www.nca.edu.
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www.vanzoest.blogspot.com
On January 31, 2014 God began to move our family in a
direction that would forever change the course of our lives. This
was the day He revealed to us that His plan was for our family to
invite a little three year old boy named “Daniel” to be a part of our
family. We were aware that Daniel had a significant speech delay
along with other limitations, but God’s call was clear. We spent the
months of February through May gathering the paperwork needed
to adopt Daniel and traveling back and forth to the orphanage to
spend time bonding with him. On May 6, 2014 Daniel moved into
our home and God began teaching each member of our family to
view life here on earth through a brand-new lens and to understand
“love” like we have never understood it before. This “work” that
God is doing has involved a great deal of pain for each one of us,
including Daniel - grieving what once was; loss of individual and fami-
ly identity; confusion about how to live this new life; conflict in our
marriage, as a family, and with others; and trauma – Daniel needing
to work through his trauma with us which resulted in us experienc-
ing secondary trauma.
In August, 2014 we decided to have Daniel spend part of
his day at a Nicaraguan preschool. I (Lisa) had broken my ankle 8
days after Daniel joined our family in May. Then, as my ankle was
healing, I engaged in a three month battle with parasites; I was con-
stantly exhausted and felt very ill any time I would eat. The decision
to send Daniel to preschool was an attempt to create some balance
for our family as it gave me time to rest in the mornings.
In September, 2014 NCA’s preschool teacher, Andrew
Ippel, wrote an email to the NCA administration following the re-
lease of a student who struggled with Asperger Syndrome. It was
decided that this student could no longer attend NCA because the
school was not equipped to respond to his needs. Andrew has a
December 2015
degree in Special Education and his heart broke when he received
this news. In his email, he asked questions like: What does it
mean to be a Christian school as it relates to including kids with disa-
bilities? What does it mean to be a school that exists first and fore-
most to serve the children of missionary parents when these children
may have disabilities? As a school with the mission of shaping the fu-
ture leaders of Nicaragua, how are we shaping these leaders to care
for and think of those with disabilities in their future vocations in
schools, businesses, and government positions?
Then, on October 24, 2014 Daniel became our son.
This was a joyful day for us. And it was a day of pondering the
reality of our new lives. By this time, we were acquainted with
how daily and how all-encompassing this call was. Our days were
intense from waking in the morning until going to bed at night.
This was not a “ministry” that we could step away from at the
end of the day to go home to rest. Daniel was also starting to
struggle at preschool to respond well to teachers and to other
students. His struggle at school generated concern for us as we
wondered what Daniel’s educational future would look like. And
then God began to reveal His plan . . . In November, 2014
Andrew wrote a formal proposal for the NCA administration and
school board to consider. He outlined a potential new program
Financial Support
A significant portion of our annual support is received at the
end of the year. Please consider financially supporting our
ministry in Nicaragua. Gifts can be sent using the enclosed
envelope or by visiting:
www.crwm.org/vanzoest
Thank You!
www.vanzoest.blogspot.com December 2015

called SOAAR (Students Of All Abilities Recognized). He articulated
how this program could include children with disabilities in regular
classrooms at NCA with the assistance of an
aid and a team of others who would support
each student.
abundant enthusiasm about life, compassion for others, and an
insatiable desire to learn. We recently met with Daniel’s team of
NCA teachers and they shared with us that Daniel is making re-
markable progress. The SOAAR team has been a constant support
to Daniel; to me; and to our family. Andrew has also been very
open to my ideas, and I have felt the freedom to help shape parts
of this program for not only Daniel’s benefit, but for those who
come after him. Meeting with parents about questions they have
about Daniel and writing letters to all who are involved with Daniel
at school are opportunities I engage in to facilitate communication
and understanding. There have also been times when teachers
gather in our home to view webinars that focus on how to re-
spond to children who have trauma histories. These opportunities
engage my pioneering spirit and give me a chance to use my educa-
tion in the area of social work.
The SOAAR program gives reason to praise God
for how He worked through one little boy’s life (the stu-
dent who needed to be released from NCA in 2014 due to
his special needs) to make it possible for another little boy
with special needs and his family to thrive. Praise be to
this Healing God who cares for each of us so individually;
so intimately.

In January, 2015 it was evident that

Daniel could no longer attend the Nicaraguan
preschool because they were not equipped to
respond to Daniel’s needs. Daniel stayed home
with me full-time while I tried to stay on top of
home-schooling responsibilities with Rebekah
and Will (a call that God had again – for the
fourth year - confirmed at the end of the previ-
ous school year). I remember often crying out
to God - through tears and anger - letting Him
know that He had given me far more than I
could handle. Then, on Sunday, March 1st
Andrew sent a letter to his supporters back in
the U.S with the news that the SOAAR pro-
gram had officially been approved! In his letter,
Andrew states, . . . for the first time in the
school’s 25 year history, NCA will accept students
with significant disabilities next August. I am so
excited to see how God will move through this
program— . . . excited for our school to live out
more deeply its mission of Christian education in
Nicaragua.
We enter this Christmas season aware that we have a
On August 11, 2015 Daniel got dressed up in his NCA
Father who is an exceedingly abundant Giver. We recognize His
uniform and started his first day at NCA as part of the SOAAR pro-
giving Hand through you and we thank you for how you have al-
gram. He has a full-time assistant – CRWM volunteer, Olinda – who
lowed yourselves to be a vessel through which we have received
walks by Daniel’s side throughout his day, helping him to transition
God’s love; His encouragement; and His resources. We are so
from one activity to another and teaching him how to respond to his
thankful to be a part of a support team as we have the privilege of
teachers and his peers. Andrew is now the director of the SOAAR
celebrating with you about what God is doing at Nicaragua Chris-
program and works with Daniel daily on language and social skills;
tian Academy while also sharing details of our personal journey as
and he does it all with great love, intention, and creativity.
we follow this call. Our hope is that our Giving God would be
glorified in our sharing. And that the recalling of the gifts we have
I have sobbed through the writing of this letter. In part,
received this year would encourage you to reflect on what you
because recalling the details of last year is still very painful. I cry
also because I am now that much more aware of how my Father was have received from Him in the year 2015.
so very near to me during those times when I was so overwhelmed
and lonely. He was working ahead of us to prepare a place for Dan-
Merry Christmas!
iel to grow and develop into who He created him to be – a boy of The Van Zoest Family