out of Winnipeg, and having to spend a night in Chicago due to a cancelled flight to Houston, I arrived one day late in Nicaragua. To make a situation even more frustrating, I was without my luggage. Phil - the EduDeo team leader, Lesther - our driver, and Mike - my fellow Manitoban on the team, met me in the airport. Although I had never formally met any of these men, I felt an immediate relief when they hugged me. My first few days in this foreign country has really been an adventure. I am not sure of how to describe all of what I am experiencing, but I will say that I am witnessing the evidence of God at work. My first night, during devotions, I asked the question, "Why am I here?". The question was one that I needed to wrestle with, because God had called me here for a purpose, I just wasn't sure of what that purpose was. Six days later, I am still wresting with this question, but it is becoming more clear to me. In the meantime, I am meeting some people, visiting some Christian schools and enjoying God's creation. I have met a wonderful Nicaraguan, Lesther, who bridged the culture divide for me my first day here as he lead me through a crazy bustling market to find clothes that I needed. I have met a warm and mild mannered translator, Lennin, who likes to go to the movies on his free time and would like to one day visit Canada. Most rewarding so far though is that I have met some amazing Christian teachers and administrators who obviously love and take seriously the high calling of serving in Christian education. They share stories of students coming to know Jesus, of making do with limited resources, of the joy they receive when a student masters a skill, of the struggle to find space for learning, of the struggle to pay the teachers and sometimes keep students, of the beautiful legacy that is left after seeing students spend years with them and then graduate, and of the faith they put in God when there are needs. I am in awe of these teachers and administrators that I have met; interesting that some of them are from Nicaragua, and some of them are from Canada.
Submitted by Vanessa Luloff
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