“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoyed time with friends and family over the past few days. We celebrated a day of thanks here with over 100 staff, family, and friends on the Doulos grounds. It was potluck style with turkey and a roast pig. Really a fun night.
Much has been happening in the month of November. It is very different to not experience the seasons here and it is hard to believe that December is approaching (although Dominicans prepare for Christmas beginning in October). Although the nights are chilly, the days are mostly sunny and warm. Here are some snapshots of different aspects of life here…
Doulos Discovery School
Expeditions are underway! Each grade level is studying something specific that is integrated into the curriculum with a final service project. I’m working with third grade on simple machines, fourth grade on recycling and making paper, and fifth grade on identifying endangered birds of the Dominican Republic. It has made for a busy month and Expedition Night is just a week and half away. This is a night where each grade level presents final products and we celebrate with the community! It is fun to watch the students gain a vision for serving their community.
Young Life
Fall Weekend camp was a great weekend. We had over 35 teenagers from Jarabacoa attend. Leaders and kids had some great conversations and some awesome fun together. Thank you for your prayers and support of the weekend. The Spirit is definitely moving in the hearts of the people here. We will be having our first Young Life summer camp at Pico Escondido in June and the kids are already excited to spend a whole week at camp. I am just enjoying getting to know these young women – we’ve had a chance to cook a meal together and they gave me a make-over last night (it’s appalling to them that my nails are never painted!). It’s been fun to share life with them here.
Prayer Requests:
Please continue to pray for the students and young people in this community. Also, we are still looking for a house to live in and use for ministry purposes. Please pray that God would provide a house in His timing and we would be patient in the search. Give thanks for all He is doing.
Thank you for your incredible support. I am so encouraged by you each and every day. I am so thankful to be here and learning the lessons before me. It’s an awesome thing to be stretched and molded by our Lord, no matter how hard it is sometimes. I look forward to seeing some of you in a few weeks during the Christmas break.
Much love, Sara
