My Heart is Burdened
Dear COAH,
This week, during my four-day visit to Nicaragua, I was deeply moved by the dedication of our missionaries. These are individuals who could have been enjoying their retirement years in the comfort of Canada, yet they chose to toil from dawn to dusk for the Ebenezer Christian Academy of Nicaragua (ECAN). Their commitment and hard work were both inspiring and humbling. I left with a renewed sense of appreciation for their selfless service.
Eight years ago, the land was nothing more than a coffee plantation. But after being led by the Spirit in prayer, missionary couple Doosung and Miyeon Lee (now in their 70s) built a school on that land. First, they cut down trees, then they cleared the land, then they built classroom buildings, one by one. Before you knew it, they had a beautiful campus full of classrooms with a soccer field in the center, kindergarten through elementary school classrooms on one side of the field, and secondary school classrooms on the other side of the field. These educational facilities and the pretty landscape make it one of the most beautiful schools in Nicaragua. The potential impact of this school on the local community is enormous. It's not just a place of learning, but a beacon of hope and a catalyst for the future of Nicaragua.
The completed campus will start accepting middle and high school students next year. In line with the Nicaraguan education system, which goes up to the 11th grade, the school plans to fill grades 7, 8, and 9 next year, with students moving up from grade 6 and those from outside. There will be no need to recruit the following year, as students will go up by one grade, so in two years, the school will have all 11 grades filled. Missionary Young Chul Lee (also a tentmaker) is busy teaching English and computers while assuming an administration role. I am grateful that he has settled in well. These three missionaries, along with 12 local full-time teachers, four part-time instructors, eight ground staff, and two administrative staff, are responsible for 168 students (36 kindergarten + 132 elementary school students), and next year, the number will be well over 200 as there will be new 7th, 8th, and 9th grade classes.
ECAN needs much more support to continue to operate. I would like to see people from our church come with a mid-to-long-term commitment to help in this ministry. There are three missionary houses available for stay. The school just built two additional retreat buildings funded by our church, which will be great for housing larger short-term teams and holding seminars for local pastors. If you are reading this and God is laying a holy burden on your heart for Nicaragua, here are some specific ways you can help: 1) Teach English for a week, for a month, or for a semester. 2) Make Nicaragua home for a half a year and serve at the school. 3) Be an advocate for the school, recruiting the right people for the school. Our missionaries' dedication and hard work have been immeasurable, but at this point, it will be challenging to continue to move forward without more support. We need to pray together, "Send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38). I trust that the Lord who has brought the school this far will continue to send faithful laborers.
Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song
