Former ASU football player becomes
missionaryBy Melanie Davis
A Watauga County native and former Appalachian State
University football player will be following his heart on
Valentine’s Day – all the way to Nicaragua in
Central America for an indefinite stay.
Jim
Bob Norman takes a moment to relax in a pile of clothing,
sporting equipment and books he has gathered for villagers
in Nicaragua.
Photo
by Mark Mitchell |
Jim
Bob Norman with Herman, a child he met on his January
mission trip to Nicaragua. Photo
submitted |
Jim Bob Norman, 23, visited the rural, poverty-stricken
villages of Candelaria, La Isla, Santa Matilda, Chichigalba
near the west coast of Nicaragua in mid-January with his
parents and grandfather on a mission trip coordinated through
New Song Mission Nicaragua.
The trip was planned by Norman’s parents for January
due to Norman’s December graduation from ASU. ”Tommy
and Linda Gable, founders of the Appalachian Christian School
in Boone and now permanent residents of Nicaragua, addressed
the congregation of First Baptist Church in the fall of
2007. Norman’s parents, Dan and Teresa Norman, heard
the lecture and immediately decided to make a trip.
“I was excitied about going there but considered it
just a week long graduation present, slash mission trip
in warm weather away from January in Boone,” Norman
said of the first trip. “I did not realize that seven
days would change my life so dramatically.”
The group spent the time educating pastors in the villages
about making sound financial decisions, for both themselves
and their church. The villages are very poor and rely on
sugar cane crops. Money management skills and educational
opportunities are not common. The mission participants educate
pastors and arm them with the tools to share that knowledge
within their village.
Norman spent his time working with the children of the villages,
particularly the boys age 14-20. His goal with each young
man was to encourage them to attend both school and church.
“There are severe gender roles in the villages. Church
is only for women and children. Most boys leave school at
age 13 to work in the sugar cane fields. They don’t
have the means to pursue an education. They accept the fields
as their way to earn a living,” Norman said.
Norman reached out to the boys by organizing sports teams
and conversations encouraging them to attend a school. Another
barrier for education is that each child is required to
have a uniform to attend school. New Song collects money
and donates fabric to each village. The churches have sewing
rooms, where the uniforms can be made.
The return trip to Boone was a difficult one for Norman.
The family was already planning to return in January of
2009.
“We said our goodbyes in a Wednesday night evening
service. We flew out the next morning, and I could still
feel the tug. During the night flight from Miami to Raleigh,
I just looked out the window and did all I could to hold
back the tears. I began brainstorming how I could possibly
make it back earlier than a year,” he said.
Now, less than one month after his return, Norman is preparing
to relocate to the area. Through New Song and the Gables,
he has been able to arrange living quarters. Dr. Wayne Brown,
pastor, and the congregation of the First Baptist Church
of Boone, have been instrumental is coordinating Norman’s
return trip.
Residency is difficult to obtain, so Norman will be returning
to the U.S. every three months. “This will give me
a chance to see my family and friends, as well as, gather
supplies and donations for the villages,” he said.
Shipping items is very difficult. “Upon arrival in
Nicaragua, the packages may be delayed for months in airport
security, or never received at all,” he explained.
When Norman packs up to leave the States, he will taking
two suitcases – one filled with his own belongings
to live there, and another filled with donated clothing,
educational materials and sports equipment.
Norman credited, not only the January trip, but also several
people in his decision to live the life of a missionary.
Two family members have taken this path before him. Dr.
Andy Norman, his uncle, served approximately 15 years in
Nigeria, Africa. A cousin is currently living in Thailand
as a missionary.
A friend and former ASU teammate has also been an inspiration.
Billy Riddle Jr. left ASU in 2007 just prior to the start
of his senior year to become a missionary in Africa.
“I remember thinking ‘how can he do this to the
team and leave his senior year?’ Now, I understand
the calling he felt,” Norman said. He and Riddle communicate
more often now through Riddle’s Web site www.billyriddlejr.blogspot.com.
Norman said playing ASU football influenced him greatly.
“Coach Jerry Moore gave guidance and helped build character
as a part of coaching football,” he said.
One event in particular during last years stay in Chattanooga
sticks out in Norman’s mind. Moore wanted to ensure
Norman was with the team by Thursday morning. Norman had
to stay in Boone for exams and drove to Chattanooga separately.
”The team attended a breakfast hosted by the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes that morning. The keynote speaker,
Bill Curry, former NFL player, spoke to the team about “Magnanimitas,”
a Latin word meaning greatness of spirit.
“I often think of that word as a inspiration in what
I am planning for my future and what I hope to share with
the villagers in Nicaragua,” Norman said.
Norman states his mission on his Web site (www.makemsmile.blogspot.com)
as: Teach love by showing love and bring smiles to all the
children and parents faces by raising funds for health,
homes, clothing, churches, school uniforms & school
supplies, books & computers for education and leisure,
bikes, and sports teams & equipment for people in the
villages of Candelaria, La Isla, Santa Matilda, Chichigalba,
and other poverty-stricken areas of Nicaragua. Getting children
and young adults an education so that they can hopefully
attend college and/or find jobs and support their families.
Bring people to the Lord by showing his love and sharing
His word. Bring YOU to the Nicaraguan villages and see if
it changes your life.
Upon his arrival, Norman will begin work immediately on
more specific goals to become fluent in Spanish, get every
child a bicycle, get every child/young adult in school,
help send eligible students to college, organize sports
for kids, youth, & adults, build homes for widows, build
churches for congregations. Long-term plans include a computer
lab, though Norman admits this is a large order that will
take years to complete.
Norman will be maintaining the Web site for New Song and
designing promotional items for the organization as well.
“I can do what I feel called to do, and use my education
as well,” Norman said, speaking his degree in industrial
electronics and computer technology, with a minor is computer
information systems.
To contribute funds to Norman’s mission, mail to Jim
Bob Norman, New Song Mission Nicaragua, c/o Atlanta City
Church, 3355 Old Jonesboro Road, Fairburn GA, 30213. All
donations addressed in this manner will be sent directly
and in full to Norman in Nicaragua. The funds can be earmarked
specifically for educational purposes, food, clothing, whatever
need the benefactor wishes to support.
Norman’s activity and all details will be documented
at the his Make ‘em Smile Web site listed above.
Donations are tax deductible, as New Song is a non-profit
organization. For more information, contact Bud Martin or
Dan Norman locally at Martin Real Estate by calling (828)
264-3444.
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