Moving Majcher Mountains....emphasis on 'mountains!!

Easter 2019

Hiking with the family....something about hiking to waterfalls makes us goofy!  :)

Hiking, hiking and more hiking.  

As I type, Joe and the boys, along with some of our neighbors, are hiking Mogote. Mogote is a mountain we can see from our apartment in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. For those of you who are just joining us, our 15-year time with Makarios came to an end in November. In December, we moved from the north coast of the DR to the mountains of Jarabacoa to work with Doulos Discovery School.

Some things are different

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Lots of things are different. The temperature in Jarabacoa is much chillier, like 75 degrees....brrrr! :) We have an apartment now, which we love. Instead of having an ocean really close, we have a river right behind our apartment.

Instead of being a part of a school that is all Spanish-speaking, Doulos is bilingual. There are different activities the kids have found. The boys are in soccer now and Sarah is in ballet. Sam, whose name is Joseph Samuel, has asked his teachers and classmates to call him 'Joseph'. Instead of leading a school, Laurie was a teacher this past fall working with students who are struggling and she helped teachers see things from an administration perspective. This coming year, Laurie will be teaching Middle School and High School Art and Joe will be working with the students who are struggling. We are a complete Doulos family!

Some things are the same

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever.

While there are about 6 million things that are different, there are a few things that are the same. The kids have the same joy for school and have really transitioned well. The Doulos teachers were pleased with all that Sam, Levi and Sarah knew. Nice job, Makarios staff!

We have the same love for teaching students to make a difference in the world.

We serve the same God Almighty who has sustained through the whirlwind that was the past year, but six months specifically.

There is also the same need for generous people to give to the ministry of Doulos on our behalf. The transitioning from one ministry to another means that many who gave to us may not know how to find us now at Doulos. If you would like to join our supportive team, here is how: https://give.doulosministries.us/?donateTo=79032&donateWith=Check&amount&to

Here's some quick info

• Joe and Laurie will both be working at Doulos Discovery School in this fall.
• Sam will be entering 5^th grade (Whaaaat?)
• Levi will be entering 4^th grade (Stop it!)
• Sarah will be entering 2^nd grade (NO way!!)
• Joe and Laurie have signed a three-year commitment to the mission of Doulos to train up students in the DR to impact to the DR for the Lord.
• Laurie has started grad school October in Educational Leadership and is half way done. Lord willing, she will have this accomplishment achieved, done, finished by December......if it doesn't kill her.
• We are thankful that the Lord has brought us through the valley of this past year and set us firmly on the solid ground of the mountains of Jarabacoa.

Thanks y'all and God bless,

Joe, Laurie, Sam, Levi and Sarah

Here are some more pix of our fam.....

Levi showing off his Egyptian art work that was chosen for the Doulos Art Show. 

Levi sitting in the midst of letters from his Makarios class.  It was a very meaningful act by Profe Manielis and Profe India. 

Sam and Levi were selected by their teachers to earn the Code of Conduct character trait award for Courageous.  

Sam was selected by the staff of the After School Program for being Most Outstanding After School Program Kid.  Sam was so surprised....which is probably, in part, how he earned the award!  

Sam showing his work that was selected for the Doulos Art Show. 

Levi's class learned ALL about Ancient Egypt in his 3rd grade class.  He had to play the part of Joseph in his Egyptian days.  He wrote his part in English and Spanish which he is sharing with Jon Sawyer, fellow Doulos employee and Dr. Gonzalez, a Doulos Board Member.

Sarah's class researched God's Creation in 1st grade.  Sarah was one of the Bible Experts during the presentation to the parents and staff.  

My sweet ballerina with fun makeup from the Festival of Flowers.

How is this pink-loving, makeup-loving, dress-wearing girlie girl mine???  

At the end of the year, the elementary teachers select a student who has demonstrated the character trait.  Sarah was awarded the Courageous Award.  

These cuties!

Again, these cuties.  They bring us so much joy...usually.  :)