Joe is teaching Sam and Levi to play Spades.  I think Sam's face in his hands is an excellent summation of the success of this endeavor.

Cole Bland is one of my former students from Hill Country Christian School of Austin.  He has serves as an intern this summer and did an outstanding job!  Part of his work included making this cool see saws from old tires.  Thanks, Chachi!

Our family at Mount Isabel.  I am not sure why we are completely unable to take a normal picture! 

This is our neighbor, Radolin.  We celebrated her 8th birthday with her.

I'm a godmother to Ronal and Kikina's baby girl.  Her is Robin.....named after the wonderful Robin Inks!  Another staff member, Doug Beck, is the godfather.  Pretty cool to be so connected to this family.

Our cool new sign in front of the school.  Call us.  :) 

Time in the States, tough stuff and my parents' 50 years of marriage!!

Wow!! It has been a while since I posted a new blog. For you faithful readers, I am really sorry. I guess the excuse of busy-ness doesn't cut it. (But I have been!!) :)


We finished our time in the States and it was a wonderful, quickly-passing time. We are indebted to so many for making it comfortable, fun, productive, encouraging, and fulfilling.


We got back to the DR on Wednesday, 24 March and moved into a new home. On Thursday, 25 March, the boys and I got up and headed to school. I had their uniforms packed in their carry-ons. Perhaps that was a little hasty to get back into the swing of things, but we were so anxious to get back to our 'normal'.


Basically, the update that I want to leave with you is that we had a great time in the States, we are thankful for what the Lord provided financially through the sacrificial and faithful people around us , we know He will continue (**to be a part of God's faithfulness to us, please visit the giving page of Makarios' website: https://makarios.webconnex.com/missionary. We would be very appreciative), we are so glad to be back home and thankful to be a part of a great organization. BUT......


The reality is that the longer I am here the more my heart breaks for the kids and families we serve. Unfortunately, I use the word 'family' very loosely. The thing about working with any group of people is that the needs can be so overwhelming. The physical needs of our students are just so profoundly basic—food, clean water. The emotional needs are crippling and generations old. Ultimately, though, THIS is why we are here. May we truly bring God's hope of biblical proportions that leads to true change and offers Light in the amazing darkness that is around our students.


I have been thinking about this quite a bit as some of the discipline issues lately that have lead us to discussions about abuse, the lack of food outside of school, shredded family relationships, destroyed trust, and a 3-year old walking to school by himself. Perhaps this is particularly juxtaposed this week as my own experiences in life are quite the opposite as my parents celebrated 50 years of holy matrimony on 1 May!!! This is an amazing accomplishment for which I am exceedingly grateful as I recognize how their personal commitment to Christ, marriage, and family have directly impacted me. Their years of commitment to each other have built the emotional hedge of security that creates children who aren't stunted in their emotional development. It is amazing how this and eating properly have such an effect on little ones.


It is most certain that tackling poverty and the vicious cycle that accompanies it is exhausting.
I am thankful for the heritage my parents have provided—it is truly life altering to have food, security, support and love. For this, I truly thank my parents and I desire that each of my students experience the love and security that I have enjoyed in my own life. Until then, we carry on with the task at hand: to create a school where students can come, be fed, hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and become world changers as a result. All glory to God as we pursue this Kingdom-expanding work!


You can be a part of it, too: https://makarios.webconnex.com/missionary

A few pix of the Majcher Fam

 Sam and Caleb Lehr at MTI in Feb. The Lehrs are heading to the DR soon to serve along with us!

 While in CO we had the privilege of attending Denver Bible Church and going to lunch with Joe's hero in the faith, Bob Enyart and his wife, Cheryl.

 My college roommate from University of Indianapolis!!!  Ali Bechtel Conrad!!

 MTI taught us much.  We left blessed, encouraged, hopeful and healthier.

 Our new place in the DR. It is closer to the school--the boys and I walk to school!

 Ronal and his baby girl, Robin, in Chichigua.

 Three little monkeys hanging out on the porch railing.

Sam, Levi and Sarah listening to Sarah's new book with Gramma and Grampa's recorded voice.

20+ Beds

One day recently-ish as I was giving the kids the run down for the day I said we would do this and that and then 'we will go home'. Levi looks at me with confusion and inquired, “Where IS 'home'???”


Our family moved out of our house in Puerto Plata mid-November to prepare for a trip stateside to raise funds, attend missionary training and visit family. This endeavor will take us to mid-March before we can go home—back to the DR.


1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another.


This time of traveling hither and thither has afforded us some (not-as-intensely needed) family time. We will have been in more than 20 different beds in these months. We have been in homes of many VERY gracious people who have blessed us richly through their hospitality to this family of vagabonds.


First stop was the Makarios mission house where we stayed for two weeks. Doug and Margaret Beck, who run the Makarios mission house, were fantastic about their normally-very-quiet mornings being replaced by...something very different. The second week was spent WITH the mission team from Hill Country Christian School of Austin—it was a regular slumber party which included a wedding being thrown at the Mak House! Then to Cori and Ruth Mora for our first month back in the States. Hats off also to Ashlee and Aimee Mora (former students of mine) who were temporarily booted from their bedrooms to be taken over by Hurricane Majcher. It was here we were given Sarah's now-favorite new book! Then to Matt and Kassie Fleming (former students of mine) and his dad's farm for a fun, animal-filled get-away that was refreshing to us all. Sam is still talking about how he can shoot a gun all by himself! Then off to the trying-to-sell-their-house-so-they-can-move-to-the-DR Cory and Ashly Albright's where we discovered Paw Patrol, gingerbread trains aren't as easy to assemble as one may think and that Izzy, the cat, really doesn't want to be friends with Sarah as hard as she may try. :) Then off to snowy Indy where we stayed with Jen (a former student of mine) and her very cool police- officer husband, Dan where we stumbled upon a Chuy's restaurant and that Sam IS capable of recognizing that there is a pretty solid chance that the bunk bed WILL fall nearly missing Levi below at some point in the night. :) Then off to a week of swimming at an indoor pool in Mishawaka, IN thanks to Chris Hickey and Paige Snider and then off to the home of the gracious Ron and Gail Knickrehm where Sam, Levi and Sarah got to sled for the first time. (Actually, I should also thank their daughter/my former student, Kate, since she is the one who volunteered their house!!) Then to the yummy house of Indiana Deli owner, Nancy Beatty, who made the fateful move of mentioning that she had space for our family and even had bunk beds!! Then off to the lovely home of Matt and Stephanie Kohl who are in the small group that we used to attend. These people are saints as there is almost no part of their master bedroom—which they gave up for Hurricane Majcher—where my family did not puke. In the mix has been hotels between Texas and Indiana and between Texas and Colorado, plus the haven of endless chocolate for all grandkids (the home of Don and Judie Hickey) and the haven of endless pizza for all grandkids (the home of Pam Majcher). It should not go unnoticed that my mom housed three pukers as well. Sam was one. Levi was another who puked on my mom as she was trying to get out the door to see Beth Moore. My saint-of-a-mother canceled her plans so I could keep mine—girls night out with dear friends of almost 20 years, Kate Mawby, Kim Heuer and Sharla Megilligan. The other one was my dad who got sick from Sam and Levi. :(


We are so thankful for the endless generosity and kindness our family as been shown throughout these months. Many memories have been made and friendships deepened. This list,does not even include the wonderful offers we had to stay at folks' houses as well or those who have treated us to a meal or gave helpful cash donations. Needless to say, the Dominicans will note how well we have been treated and will happily comment on how fat we have become while being in the States!! Seriously.


I am extremely happy to report that we are in Colorado right now participating in the long-awaited, month-long missionary training. It is with the generosity and prayers of many that we are here. In God's sweet timing we had a large and generous gift come in 2 days before we were to leave for Colorado that allowed us to attend this training paid in full. We have been here a week and already have learned so much as a family.


God is so good and He certainly isn't boring!!


Finally, as always, we ask if YOU are willing to be a part of our monthly support team or spare some of that tax return. Our supporters are an elite group of wonderfully loved-by-us people! We truly can't do what we do without the support of folks like yourselves. We are looking for 18 more people to give $100 a month to bring us to fully supported. Here's how: https://makarios.webconnex.com/missionary

I Belong in the Service of the King

Last Sunday while at Hill Country Bible Church NW where they are doing a series on Esther I was amazingly struck by some amazingly simple points. They are found in Esther chapter 4 -7 where Esther the Queen is informed of a plot to kill her people and she could play a major part in sparing them.

1. Esther, at first, is reluctant to be out of obedience of the king.
   

            Her first response when asked to go before the king is to note that it was, in fact, a crime
            worthy of death to approach the king when you were called by him. I became very aware
            of how different my life would be if I were to so quickly be willing to honor my King
            with obedience when I am about to do something that is outside of what the King asks of
            me. The King says to not fear or fret. The King says to fully rely on Him. The King says
            to give my best to Him. The King says to seek Him first and His Kingdom.
            May I be quick to honor my King through obedience.

2. God uses timing to create a scenario where He is glorified.
   
   Our God is a good God, but His timing sometimes can be frustrating. This time of fundraising and having deadlines has proven to be a waiting/gaining patience and trust game. As we are reliant on folks to hear the Lord and then respond we know that God provides in some of the most unexpected ways. Several puzzle pieces needed to be in place and when they seemingly weren't, God showed up in a major way. This story of Esther is worth a read if it has been a while for you! We had a bill for missionary training in Colorado that really needed to be paid for by Monday as that is the day the program starts. We lacked a few thousand dollars AND with the whole family being sick this week fundraising communication almost nonexistent. Today when I checked our Makarios account there was that last few thousand dollars from a single donor. And today is only Thursday. His timing is perfect.....and faith-building!

Esther 4:14 “For if you remain completely silent at this time, the life and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”


I appreciate that God has a plan for us. I value that He uses us and our little offering of talent (He gave us) and time (He gave us) to make something far more than what we can imagine. BUT, if we do not act in obedience then He will accomplish His plan through another way. Lord, may I be like Esther and (at least) hesitate to be disobedient to your direction for me as you are my Holy King. May I be found faithful and obedient for the Kingdom work at hand.


Understanding there is much to be done in the United States and worldwide, our calling has taken us to the DR to be a part of the life-changing work on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. We simply are unable to accomplish this without YOUR generosity. Please be a part of our support team by contributing to the $1800 a month deficit we have in monthly giving on our behalf which is our salary. The link to be a part of God's faithfulness to us is: https://makarios.webconnex.com/missionary

Levi and Sarah in the snow for the first time.

Christmas 2014

Back with good friends, Jakob and Isaak Megilligan

Fun with Matt and Kassie Fleming!!!

WHAT IFS AND WISHING AWAY

Shel Silverstein has a great poem called 'Whatif'. The poem runs through various scenarios that keep the author preoccupied, ranging from the potentially possible to the hilariously hypothetical. While the bus being late, one's teeth not growing in straight, tearing one's pants and never learning to dance are all things that could happen, they aren't worth worrying about. Oh, the what if's--that Mr. Silverstein doesn't even bother separating into two words in his poem—creep into my brain, too. Whatif we don't raise enough for our salary? Whatif we don't raise what we need to get to missionary training ($14, 000 in the next month)? Whatif we are .not the perfect missionary family? Whatif I am too stressed to consider the feelings of my kids? Whatif..whatif...whatif....


I saw a post on Facebook that had a little girl with delicate wings possibly made by her own hands apparently wonder to someone she trusts, “But what if I fall? The trusted person seems to quickly respond, “Oh, darling, but what if you FLY?” Every time I see that post I am almost moved to tears. What (exaggerated space) IF I fly after taking this chance??? What if enough is raised? What if MORE is raised? What if I surrender my mothering fears to the LORD? What if I fully rely on God and see His miraculous character and allow that to revolutionize my life????


Ultimately, I truly do not want to 'wish away' any of this time of my life. Man, I wish my three small children were older so I wouldn't have to worry about them tearing up the house we are staying in while on homestay. Wow, I wish that we didn't have to scrounge up our own salary to do really cool work in the Dominican Republic. Golly, sure wish we weren't living in a four-month transition time with a family of five.


All these experiences have within them countless ways God can shine, reveal Himself, grow us, refine us, strengthen us IF our time is not spent wishing it away. Like Jonah pouting on the mountainside when he would have preferred a different outcome for Nineveh, I can have a tendency to miss the joy because of selfishness.


Clearly having the children at all is a total blessing—even at the moments when they shred the Hunger Games poster on the door of the college-aged girl's room you are staying in for the next weeks. Or as I try to write this blog in just under 6.5 hours! :)


Obviously an 'easy' paycheck is, well, easier, but what I am learning about surrender, reliance, praying big is incredible. Plus, the chance to have people choose to partner with the work of Makarios and financially get behind our family is profoundly humbling.


Fortunately, we have within this four-month opportunity to have our family bonds strengthened and learn more intimately what makes each family member tick. We are afforded the opportunity to be each other's emotional support as we work through having no home to call our own right now. This is a wonderful thing for our family.


The whatif's may still sneak in. The wishing away of challenges may still occupy some of my emotional space, BUT I ask the LORD to make the Truth be louder. 'My grace is sufficient for you.' 'I have a plan for you.' 'My God will supply all your needs.' 'Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.' He has green pastures for me to rest in. He has straight paths for me to walk in. Even in the challenges. Even in the dark spots. Even in the seemingly confusing times. Even with a young family. Even in the midst of fundraising. Even in the transition period.


Of course, you can directly encourage us in the whatif's by donating to our family at https://makarios.webconnex.com/missionary. Please consider making a dent toward our missionary training through a year-end giving and/or joining our monthly supporter team.