Hello! Yes, we are still here and I apologize for how long it has been since I’ve written. I’m embarrassed by it, to be honest, but I’m also really thankful for all those who continue to pray for us and support us anyway. Your faithfulness is humbling. Even more so, God’s faithfulness is humbling. As you undoubtedly know, life ebbs and flows with joys and sorrows. Sometimes we thrive, sometimes we grind. Sometimes it seems like bad news keeps coming and we have to grind it out. Sometimes it feels like we can’t escape the grind…like this world we live in has been twisted to entrap us with distractions and grind us with their emptiness. That emptiness can easily seem like it’s all around us. I see it in the chaos of world politics. I see it in the unending arguments of us vs. them. I see it in blank faces as we stare at screens. I see it in our eyes as artificial light drives us to pursue artificial happiness. I’m reminded that we were made for so much more than this. It turns my eyes back to Him, the Light of the world, and the Image in which we were made. It’s amazing to me that while we (His Creation) are so remarkably unfaithful, rebellious, and even downright wicked, still His Love endures forever. There’s the true comfort. We can rest in His unfailing Love. I pray you are able to rest in His Love today.
Updates:
You may remember a student I mentioned who was struggling with depression and self-harm. I called him Jack. Thank you to all those who have prayed for him and his family. The brief update is that his mom continues to seek the LORD, hoping and longing to see God’s Word come to fruition in the life of her family. Jack remains engaged in his own pursuit of knowing God, and while they have their ups and downs, He upholds them through it all. I pray Jack submits his heart and mind to rest in the Love of His Father, accepting the free gift of life that is his through Jesus Christ, that he may know abundant life and peace in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
The Bain family remains healthy and growing. Jeruahel just started 5th grade and continues to love being at school and with her classmates. She remains an extreme extrovert, constantly drawn to people and being energized by those around her. Jadriel is two and a half and keeps us on our toes. Like her sister, she is not lacking in confidence and is very verbal…though often using her own language as opposed to Spanish or English. Unlike her sister, Jadriel enjoys playing on her own and is unconcerned if anyone beside mom, dad or sister is paying attention to her. It’s tiring at times, but we’re blessed to be in a fun season.
I am now 60% of the way through my masters program in School Leadership. I will finish my last class by this time next year. It has been great to take these classes while I am actually working as a principal, since the learning is immediately applicable. I’m a little nervous about my class starting in October, as they jammed 15 weeks of content into a 7 week course. Time will be at a premium, and I pray the LORD helps me efficiently fulfill my responsibilities.
The first year in my role as secondary principal finished in June. It certainly wasn’t easy, and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Perhaps the hardest part was the way the change affected my relationships with students. It was a windy road as we navigated the transition. They used to see me one way, and suddenly saw me differently. Similarly, I had to shift my thinking as I viewed students as well, acknowledging the different responsibilities that come with a different role. Overall, I would say that I enjoyed the first year. I’m also glad that it’s behind me and I can continue to improve and grow here in year two.
Jeremy, Vanessa and Ezequiel are making their way through the school year. The end of their 3rd quarter is at hand, and Jeremy is just over 2 months away from his high school graduation. It has not been an easy year, especially for Jeremy and Vanessa. Their mom has been working in Honduras, leaving them in the care of various family members. It has been tough for them, and the lack of stability continues to take its toll on the family. In the middle of the year, Jessenia and I were able to take some steps to encourage Jeremy and Vanessa in new ways. Jeremy especially seems to have improved physically, mentally and emotionally as a result. In the same breath, I ask for your prayers as both of them still need healing.
I expect to write another post here in October. I want to tell you more about what I’ve been learning as a principal and share some specific prayer requests for this year. For now, I ask that you take a moment to pray for Nicaragua. This week we celebrate the independence of Nicaragua, which was just over 200 years ago today. I’m thankful that it continues to be a country where we can openly worship God and declare the Name of Jesus. Please join in praying that the Holy Spirit would soften hearts and minds, bringing repentance to the people, that God be glorified in turning their hearts to Him. Ezekiel 37