The Plan

Cory, Stacy, Gavin, Noella, Sydney, and Amelie Martin

As many of you know, we are making plans and preparations to move to Nicaragua.   Over a year ago, Stacy and I began talking about our dreams and our future as a family.  We both agreed that we wanted our kids to grow-up with an expanded worldview, one that excluded materialism and mindless excess.  We wanted our family to live a bigger story, one that wasn't just about us. have been praying and talking about what that would look like and where we should go.  As time passed, and jobs that were unfulfilling came and went,  I started getting serious about finding out what God wanted us to do.  In July, a friend of mine, Colin Bickford, told me about Escuela Vocacional Ministries in Managua, Nicaragua, which is a part of MVI.org. He has been working with MVI for several years at another location in Antigua, Guatemala. I found that there was a vocational school opening this year and operating under the same vision I have--to teach a trade to the people there and disciple them.  The school will be teaching blacksmithing, auto mechanics, welding, and carpentry/woodworking. Here is an quote from ESVOministries.com:


"Our purpose here in Nicaragua is to offer Nicaraguan men and women the tools to live a life in Christ.  Practically speaking, we teach trades to Nicaraguan men and women, and in the process, pray that by example, word, and training, students will learn what it means to live and work in Christ." 




Mike and Lauren Deibert are the people who run ESVO. I went to Nicaragua (with much support, thank you) in September, and stayed with the Deiberts.  They allowed me to help put the school together and build some furniture for the wood shop.  I came to realize that working as a woodworking teacher at ESVO is the best way to live out the vision God has given me. Stacy will most likely teach at the grade school connected with MVI and it's partner, The Nehemiah Center.

We are now making preparations to move.  First, I am working with Missionary Ventures to be officially trained before we go.  Missionary Ventures will have us come to Orlando this summer for 2 weeks for orientation and leadership training.  We are also going to attend a language school in Central America, but we are still deciding which one will be right for us. We aren't sure about every detail yet but I will post what I know as soon as possible.  Secondly, we will be getting our house in order and getting rid of almost everything we own.  Thirdly, we have a lot of support to raise. We will be asking for people to partner with us on this journey. We will need a set amount of monthly support to come in once we leave the country. We will also need a substantial start-up amount to get us established once we are there and help pay for language school. Please pray about being a part the vision. We don't know God's timing so we are just doing our best to learn how to trust.  This will take a lot of prayer and support from our friends and family.  I'd love to tell you more about my vision, just give me a call. 
-Cory Martin