Graduation

As we say goodbye to 2021, this seems like a fitting title. We celebrated both Jeruahel’s kindergarten graduation and Jeremy’s 6th grade graduation on Thanksgiving day. Jeruahel burst with excitement at seeing her friends and teachers for the first time in a few months (after getting covid, she finished the year online). She greeted every classmate and teacher by name, even repeating herself when no response was verbalized. She complemented the school principal on her necklace. She told everyone about her first lost tooth, flashing an exaggerated smile before remembering she had to pull her mask down first! Our little girl is full of Light, and of course we are so proud of her.

Jeremy also enjoyed his graduation ceremony. He was happy to have his mom and sisters there, as well as see his friends. I imagine he interacts differently with his friends when his family isn’t around. I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t try to run off with them, instead choosing to stay with his mom and sisters. The three siblings are very close, and it’s fun to see how much they love each other and being together. I felt bad for him as they didn’t have a normal graduation due to pandemic protocols. He was disappointed they didn’t take a 6th grade trip to the beach as previous classes have done, but he’s not really one to complain much.

Our other three sibling news is that the school, NCA Nejapa, has accepted Margine’s brothers for the 2022 academic year! Allow me to explain why this is such a big deal. Noel (17) is Margine’s older brother. He has been in public school his whole academic career, and the fact that he has continued to study is a near miracle in itself. He will start the equivalent of his sophomore year in high school (same as Bianca), but I would honestly guess that Jeremy is further ahead academically. NCA Nejapa rarely accepts new students in 10th or 11th grade in the first place, much less someone who doesn’t meet their minimum requirements for entry. His grade point average was far below their standard, and he was essentially unable to answer any questions on the entrance exam. We’ve begun tutoring already, and he will take summer school starting in January. The gaps are huge, and there’s only one reason the school (and us) is willing to give it a try. Noel is hungry to learn. He wants to learn. He is so excited about this opportunity to go to a good school and hopefully on to college. His mom is illiterate, so he has made it this far in school on his own. He really impressed the high school principal in his interview, and that is the sole reason they accepted him. That accompanied by our commitment to tutor him. We prepare him for the difficult year ahead, telling him he will feel completely lost and drowning at times as he tries to catch up. But if he can make it through this year, he will be in a much better position to graduate the following year and transition to college. He wants a different life than the one he’s known, and that is exactly the attitude we long for in each member of the family.

Ezekiel (10) will start 3rd grade in January. He has attended a few different schools, not finishing 1st grade due to the pandemic but being put in 2nd grade anyway this past year. When he tried to do the NCA Nejapa entrance exam, he couldn’t even write his name on the paper. They gave him the 1st grade entrance exam instead of the 3rd grade one, but he couldn’t answer those questions either. The school he left had him graduating 2nd grade anyway. That paints a picture of sadly typical standards at other schools. Because he’s 10 years old, NCA Nejapa decided they simply couldn’t put him in 1st or 2nd grade, and that we’d have to work hard to help him get caught up as a 3rd grader. This will also be a challenge for him to raise his academic level, but seems more achievable in my mind. We pray for both Ezekiel and Noel, that the Holy Spirit would open their eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts and minds to understand.

On a personal note, I’m really excited for the upcoming year. I anticipate that it will be full of challenges all around, and yet in the midst of it, I see the LORD moving and preparing us for more changes. I say this on a personal note, for us as a family, but also for the Family of God. While chaos seems to be spreading in the secular world, He is establishing His Kingdom order and restoring His Kingdom ways among His people and in His land. May we cast off all else to pursue God alone!