HURRICANE IRMA

Many are keeping an eye on the current updates regarding HURRICANE IRMA. John and Velvet are currently in the States and are also watching, praying prayers of protection for friends and students. 

Yes, Irma is expected to affect many in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic.  

We are thinking of all in the path of Irma, but especially of our friends we call family in the Dominican Republic. While those in the US have an option to evacuate, we know that you on the islands do not have this choice. Our prayers are going up for your protection and provision, as you prepare and plan out safety measures.  It is expected that the northern part of the Dominican Republic will be affected late tonight (Thursday) by Irma, bringing much rain and wind to the region.   

Work is in the process on a foundation today for a classroom addition at one of the local Haitian churches.  The missions team members are hoping cement trucks will make it out today. If not, the footers that have been dug and prepared, will be flooded with dirt and mud. The trucks may not come as drivers have received orders that they need to finish early and find shelter for their trucks and equipment. Schools will close today.Teachers, workers, and students are all with family making preparation for the impending storm conditions.  This storm will greatly affect many of the Haitian student's families since the parents work in the fields, on construction or road crews, have private goods/produce stands along the roadways and thoroughfares.

Mission team volunteers serving and living in La Vega, have made decisions to spend the next couple of days in concrete structures. Most of the volunteers live in masonry homes with concrete roofs. 

Many of the churches in the Dominican Republic are on prayer alert!

Give no thought for tomorrow ... but what about two months from now?

We are often reminded that we are not to give thought of tomorrow, yet much of what we do is plan and prepare months ahead.    We are designed to think of our future, to grow and mature, have a career, perhaps marry and have children.  We also are to give thought to our eternal destination.  

As educators, we do take time to plan ahead.  This allows us to embrace today and be adaptable to schedule changes.  

School has started and we are grateful for the school supplies that have been donated.  Presently we are planning ahead for Christmas and second semester supplies.

Second semester supplies are arriving and monies being donated to purchase teacher aids and materials for school administrators and instructors.  It is going to be an awesome school year.

Christmas spirit is in the air. Christmas shoe boxes and gift items are being packed and readied for shipment. 

This photo (to the right) shows some items purchased with donated funds.  We also use donated funds to purchase items in the Dominican Republic.  This helps build and maintain the local economy.  It is great to be able to help families of our students by shopping at local shops in La Vega.

This does not happen without your faithful support and willingness to help.  The students want you to know they are grateful!