What an exciting, overwhelming, challenging, and humbling week it has been! Since arriving here in Monte Plata late Sunday night, I have
felt so welcomed by all the Kids Alive staff here at the Eva M. Russell School.
I am so thankful that God has provided such a kind and patient Dominican
roommate for me. Her name is Anadelly and she and I live in a house at the back
of the school property. She has been living here for 6 years and is accustomed
to having “Americanas” as roommates. She has already helped me so much. While
at training in Canada, one of our facilitators introduced us to the idea of
having a “cultural bridge” – a national who you can trust to help you navigate
a new city, new job, new culture, new people, etc. And Nadelly is that person
for me! I didn’t even have to go looking for her – God already had her prepared
for me which is incredible!
For the past 5 days I have been working at the school here.
There are two Kids Alive sites in Monte Plata – Casa Monte Plata is the
residential facility where 21 children live in 4 houses with Dominican house
parents. 16 of those children (those in grades Pre-8) attend school here at the
Eva M. Russell School. The rest of our students are sponsored children from all
over the city who are able to attend our school because they live in extreme
poverty and have a sponsor somewhere in the world who is providing the $39 a month for them to eat breakfast and lunch and attend school here. (Just so you know, we do have students here who are waiting for sponsors. Visit the Kids Alive website for more information.) The kids
are absolutely precious. So far I have observed in the “Pre” class (like
preschool and kindergarten combined in one year) , 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade
classes. I will continue observing, spending a whole day in each class, until
next Friday. Then I will begin helping the teachers with their math curriculum.
I’m still unsure of the details involved in this project, but I know God will
continue to provide as He already has. Right now I’m studying the Dominican
math standards and am trying to gain a more complete understanding of what the
students are supposed to know and be able to do in each grade. Pray that God
enables me to know where to begin. The needs here are a bit overwhelming, but
the staff is so Godly and is so committed to providing these children with a
Christ-centered education that will enable them to look past the seemingly
hopeless situations in which they live to a God who shines brightly enough to
overpower the darkness of their lives. I am honored to be a small part of it.
When I’m not at work, I’m beginning to navigate my life here
in Monte Plata. Nadelly has been so helpful with this! We've cooked several Dominican meals including Papas
Fritas (fried plantains – like French fries) and she taught me how to chop up a whole
chicken. I have never chopped the toenails off of a chicken before – that was a
first! I have also found some stores where I can buy things for my house and
was able to buy a mattress on my second day here and some shelves and rugs for
our house and my room. My new “house” is slowly starting to feel like
my new “home” and I am thankful. I will post some pictures soon!
I thank God for the opportunity to live and work here in
Monte Plata. I know without a doubt that God has me here for a purpose much
greater than I can imagine. Pray that I am able to trust Him to work out the
details and make the path instead of trying to do that myself. Also, pray for
Alex, another Kids Alive missionary who arrived here in Monte Plata at the same
time that I did. He is working in the sponsorship office right now and has a
large project ahead of him as he works with each child to write letters to
their sponsors. There are other missionaries who attended training with me in
Canada who will be heading to ALL parts of the world in the coming months
(Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and North America). Please pray for them
as well as they trust God to provide the necessary finances for their
ministries and as they say goodbye to family and friends at home. For all of
you who prayed for me and my family as we said goodbye, thank you! Continue to
pray for us as we adjust to life with limited communication.
