This is our WOW,-It-Has-Been-A-Crazy-Year Update!

I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart;

wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

This is our WOW,-It-Has-Been-A-Crazy-Year Update!

First, Merry Christmas! It is our hope that this past year found you waiting on the LORD as He brought you courage. This year has been very full of ups and downs. I (Laurie) will try to condense them here for y'all.

A year exactly today, we paid our first Jarabacoa rent. We have completely enjoyed our community of neighbors—most of them are missionaries also. We have gotten familiar with how Jarabacoa and Doulos work. It is really quite a different community than what we have been used to on the north coast of the DR. The Lord has certainly brought us joy, even in difficulties of transition, in many different areas of our new life with Doulos Ministries.

This August brought a new challenge for Joe. He is now working part time at Doulos. This has been an adjustment, but a good change. We are now all spending most of our waking hours at Doulos Discovery School. :)

This November brought the passing of Joe's father and while that was a strained relationship with many years of silence, his passing has had a big impact on Joe. Never underestimate the important role fathers have in their kids' lives. Please keep Joe and his family in your prayers and they pass through their first Christmas without Big Joe.

A few days after returning back to the DR from Joe's dad's funeral, my mom informed me that the pain in her back--which she had checked because they were planning to come visit us at Christmas--turned out to be cancer. She is in the process of getting treatment for lymphoma. We are wildly thankful for the a treatable diagnosis, but our family would sure appreciate your prayers for my mom as she passes through this challenging time and as my dad takes his turn as nurse. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to go back to Indiana after Christmas to help out as she faces treatment that leaves her feeling very, very, very worn out.

Sam is in 5^th grade and goes by Joseph at school here in Jarabacoa. He is doing well in school and has adjusted well. He's growing like a weed and played soccer this year. He enjoys learning, being creative and loves doing things as a family. This sweet pea leaves me notes of encouragement when I am overwhelmed. It is no wonder how he won the Servant Leader Award at school this month. Sam is on the far left in the picture below.  You may recognize the kid on the far right.  :) 

Levi is in 4^th grade and loves school. Levi enjoys learning. He chose to take French class instead of soccer or art in the After School Program. He also won the Servant Leader Award at school and we couldn't be more proud of our servant leaders. Levi also loves to snuggle with his Mama (wow, won't he hate this blog in a few years?) and loves being up trees, panning or gold in the river, playing endless board games and just running around with the neighbor boys (pictured below) whose family is serving with Kids Alive.

Sarah is in 2^nd grade and also loves school. She loves her teachers, her friends and to sing. She and her friend had a duet in the Christmas program this year. Sarah is a girl of decision and recently decided that she would like her ears pierced. She's doing a great job of cleaning her new bling. Sarah loves to play with the neighbor girl--pictured above-- (sister to the neighbor boys mentioned in Levi's summary) and so there is constant activity between the apartments as they are across the hall.

Joe who, as mentioned before, is now working in Intervention at Doulos is learning the ropes of working at a school--a very different situation than working at Dell! He is passionate about the Gospel and making sure the kids know how to have eternal life. He continues to lead our family (pictured below) in Bible lessons that have included an all-family Greek learning through reading Scripture in Greek. It is very basic, but the boys are picking it up.

Laurie is teaching art to middle school, high school and third grade. It has been a looooong time since she has taught art, but she is LOVING it. The students are so wonderfully creative and just need a forum to release their creativity. She has two more classes to complete her Master's degree (C'mon, 1 May!!!!) and, wow, she will be thrilled to be done. She usually threatens to quit at least once a class and there are usually tears involved, but she has prevailed by the literal grace of God. She has even managed to maintain a very good GPA!

The Lord has been so faithful to our little family. He has seen us through an extremely difficult time of transitioning from one ministry to Doulos. He has brought us friends and family here in the chilly mountains. Doulos took in our hurt family and made us feel most welcomed. Most importantly, He has brought us joy as we have waited on Him. We are blessed and thankful for all He has done—especially sending His Son as a baby to create a path for us to have eternal life in Him.

If you are interested in financially partnering with us in this ministry that strives to bring about change in the DR through the education of students equipped to face real problems and solutions within the Dominican community while providing a Christian education, please do so here: https://give.doulosministries.us/?donateTo=79032&donateWith=Check&amount&to . If you would like to contact Laurie to know more about what we do, please write me at lauriemajcher@gmail.com. We'd LOVE to hear from you. If you would love to come down and serve on a missions team, serve as a teacher or be a sponsor for Sam, Levi or Sarah, please email me and I can put you in contact with the right people.

Many, many, many thanks for your prayers and faithfulness to our family. We are honored that you have read this blog on our crazy, but joyful year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Grace and peace, Joe, Laurie, Sam, Levi and Sarah

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.  :)

Where you go, we'll go!

“Where you go, we'll go”

This is what one of our supporters wrote to us as we shared we were going to be moving to Doulos Discovery School in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The change was very quick and I wasn't sure how folks would respond. This response was one of the beautiful things the Lord gave us to help carry us through this past month and a half of transition. We were asking a lot for supporters to continue to support our family as we moved from Makarios to Doulos Ministries. This response and the many like it have been our peace—a true gift from the Lord.

It very much reminded me of faithful Ruth's life changing decision to follow Naomi back to the land of Judah. We need to have the same quick response to our God when He asks, 'Will you go with me?' This 'go' has been difficult. Sooooo, how ARE we doing? I love that you asked. :) Shockingly (just kidding), God's faithful has been overwhelming. Less than a month and a half ago we were sitting on the north coast making certain plans and now we have our apartment all set up and are a month into our new classes at Doulos in the mountains. WOW. And, every one of you is invited to visit. :)

Some PRAISES:

--Sam (4^th grade), Levi (3^rd grade) and Sarah (1^st grade) LOVE their classes. They have adjusted well to their new surroundings. One of Sarah's first assessments was, 'Mama, they ALL speak English ALL day.' This is the first time the kids are in an English-speaking school! :) The assessment of many people at Doulos is said with surprise, 'Your kids know A LOT of Spanish!' Yes, yes, they do. :)

I also had a First Day of School Culture Shock when we remembered that this school like a normal school. I needed to send pencils with my kids....AND lunch, and, oh my goodness, my kids needed breakfast! Luckily, we got it squared away and the kids didn't need to fast on their first day!

--The kids have made some fun new friends while being thankful for their friends back on the north coast.

--Joe has had some wonderful experiences exploring the mountains in our area and has jumped into Spanish classes. He is still considering more university classes to complete his bachelor's degree, but we are waiting on that until our family can settle in a bit more.

--I, Laurie, am getting used to my new surroundings. I enjoy the challenge of helping students who are struggling and I have a 9^th/10^th grade art class that I am loving!! We very much enjoy our apartment and we've got outstanding neighbors—am I right, Jon and Rachel Sawyer!!?? :)

I have two very important prayer requests:

--Please pray for our wounded hearts as we are still transitioning. We have heard the 'go', we have 'gone', now we desire to healthily grow and blossom with the ministry of Doulos.

--We really need your prayer support for supporters. In the transition, we have lost a few supporters and need to replace them. Please join us in prayer for this need we are facing. If you'd like to join our support team, we'd be so thankful. Here's where to find our giving page: https://give.doulosministries.us/?donateTo=79032

Thank you to all of you who take the time to read this and pray for us. Your prayers are powerful and we feel them. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of financial support and thank you for the support that y'all have and do send in. We are unable to work toward the valuable mission of Doulos (doulosdiscovery.org) without your faithfulness and sacrifice. We are incredibly thankful!!

Doulos' Mission Statement

Educating and equipping servant leaders

through Christian discipleship and expeditionary learning 

to impact the Dominican Republic

Grace and peace,

Joe, Laurie, Sam (who goes by his first name of 'Joseph' at school!), Levi and Sarah

Doulos Discovery School Pix

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"

Fifth Year Anniv and the Future.......

Celebrating our FIFTH year in the Dominican Republic with Makarios.

Yes, we took our initial one year commitment and blew it up. It has been an amazing ride. This overseas living stuff has been quite an experience for our family. When we moved here Sarah was 6 months old and Levi had JUST turned 3 and Samuel was 4! Incredible where five years have gone.

Here's a pic of our Makarios school staff and kids for 2017-2018.  So many stories behind each of the faces in this picture.  Your prayers and your gifts directly bless the lives of all the people in this picture and well beyond!  

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are they wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

This verse is so true for our lives in general, but so specifically in these past five years. One of the significant ways that God has shown His wonderful works to us is the generosity of His people as they support us financially to do this work. The faithfulness, the commitment, the prayer, the sending in extra since 'we just had a it laying around and didn't need it'. The timeliness of gifts has stopped us in our tracks as times. Truly amazing. We are so thankful for everyone who gives, prays, comes down, takes interest, lets us crash, lends us vehicles, lends us snow pants, etc, and encourages us. You are truly one of His wonderful works in our lives.

Si Dios quiere.....

One of the best things I have learned from the Dominican culture is to hold the future very loosely. Anything spoken of in the future is met with a Si Dios quiere. If the Lord wants. So, I will speak of our future plans and hold those plans very loosely so that God has space to actually determine our steps.

Since our plans to stay forever have never been the plan, the job of Principal has always been on the Makarios website. A couple of years ago a principal approached Makarios expressing interest. He was interviewed (by me) and hired. He's been learning the language this past year and is starting this 1 August officially as the Principal of Makarios. This will be the first year in over twenty years that I am not preparing in August for school to start. Ryan is going to be a wonderful leader for the Makarios School; I have no doubt! That does not negate the strangeness I will feel in August. Prayers are very much appreciated.

So, here's where the si Dios quiere comes in. Makarios has generously given our family a sabbatical and their blessing to take time to refresh and get renewed. As Makarios grows the need for missionary care has been evident and Makarios is proactively working on that. Our sabbatical is part of that wisdom.  

This past year, in particular, has been quite challenging on a few different levels.  Ex-pat/missionary life is full of 'good to meet you's' and 'goodbye's'.  One way this past year was so challenging as we had a to say goodbye to two American Makarios families, the Young's and the Albright's,  that were very close to us.  Here is a picture of Ashly Albright and I in Haiti when our Married w/Kids Moms group zipped over to Haiti for a couple of days.  

August will be time as a family and resting as my duties as principal will officially be over. In September we will travel to Michigan where we will attend a missionary care camp called Alongside. It is an almost three week time to reflect, heal, grow and refresh. The end of September will take us to Indiana where we will visit with our family and friends before heading to Austin, TX in October. We will be in Austin until 15 October. The rest of October and November will be spent in prayer and reflection about what God has for our next steps and a decision will be made in December.

Just a little update about the rest of the Majcher Fam:

Sam, who is 9, loves school, Legos and math. So much so he decided to participate in the Math Summer School with kids in middle school even though he is in 4^th grade. Who is this kid? :) He is kind to his friends and has a soft heart. He was baptized in June and participates in communion which he very much enjoys.

Levi, who turns 8 in August and in 3^rd grade, is very excited about having his classmates from Chichigua over to celebrate his birthday. Levi also loves Legos, which means we are forever stepping on those little pieces! Levi enjoys school. The two American families who left have kids Levi's age and he (and the rest of us) misses them terribly. Levi was also baptized in June and participates in communion which he also very much enjoys.

Sarah, who is 5 and in 1^st grade, is the spitfire of the family. Most people say she takes after me. (??!!??) Sarah loves school. She loves to sing and play with her friends and our neighbors. She loves going barefoot and getting dirty. She wore high heels to one of our communities and then realized it was a terrible idea, so she took them off and went barefoot. Anyone who has been in Chichigua is cringing right now! :)

Joe, who is in his 40's :), has started taking Spanish class and is doing well. He continues to work with the boys in growing their English reading skills as the Makarios School is all in Spanish. He is also working on teaching Sarah to read in English. He continues to read through and discuss the Bible with the kids. Joe is a pretty intense Bible teacher, so these kids are getting quite a Biblical education. They are almost through the Old Testament.

Thanks for reading this far! We value your interest in our family and your prayers. As always, if you are interested in being a monthly supporter or give a one time gift, God always uses the timing of both to be a profound blessing to us. You can give at http://www.makariosinternational.org/donate.html

Until later......si Dios quiere,

Los Majcher

Some pix to enjoy

 

The Makarios School Christmas Program never disappoints.  Cute kids, singing, dancing and the Gospel.  Thank you, Jesus, for humbling Yourself to come to Earth as a Baby.  

                                              Sarah's class sang and dance as burros.  :) 

                                                          Levi is my little Christmas elf.

                The boys' first time rollar skating!  It was fairly success with only minor bruises.  :)

 Levi's class was tasked with honoring the Mirabal Sisters, important ladies in Dominican history,  on                                                                       25 November.

              Sarah and Robin, my goddaughter, in Chichigua being read to by one of our moms, Dido.

                   Can you find two monkeys in tree?  Sam and Levi love climbing this tree at church!

 Samuel was selected to help raise the flag.  Every morning at Colegio Makarios we sing the Dominican national anthem and raise the Dominican flag.  The only flag with an open Bible on it.

                                         Levi was Noah in his class' chapel presentation.

 Sarah's kindergarten class shared about the coming of the Spaniards to the Dominican Republic.                                       Sarah was a Spaniard.  Such a pretty Spaniard...if you ask me! 

                                             Levi was also a Spaniard.  How cute is he?

 Sam had his good friend, Juan Carlos, over to  the house to play with Legos.  This Lego set is from                                                                    Juan Carlos' sponsor. 

I'll end this picture section with Sarah, the fashionista.  Orange pumpkin shirt, pink skirt and                                                           Spiderman boots...yeah, that's about right! :)