Christmas in the D.R.

December was busy and we were overwhelmed with all that went on.  Grateful to God for sustaining us and providing this past semester.  After school finished December 16th we spent time over the last few weeks catching up on Spanish lessons, preparing for next semester, and preparing to put some grass in at the Mak House!  So excited the kids will have a place to play and the neighborhood kids can play safely as well.  We had about 3 or 4 straight nights this past week of baseball on the rocks.  Used a few band-aids but they didn't care and it was all smiles. The kids really enjoyed it and we are excited they are making friends and learning Spanish. We went to dinner at our watchie's house Christmas Eve and spent Christmas day in Chichigua, a Haitian batey a few miles out in the middle of a sugar cane field.  We loved getting to know the families better and having our kids play with their kids.

Christmas day in Chichigua

It is January 1st..wait just turned January 2nd! and I am out in the lobby of a hotel down in Santo Domingo.  We got a way for a few days because when you are there work does not stop.  We wanted to take a true Sabbath and get rested up for this next semester.  Thankfully the internet was down until now so we couldn't do anything but play with the kids.  This semester will be busy since I will fill the role of the Principal at the Makarios School. Ok, I always seem to be busy... men don't you know what I mean? Always something to do!  The family that was filling this role stepped away to fill other needs on the North Coast and start their own ministry.  We are trusting God for a new principal and maybe a local Dominican or Haitian will fill the role.  I started interviews over Christmas.  We have a group from the US coming Friday.  Jen and I will be making preparations this week.  They will be able to help finish the landscaping at the Mak House, clean at the school, and help the teachers prep projects for the semester.  So thankful for those that come and bring tons of supplies that are essential for the classrooms and other items for ministry uses.  Excited to meet them and hear as well what God is doing in their lives.  We are still looking for a full time nanny so if anyone is interested please contact us.

I have had many moments over the last few months where I hit the wall in how to deal with the things I saw or experienced.  I will try and do a better job on sharing what I mean by that over the next few months and blog during my processing.  Sorting out how to help and not hurt in so many different circumstances is difficult.  We read the book, When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert that discusses poverty in a way that includes more than just monetary concern but the complete well being of people.  More to come on that.

We hope everyone has had a great Christmas and Happy New year!  We appreciate everyone that helped us get here.  It was a crazy year.  We are sending out a year in review short email today.  God deserves all the glory for anything and everything.  He brought all the events together and provides everything we need each day and more.  Many fun pictures below!