Volume 5, January Edition, 2021

A Year of Challenge, a Year of Hope!

We look forward to the future to continue our ministry

Last year presented many challenges for all of us globally, and our school was no exception. Our staff, students, and parents had to adapt to a new reality and still keep the school year in session. The creative efforts of our staff to find ways to cover the curriculum with limited technology access has been outstanding. We also want to highlight the students' parents in this as well, for their understanding has been unwavering. Of course, we have to acknowledge our students as well; their work ethic has shone through as they meet their deadlines and study hard through it all. Everybody has been committed to comply with the sanitary measures to prevent being spread. We thank God that nobody who has attended our facilities has been infected by Covid-19, and that the school year closed successfully and safely. 


We trust in God that this year will be better for everyone. Our school has great plans for 2021. Enrollment for the three programs, Kindergarten, Elemenary, and High school has started: Make up tests will be administered the last week of January. We invite anyone that can come visit our school to learn more about our different exciting activities that will be carried out. 


In January,  Nicaraguans celebrate two special dates: National Day of Education on the 11th and the anniversary of Ruben Dario's birth, our great poet, on the 18th. Ruben Dario was an excellent example of  a self- educated, well-read entrepreneur. He read every book that fell into his hands, learned how to speak and write in another language such as French, and represented Nicaragua as a diplomat in Spain and Argentina. He is an example of how education is key for personal development and how to give back to your country, and we hope to draw for his example.


In this issue, we share two testimonies: Pastor Rex Thompson,  a long-time friend,  and of Alicia Ampie, a graduate of Colegio Bautista de la Concepcion. Our first day of classes will be Monday, February 1. We place our future plans in God's hands,, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perpetuator of our faith”. May God bless you!.

We Need to Continue the Work Commended to Us

We should always remember why we serve

Without a doubt 2020 was a year that humanity will always reflect on with terrible tragedies in all corners of the planet with a virus disrupting human life. We have suffered and felt pain, and we have also learned a great deal. Many of us have faced suffering by the loss of family or friends. We do, however, trust in hope, hope that God will continue to be with us through all.


Humanity has always suffered, whether it is lack of proper education, love, empathy, housing, food, health care and/or any social injustice. Our mandate as Christians is to serve those in need. This is what leaders in Nicaragua have worked on and promoted for many years, giving new and upcoming  leaders the tools and resources to continue this work.


We should, despite all adversities, continue to support these ministries that have been supporting those in need. Our commitment will remain many years to come for that mission. We pray and hope that you will continue to walk along with us as you have done in the past. We are excited of what the Lord will bring us ahead!


Send us your words of encouragement and prayers to sendnotes@profe-aguirre.org

To support our school, we have three easy ways you can donate.


Send via Bank of America; Please click contact us directly for instructions



Send via Zelle by typing the alias; donate@profe-aguirre.org


Send via Gofundme; https://www.gofundme.com/f/profe-aguirre-school-project?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

ALICIA AMPIÉ, GRADUATE
Nurse, Bachelor in Science

I started my studies from Kindergarten and graduated in 2010 at the Baptist School in La Concepción. All the academic knowledge, the formation in values and Christian principles contributed greatly in my studies at the Polytechnical University of Nicaragua, where I could graduate as a Registered Nurse. 

All the values and knowledge instilled by the School are also fundamental in my career since I work as a nurse at the Baptist Hospital in Managua. My job requires humanism when serving others. 

I thank all my teachers, especially Prof. Gilberto Aguirre for his great work and service to the School. I pray that the School continues serving the community.

RUBÉN DARÍO, THE PRINCE OF SPANISH LETTERS

Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, known as Rubén Darío, is perhaps the only Nicaraguan acclaimed world-wide as poet, but others such as Azarías Pallais, Salomón de la Selva and Alfonso Cortés come close. All of these men were born in Leon where Dario grew up. 

Darío learned to read when he was 3 and started to write poetry not long after. He left for El Salvador when he was 15,  and moved to Chile where at 21, he published Azul, a collection of poems and prose that defined the Modernist movement and launched him to literary stardom. The book, that also included work from other poets, such as José Martí, overthrew the heavy literary rules of the time and gave the Spanish language a new breath.. 
As Francisco Arellano Oviedo, director of the Nicaraguan Academy of the Language once said: “After many centuries, Dario sent back Columbus caravels and freed from Spain the Hispanic American literature. .
Darío only returned to Nicaragua on five occasions. He spent most of his time traveling as a journalist, special envoy and diplomat. He edited some of the most famous literary magazines of his time when he was in Europe and wrote for newspapers in Spain and South America, and for The New York Times. In total, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean twelve times and explored some thirty countries in three continents. 
Maybe his most famous trip was the one he made on November 23, 1907 when being famous, he returned to Nicaragua in a steam ship that docked in Corinto, a port in the Pacific where a multitude met him. Thousands more waited along the rails to see him in the train that took him to Leon. Dario’s return is an important event for Nicaraguans even today, although perhaps it was full of melancholy. “If the homeland is small, one dreams it big” would write Ruben in a poem about this trip, Retorno, (Return) and that line hangs today in Managua’s main plaza. 

At 10:18 p. m. of February 6, 1916, Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, known by the world as Rubén Darío, died in Leon. Gravely ill, he had come to his country for the fifth and last time. (Tim Neville, The New York Times, 30 Nov 2017)


“GOD WILL MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY”

I have been asked to write an article about my relationship with the school, why I have comitted to it for so long, and what I wish for the future - all in 500 words. I apologize up front if I seem to ramble; it is because there’s so much to share. I have often said that my heart is full of blessed memories from my travels in Nicaragua. I love the country. That much is easy to summarize. However, I have found it far easier to love the people. So, here goes:

In May 1999, I saw The Baptist School of La Concha for the first time. It was a rainy Saturday morning and not the least impressive, especially since we were traveling on the back of a canopy covered, flatbed truck. Our team from The West Virginia Baptist Convention found ourselves speechless when we saw the roadway to the school. The last quarter of a mile had ruts, running with rain water (thank God that that problem has been eliminated).  

Once inside the school-ground compound, Paul Folks, our Team Leader and I saw at the top of the stairs two ladies; Lesbia, the Director of the School and Mercedes, the Assistant Director waiting with world-class smiles to greet us. They both were very kind and gracious. However, it was not an eventful day. On that day it was ‘just another site-seeing stop over’. So I thought.

That day in May of 1999 was etched in my soul forever. Little did I know that it would become the beginning of an abiding friendship that would span more than twenty years. God, The Holy Spirit has taught me how to more faithfully trust in His guidance and providence. The years of visits have been a treasure that I will carry into eternity. My daughter and son-in-law and my three grandsons have made numerous trips with me to the school. They have fallen in love with cross-culture missions. They deeply love the school and have made close friends, especially my grandson with some of the students. The Baptist School has been a training ground for future service to our Lord and His Kingdom.  

We have dealt with the strong hand of God many times, especially in the loss of members of our team; Lesbia, Gilberto, Carmen, and Paul Folks. Paul’s last word to me just days before he passed away was; “Don’t forget our little school.” During the trials we learned the truth of the theme song of CEPAD, “God Will Make a Way”. It was so sweet that the school teachers learned the song in English and sang it for me.  

As I consider my own commitment to The Baptist School, one of the great joys is that it has never been a burden. Whatever sacrifice I may have made; physical, financial, emotional or environmental have been outweighed by the joy of leading a young person who is preparing to graduate and start the next page of their lives, to a loving relationship with Christ Jesus or preparing them with discipleship instructions. This is when the price of suffering is a God-honoring weight of glory. I have found myself humbled by the fact that teachers at the school have worked, many times for months, without having enough funds to pay them fully. They are my heros. They are lights to me when there seems to be little hope.  

So, why am I still committed? and what do I wish for the school? I can answer that question with what the Bible teaches me. God is Sovereign over ALL things, even The Baptist School of La Concha. He ordains and places each one of us where He is pleased. I now know that God, our Lord Jesus, has many people in La Concha who belong to Him and have belonged to Him since before time. (Read Ephesians, Ch. 1 & 2 and then John 17 on your knees and He will show you what He has shown me). My commitment is unto The Lord. I will also say that I don’t trust wishes. I had a very wise person say to me a long time ago that the difference between ‘wishes’ and ‘dreams’ is as far apart as is heaven and earth. Wishes have to be granted. But, Dreams have to be pursued.  

I will close my remarks with this. The Baptist School of La Concha is a God-given blessing that the municipality can be proud of. That school continues to excel and provides an education second-to-none in Nicaragua. Many professional adults in Nicaragua have their roots in the Baptist School. My challenge, as always, is for you to join us and let’s “Keep The Dream” moving forward for the well-being of young people in La Concha and to the Glory of God. Remember: He Will (always) Make A way! To God be the Glory.

Pastor Rex Thompson

Get Involved!

Together we can make the difference

What you do matters

Your support to this school makes a direct impact to the bottom line of the school purpose and financials. Many of these students families are making the greatest effort to keep their kids in school through the challenges of COVID-19. The pandemic has hit hard in this community of La Concepción in Masaya and the contributions received are providing an opportunity for each student to be in class in a safe environment despite adversities.

Make a Contribution

Water Conservation & Campus Cleaning

The school has an additional hour during their day for students to appreciate nature sourrounding their campus. Not only students are taught about enviromental issues and actions but also are embassadors of environmental awareness to their community and families. These practices have become one of the school well-known staple.

Support these efforts

Dance Group Classes

Amongst the different activities this school is involved, one of the well recognized school activity are the Dance Group Classes and Group performances. Our school enjoys great community and parents participations in every dance performance the students showcase every opportunity they get. The school shows healthy activities to the community while students develop their cultural education.

Support the Dance Group

“Estudia para que cuando grande no seas juguete vulgar de las pasiones ni el esclavo servil de los tiranos”

 

“Study, so that when you grow up you do not become a vulgar toy of passion, nor servant slave of tyrants”  - Elias Calixto Pompas


Profe Aguirre School Project Fundraising 2020 Campaign


Why and how to contribute

We are so excited that you may become part of this legacy with us and we appreciate your support. Our goal to support this school is of $7,200. This amount will help in operational expenses of the school amongst other services to the end of the year.



Your contribution and commitment whether monthly or a one-time donation will help the students and their families to keep children in school and continue supporting the ministry that was once started by profe Gilberto Aguirre.

Your monthly commitment


Profe Aguirre’s dream was to continue supporting the school and find ways to do so because this project is providing an opportunity of education to the children of La Concepcion. The school has already produced 18 graduation classes since its foundation and created many professionals already serving the community.

We kick off our 2020 campaign for the school and we are hoping you can join us. For more information on how or where to donate please visit us at profe-aguirre.org or https://www.profe-aguirre.org/donation-info-page

Your one time donation

To support this campaign, we have three easy ways to donate.


Send via Bank of America; Please click contact us directly for instructions


Send via Zelle by typing the alias; donate@profe-aguirre.org


Send via Gofundme; https://www.gofundme.com/f/profe-aguirre-school-project?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Principal's Corner

SCHOOL GOALS 2021

The School has opened enrollment for the new school year 2021 for which we project to enroll 252 students in the three programs we offer: Initial education (kindergarten), Primary (elementary) and Secondary (high school). We aim to conclude the school year with the attendance of 91 % of the students, 100 % attendance of the teachers and that 86 % of the students step up to the next grade.

We have the purpose of fulfilling these numerical goals along with keeping the high educational quality with the confidence and support of parents, teachers and our national and international friends who provide funds so that we can continue serving the children and youth of this non-profit private Schoo.l.

In God we place our trust.

Mercedes Ampie

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