Joy

"I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."  Psalm 9:2

It's been a busy, but great, beginning of the year!  Below are a few pictures that show what the semester has held thus far...

Third Grade goes to the aquarium...

We all fit in one guagua!

Jenifer excited to hold a starfish!

Malachi is lovin' life!

total awe.

5th grade performed for "5 Minutes of Fame" at Revolution this semester.  Check out their performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT6sgZFaXMM



Young Life in Jarabacoa

Young Life kicks off with Water Olympics

High-fiving Jesus during the Photo Scavenger Hunt

"Throwing a wish in a well"
Photo Scavenger Hunt

Climbing a tree in El Parque
Photo Scavenger Hunt

The team with a chicken?  Okay, turkey works too
Photo Scavenger Hunt

The team on a stranger's moto
Photo Scavenger Hunt

Thalia leading Bingo with the elderly during our YL Serv-a-thon
(high school students collected pledges per hour serving to raise money for camp)

YL Serv-a-thon group after a fun and tiring day!

Life...

Kerrie (aka Jan Brady) and I in the 70s...

The Scars.
Celebrating Tim's birthday with a 70s party.
Check out little baby Charlotte's homemade afro wig

I celebrated my birthday with this fantastic crowd and a game of kickball.
It was glorious.

Our kickball game...right in my backyard

Good friends Brad and Amanda came to visit!

Year Three!

"Ask me whether 

what I have done is my life."  

(words taken from William Stafford’s “Ask Me”)

In reading Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak, I ran across this William Stafford poem.  These words intrigue me as I begin my third year in the Dominican Republic.

Am I letting my life speak here?  Or am I letting the busy-ness of responsibility take over and letting my true purpose get lost?

I had the most refreshing and life-giving summer I’ve had in a very long time.  I was blessed with visits from friends and family, time to read and journal, opportunities to share about life in the DR and meet with many of you, time to exercise, and time to enjoy sitting by the water.   I was blessed by the simplicity of life for a few weeks and because of that the transition back to the DR has been the easiest one yet.  

Third graders Nathan and Maralis

On the first day of school and I was SO excited to see the kids!  I am still teaching third, fourth, and fifth grade English.  My fifth graders this year are my third graders from my first year... it is so fun to have them for a third year.  I’m excited to see the high schoolers as well and spent an afternoon making cookies with a few girls last .  I feel blessed by the depth of relationships here and am excited for what this year will bring.

Third graders Adrian and Akiva

Please pray for this year and that I would not allow busy-ness to take over.  My natural tendency is to be busy for the sake of being busy.  Then I become overwhelmed.  However, this year I want to focus on the simplicity of living life with others and the lessons I learned this summer.  I am so thankful to enter into this year with you.  It is amazing to know that this is not just my third year investing in this community, but yours as well!  What a journey we are on together and I could not be more thankful for your support.  I look forward to sharing pictures and stories from the year ahead.

Much love and peace,

Sara

Summer Newsletter

                                      
As any teacher anywhere knows, the end of school is bittersweet.  And leaves us wondering, “Where did the time go?”  This May was no exception at Doulos Discovery School.  The final week of school brought Math Madness Olympics 2012!  And it was madness!  Team Kenya (3rd and 10th grades is pictured above).  All week long students competed in math challenges based on their curriculum for the year... but in the style of Doulos, it’s done in a creative and adventurous way!  Answers often had to be sent down a zipline to an awaiting team member, sprinted across a field, and even shot with a paintball gun.  The bonus round included shooting a faculty member with the paintball gun.  Don’t worry - with all this adventure, Doulos is first and foremost about safety and supervision!  What a great week for students to celebrate all that they have learned this school year.  Graduation was another joyful night of celebration on June 2nd.  Glenys, our Young Life Student Leader of two years, graduated that night.  She plans to attend college in the States and is praying that her funding comes through.  She has been an amazing student leader and even though I will miss her tremendously, I’m so excited to see how she will be serving next.

The Third Year...

As you know, I have agreed to continue serving in the DR through Doulos and Young Life for at least another year.  Many of you initially agreed to support me for two years, because that was what I initially agreed to.  I do not feel released from here yet and would like to invite you to continue this journey with me.  I am still in need of financial and prayer partners.  Please indicate your recommitment on the included card.  Thank you so much for your support over these past two years.  It has been a joy and privilege to share and serve with you.  

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. 

Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." 

Habakkuk 3:2 

 RAIN...

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”          Isaiah 55:8-11

Young Life Camp!

Doulos high school girls at breakfast

As the rain comes down from heaven….  OH, and how it came down!  Our weekend at Pico Escondido last month was filled with rain.  The hardest, longest rain I’ve ever experienced.  However, one of the Program guys shared these verses with us during a leader’s meeting on the first morning and it struck a chord deep within my heart.  Just as rain does not return to the skies without serving its’ purpose, the words of our Lord do not return to Him empty.  And isn’t that what Young Life camp is all about?  Teenagers hearing the word of our Lord.  And so I rejoiced in the rain – knowing that as it drenched us, the Lord was speaking in many ways that weekend and His words were drenching the hearts of teenagers.  Thank you to all who made it possible for kids from Jarabacoa to go to camp!  We took over 30 high school students from our area!!  

Following Camp, we met with the high schoolers for Bigger/Better Club - starting with a small item and visiting houses to trade for bigger or better items...  Here are some things we received.  The winning team came back with a mattress!

We traded a straw for some sweet Math textbooks...

And then a beautiful plant...

Expedition Night

Continuing with the rain theme … “When it rains, it pours”, right?  All good things fell close together this year.  Following our YL camp weekend, we had Expedition Night at Doulos.  This night is a celebration of learning.  The focused areas of study for my classes were: third grade Ancient Egypt, fourth grade Incan culture, fifth grade Immigration. 

Immigrants getting seasick

Incan weaving

Ancient Egypt - Check out Leah's shirt....Thanks, Dad!

As for the rest of the school year, we have just three short weeks until graduation!  Our year will end with a week of Math Madness Olympics 2012…complete with teams of one lower grade and one higher grade, uniforms, and an Opening Ceremony with a torch and some fire. :)  I’ll keep you posted…

Me

Keith, Kerrie, Lexie, Lorraine, Me, and Krista

Recently I had the privilege of attending the National Expeditionary Learning Conference in Denver, CO.  I attended with 5 other Doulos teachers.  Our week in Denver proved to be a valuable one.  Our days were full of classes and conversations with other EL teachers from around the States.  We left absolutely exhausted, but with awesome ideas and larger picture of EL learning.  We are excited to process everything and implement new strategies in the coming Fall.  We also made some amazing contacts and are looking forward to new partnerships.

On my way to Denver, I was able to stop in VA and attend a friend’s wedding.  What a special blessing to be there (thanks Abi and Jorge!) and see a few a friends and family along the way. 

And here are some fun pics from the past month or two...

Some of the Spring Break crew at the beach

old friend, Daniel Kuckuck, visiting with a Work Team!

I will be in VA this summer and can’t wait to see many of you!  Thank you for your support through this busy month!

Love and peace,

Sara

Service

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

This verse has resonated deeply with me for many years… I actually picked it as my “Senior Quote” for my high school yearbook, oh so many years ago! This simple, yet complex verse is one that I come back to over and over again. Service… When done from the heart of Christ can be humbling, joy-filled, hard, teary, freeing… The Son of our precious God came to love and serve those that walk this earth – and I am called to follow in His footsteps. It can seem like a daunting task at times, and one for which I am not worthy… but He makes me worthy.

The mission statement for Doulos Discovery School reads: “Equipping and educating servant leaders through Christian discipleship and expeditionary learning to impact the Dominican Republic.” I love the first part (I love it all, actually, but the first part is relevant to the above thought) - “equipping and educating servant leaders through Christian discipleship…” Our students are constantly being mentored in what it means to be a disciple of Christ and to serve as He did. This past week was our annual Service Week at Doulos. Each grade decides on a Service project out in the community of Jarabacoa, as well as surrounding towns. This is not a time for us to serve ourselves with projects on campus, rather a time for each student to experience going out into the community and serving freely. I got to spend the week with fourth grade and had a ball with them! Those kiddos are so dear to my heart (if you’ve come to visit, you know those sweet girls from 3rd grade last year…). Their guide teacher got them started on making fun English games and manipulatives for a public school up the mountain, in a town called Manabao. At the end of the week we were able to take these things to the students. Our students ran centers and taught them how to use each thing. Pictures are below!

Whisper Phones - genius idea.

blocks!

Amy and her new friend working on a puzzle made by the 4th graders

Issac (middle) leading his new friends through the centers

Young Life has also been kickin. We are preparing to go to weekend camp in one month! It will be a great time for kids to be taken out of their normal environment and to experience the love of Christ through fun, laughter, meaningful conversation, crazy games, good food, and so much more. If you would like to be a part of helping kids go to camp, please email me at sdrebes@gmail.com! The cost for one kid is about $80, which is much more than most have here. We are currently running some Serv-a-thons to give kids a chance to earn camp scholarships; however, we are in need of a few more sponsors. Let me know if you are interested! Pictures of our first Serv-a-thon below!

Pamela, Steffy, and Sharleen

Yeudi!

Naomy!

Yuedi, Belinda, and Eridson

Last month was super fun because my little brother, David, came to visit! It was great!! We had fun hiking and eating good food for a week. I may have even surprised him with the Spanish version of Monopoly while he was here because he loves that game so much… heehee… It’s so great to have visitors from home – the only problem is I now miss Dave more than before.

David and I

Random Fun Pic
Ruth, Me, Leah, and Justine at a "Favorite Sport" birthday party

Okay, my friends. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of saying “thank you”. Your support in all ways makes every one of the above things possible. May you know the sweet peace of our Savior today.

love, sara

the good news

“Have you taken your hands off of your life?”

 I had the privilege of attending the Young Life All Staff Conference this past week in Orlando, Florida and these were the words Tim Keller left us with on our first morning together. Hmm… He continued the next morning with the statement, “If you believe the Gospel, it restructures your identity.”

 We are called to first let the good news of our Lord, Jesus Christ, infiltrate our hearts and change us from within, before bringing that good news to others. In Young Life, we form relationships with people in the community to bring that life-changing news. I was challenged by Tim Keller’s words – have I taken my hands off of my life? When he asked, I had to honestly answer no. Sure, I am outwardly serving Him each and every day… but our Lord looks deep into our hearts. And deep in my heart, I like to maintain control over a few insecurities. So, now I am resting in the truth of the good news – that I am “more wicked, yet more loved, than I ever believed” (T.Keller).

 Returning to Jarabacoa, we are about to start our programmatic events with Young Life. Please pray for our leadership team that we would approach this semester with Christ as our focus and love kids through His love and power. Please be especially lifting up our student leaders – Rebekah, Daniel, and Glenys.

 I am adjusting to my new schedule at the school and truly finding joy in the kids that I work with. We will be entering the “expedition season” soon, which is always exciting. Also, the whole school will take a break at the end of February for Service Week. I love that each grade in our school serves the community in all different ways for a whole week! It truly shows the revolutionary love of Christ.

Thank you all for your continued love and support. I am so grateful for each one of you.  Don't forget to check out the pictures below...

much love to you, Sara


Housemates Lorraine and Rachel on Lo's bday



Friends Christen and Kerrie at Lo's birthday dinner

Below are just a small handful of the people I got to see in Florida

(really the only times I remembered to take pictures)

The Florida fam
Ryan, Robin, Giovanna, & Maddox and Barry, Gretchen, Jackson, & Cannon

Sarah Bond and I finally made it to Harry Potter world!
Hello Hogwarts!

Fun times catching up with Dave and Maureen

Friends Andrea and Jeremy - who are coming to the DR soon, right?

Happy New Year!

“The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best.”-Oswald Chambers

This quote by Oswald Chambers begins to explain the Fall semester for me. There were so many wonderful things about the past few months – teaching English, leading Young Life, bible studies, discipleship with Rebekah, Spanish classes, accountability groups, tutoring… but all of these wonderful things left no time for being in relationship with those around me, or for maintaining relationships with those far away (you!).

As I was praying about whether or not to stay for a third year, I also began to pray about my schedule. I didn’t want to give up anything because they are all good things; however, I knew something needed to change for a better balance. The solution in my head was to work at Doulos Monday – Thursday and to have Friday as a workday for Young Life, allowing me to do both of my jobs well, rather than just getting the minimum done. I met with our Managing Director who has a gift for seeing the whole picture. He saw my whole picture and countered my idea with a three day work week at Doulos and two days for Young Life…. AND he said rather than thinking so far in the future to next school year, he didn’t see any reason why this change couldn’t take place in January.

Our Heavenly Father knows what we need.

I felt so encouraged by that conversation with my director and am learning the importance of recognizing my limits. By being open and vulnerable with my situation, the Lord went way above and beyond my expectations for this year and next. With that being said, I am planning on staying for a third year. I am excited to see how this new schedule shakes out and how the Lord brings out the best, not just the good.

Please be praying with me through these changes. It has been wonderful co-teaching with the third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers this year. Please pray for them as they transition into this new schedule as well. Also, please pray for me as I begin to structure these new workdays – for wisdom and vision for the ministry of Young Life in Jarabacoa.

I am thankful for you and your partnership. It was so refreshing to be with some of you over the holidays. I hope to see more of you during the summer. Please let me know how you are doing and how I can be praying for you!

Much love and peace,

Sara