Please call me Mr. V

Mr. V. That is how the students of the Science Olympiad class addressed me. For a week and a half following Semana Santa I switched my Nehemiah Center hat in for a Nicaraguan Christian Academy one where I taught a workshop on bridges and bridge construction. It was an “out of my comfort zone” experience, yet one that I have really enjoyed and am grateful to have done.

A little background 411 first...Nicaraguan Christian Academy is a Christian elementary and high school here in Managua. It is a fully accredited U.S. School and therefore all classes are in English – hence I was able to teach. Check out their website http://www.nca.edu.ni/ for some more information. Science Olympiad is a course offered to the high school students (it is very popular in the United States). It uses experiments and projects as a method to teach the students about science. You should google it sometime as there is quite the following and sites on this stuff!

Okay, so that gets you a little familiar with the background setting. The upfront (does that word work?) setting is that there are 13 students in the class, an official real life teacher watching – to make sure I don't screw up - and to boot the classroom feels like a sauna in this Nicaragua heat. The object of the workshop was to grasp the concept of bridge design and efficiency by building and testing a popsicle stick bridge. The class would be divided up into groups and then worked to design and produce the lightest popsicle stick bridge (Truss Style) able to carry a load of 15 kilograms.

First up, one must become one with bridges, to think like a bridge. This requires thorough studies in engineering in addition to a complete comprehension of Sir Newton's laws of physics. I feel I was able to easily condense all that into one 50 minute class, even with a river of sweat falling from my brow – you know all in a days work really. I was a teaching machine filling the students mind with so much information that they needed naps during the class just keep from overloading, or maybe it was the fact the class was right after lunch?! In all seriousness though I was actually able to stick to the handout and avoided rambling on and on aimlessly. The only major error I guess would be mixing up a permanent marker for a dry erase one....oops.

So nap time was over, oops I mean lecture time. The next 4 classes were centered around designing and constructing there popsicle stick structures. It was a true gift to be spend those workshops just walking around and talking with each group. Sitting down and going over different design options and determining the best way to build the Trusses. There were many different techniques tried and used that brought a good range of diversity and examples to teach about with the class. I thank them for the fun times I had and all they taught me during those workshops!

At last each group had created their popsicle stick bridge. It is judgement day and I was Captain Crunch (the nickname of an old professor who did this at my college – no joke) ready to bring havoc to the masses of wood and glue. A little harsh maybe? But none-the-less it was time to put these bad boys to the test and “load” them up until structural failure (basically when the bridge turned into toothpicks!) It was awesome to see how well all the bridges did, despite some skepticism from the myself and even the students. I will let the pics below tell the rest of this day.

Looking back on this almost a week later I am very thankful for this opportunity that N.C.A. (Rachel P., and Joel D.) gave me. It gave me 1 – a new found respect for those that teach, 2 – a chance to see another part of the culture here in Managua, and 3 – a realization that I actually might have some knowledge in this old brain that is worth sharing!

5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

In case you didn't know already - which would probably mean that you don't have a CRWM calendar - it is Kevin's birthday today.

Right now he is at a class at the Nicaragua Christian Academy teaching the Grade 9's how build bridges, and a finally a very appropriate time for me to write this blog about him. Otherwise we pretty much spend every moment together and that makes it difficult to do anything for surprise worthy days like today.

This isn't a bridge, but he knows how to check the measurements of wind turbines too.

So, for Kevin's birthday I wanted to post about 5 reasons why I love my husband:

1. He actually likes to cook.
2. He doesn't like to clean, but he certainly does that too!
3. He has a huge heart for every person he meets - greeting them with a handshake or kiss and converses with them and makes them feel comfortable.
4. He has no issues hanging out with Alma, Andrea and I (A-Team), so much so that we've changed our "name" it to K's A-Team.
5. He encourages me to be who I am and never, ever puts me down, but always tells me that He loves me for exactly who I am.
6. (Can't just stop at 5) Everyday he seeks God with his whole heart and leads in a way that is honouring to God.

Frequently giving business to the money changer, Kevin introduces the Faith team to him.

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Semana Santa

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is called “Semana Santa” in Central America. Semana Santa means Holy Week and the entire week is off in celebration of it.

Each year the CRCNA-Latin America holds a spiritual retreat for all the missionaries - career, volunteers, partners. This year it was held in Nicaragua, which was great for us being so close and not have to travel a long distance. As it so happens every other year the retreat is English and this was the year for Spanish. It was great practice for us to train our ears, but there was also translation supplied over head sets if we wanted to take advantage of it.

Everyone came pouring in starting on Friday night until Saturday night beginning the days away with relaxing on the beach and reconnecting with each other. We saw that this was a great time for the long term people to reconnect, giving encouragement and support. Oh the value of friendships and relationships with people who understand the experiences you are having. We so enjoyed getting to know so many people serving with CRWM and CRWRC, hearing their stories of faith, trials, and joys. What a life they are living!

On Sunday morning we gathered to worship together and praise God on Palm Sunday. For the first time ever I experienced what the waving of palm branches was really like! How beautiful that day two thousand years ago must have been! We broke bread together and shared drink in communion remembering what Christ did for us...an experience I will never forget. At the end of service we then witnessed the baptism of Elise Holtrop, another sign of God’s beautiful promises to us.

Monday and Tuesday we attended four sessions and were taken through the process of “The Dance of Racial Reconciliation”. This was a very valuable process to go through to understand the difference between the way the world views racism and how we as Christians are to play an active part in racial reconciliation. During these two days there was also plenty of time for beach volleyball, card games, corn hole, swimming and walks on the beach.

It was sad for us in saying goodbye to everyone knowing that there are good chances that we won’t see many of them again. But who knows what the future holds, as a year ago we wouldn’t have put ourselves here – God has many surprises for us!

Did You Just Take Another Shower?

Of late the days are daily becoming hotter and hotter. We are taking every opportunity to get into an air conditioned place. The mornings are typically of a decent temperature - we walk into the office, turn on the fans and start up our computers and feel the inevitable happenings of sweat developing. But, never-the-less we head over to the kitchen to pour ourselves a cup of coffee to start off the morning on the right foot.

Over the past two days we participated in an adult learning training that was hosted by the Nehemiah Center. We would meet together in one of the conference rooms which was a haven of air conditioning, but then go off into small groups to work on our projects out in the hot, muggy, thick, open air center court. The first time we went outside into our groups, the power abruptly shut down and we were left without even the use of fans. Oh, the feeling of slowly suffocating. Sweat, instantaneously soaked through our shirts...Kevin by far the worst of us all.

At this point the temperature is ranging between 35 - 37 degrees Celsius...and it's only getting hotter. Two showers a day is a regular occurance now. It's amazing how easily it is to find ways to compensate for the heat. Typically, by 1:30pm our brains shut down to reduce the heat of our bodies. So far it works pretty good to not have to worry about that, although at times there is a demand to find some air conditioning - immediately. Or, if there is a need to go and purchase big item, like new tires for your vehicle, let's say, we eagerly go along to have a "meeting" in the air conditioned waiting room of the tire place. I have had such an experience and I had never realized the value which tires hold until that day.

However, there are a couple negative aspects in seeking out air conditioning. One being that although it is nice and refreshing, once we have been there for about 10 minutes our bodies are used to the new refreshing air and have adjusted easily. And since the heat outside is so excruciating it takes a lot of money for businesses to compensate for it with a/c, so usually is set at a higher tempurature than what is comfortable on a normal day and we start sweating again. Another negative thing is that when we do walk outside it's like walking into a wall and our body explodes with heat. Now imagine getting into a vehicle with vinyl seats...

With all that effort to find air conditioning we still find the time to exercise in our house, but because we are so frugal we have still not yet put the a/c on while we work out even though we can blast it into a single room. People tell us though, that there will come a point where all you can do is sit in your house if you don't turn on the a/c. I really shouldn't take that as a challenge...but I do. Let's see how long we can go without turning on the a/c. Pobre Kevincito.