Thanks for all your prayers over the last few days. Tropical Storm Noel hit the island hard on Sunday evening. Monday morning, the rivers were beginning to surge, but many kids came to school anyway. Within an hour, we had to cancel school because the impending threat of rising waters. Jarabacoa sits between two major rivers, the Yaque (the largest in the country) and the Jimenoa. On Monday morning, there were already three bridges in the country that had collapsed due to high waters.
The Secretary of Education made the call that classes were cancelled until Thursday, but we still took it a day at a time to see if we could begin classes before Thursday.
The rains finally settled down on Wednesday and we had our first day back on today (Thursday). Thankfully, none of our families were affected by the storm. Many of our sponsored students live near the river, but their homes were safe.
Please continue to pray for those who have lost their homes on the island, both here in the Dominican Republic and our neighbor, Haiti.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Our fifth school year has begun!
Five years ago, Doulos was still a dream in my heart. It is amazing to see how God has moved an army of people over the last five years to accomplish this dream. This year, we have 186 students enrolled, 90 of them in our sponsorship program!
We have started a new year with a new crew of faces. Over the summer, two key leaders at school moved overseas. Milena Duarte, our administrator, moved to Colombia and Cody Encarnacion, our principal, moved to Washington, DC. During the midst of great changes for the school, God reminded me (again) that He is the captain of this ship and will take it where He wants!
We have a fantastic new crew of staff and administration and I am proud to be on their team. Our team this year is our most qualified and gifted group of teachers, yet.
Please pray for our staff and students as they begin this new year. Pray that hearts would be tender and fertile for His Word to take root deeply. Pray for the health of our staff and students as many of them have battled sickness over the last few weeks.
Thank you to all of you who support us in prayer, through generous gifts and your constant encouragement. We have been blessed!
We have started a new year with a new crew of faces. Over the summer, two key leaders at school moved overseas. Milena Duarte, our administrator, moved to Colombia and Cody Encarnacion, our principal, moved to Washington, DC. During the midst of great changes for the school, God reminded me (again) that He is the captain of this ship and will take it where He wants!
We have a fantastic new crew of staff and administration and I am proud to be on their team. Our team this year is our most qualified and gifted group of teachers, yet.
Please pray for our staff and students as they begin this new year. Pray that hearts would be tender and fertile for His Word to take root deeply. Pray for the health of our staff and students as many of them have battled sickness over the last few weeks.
Thank you to all of you who support us in prayer, through generous gifts and your constant encouragement. We have been blessed!
Doulos summer programs 2007
Doulos hosted two programs this summer: a three week soccer camp for the kids of Jarabacoa and a summer tutoring program for Doulos students that needed extra help.
Sarah Lyman, an elementary teacher from Princeton, NJ, served us for three weeks as the coordinator for the summer tutorial program. What a wonderful gift Sarah was to us here!
The men's soccer team from Spring Arbor University in Michigan helped coach the last week of soccer camp. We had a full three weeks of boys and girls from our community. They learned not only valuable soccer skills, but learned game strategies, as well. The most important part of the day was during devotion time: when one of the coaches would share his testimony and make their faith real for the kids that came.
At the end of July, Grace Bible church out of College Station, TX brought a workteam. They helped with the soccer camp, summer tutorials and painted and prepped rooms for the new school year.
Thanks to all who came and made this summer extra special!
Sarah Lyman, an elementary teacher from Princeton, NJ, served us for three weeks as the coordinator for the summer tutorial program. What a wonderful gift Sarah was to us here!
The men's soccer team from Spring Arbor University in Michigan helped coach the last week of soccer camp. We had a full three weeks of boys and girls from our community. They learned not only valuable soccer skills, but learned game strategies, as well. The most important part of the day was during devotion time: when one of the coaches would share his testimony and make their faith real for the kids that came.
At the end of July, Grace Bible church out of College Station, TX brought a workteam. They helped with the soccer camp, summer tutorials and painted and prepped rooms for the new school year.
Thanks to all who came and made this summer extra special!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Jesus plays fútbol
In 2003 the Doulos soccer program began as a pet project of Chad Wallace and co-teacher, Shea Stimac. Baseball being the sport of choice in the DR, convincing our students to kick a ball around with their feet was a stretch. Looking back, it’s a miracle that the futbol program even survived the first two years as the team lost virtually every game. Chad had faith and persevered with the kids, who eventually would come to love the incredibly challenging and exciting game that claims the world’s number one spot among sports fans.
The Revolution Futbol Club, in its fourth year, has won many big games, the city championship and several smaller tournaments. The U95 (players born after 1995) are in the finals for the national championship. Their tournament record is 11-0-1 with 50 goals made and only three goals against. For anyone who has seen the recent movie, “Facing the Giants”, that’s been our story in many ways. Until this year, the Revolution has struggled to field two co-ed teams, an older and younger one. Being a small school filled with students that had never played the sport, building the tradition has taken time. We’ve often played short a player or two in a game.
Several stars have begun to rise among these young players on the Revolution roster, but for the most part they’re having success because they play as a team, share responsibility and ultimately because Jesus plays with them. Though schools in Jarabacoa haven’t traditionally sponsored sports teams, futbol has always been a popular sport among kids from La Colonia, a neighborhood in Jarabacoa. The energy Doulos has put into developing a school-sponsored futbol program has encouraged other schools to field teams. In many ways, futbol has become another point of partnership between schools in Jarabacoa. Kids are always drawn to what other kids are doing. The Revolution futbol club has become so popular this year that we opened membership to kids from other schools. On any given afternoon you will see more than 80 kids, boys and girls from 5 years old to 30+ playing futbol on Doulos’ two small fields. We’re busting at the seams as we look for strategies to recruit volunteers and soccer coaches, manage field time and the number of kids who want to play.
Kids from all corners of Jarabacoa are involved in Revolution, from many different private and public schools and from every socioeconomic background. Once again, cultural barriers are being broken down. We just finished a co-ed tournament between 4 teams consisting of players within the Revolution club. The program has grown so popular that we are into the first week of our second intramural tournament, this time divided into two groups; 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams. The Jarabacoa veterans league uses our fields in the evenings for their tournaments, and Jarabacoa’s Division 1 team has used our fields for practice. A platform has now been built, a culture is being nurtured and the light of Christ is being shared.
What began as a dream has grown into a reality now led by Revolution’s head coach, Jose Rodriguez, a Dominican futbol legend. As Doulos students travel around the country playing futbol, they’re bearing witness of the Jesus they serve and emulate. This summer we’re planning our first annual Revolution Soccer Clinic. The three week evangelistic outreach camp will focus on quality play, sportsmanship and most importantly what it means to follow Christ. Kids from all walks of life here in the DR will be attending. The camp will be staffed by Dominican futbol players as well as Christian futbol fanatics from the United States. We will focus on quality play as well as what it means to follow Jesus. This is one more way that God is reaching this community through Doulos.
The Revolution Futbol Club, in its fourth year, has won many big games, the city championship and several smaller tournaments. The U95 (players born after 1995) are in the finals for the national championship. Their tournament record is 11-0-1 with 50 goals made and only three goals against. For anyone who has seen the recent movie, “Facing the Giants”, that’s been our story in many ways. Until this year, the Revolution has struggled to field two co-ed teams, an older and younger one. Being a small school filled with students that had never played the sport, building the tradition has taken time. We’ve often played short a player or two in a game.
Several stars have begun to rise among these young players on the Revolution roster, but for the most part they’re having success because they play as a team, share responsibility and ultimately because Jesus plays with them. Though schools in Jarabacoa haven’t traditionally sponsored sports teams, futbol has always been a popular sport among kids from La Colonia, a neighborhood in Jarabacoa. The energy Doulos has put into developing a school-sponsored futbol program has encouraged other schools to field teams. In many ways, futbol has become another point of partnership between schools in Jarabacoa. Kids are always drawn to what other kids are doing. The Revolution futbol club has become so popular this year that we opened membership to kids from other schools. On any given afternoon you will see more than 80 kids, boys and girls from 5 years old to 30+ playing futbol on Doulos’ two small fields. We’re busting at the seams as we look for strategies to recruit volunteers and soccer coaches, manage field time and the number of kids who want to play.
Kids from all corners of Jarabacoa are involved in Revolution, from many different private and public schools and from every socioeconomic background. Once again, cultural barriers are being broken down. We just finished a co-ed tournament between 4 teams consisting of players within the Revolution club. The program has grown so popular that we are into the first week of our second intramural tournament, this time divided into two groups; 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams. The Jarabacoa veterans league uses our fields in the evenings for their tournaments, and Jarabacoa’s Division 1 team has used our fields for practice. A platform has now been built, a culture is being nurtured and the light of Christ is being shared.
What began as a dream has grown into a reality now led by Revolution’s head coach, Jose Rodriguez, a Dominican futbol legend. As Doulos students travel around the country playing futbol, they’re bearing witness of the Jesus they serve and emulate. This summer we’re planning our first annual Revolution Soccer Clinic. The three week evangelistic outreach camp will focus on quality play, sportsmanship and most importantly what it means to follow Christ. Kids from all walks of life here in the DR will be attending. The camp will be staffed by Dominican futbol players as well as Christian futbol fanatics from the United States. We will focus on quality play as well as what it means to follow Jesus. This is one more way that God is reaching this community through Doulos.
Community Service
Last Friday, the Catholic boys school was hosting a televised event to raise money for a boy in our community that needs a double hip replacement. Our principal, Cody, found out that they were not having much success, so he popped into my office to see if Doulos could help out. He took five students over to the school and each student appeared on television encouraging the community to pitch in. Within two hours, our students had raised over RD$20,000 (US$600+)! (The average monthly income is US$300/month).
Parents from Doulos contributed generously and our students were overwhelmed with the community’s cooperation. We are excited that our students are growing not only in compassion, but also in their level of responsibility to take care of those in need. They are learning what it means to truly serve others.
Parents from Doulos contributed generously and our students were overwhelmed with the community’s cooperation. We are excited that our students are growing not only in compassion, but also in their level of responsibility to take care of those in need. They are learning what it means to truly serve others.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Through teenagers' eyes..
The following is something that Sara Espinoza shared this morning. Sara is our junior high math and science teacher at Doulos.
I promised myself that before I did my grading this afternoon or planning for tomorrow's lessons, I would first do this. . .I owe it to you. . .by your support, each of you is a part of this.
I love teaching. . .I love it because it has purpose, it's based on relationships, it's powerful in affecting the future, and I know that it uses the gifts God has given me. . .But throughout much of this school year, to be completely honest, I have felt a failure. I am often exhausted, frantically trying to pull together resources, short on creativity, and even shorter on time to build those relationships that I desire with the kids. I have,at times,wondered if my being here has done them more harm than good.
God is proving to be greater than all of that.
My ninth grade class, 10 students, has been studying electricity and physics for most of the year. As a culminating project, they have researched and selected a mini hydroelectric plant that they will install next week on the Wallace's coffee farm. Yesterday, we spent the day at the farm taking last minute measurements and discussing the supplies we will need to make it happen. Each student is responsible for a part of the project. . .pipeline repairs, filters, pressure calculations, safety, housing for the plant, wiring, etc.. It is a massive undertaking, but they have done so much research and developed such an amazing sense of ownership, that the town's best electrician and plumber wants to join us next week, not just to help, but to learn from them! The pride in their work is radiating from them as they discuss their opinions and problem solve. . ...they are learning skills that will help their community and provide them with countless future opportunities. I wish you could see it in action!
But that is small potatoes. . .
Each morning I spend 40 min. in devotion time with this group. At the beginning of the year, there were basically two who could converse with their hearts about their faith, and the rest, if they conversed or cared at all, did it as a mental exercise.
This morning, after a year of increasingly deep discussion, I asked the question, "If there is a good and benevolent God, why is there so much suffering in the world?" Here is how the conversation continued. (Bear in mind, it took place in both English and Spanish, with all intensely engaged whether they spoke or not, and most of these kids are 13-15 yrs. old.)
CAROL: Well, I used to wonder that too, but now I think that if we didn't suffer, we wouldn't need God, and we wouldn't get to be in relationship with Him. We wouldn't get to experience His help in our lives.
ME, (playing devil's advocate): Okay, how do you explain, for example, a child born in Rwanda, Africa, into an abusive family that cannot provide him food. He spends most of his life in starvation, never knowing love, and is killed before his eighth birthday, along with thousands of others, in the genocide that occurred in his country? Did he experience God's help?
ALEX: Yeah, how do you explain that? Like, he didn't deserve to die, and he didn't know God. All he did was be born into the wrong family!
CAROL: But that isn't something that God did. That is because of our sin. We are all sinful people, and we do bad things.
NELSON: Yeah, but God controls all things. If He's God, then He could stop it.
YELIDA: Yeah, but God gives us free will, so we can choose. If He didn't do that, the world would be, like, perfect.
ALEX: I wouldn't mind that. Isn't that what heaven is going to be like? Isn't that what we're all looking forward to?
CAROL: Yeah, but I think we would never appreciate it if we didn't experience the suffering first.
MICHELLE: Yeah, and if life here were perfect, it would be so boring!!
NELSON: Yeah, I wouldn't want to live in a perfect world.
ME, (trying to draw out a few of our language strugglers): Okay, Owaldy and Sharlin, which would you prefer? A perfect world, where anytime someone starts to do something wrong, God fixes it. . .where there is no pain and only good things. . .or, a world where there is the possibility of horrible, evil things happening?
OWALDY: Bad things.
ME: WHY?
OWALDY: Because I think that we learn from the bad things.
SHARLIN, (after a pensive pause, quietly, and with mixed English and Spanish): I think if there wasn't suffering and evil, then there would be no chance for redemption. And that is the best part of living.
At this point, there is heavy silence, and most of the kids are visibly, personally moved, nodding heads, teary eyed, smiling. It was a truly God-orchestrated moment. I was, (and still am), choking back tears. We spent the last minutes sharing favorite movies and stories that have touched us because of the power and beauty of redemption, and how without great ugliness, there is also no great beauty. We talked about people we know whose lives have been completely changed and how even murderers have the potential to be redeemed and bring this great beauty into our lives.
I closed by letting the kids know how much they moved me, and how amazed I am at God's work in their lives. . .how excited I am that they speak honestly from their hearts, and how thrilling it is going to be to watch them as they share with their families, community, and colleagues, and country, not only their intelligence and hard work, but also their true wisdom.
We closed with prayer and hugs.
And that is just what's going on with my ninth grade class. . .if I had time, (and if I thought you had more time), I would tell you about 7th and 8th grade! :)
THANK YOU for being part of this! THANK YOU for helping us to be here and do what we feel God leading us to do, even when it's hard! THANK YOU for caring for us so much! He is at work, and whether you intended it or not, He has used you to bring exceeding beauty into countless corners of this place!
All my love,
Sara
I promised myself that before I did my grading this afternoon or planning for tomorrow's lessons, I would first do this. . .I owe it to you. . .by your support, each of you is a part of this.
I love teaching. . .I love it because it has purpose, it's based on relationships, it's powerful in affecting the future, and I know that it uses the gifts God has given me. . .But throughout much of this school year, to be completely honest, I have felt a failure. I am often exhausted, frantically trying to pull together resources, short on creativity, and even shorter on time to build those relationships that I desire with the kids. I have,at times,wondered if my being here has done them more harm than good.
God is proving to be greater than all of that.
My ninth grade class, 10 students, has been studying electricity and physics for most of the year. As a culminating project, they have researched and selected a mini hydroelectric plant that they will install next week on the Wallace's coffee farm. Yesterday, we spent the day at the farm taking last minute measurements and discussing the supplies we will need to make it happen. Each student is responsible for a part of the project. . .pipeline repairs, filters, pressure calculations, safety, housing for the plant, wiring, etc.. It is a massive undertaking, but they have done so much research and developed such an amazing sense of ownership, that the town's best electrician and plumber wants to join us next week, not just to help, but to learn from them! The pride in their work is radiating from them as they discuss their opinions and problem solve. . ...they are learning skills that will help their community and provide them with countless future opportunities. I wish you could see it in action!
But that is small potatoes. . .
Each morning I spend 40 min. in devotion time with this group. At the beginning of the year, there were basically two who could converse with their hearts about their faith, and the rest, if they conversed or cared at all, did it as a mental exercise.
This morning, after a year of increasingly deep discussion, I asked the question, "If there is a good and benevolent God, why is there so much suffering in the world?" Here is how the conversation continued. (Bear in mind, it took place in both English and Spanish, with all intensely engaged whether they spoke or not, and most of these kids are 13-15 yrs. old.)
CAROL: Well, I used to wonder that too, but now I think that if we didn't suffer, we wouldn't need God, and we wouldn't get to be in relationship with Him. We wouldn't get to experience His help in our lives.
ME, (playing devil's advocate): Okay, how do you explain, for example, a child born in Rwanda, Africa, into an abusive family that cannot provide him food. He spends most of his life in starvation, never knowing love, and is killed before his eighth birthday, along with thousands of others, in the genocide that occurred in his country? Did he experience God's help?
ALEX: Yeah, how do you explain that? Like, he didn't deserve to die, and he didn't know God. All he did was be born into the wrong family!
CAROL: But that isn't something that God did. That is because of our sin. We are all sinful people, and we do bad things.
NELSON: Yeah, but God controls all things. If He's God, then He could stop it.
YELIDA: Yeah, but God gives us free will, so we can choose. If He didn't do that, the world would be, like, perfect.
ALEX: I wouldn't mind that. Isn't that what heaven is going to be like? Isn't that what we're all looking forward to?
CAROL: Yeah, but I think we would never appreciate it if we didn't experience the suffering first.
MICHELLE: Yeah, and if life here were perfect, it would be so boring!!
NELSON: Yeah, I wouldn't want to live in a perfect world.
ME, (trying to draw out a few of our language strugglers): Okay, Owaldy and Sharlin, which would you prefer? A perfect world, where anytime someone starts to do something wrong, God fixes it. . .where there is no pain and only good things. . .or, a world where there is the possibility of horrible, evil things happening?
OWALDY: Bad things.
ME: WHY?
OWALDY: Because I think that we learn from the bad things.
SHARLIN, (after a pensive pause, quietly, and with mixed English and Spanish): I think if there wasn't suffering and evil, then there would be no chance for redemption. And that is the best part of living.
At this point, there is heavy silence, and most of the kids are visibly, personally moved, nodding heads, teary eyed, smiling. It was a truly God-orchestrated moment. I was, (and still am), choking back tears. We spent the last minutes sharing favorite movies and stories that have touched us because of the power and beauty of redemption, and how without great ugliness, there is also no great beauty. We talked about people we know whose lives have been completely changed and how even murderers have the potential to be redeemed and bring this great beauty into our lives.
I closed by letting the kids know how much they moved me, and how amazed I am at God's work in their lives. . .how excited I am that they speak honestly from their hearts, and how thrilling it is going to be to watch them as they share with their families, community, and colleagues, and country, not only their intelligence and hard work, but also their true wisdom.
We closed with prayer and hugs.
And that is just what's going on with my ninth grade class. . .if I had time, (and if I thought you had more time), I would tell you about 7th and 8th grade! :)
THANK YOU for being part of this! THANK YOU for helping us to be here and do what we feel God leading us to do, even when it's hard! THANK YOU for caring for us so much! He is at work, and whether you intended it or not, He has used you to bring exceeding beauty into countless corners of this place!
All my love,
Sara
Why Doulos Exists
In 2002, my husband, Chad, and I began dreaming of a new way to teach kids. We dreamed of a school where rich and poor could come together on a level playing field and learn together. We dreamed of a place where Protestants and Catholics would find community together under the name of Jesus. We dared to believe that Christian education could be explorative, exciting and experiential. We sought to make a place for service and responsibility in our daily learning.
We are finishing our fifth year as an organization and our fourth year as a fully functioning and growing PK-12 program in the Dominican Republic. The word that rises in my heart is that the Lord has compelled us to start Doulos. Without a shadow of doubt, we recognize that God is the captain of this ship and that we are merely deckhands. In the first few months of dreaming, I realized the daunting tasks ahead and I wanted to turn back. But the Holy Spirit compelled us, as well as a faithful group of friends and family who helped fund this project.
In August 2003, we had 63 students and an inexperienced group of teachers. Today, we have 160 students and a seasoned band of educators and fellow sojourners. I thank God for every volunteer and paid staff that He has led here to help build Doulos. I thank so many of them for enduring hardships and following through even when it was taxing and their future unknown.
Doulos exists for one reason: to equip future leaders for Christ. Our school is a platform for training. We are molding the minds, hearts and souls of future leaders for future challenges. We use relational discipleship. We use expeditionary learning practices. We see our students today as tomorrow's leaders. A great responsibility lies before us and we are up for the challenge. Thank you for being on board with us, too.
We are finishing our fifth year as an organization and our fourth year as a fully functioning and growing PK-12 program in the Dominican Republic. The word that rises in my heart is that the Lord has compelled us to start Doulos. Without a shadow of doubt, we recognize that God is the captain of this ship and that we are merely deckhands. In the first few months of dreaming, I realized the daunting tasks ahead and I wanted to turn back. But the Holy Spirit compelled us, as well as a faithful group of friends and family who helped fund this project.
In August 2003, we had 63 students and an inexperienced group of teachers. Today, we have 160 students and a seasoned band of educators and fellow sojourners. I thank God for every volunteer and paid staff that He has led here to help build Doulos. I thank so many of them for enduring hardships and following through even when it was taxing and their future unknown.
Doulos exists for one reason: to equip future leaders for Christ. Our school is a platform for training. We are molding the minds, hearts and souls of future leaders for future challenges. We use relational discipleship. We use expeditionary learning practices. We see our students today as tomorrow's leaders. A great responsibility lies before us and we are up for the challenge. Thank you for being on board with us, too.
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