By Yaritza Walker, New Hope School Principal
“Be strong and courageous, do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
We are almost to the end of year 2020! I know many of you are shouting “AMEN!” after reading that. We are as well. The entire world has faced an unimaginable challenge this year while dealing with the pandemic and of course all of the other things that life throws at you.
We start our school year here in February. We started hearing about the pandemic in March, and that it was mostly affecting other countries. My husband had to travel to the US right as the pandemic was starting to spread heavily in the US. I was scared for him to leave even though it was only for a day and he would be back. We prayed before he left and thank God he returned safe and healthy. The virus made its way to Nicaragua soon after he returned and as it started to spread here we had to make tough decisions about the school and how we would navigate trying to teach the children and also be a reflection of faith in Christ. I could share about many of the difficulties we faced, but I will instead focus on what we learned.
We learned that even though we were faced with challenges, we were strong enough to overcome. Our kids do not have access to internet like kids in the states, but it didn’t stop them from marching on and finding ways to accomplish their tasks. They learned where the signal was strongest on their phones to get Wi-Fi and do their homework. They learned that they had to step up and be more dependable than ever with their education.
The teachers and I learned how much we needed each other to be a complete team to guide these kids–not only with their education, but also with spiritual growth. We learned more about each other’s talents and how to utilize them to turn hard situations into opportunities to overcome, even when we felt dismayed. Although we were frightened at times, we learned to lean on God more and trust that he would bring us comfort and protection. We learned to be strong and set a good example for the students, because we know how much they look to us: not only for learning but for life lessons as well. We also had the opportunity to see how strong our students are, as we watched them adapt to a new way of learning and fight their way through obstacles.
Five years ago nine kids walked through our gates for the first time. These kids have had quite the journey. This final year of their high school journey has been an interesting one for them. Now they are getting ready to walk across the stage as New Hope School graduates. Their time with us is ending, but we know they are prepared to face whatever may lay in their futures. They know with Christ all things are possible, and even during difficult times, God is with them.
New Hope Class of 2020
Emidia Guillermina Hernández Selva
About Emidia:
I am 16 years old and I live in the La Pita community with my mom and twin sister. My mom cleans houses for a living, she is the one who provides food for us. My sister will be graduating with me. The three of us attend Yo Soy Jehova Church. Our Pastor is Denis. Once I leave this school I’m going to study nursing, because I love helping people. I enjoyed the years spent here with all of my friends and teachers: I will miss them all. I learned good values, but more importantly I learned about God through my teachers. I’ll miss the rice and chicken that Marlene cooked for us.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray God would provide a better financial situation for my family
2) Pray for God to heal my sister who has bone pain often.
3) Pray God will provide the money l need to go to the university.
Dinora Gabriela Hernández Selva
About Dinora:
I am 16 years old and my twin sister is Emidia. We both are going to graduate together, I’m so excited! I will miss this school, my teachers and my friends, and especially the food we used to eat here, like gallopinto and platanos. All this time at school has been a blessing because I learned good things about life and God. I will put them into practice. I would love to study professional English so I could become an interpreter. It would also be a good way to get to know other people from other countries.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would heal my grandpa; he is not well, he is hypertensive.
2) Pray for the economic situation at my home to get better.
3) Pray that God would give me wisdom to be able to study my career well.
Kenlly Carolina Salinas González
About Kenlly:
I am 17 years old and I live in the Roman Esteban community with my mom. I also have three brothers, but they are married and have their own families. One of them lives at El Crucero and the other two around here in Roman Esteban. We don’t go to church anywhere. My mom cleans a house to provide my food. I’ve learned good values here at New Hope. I also learned about the Lord and how wonderful He is. I will miss my teachers and friends, and especially the Chinese rice Marlene used to cook for us. I’m going to study nursing to help others.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray for a better economic situation for my family.
2) That God would improve my health.
3) That God would make me confident in Him, so I can keep on studying and help others.
Cristopher Antonio González Zuniga
About Cristopher:
I am 19 years old and I live in the Roman Esteban community with my mom, dad, and three sisters. My dad works at PALI Supermarket as a supervisor. We don’t go to church, but my mom goes to the Catholic church. I would love to study engineering and math in college. I really enjoy math. I have learned great values at this school. I will miss my teacher Marcos and all of my friends.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would give me wisdom to keep studying.
2) Pray that God would provide for my future.
3) Pray for a better economic situation for my home.
Gabriel de Jesús Espinoza González
About Gabriel:
I am 16 years old and I live in the Dolores community with my mom, dad, and sister. I also have three brothers, but they have their own families. We don’t go to church. My Dad works painting and welding cars. While at New Hope I have learned great values and how to respect others. I learned about the Word of God here, too. I loved the food we used to eat here. I will miss my teacher Marcos and my friends. In college I’m going to study zootechnics, because I love animals.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would guide my career path.
2) Pray that God would give me joy in Him.
3) Pray that God would give me financial wisdom in my career.
Fernando Gabriel Hernández Selva
About Fernando:
I live in the La Pita community. I’m an only child, I don’t have brothers or sisters. I’ve been learning good things here, like things about God and good values, too. I attend Yo Soy Jehova Church with my mom. I will miss this school, all of my friends and teachers. I’m looking forward to studying banking and finance in college, I think I’ll love it.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would give me guidance in my career.
2) Pray that God would keep my mom healthy.
3) Pray for a better economic situation at my house.
Obed Francisco Narvaez Mendieta
About Obed:
I am 16 years old and I live with my mom, dad, brother and sister. Dad works in agronomic engineering. We live in the Dolores community and attend Hija Del Principe (“Daughter of the Prince”) Church. At school I have learned how to work under pressure. I loved all the kinds of food we used to eat here. I will be studying professional English to get a job at a call center. Then I plan to travel to the United States, because I have relatives living there in Houston, Texas. I will miss my friends and Marcos, our math teacher.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would guide me in the next phase of life.
2) Pray that I would be able to help my parents financially once I start my career.
3) Pray that God would provide economic stability for me.
Mayco Josué Selva Palacio
About Maycol:
I am 16 years old and I live in the Roman Esteban community. My dad, Jordany, works as a guard for WEGO. I will study business administration in college. The food I loved most here was Chinese rice. Marlene is a great cook. I will miss everyone here but I’m so happy to go to college.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would guide my career.
2) Pray that God would give my family good health.
José Antonio Medrano Guevara
About José:
I am 16 years old and I live in the La Pita community. I have three brothers and two sisters, we live with our mom and dad in our own house. My dad works in agriculture. I don’t attend any church. I will be studying electronic engineering in college because I’ve loved electronic stuff since I was a little boy. At school I learned good values, and I also learned about God and how to be a good person. I will do my best to do good in life with God’s help. I will miss everyone here. I loved Chinese rice—just the way Marlene cooked it. It was yummy.
How You Can Pray:
1) Pray that God would provide in my career.
2) Pray that God would keep me healthy.
3) Pray that God would help me to be wise and study well in school.