Life at New Life--Moving Forward

Our staff at graduation, 2014

Things are always evolving at a school with more than 100 students.  Nueva Vida is no different.  Having just completed the fifteen years of the school's existence, Judy Kerschner began looking for ways to make a great program even better.

Last summer we spent six weeks working on a mission and vision statement for the school.  This led to the formation of a leadership team, which meets weekly to discuss concerns of the school, the students, the families and the faculty.  I am honored to serve on this team.  Our role is to bring each of our expertise to the table, to give a unique perspective on what we are discussing.  My specific function is to submit the best educational practices we know for consideration by the team, and adapt them to our current setting and culture.  I am also serving as an advocate and voice for the teachers as well as the students.

Guatemalan teachers seldom have a voice in what they do or how their school is run.  Discipline, of both the students and the staff, is often handled in a very authoritarian manner.  Teachers don't even usually consider that they should have a say.  They are grateful they have a job.

Up on the roof

Nueva Vida is different.  We believe we are a Christian community, and therefore, while there must be leadership (servant leaders), the job of the leaders is to best meet the needs of those they lead.  This is a new concept here, and we are still challenged to put what we know to be principles of Christian leadership into practice in this culture.  Many of they things we are trying are not cultural.  I've developed a new slogan:  Scripture trumps culture!  It's an exciting time.  Please keep us in prayer as we move forward.

Judy Kerschner, the founder and administrator of the school
along with Jerry and Dianna Bush and their daughter Maddie

And just last week we were blessed to welcome Jerry and Dianna Bush, who are CTEN missionaries joining our team.  Their first year here will primarily be spent studying Spanish and learning how to live in this "foreign" culture which will soon become home to them.  Their future plans include Jerry helping with the administrative responsibilities at the school, as well a sharing his computer expertise, and Dianna will help with teaching our students English.

They come to us from Olney, Illinois (Go Illini!) where Jerry just completed his term serving as pastor of Mt. Gilead Church.  We are anxious to see what God does with the unique gifts they bring to our ministry to the people of Santa Maria.  Bushes, thank you for being obedient to the call.