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