Update #201907 – SO MUCH TO DO

We have now reached half-way through the school year and how exciting it is to continue loving our kids with the love of Christ and build into their futures through a solid education.  This school year has been such a blessing.  But, in our joy, we are reminded of the projects we need to complete before January so we can open our 3^rd grade classroom.  We have about $30,500 worth of projects to complete.  Please be praying for us as we work towards next year that God will open hearts and doors to make these much needed projects a reality.  There is so much still to do, but we know that through God, all things are possible.

PROJECT GOALS

To more focus your prayer, these are the God sized goals’ details we have for next year:

1. Finish our 3^rd Grade Classroom by December 2019 ($2,300)
   1. 3^rd Grade Classroom Floor – $1,500 – NOT MET
   2. Whiteboard/Furniture – $500 – NOT MET
   3. Classroom Television – $300 – NOT MET
2. Finish our Primary school bathrooms by January 2020 ($26,000)
   1. $1,750 by June 1^st – GOAL MET
   2. $6,000 by August 1^st – GOAL MET
   3. $5,000 by September 15^th – NOT MET
   4. $5,000 by October 1^st – NOT MET
   5. $10,000 by December 31^st – NOT MET
3. Finish our safety perimeter fencing and gate by February 2020 ($2,200)
   1. Front Gate – $700 – NOT MET
   2. Chain link fencing/installation – $1,500 – NOT MET

These projects are critical for us to complete in order to add our 3^rd grade classroom next year.

MEDICAL EVALUATIONS

In partnership with the Nicaragua Ministry of Health, nurses visited PCA to perform medical evaluations of our students including height, weight, vision, nutritional health and immunizations.  This is an answer to prayer as we seek to ensure our students are doing well in their health as well as their education.

PCA ARBOR DAY (kind of)

To help reforest Nicaragua, we partnered with a group of youth backed by our local government office to plant trees in the green areas in and around PCA.  The group of youth helped our 2^nd grade students plant 50 trees as part of a classroom activity.  In addition to planting the youth spoke to our students about the importance of trees and the value they bring to the environment.

SPONSORSHIP HIGHLIGHT

Meet two of our children needing sponsors this year.  Sponsorship not only provides a valuable education for these children, but a meal every school day, uniforms, books and supplies.  Please share these wonderful children and the opportunity to partner with PCA.  You can see their full information page with this update.

MEET NOAN (PreK-3)

Noan is 3 years old and lives in the city of Palacaguina with his Mom and Dad.  He is a cheerful little boy and likes to color and sing. He wants to be a doctor when he grows up to operate on his stuffed animals and people.

MEET ROXANA (PreK-3)

Roxana is 4 years old and lives in the Las Llantas community of Palacaguina with her Mom.  She is a funny girl who likes to sing, dance and spend time with her best friend.  Roxana would like to be a doctor one day to take care of her mommy.

ANF PARTNERSHIP

We were blessed again with many wonderful donations from the American Nicaragua Foundation (ANF).  Praise God for this valuable partnership that provides us with Food, Furniture, Classroom Supplies and many other items each quarter.  This quarter we received packaged food, teacher desks, a palet of school supplies, bathroom tissue and a Teddy Bear.  Cannot wait to see what we do with the Teddy Bear. (The stuffed one that is. 🙂 )

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019 (we have 17)
2. Pray for our new English volunteer’s health (she arrives in August)
3. God’s provision for our construction projects this year ($30k)

THANK YOU!!!

It is always an honor each month to share with you the activities and ministry of PCA.  Your prayers and your support make it possible for us to love and minister to the children and families of Palacaguina.  We could not do this without each of you continuing to partner with us each month.  Thank you for sharing your passion to make a difference with others and grow our family of partners who are allowing us to grow and open our doors to new students each year.  Bless you and your heart to Change a Generation!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

BONUS:  Children of PCA; Noan Information Sheet; Roxana Information Sheet

Update #201906 – VERY STRONG YEAR

This year is proving to be one of our strongest years yet.  As we continue to grow we learn more and each day brings new opportunities to improve our processes and procedures.  With so much pressure to expand our programs and so much need surrounding us, we are pacing ourselves and staying focused on our core mission to provide a quality education and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As the Lord provides, we will gladly expand, but for now, we are concentrating on solidifying what is in place and preparing for one year of growth at a time.

GOALS

We are so thankful for what God has provided, but we never want to become complacent or satisfied.  With so much opportunity, we want to always strive to do more for the Kingdom and grow the impact of PCA in Palacaguina.  As we pray and trust God to continually provide, we look forward to what is next.  We wanted to share with you our main goals this year so you can be praying and believing with us:

1. Finish our 3^rd Grade Classroom by December 2019
2. Finish perimeter fence for the Primary school by January 2020
3. Finish our Primary school bathrooms by January 2020

These projects are critical for us to complete in order to add our 3^rd grade classroom next year.

Please pray that God will open hearts and doors to provide the means to complete these projects.
 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

Our current projects are the primary school bathroom and a safety wall and stairs for the school.   The new septic tank for the bathrooms is well underway and the stairs are looking good.  We should begin construction on the back safety wall in June.

FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH

A big thank you to Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas for hosting us on Sunday, May 12^th.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and share the amazing work God is doing in Palacaguina.  We are grateful for your continued support and partnership and we look forward to serving together another year.

PCA TODAY

This month we wanted to fill our update with pictures of what PCA looks like today.  We are grateful for all of you who partner with us in prayer and support to make this ministry a reality.  God is using each and every one of you to make an impact in the lives of these wonderful children and give them a brighter future.  Here we have English tutoring with Abner, the playground, chapel and traditional dance day at the school.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION VISIT

On May 28^th, PCA was visited by the Ministry of Education (MINED) Managua.  This is an annual visit to verify we are complying with the requirements established by Nicaraguan law for operating a school.  We are happy to report, we received a positive review and they even took pictures of PCA to use as examples for other schools to follow.  Praise the Lord for a good review and being allowed to continue our efforts.

TRIP TO PALACAGUINA

The next trip to Palacaguina is tentatively planned for the week of July 21^st.  If you or your tribe would like to accompany me, see PCA up close, meet the children, and make a personal impact on the school, contact me by June 7^th at bwitonski@gmail.com.  Total cost of the trip would be around $1,800 per person for a group of 10 or individually would be $1,100 + airfare.

SPONSORSHIP/SUPPORT UPDATE

19 students still need a sponsor this year.  Please continue to join with us in prayer for new partners who would be willing to sponsor one or more of these wonderful children.  And share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina.  They can partner with you in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month.  If you have a church or group who would like a presentation on PCA and its impact, please contact me via e-mail.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for our staff, students and families in Palacaguina
3. God’s provision for our construction projects this year

PRAISE – Thank you to those who prayed and are praying for Nathan Johnston.  Last month I mentioned how he suffered a head injury.  We are grateful to report he is doing much better.  His surgeries went well and he is on the road to recovery.  He is returning to the US for a time to see a neuro ophthalmologist and for physical therapy.

THANK YOU!!!

God is so good!!  And we are incredibly grateful for all of you who pray for and partner with us each month.  You are the literal hands and feet of God doing the work of the kingdom.  Your efforts and sacrifices make such a difference in the lives of our children and we are so thankful for you.  We pray for you and your families that you are well and that each day you are aware of and know the impact you are making.

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

As we continue in our school year, we are blessed to have so many wonderful partners and a strong local team making a difference in the lives of our children and families each day.  Together we are all part of one mission to Change a Generation.  Thank you to all of you who partner with us in prayer and child sponsorship to make Palacaguina Christian Academy a reality every month.

PARTNER APPRECIATION EVENT

Our recent event in Central Arkansas was an absolute success.  Thank you to the 50+ partners who were able to make it out in the stormy weather to hear all that you accomplished in 2018.  We hope you felt the impact you are making and our extreme appreciation for your partnership.  For those who were not able to make it, we hope to see you at our next event.  And a big thank you to our sponsoring church, Fellowship North, for hosting the event and to the youth group who came out to help make the night a success.

The 2018 Partner Appreciation Plaque which was at the event will be brought to Palacaguina later this year and permanently affixed to the school.  Just a small way we want to honor each of you and your impact.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

During the Holy Week Break, we took the opportunity to continue building into our teachers and staff at PCA by providing a team building trip to Jinotega.  Together, with some family, our team spent the day in Jinotega exploring the sites and serving along-side a young couple evangelizing and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a small community.  One of our primary focuses this year is teamwork and building into our local team.  The feedback from our staff was extremely positive and we hope to find more ways to grow and build our team.

HELPING OTHERS

We want our staff to not only work together but to serve together.  While on the trip to Jinotega our staff took the opportunity to help a local community, Sisle, by distributing coats, shoes, backpacks, notebooks and pencils to children and residents of the community.  They also brought a piñata for the children.  The children were extremely happy to receive the gifts and they always love a good piñata.

REACHING OUT

Each year, the local Ministry of Education (MINED) distributes backpacks and school supplies to small communities around Palacaguina.  However, they do not have transportation available to reach the poorer communities further away.  This year, PCA partnered with the MINED providing fuel and a vehicle to bring these supplies to seven communities.  Yet another way we are partnering locally to help.

TRIP TO PALACAGUINA

The next trip to Palacaguina is planned for the month of July.  If you or your tribe would like to accompany me, see PCA up close, meet the children, and make a personal impact on the school, contact me by May 31^st at bwitonski@gmail.com.  Total cost of the trip would be around $1,800 per person.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

We have completed the land work paving the way for all our future development of the PCA campus.  Our next big project for PCA will be additional bathrooms allowing us to meet the needs of our growing primary school.  This is a critical project to complete this year and we will begin with a new septic tank next month.

To the delight of anyone who has braved the climb from our home to the school, we are well underway on our project to build a safe pathway to the school for future teams serving at PCA.  We hope to complete this project by the end of this Summer.

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE

22 students still need a sponsor this year.  Please continue to join with us in prayer for new partners who would be willing to sponsor one or more of these wonderful children.  And share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina.  They can partner with you in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month.  If you have a church or group who would like a presentation on PCA and its impact, please contact me via e-mail.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for our staff, students and families in Palacaguina.
3. Nathan Johnston – Fellow missionary in Nicaragua who recently suffered a head injury.

Pray for his complete healing and restoration to the ministry he so greatly loves.

THANK YOU!!!

We are incredibly grateful to all of you who have answered God’s call to help Palacaguina Christian Academy be the only option for children to receive an education and an introduction to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Your impact cannot be overstated.  We thank God for the sacrifices and prayers you make each month.  We absolutely could not minister to and impact so many without your help.  Thank you!!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

This month has been a wonderful picture of what God is doing in Palacaguina as we keep moving forward.  We are seeing great returns on the investment each of you are making in the kingdom through Palacaguina Christian Academy.  And we get to continually see the positive impact it is making on children and their families.  What a blessing it is to be a part of such an impactful ministry.  It is amazing to see what God can do when we are all obedient and dedicate back to God some of what He has given us for the work of His kingdom.  We pray this month that you will continue moving forward in the goals and directions God has for you and your family as you seek to serve in the Great Commission through living out your faith each and every day.

PARTNER APPRECIATION CHILI DINNER

April 6^th is less than a week away.  We hope you will join us THIS Saturday as we celebrate you!!

Fellowship North Church

1 E. 52nd Place, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Saturday, April 6th, 2019

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Family and Friends are Welcome

There will be a plaque honoring all who donated in 2018 with your name on it.  Come take a picture and later this year the plaque will travel to Palacaguina to be permanently affixed to the school.

SCHOLARSHIPS @ PCA

Last year we worked hard to help those struggling financially to attend PCA by providing ½ tuition scholarship to 41 students in addition to the already low cost of attending the school.  We have expanded this program to now include 64 students at PCA.  In order to receive tuition assistance, parents are required to fill out an application expressing their need and why they want their children to attend PCA.  I have read each application and I can assure you this is a real need, especially during the economic hard times experienced by all during this season of Nicaragua.  Many single families struggling, yet wanting more for their children.  We are so blessed to be working in Palacaguina.  Thank you for helping make this possible.
 

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

Each year as we grow, we are improving and preparing for our future of ministry in Palacaguina.  This month we have begun our front sidewalk project that will initially protect our water meters but eventually will allow children to come to school without walking through the, at times muddy, road.

OUR FUTURE

For the future, one major project we just began is the leveling of the rest of PCA property allowing us to construct the rest of our perimeter fencing and paving the way for our future gymnasium and possible High School building.

TEAMS’ FUTURE

In addition, personally, we began a 3 month project to build a safe path, with stairs, from the house to the school.  As we plan to convert our home to allow future missions teams of up to 18 to stay this is a much needed project for the safety of our team.  For any of you who have braved the current path down to the school, you can testify to the importance of this initiative.

CHAPEL UPDATE

One of our goals, as we provide the best education possible for our students, is to consistently share with students, parents and the community the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.  One of the ways we accomplish this is through weekly Chapel services.  Each month 3 are in Spanish and 1 is in English.  Please continue to pray that our children will receive Jesus in their hearts and grow in their relationship with Him.

CONTINUED LOCAL PARTNERSHIP

This month we were able to assist our local government in Palacaguina by donating paint so they can repaint their local government offices.  We have a wonderful relationship with our local government and ministry of education.  They are very supportive of PCA and we love to partner with them any way we can to serve the children and families of Palacaguina together.

NEW ENGLISH TEACHER???

This month we were visited by a friend of our 2018 English teacher Natasha.  This wonderful young women is contemplating a move to Palacaguina to teach English at PCA.  This would be an answer to prayer.  Please pray the Lord will open the doors and provide direction as she seeks God’s plan for her life.  Even if it is not at PCA, we pray God will give a clear vision of where He is calling her to be.  If at PCA…she would be welcome.

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE

We have 21 students who need a sponsor this year.  Please continue to join with us in prayer for new partners who would be willing to sponsor one or more of these wonderful children.  And share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina.  They can partner with you in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for our staff, students and families in Palacaguina.
3. Pray for our April fund raising efforts. This next month will determine a lot.

THANK YOU!!!

We are super excited about seeing many of you in less than a week and cannot wait to hug your necks and thank you in person for all you do to make PCA and this ministry possible.  And if we miss you this time around, we hope to hear from you and see you soon.  Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of children that is so powerful and life-changing.  Thank you so much for partnering along-side of us!!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

It is hard for me to believe we are beginning our 3^rd year of Changing a Generation.  It was only 3 years ago we were hoping and praying for 20 children.  And this year we are opening the doors of PCA to 113 children.  And with the addition of our 2^nd grade classroom, we now have 5 grades.  What an amazing opportunity we have to transform the lives of children in Nicaragua.  Equally, what an amazing responsibility we have to compassionately serve our families and our community with the love of Christ.  Each one of you who have been praying and supporting this ministry should feel a sense of pride as we continue making a difference in Palacaguina.  On behalf of every child whose life you are changing, thank you!

PARTNER APPRECIATION EVENT – CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Only one month from now, we will be sharing an evening with many of you in Central Arkansas.  We are looking forward to seeing you and spending quality time sharing with you the amazing impact you have all made over this last year.  We hope you will be able to join us on April 6^th and maybe even bring a friend.  If you are not in the Central Arkansas area, please know how much we appreciate you also.  We are hoping to host an event in the Titusville, FL area later this year, God willing.  And we are not forgetting all of our friends in Texas and other places.  We will be thinking of ways we can spend time with you as well.  No matter where you are, we pray you know how precious you are in our hearts and how much we appreciate the sacrifices you make every month to touch the lives of the wonderful children we have come to love so much in Palacaguina.

Fellowship North Church

1 E. 52nd Place, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Saturday, April 6th, 2019

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Please R.S.V.P. to bwitonski@gmail.com

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE

We have 22 students who need a sponsor this year.  This is actually 4 fewer than the number of students we needed to sponsor this time last year.  We know God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.  So join with us in prayer for new partners who would be willing to sponsor one of these wonderful children.  Please share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina and invite them to partner with you in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month and Change a Generation.

BACK TO SCHOOL

As we begin a new year of educating and ministering to the children and families of Palacaguina, we are excited to welcome back 89 returning students and 24 new students to PCA.

2019 PCA STAFF

We are proud to introduce you to our teaching and support staff of PCA this year.

Reynaldo, Yessenia, Nohemi, Nubia, Jolieth, Melanea, Aura, Amalia, Ismael, Karina, Jorge, Jaime y Abner

Not pictured: Leonardo y Pablo (Security Guards)

CAFETERIA UPDATE

We the completion of our cafeteria roof and flooring, we were able to build several more tables for our children to eat.  We are very happy to have durable tables for all the children now.  And enough to seat an entire class.  A team visited this month and one of their projects was to but a base coat of paint on the cafeteria walls.  Thank you to this team and all they were able to do at the school.

HELPING OTHERS

We were blessed with several opportunities to help others outside of PCA this month.  By God’s grace we were able to donate a drum set to a local church and in our recent ANF donation, we received a few school uniforms from a school in Managua.  Our team identified a very poor community, El Tamarindo, north of Palacaguina.  This small mountain community does not have a formal school.  There is a volunteer teacher who gives the children classes in a local home.  The conditions for these children are extremely humble and we hope to find more ways in the future to help with education and food in El Tamarindo as the Lord allows.  These are a few of the many ways we are able to make an impact in the community beyond PCA.

PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION

The safety wall is complete!!  Our preschool children are now safe from the several landslides we have had from the hill.  This protects the children and will help prevent more erosion of the hillside.  Our teachers even came up on a Saturday to start making it look colorful. 🙂

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for a strong year at PCA and our staff working as a team
3. Pray for our upcoming Partner Appreciation Event and those who will attend

THANK YOU!!!

To God be all the Glory!!!  We are so grateful for each of you the Lord has brought into our lives to make the ministry of PCA possible.  I never want to miss an opportunity to tell you how truly thankful we are for all you do.  When I see the impact being made, it is overwhelming.  Thank you!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

WOW!!  What an amazing trip to Nicaragua.  I just spent a week in Palacaguina and there are not words capable of expressing how great of a trip it was.  This year is going to be our best year yet and the future of PCA is very bright.  I believe we have a strong, unified team at the school that is ready to make a difference in the lives of our children and community.  When we were forced to leave our beloved Nicaragua and the school, I will be honest, we had no idea what God was doing.  There were far more questions than answers.  But now, we can see the beginning of, yet again, God doing something amazing.  God has raised up incredible leaders who, I believe, will charge forward with the mission and vision of Changing a Generation.  Thank you God for your grace, mercy and strength.  Even when we do not see, You have promised and You are faithful.  God is so good and we are Highly Encouraged!!  We pray you too are encouraged with us.

PARTNER APPRECIATION EVENT – CENTRAL ARKANSAS

IT IS OFFICIAL!!!  Saturday, April 6^th, you are invited to join us in Central Arkansas for our Partner Appreciation Event.  We want to share all you have done in 2018.  We look forward to feeding you a chili dinner while sharing all of 2018’s accomplishments and the plans for 2019.  We ask you to bring a friend who would be interested in joining you in partnering with a ministry that is making a major impact in the lives of children and families in Palacaguina.  If you can RSVP, great, if not, you are welcome to just show up.  But please, allow us to honor you for an evening.  And, we have a great surprise planned for all of our 2018 partners you will not want to miss.  We greatly look forward to seeing you in April.  Details are:

Fellowship North Church

1 E. 52nd Place, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Saturday, April 6th, 2019

5:00pm – 7:00pm

TEACHER TRAINING 2019

Upon arriving at the school a few weeks ago, I joined the end of our annual teacher training.  I was especially encouraged to see all of the teachers and school staff working as a team to prepare the classrooms and ready the school.  Our training period this year began with a painting project where the teachers repainted all classrooms and the preschool, followed by seven days of in-class training provided by our team of educational consultants in the US.  To quote Reynaldo, our new General Director,

“In summary these two weeks have been very beneficial for PCA, for teachers.  They have exceeded my own expectations.”

A big thank you to the team of educational consultants who prepared our videos and training agenda.  I can verify it was a colossal success and truly helped us start the school year strong!

NICARAGUA UPDATE

One of my desires for traveling to Nicaragua was to understand the situation and evaluate if teams should feel comfortable coming back to Palacaguina to work with the school.  My conclusion is I feel it is safe for adult teams to begin traveling back to Palacaguina in 2019.  For youth teams, I would encourage waiting a little longer and possibly making plans for trips in 2020.  Why adults and not youth?  Though I think youth would also be fine, it would be prudent, due to the additional requirements on international youth travel, we give a little more time to feel even more comfortable with the stabilization of everything.  Just for good measure.

PCA/516NOW FAMILY BARBECUE

For the second year, we provided a ministry year kickoff with a family barbecue for all PCA workers and their families along with all employees of our partner organization 516Now.  It was a precious time for me as I was able to serve our ministry family and hear from each person as they introduced their family and spoke of their gratefulness for the school and the opportunity to work here and serve our children and the community.  This theme resonated with every single worker and it is because of you we all have such an opportunity to Change a Generation through giving children an education with moral values.

2019 PCA OPEN HOUSE

I do not have words colorful or exciting enough to express how wonderful this year’s open house event was.  In the words of a friend, “This was the most organized and well run event, I have ever seen in Nicaragua.”  Praise the Lord!!!  We had, easily, more than 100 parents and students attend.  Part one of open house was an assembly where I spoke to all parents about our future and the future of PCA.  Additionally, our new Director, Hermana Aura, presented our student handbook, and our General Director, Reynaldo, presented projects and efforts we are doing in 2019 to assist our parents and students more.  Following the assembly, all parents, with their children, went to their classrooms where they met with their child’s teacher, completed admission contracts and were able to ask questions.  It was a truly amazing event that was everything I could hope for to begin the 2019 school year.  I saw the teamwork and organization that will be the foundation of our staff’s ability to make a positive impact on our children and families at PCA.

2019 PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANCE

This year, we are focused on helping our students and their families more.  Due to the situation in Nicaragua, our parents are facing even more financial hardship.  Though our tuition is already extremely low, many of our families are struggling to afford it.  Therefore, we have expanded our 50% reduced tuition assistance to cover up to 80% of our students.  In addition, we are covering the cost of books for students and some supplies as we are able.  We are also looking to finish this year our kitchen so we can bring the food preparation activities into the school to further help reduce the burden on parents.  All of this will cost, but we believe it is important to help our parents as much as we are able, while still giving them the chance to invest in, and be a part of, their child’s education.  It cannot be free, but we are working to make it as affordable as possible.

PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION

I spent a good amount of time working on the plans for construction and growth this year.  We have several projects critical to complete this year and I believe, with God’s help and your generosity, we will.

• Several gutter and water erosion projects to protect existing structures (est $1,000)
• Complete the primary school perimeter fence and gates (est $8,000-$10,000)
• Dirt work to level the last section of our primary school campus (est $2,000-$3,000)
• Roof Completion of our primary school building (est $1,800)

I was excited to see the work and completion of several projects this last month:

• Repainting of the preschool building
• Completion of our Cafeteria Roof
• Good progress on our safety wall to protect the preschool
• Completed renovation of our main school office

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE

We are excited about 3 new partners last month who have sponsored 5 children needing sponsors.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We are working now on identifying a final count of new children who will need sponsors this year.  We will have at least 15.  Without these sponsorships, we will face a deficit in our annual budget and may need to cut some programs.  So, please share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina and invite them to partner with us in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month to Change a Generation.  Together, we can give these children an amazing future void of poverty.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for a strong year at PCA and our staff working as a team
3. Pray for our upcoming Partner Appreciation Event and those who will attend

THANK YOU!!!

Every accomplishment, every life impacted, every child and family ministered to would not be possible without the prayers and support each of you give every month.  We are so grateful for you and for your heart and passion to see the work for God’s kingdom advance.  We are blessed to have you as our partners.  We hope and pray each of you can see and feel the amazing impact you are making every month.  Thank you!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

In Psalm 63, from within the wilderness, David cries out,

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.”

Can you feel David’s desperation for more of God?  The deep, insatiable longing of his soul.  Do we have such a desire for God beloved?  Oh that we would long for God more than we would water in the desert!!

As we end an amazing 2018 and look toward 2019, we want more!   More of God.  More of His glory in our lives.  More of His working in Palacaguina to change and impact the lives of children and families.  More partners who will join alongside us in what God is so clearly doing.  More of seeing God move in ways that only HE can!  More obedience to walk where the Lord leads and more faith to trust in Him through what may seem like the impossible.  We want more!!  And our prayer is that none of us will be satisfied with where we are spiritually or what we have experienced in Christ.  But rather, that our whole beings would long for more of God in our lives, in our families and in our ministries this year!  More of God’s kingdom and power!! Amen!

2018 KINDER GRADUATION

On December 5^th we celebrated our preschool kindergarten graduation.  These children are our second preschool class we have graduated to primary school.  And most of these 25 children have been at PCA for 2 full years.  We are looking forward to seeing all God has in store for their bright future!!

LOVE AND OUTREACH

We had the opportunity to help give 100 toys this Christmas to children of limited means.  Showing the love of God, provoking a smile and a reason for hope.  What a blessing to have been part of such an outreach.

BRINGING CHRISTMAS JOY

Each year the ministry of education delivers toys to public school students for Christmas.  However, they only have one day to accomplish this and not enough resources.  So, for the second year, we partnered with the MINED using our vehicles and resources to helping them deliver toys into very remote areas of Palacaguina.  What a blessing to bring joy to these children who live in very humble places.  You can see their smiles of joy.

TRANSITION PROJECTS

As we are in between school years, this is an opportunity to work on several projects to help with next year.  We are currently in the process of renovating our school offices to be actual offices, building a safety wall behind the school to protect against landslides and expanding our cafeteria space.  Depending on funds, we are hoping to improve our kitchen as well.  Moving the food operation to the school is a major need.

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE

Due to changes in sponsorship we have 12 current students in need of being sponsored for 2019.  It would be really good to obtain sponsorships of these 12 students before February, so we can direct our focus on new students needing sponsors.  Please share with others about the good work being done in Palacaguina and invite them to partner with us in sponsoring a child for only $40 a month to Change a Generation.

END OF YEAR TAX STATEMENTS

We will be working on 2018 year-end tax statements the beginning of January and sending out via e-mail.  If you need your giving statement before January 31^st, please reach out to me so I can deliver it to you earlier.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray every child will be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for the completion and funding of our Dec/Jan Projects
3. Pray for our season of training/preparing our next school year

THANK YOU!!!

What a blessing to share with you about all God is doing and is about to do at PCA in Palacaguina.  We are grateful for each of you who are praying for and investing in the ministry of PCA.  Know that you are absolutely making a real difference in the lives of children and families through your partnership.  God is good!!  We look forward to serving with you and sharing with you all through 2019!!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

It has been an adventure these last few months, but no matter what we face, we know God is so good and He is absolutely in control.  There are great endings to share this month in PCA finishing its second school year and new beginnings as we are learning a new way of ministry and how God is allowing us to continue serving him in Palacaguina even though we are not physically there.  We are grateful for all God is doing.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

How incredible to share that we have successfully completed our 2^nd year of educating and touching the lives of children and their families in Palacaguina!!  Our last day of classroom instruction was on November 29^th and next week we have our Kindergarten graduation.  What a blessing!!  We have been able to make an incredible impact this year because of you who are supporting and praying for PCA.  Give God the glory for the powerful difference you are making by God’s grace through your hands.  We are eagerly looking forward to 2019.

END-OF-THE-YEAR GIVING

As we begin the month of December, many look for ways to give back as they reflect on how blessed they are and all God has done in our families through 2018.

As we approach 2019, we have two areas that could greatly use your end-of-the-year giving to help us start the next year fiscally strong.

• We have several building projects we need to complete in Dec/Jan before the kids return including painting, a much needed safety wall to protect the preschool from rock slides, finishing the roof of our cafeteria and seating as well as a renovation of our main office.
• We are also looking at a deficit for the 2019 school budget and could use year-end-giving to help with yearly budget items for next year to ease the strain on the budget. Uniforms, Food Partnership, Books, and our 2^nd grade teacher are all areas that could use a boost in funding to help.

Any amount of one-time, year-end giving would help PCA tremendously.  Thank you in advance!!

For you AMAZON shoppers, remember to use Amazon Smile and make Arete Schools United your charity.

MAKING A LOCAL DIFFERENCE

This month we were able to donate tables, pencils, pens, markers and notebooks to local teachers who must walk long distances to teach children in remote areas with no public transportation.  We are working more and more to not only help educate children at PCA, but to also assist local public education as well.

MINED VISIT TO PCA

We have begun a partnership with the Ministry of Education(MINED) to help tutor or teachers to be better educators.  The director of education held a meeting at PCA to encourage and develop our teachers.  This is one of the ways we are working to build professionally into our teachers for our students.

GIVING WARMTH

Most would not think about being cold in a country like Nicaragua, however, in the mountains of Nicaragua during the months of November through February, it can get as cold as 58 degrees Fahrenheit.  That may not seem cold to some, but when you live in open homes with little protection from the elements, this can be quite cold.  All this to say, we were blessed with the opportunity to give away jackets to children and adults making their lives a little warmer through the love of Jesus.

TOUCHING LIVES

What a blessing to have so many opportunities to meet real needs in peoples’ lives.  We learned of a 13 year old girl in our community who recently had treatment for a dislocated knee and needed a wheelchair for the next 4-5 months of recovery.  PCA was able to provide a wheelchair so she can recover properly from her surgery.  Her Mother is a local teacher and was very happy to receive this support from PCA.

A KING AND HIS KINGDOM

As you may know, a big part of PCA is sharing the gospel with all of our children during weekly chapel services.  This month a group of young people from the local Assembly of God church came to share about King Jesus, the most important king of all kings.  And more importantly how much better it is to belong to Jesus’ kingdom.  It was a great experience for those youth getting to share the gospel and equally great for our students.  Yet another way PCA is partnering to develop our children and others in the community of Palacaguina.

SPONSORSHIP

We are excited to be putting the final touches on our end-of-year sponsor communication to all of you who are blessing our children directly through sponsorship.  We will be mailing these updates out in early December.  I cannot wait for you to see how much your sponsored child has grown this year.

If you are not yet sponsoring a child, please consider making a life-changing impact on a specific child through sponsorship.  We have 7 children who need a sponsor right now and we will have a new class starting next year who will also need new sponsors to invest in their future and make a difference in their lives.

WITONSKI FAMILY UPDATE

We have officially landed in Austin, Texas.  The last 5 months have been challenging to say the least as we fully explored the refugee lifestyle being separated for over 3 months and living from house to house out of only suitcases.  However, as we have confirmed we will not be able to return to Palacaguina immediately, we felt it was best to land in Austin for the near future.  Michael started his new school and we have felt very welcomed into our new community.  Of course, the last time we came to Austin we received His call to Nicaragua and PCA.  So, we are looking forward to see what God has planned for us now.  Prior to moving, it was an absolute blessing to spend Thanksgiving with our family in Central AR.  We have truly missed this the last several years.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray for every child to be sponsored for 2019
2. Pray for the completion and funding of our Dec/Jan Projects
3. Pray for our season of hiring/training/preparing of our next school year

 PRAISES

1. The wonderful support of our family and friends
2. God’s continual provision for our family and the school
3. Having a home to be in and a great community in Austin, TX
4. Angels who filled a 16ft truck with beds and donated items to help us in our move

THANK YOU!!!

We cannot express enough our gratefulness for all of you who support and pray for our family and the ministry of PCA.  The difference you are making for the Kingdom and in the lives of the children and families of Palacaguina is real and cannot be expressed enough.  We were able to touch the lives of 98 children at PCA in 2018.  And the school is going strong with even more hope for the next year.  Please continue to pray for us and this ministry and please continue to share with others who would like to be a part of Changing a Generation in Palacaguina, Nicaragua!!

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

If there is one word I could use to describe this part of the journey, it would be transitions.  October has absolutely been a full month of transitions.  But, no matter how chaotic it may feel or how little we know of God’s plan, we absolutely know that God still has a plan and He is going to do amazing things through His plan.  Our job is to continue trusting in His plan and work as hard as we can to accomplish the tasks He is giving us each day.  And know how amazing it will be to look back and see all God did.  His plan, His glory!!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CUSMAJI

This month we handed out food packages(rice and beans) to families in the community of Cusmaji.  Accompanied with a Bible, 50 poor families received life giving food packages and heard a message of the gospel.  Making a difference in the lives of people with the grace and love of Jesus through meeting real need is the greatest reward of this ministry and what we get to be a part of in Nicaragua.  You make this possible.

PCA UPDATE

The school continues to do well.  We are quickly approaching the end of our second school year and it is very exciting.  Plans for the Kindergarten graduation are underway and we are planning for next year’s enrollment process.  The tiling of our 2^nd grade classroom is complete and our ANF donated desks are in place.  The community of Palacaguina is very happy with PCA and greatly looking forward to all God is going to continue to do in the lives of our students and in the community.

THE GIFT OF SLEEP

Imagine sleeping without a pillow.  For many in our community, they will no longer need to.  In our most recent ANF donation, we received cases of pillows that we were able to give to local people in need of something to rest their weary heads.

WITONSKI FAMILY UPDATE

We were blessed by a local Little Rock family with a home to be in for October.  It is a beautiful home and a huge blessing.  We have settled in and it has almost felt somewhat stable for the last several weeks.  We are still seeking to understand what the future holds for our family and preparing for our next move in November.  So far everything is temporary as we strive to continue our focus on the school while learning a new way of living as missionaries.  The great news is we are together as a family and that is what is most important.  We trust God will reveal more of His plan as we faithfully serve and honor His call in our lives.

SPONSORSHIP

Due to changes in sponsorship, we now have 7 current students who need sponsorship.  If you know someone who would like to help us Change a Generation and impact the life of a child and their community, please share this need.  Sponsorship is only $40 per month and includes exposure to the gospel, a daily meal, uniform, creation of local jobs and many various community projects we get to support.  If you are currently sponsoring we hope you will plan on continuing for the next school year.

FUN TIMES AT PCA

Our students celebrated different cultures on Dia de la Raza (Day of the Race).  It was fun day where both parents and teachers participated with the students.  It is good to see days like this in times like these.

EXPANDING OUR IMPACT

We had two visits in October that show ways we are expanding our impact in our region of Nicaragua.  First, we had a group of university students in their 3^rd year of English training come to observe our English classes.  We are the only private school in our state of Madrid teaching English.  Second, we had a group of High School students come to present on domestic animal abuse.  This is a part of their education and was a wonderful topic to share with our students on the importance of not mistreating animals.  This message is greatly needed.

SPONSOR UPDATES & PARTNER APPRECIATION EVENT

Look forward to our upcoming Sponsor Update.  We are actively working on a new update from your child that should be in your inbox by the end of November.  Also, you will be receiving a Save the Date for our next Partner Appreciation Event.  Our next event is planned for Spring of 2019 in Central Arkansas.  More information to come.

ANSWERED PRAYER

Days after our last update was sent, God answered our prayers around my contracting position.  It was extended until December.  Praise the Lord!!  This will help us to survive a little longer and continue several projects at the school through December.

PRAISES

• Being together as a family!!! Still so grateful for this!
• God provided a wonderful home for us to stay and it was extended until mid-November.
• The school doing so well and our 2^nd grade desks being approved by the Ministry of Education.
• Answered prayer for my job.

PRAYERS

• Pray for specific direction as to where we will live towards the end of November.
• Pray for my job situation that God will continue opening doors for us while in the US.
• Pray for clarity and direction on how we can continue serving Christ in all we are doing.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED

• If you would like to help fund our ANF partnership allowing us to feed children every day, provide clothing and supplies for communities and help us obtain the desks, furniture and school supplies we need to operate we would love your help. We have a $1000 payment for this yearly partnership coming in December.  Let us know if you would like to give towards this need.
• Purchasing property in front of the school for future growth is becoming a bigger priority. This land, at $10,000 will allow us to grow to be a self-sustaining school.
• Our cafeteria area is almost completed. $2500 will finish the roof over our new addition and $1200 will finish our seating.  An additional $5000 will complete the actual kitchen.

THANK YOU

We truly appreciate each and every one of you who partner with us in prayer and support each month.  You are making such a powerful impact for the kingdom.  Thank you for continuing to partner with us in this ministry.  Even in the midst of the struggles and uncertainty, God is still moving and touching lives with His grace and goodness.  And we know this is only because of your prayers.  We look forward to seeing all God will continue to do in Palacaguina.

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/

Together again at last!!  After our family being separated for over 3 months, we are finally back together again.  This has been an extremely difficult time for us, but I am happy to say we made it through.  And we hope and pray we do not have to do that again.  It is a beautiful thing to be together!  We pray each of you will be reminded how good it is to be together and will take a little extra time this month to hug longer and enjoy each moment God gives you to share with your family.

NICARAGUA AND PCA UPDATE

Two of our 1^st grade students were able to participate and place in a local reading competition.   We are so proud of Hannah and Edwin for their great work!!!

And praise the Lord for the school continuing to operate well in the midst of all that is happening and us not being able to be there.  The state of Nicaragua continues to be a delicate situation.  Though I do not want to overshare in our update about specifics, I do want to encourage each of you to continue praying for our beloved country and for the people we so dearly love and long to return to.

INDEPENDENCE DAY MARCH

A big highlight this month was the participation of our students in the annual Independence day march in Palacaguina.  I cannot express enough what a big deal this is for our families and students to be able to represent their school in this celebration.  We had special uniforms made for our band, introduced academic honors this year and had a wonderful turnout of students to represent PCA.  It was truly a great day!!

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

The steps and ramp projects have been completed!  Very happy to continue seeing progress on the school.  This is encouraging and helps to see the school is still moving forward.  And a big thank you to those who have given to help keep the school construction moving forward.  With this, we are ready to finish our Second Grade classroom.

FAMILY UPDATE

All things considered, the family is doing well.  Michael is enjoying 1^st grade.  Andee, Jonah and Lilly are doing great at home schooling.  Deborah and I are good, just trying to figure out the next steps.  We are focusing heavily on trying to listen to what God is telling us and what we are supposed to do for the next phase.  We appreciate your prayers as we need to make some big decisions by the end of October.  PCA is still the primary focus of our hearts, but we will need to focus and lead stateside for at least the next year.

ANSWERED PRAYER

Last month we had an immediate need for a car.  We had been borrowing a car since July, but needed a car that could fit the whole family and that we could use long-term.  Specifically we were praying for a Honda Pilot.  God answered with a beautiful 2011 Honda Pilot that is going to be perfect for our family.  Thank you Lord!!!  And thank you to all of you who were joining us in prayer for this need.

PRAISES

• Being together as a family!!!
• God provided a wonderful home for us to stay in for October.
• The school continuing to function normally.
• Answered prayer for a car.

PRAYERS

• Pray for specific direction as to where we will live starting in November.
• Pray for my job situation. My current position ends October 24^th.
• Pray for continued help with the medical condition in our family.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED

• If you would like to help fund our ANF partnership allowing us to feed children every day, provide clothing and supplies for communities and help us obtain the desks, furniture and school supplies we need to operate we would love your help. We have a $1000 payment for this yearly partnership coming in December.  Let us know if you would like to give towards this need.
• Purchasing property in front of the school for future growth is becoming a bigger priority. This land, at $10,000 will allow us to grow to be a self-sustaining school.
• Our cafeteria area is almost completed. $2500 will finish the roof over our new addition and $1200 will finish our seating.  An additional $5000 will complete the actual kitchen.
• We are working to complete our primary school classrooms 2^nd through 4^th It costs approximately $2,300 per classroom for flooring and furnishings to have it ready for students.
• Our next major project is to build our 5^th and 6^th grade classrooms addition. This will add, two classrooms, bathrooms and much needed storage.  The project is estimated at $11,000 to complete the foundation and 1^st floor and an additional $12,000 to finish the second floor.
• To complete the Preschool we will need to finish the front wall and gates. This project would be one of our last big projects for the structure of the school and is estimated at $9,580.

THANK YOU

Thank you for continuing to love and support our family and this amazing ministry God has given us.  Together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of the children and families of Palacaguina.  We have 98 beautiful children and their families we get to love and care for.  The sacrifices you make every month to support PCA through your prayers, sponsorship and giving are changing a generation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and education.  I know God is glorified and pleased with your participation in His mission.

Dios te bendiga de la familia Witonski!!!  (God Bless you from the Witonski family)

Want more frequent updates, pictures and videos?  Check out the schools Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCristianaPalacaguina/