Home Run Champ

Denzel Quinn (10) with this weekend's hardware

We don't have a baseball team at the Nicaragua Christian Academy, but some of our students play on club teams, and this 5th grade third baseman/slugger brought home top honors in the Home Run department on his little league team!

Twenty-Twenty Won?

Crazy that I only made one post last year with all that happened especially beginning March 23rd when we went on-line with classes, transitioning to a dual platform (half on-campus/half online) in July.  This year, we are back on-campus for a full day of classes, with a slew of COVID protocols.  Pictured are our 7th-11th graders at Hour-of-Faith featuring the testimony of one of our seniors. (They call 11th graders "seniors" in Central America, because it's the last year of high school)

The 2020 School Year

The world seems to be a bit of a mess right now; I'll spare you mention of the evidence...

Just wanted to share this photo of the faculty and staff God has blessed me to work with at 

NCA Matagalpa  (click on this link to see our website)

I could not be prouder to serve as their director.  On average, they earn roughly $280/month and don't own a home or car of their own, but please don't feel sorry for them; they have taken up the crosses God has called on each of them to carry with joy in their hearts, and are making true disciples of Jesus Christ in this beautiful little nation.  If you'd like to partner with us in this venture, drop me a line, and I'll be happy to explore the possibilities with you!

The Team God Assembled for the 2020 School Year @NCAM (photo at the entrance to the main campus in Managua)

Quick Trip to Atlanta

Perhaps the toughest aspect for those of us called to serve internationally is the distance it puts between us and our kids and grandchildren.
Our fourth grandson was born November 4th, and Grace is "holding down the fort" at nca.edu.ni/matagalpa while I spend six days with Kara, Eddie and Win!

As a bonus, Tim & Anna flew up from Orlando for the weekend and we took time out of the fun to snap this picture on one of our walks around town.

The NCA Matagalpa Class of 2019

I fly back to Managua this afternoon to wrap up the 2019 school year... graduation is November 30th!!

Big News!

My Firstborn announces the birth of hers...
          last night (November 4th) around 11 p.m.!!
Edwin "Win" Kelly IV tipped the scales at:

7 lbs. 15 oz.

                ...and measures 21.75" as of right now.

Proud parents and cute son are doing well... and are most thankful for your prayers and well-wishes as the former join the wonderful world of parenting!

Proud grandfather "Pops" will fly up from Nicaragua to spend time with them next week!! ;-)

The Rest of the Story

It's been more than a year since the last time I made an entry in this blog... Grace does such a great job with our monthly newsletters.  There is more to one of the stories she shared this month, so I thought I'd share here.
Wilbert Martínez is one of our eight guards; Grace shared this photo of him standing in front of the home that he shares with his common law wife and two daughters.  He has been growing in his faith through our bi-weekly devotionals with the security team, in spite of the fact that he is just now learning to read and write (he says growing up in the country he never had the opportunity to have any formal schooling... even first grade).

A week ago last Sunday, he took his family to a church in his neighborhood, and when the pastor invited anyone who was ready to accept Jesus as Personal Savior and Lord, his seven-year-old daughter tugged on his arm and whispered that if she were old enough, she'd go forward.  The Holy Spirit used her to prick his heart and lead him to take that step of faith!

As I make this entry, Wilbert is traveling to his hometown to renew his citizenship papers, so that he can surprise the mother of his children by legally making her his wife, and pledging before God and his church family to love and cherish her for as long as they both shall live... and to be the father to their daughters that God intends.

May God continue to bless and guide this family!

First Fruits

Davnelid Flores 

I just have to share this story!

This darling fourth grader mentioned to me at lunch a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to start a special-order bakery, so I asked her if she could make 40 breakfast cupcakes for today's Teacher Workday.  She came back the next day to tell me she could make cinnamon and/or banana, and that they would be 10 Córdobas (32 cents) each, so I ordered 20 of each flavor, and came ready to pay C$400, plus a generous tip!

When she delivered my order early this morning, she informed me that I was her first real customer, therefore those cupcakes were her "primicias" (first fruits), and she would not be accepting payment.

This girl's been paying attention in Bible class!