Sunday, December 16, 2018

Moving the Majchers TO THE Mountains

May need a blog name change from Moving Majcher Mountains to
Moving the Majchers TO THE Mountains

We are moving at the end of December to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic to serve with Doulos Ministries in Doulos Discovery School (doulosdiscovery.org).

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Here's a brief backstory (for those who are just joining us) to lead up to where we are today. Back in 2013 our family, after facing closed doors at Hill Country Christian School, walked through the open doors of moving to the Dominican Republic to serve with Makarios. As a founding Board Member, I'd been very aware of the need for a principal there. While I am not a principal, I could stand in the gap for a year. We quickly saw that, if we were willing, this would be a longer gig than one year. God kept moving in our hearts to stay and not leave the school without leadership. Our goal became to stay until a qualified principal came who could lead a school like Makarios School. 
                                       This was the picture on our first missionary prayer cards! 

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

I have completed what we came to do. The new principal came last year and did a year of language learning. We transitioned and I walked out for the last time as principal from the school the Lord had lent me on 31 July 2018—much more than the year we intended--and the new principal started and he is doing a great job. The school is in very capable hands....for that I am extremely thankful. There has been much to celebrate in my time of serving with Makarios. Things that I look forward to seeing the complete impact when we are in Heaven. But, now, the doors have very much closed for our family to continue serving in Makarios.

Psalm 37:23-24The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights 
in him though he may stumble,
 he will not fall, 
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

But...there are BIG open doors. Enter Doulos Discovery School. This school is a bilingual school that serves to empower students to be strong servant leaders for the Dominican Republic. I truly believe that Sam, Levi and Sarah will thrive in the classrooms of this school and our family will benefit greatly from this move within the Dominican Republic. This country has been our home for 5+ years and we desired to pursue options here before pursuing something in the States. That day may come, but not for now. 
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. 
And what does the LORD require of you? 
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Our family has made a three-year commitment to Doulos (remember that one year commitment to Makarios...hee hee). I will start in January as a substitute for a resource teacher who will be out for the semester. I am really looking forward to getting to the know the staff, kids and culture of Doulos through this role. Sam, Levi and Sarah will have class for their first time ever in English! Joe will continue to work on Spanish and, once we get settled, may formally pursue a Biblical Studies degree! (Those of you who know Joe know that he informally already has one with all the studying of the Word he has done.)

Like Makarios, the North Americans serving with this ministry raise their own support. Many of our wonderful supporters have made the switch to Doulos for their monthly giving. This is a huge blessing. If you would love to be on Team Majcher, we'd love to have you.
Please click this link to start supporting us through the ministry of Doulos. https://give.doulosministries.us/?donateTo=79032

                        Sarah, Sam and Levi are ready for the Christmas program at Makarios.  
                                 Levi was somber that this was his last Mak Christmas program.

I've been consuming this song as if it were food and seems appropriate to share given our season now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFEwV77n1Ng

Por favor, join us in prayer that....
….we find GREAT Christmas deals on all the things we need for our apartment..which is everything as the house we are in now is furnished.
….we handle this transition with the grace and mercy that the Cross provides for us.
….the kids (and Laurie, too) have a smooth transition to a new school.
….that we all heal from our recent sting of leaving Makarios.
….Joe's health improves. He has quite a few painful problems with his joints.
….we are able to secure the support we need and we do not fret about it.



Sarah signing 'I love you'.  That about sums it.  We love y'all who take the time to read this blog. 
 

Merry Christmas,

Los Majcher—Joe, Laurie, Sam, Levi and Sarah

Doulos Discovery School's Mission Statement
"Educating and equipping servant leaders through Christian discipleship and expeditionary learning to impact the Dominican Republic"