A couple of weeks ago I had my half-time evaluation with my Latin Link supervisors Barbara and Lukas. It was a kind of review of the first six or seven months I have spent in Nicaragua, good points and bad, both personally and in the role I play at work and church. It was also a chance to evaluate the purposes I have here, what I am hoping to do with the rest of my time, and a probing into what impact this year will have on the rest of my life. Many times I have been asked if I might stay more than just a year, many times I have been asked if I might not consider a long term stint... But I have a job in the UK to return to, the possibility to complete my professional training in a relatively secure position, the opportunity to work on interesting projects, the chance to gain a level of economic security, the option to put aside money towards a house, a car, travel...
Actually I have been wrestling with the question of staying a few months more in Nicaragua. The rainy season is not far off and there are many projects for which I have a much better vision; with another summer here I could see out some more building, things that we have been talking about for ages but which haven't yet come to fruition.
Maybe I will stay, maybe not: it is a major point of prayer currently, the thing that strikes me the most though, is that I have such power to decide. Many, if not most, of the young people that I know have no such good prospects. Those that complete school can choose, really very cheaply, to study a career at one of the universities here in Jinotepe or in Managua. "Pure" academic subjects are uncommon, few will study literature or mathematics, history, geography or physics. Popular subjects are those leading directly to a career; pharmacy, nursing, engineering, computation, accountancy or with good enough grades, medicine. However, even with a degree under your belt there is no guarantee of work.
Those that don't study look for a job, maybe in a shop or in the market, maybe as a cook or a laborour, a taxi driver or a domestic. Many that have studied look for these same jobs. Sometimes the key to a job is to align yourself politically. Work directly for the political party; organising other young people, supporting rallies, campaigning. Or maybe a political link gets you a job at the council or as a teacher or in some other post or even a scolarship to study in Venezuela or Cuba. But the work is often demanding and such strong political ties are restrictive.
Those that don't find a job wait.
There are many young people waiting.
In fact, in general, there are many people waiting.
Unemployment in Nicaragua is a big problem. Young people can still dream their future but after a few years what becomes of the dream. With my contemporaries in the UK, or maybe those that are slightly younger, coming up out of school, into uni, into work, the future is more or less bright. No, not everyone studies hard or gets the dream job - not everyone gets a job - but there are options, possibilities, clear ways of moving forward. Prospects.
So what can I say to these young people I know? Well, there are not always clear answers, but just as I am certain that God has a plan for me, whether that be in the UK, Nicaragua or somewhere else, I am certain that he has a plan for their lives. Each one of us is created with purpose, and when we seek to be living out the will of God that is revealed. Maybe Nicaragua needs more of its young people to understand that truth.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Then, it is no bad thing that youngsters are waiting, if they are waiting on God and in dependence on him. I pray that their wait won't be too long. We are created to work for God's glory and at the same time the economic needs are obvious. I too am waiting to see what God has in store for me.
