| Assemblies of God Nicaragua School for the Deaf |
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| History of the Nicaragua Deaf School In 1994, Matt and Eva Barlow came to start a Deaf ministry in Nicaragua. During the year, the Lord gave them a vision for a school and they drew a plan on paper. In January, 1995, Eva was visiting a children's activity during the National Assemblies of God pastor's conference. This activity was held at an old abandoned house on the Assemblies of God property. When Eva saw the building, the Lord showed her that this was about the same plan that Matt and her had laid out. She ran to their house closeby and immediately told Matt to come and see this house. They prayed over the building for the Lord's will. In talking with a member of the executive board of the Assemblies of God, he referred them to write a letter of proposal for the school and they would present it at an executive meeting. In May 1995, they approved donating the house and some property around. The house had belonged to a doctor and his family. He passed away and the family sold the property to the Assemblies of God. Augest 1996, some of the deaf youth came to start cutting the growth around the school. Matt and Eva asked if their church could come as a MAPS team and begin the renovation. In January 1997, a small group of friends from Northview Christian Life Church, Carmel, IN began the demolition of the roof and reconstruction of metal beams. All the wood in the house had been destroyed by termites and had to be replaced by iron. National workers continued the work as donations from Latin America Childcare (LACC) and the Canadian Consulate came in. In September, another US team came and painted the interior and the roof. They also helped to put up some ceilings and remodel the kitchen. With the donation from Canada, the building was 95% completed and some furnishings were purchased. Plans with teachers began in November and classes were tested for one week in December. Seven students attended. Classes began January 12, 1998 and the offical inauguration was January 31st. The school started with 13 students and 5 teachers. Monday, February 9th, while Eva was preparing lunch for the students, she began to weep quietly as the Lord showed her the interpretation of a dream she had had several years before. She saw herself and Matt in a house in Nicaragua. She thought it might be a guest house for teams, but the Lord showed her this day it was the Deaf school. What a confirmation of God's plan, that He who began a good work ...will complete it. Matt and Eva, feeling the call to become full time missionaries, left September 1998 to begin the missionary appointment process. The school completed their first year in December. Classes began in February 1999 with about 22 students and a new staff of teachers. The national leaders continued their work with support of Bonnie Carlyon overseeing in absence of Matt and Eva. The year 2000 the school continued with the same amount of students and graduated 3 students from 6th grade. Year 2001, began a preparatory class, which will prepare those deaf students who have complted the 6th grade for high school. We are in hopes to begin the first high school ever for the Deaf next year 2002. Our school attendance this year is 40...which doubled! |