February Update

The past few months have seemed to fly past since the Slye family came to visit us (and most recently my dad). We have been incredibly busy over the last few months with a number of new opportunities presenting themselves to us. One of the most exciting has been a class that Laura and I have started for teachers on JCS’ staff who want to learn the English language. This has been an amazing opportunity so far, not just for helping others learn the English language, but also to forge friendships with the other teachers and staff at the school. It has also challenged us a great deal in our Spanish speaking abilities, as the classes have to be taught mostly in Spanish for the hour and a half that we meet. Please continue to pray that this would continue to be a time where relationships are made and languages learned.

Laura and I have also begun teaching sports at the school once again. She will be continuing coaching the 3rd through 6th graders in soccer, while I will be coaching American football to the high school boys. It has been a blast to teach the kids football, as many of them do not know even the basics of football (the first week was simply making sure that they didn't keeping throwing the ball down the field every time they had it thrown to them!). Coaching sports has given Laura and I each the opportunity to connect with our students outside of a formal classroom setting.

I have recently been able to connect with a group of American guys who are serving in ministries throughout our area. It has been a huge answer to prayer to begin to foster these relationships with other guys, because it was one of the things that I most missed about being home. There are only two men on staff at the school, so I knew that I would have to branch out in order to find other men to spend time with and lately I have been loving the relationships that I have been creating.

Laura recently spent several days at a women's retreat hosted in our area, but including women serving in Christian ministries throughout the country (It was actually the first time we had been apart over night since we have been here...) She had a great time and was able to connect with several other ladies on the trip. The trip offered her a great deal of quiet time and spiritual reflection, which she had been desiring.

At this point in our Dominican Republic journey, Laura and I are feeling God leading us back to serve at least one more year. There have been struggles with living here, but we feel as though God has faithfully brought us through those difficulties and has given us the desire and passion to return for another year. We would ask that you would all be in prayer regarding whether we should return for this next school year. We would also ask that you would be in prayer that God would bring teachers who are committed and equipped to teach at JCS for this next school year. JCS needs teachers who are willing to commit themselves to the education and development of the kids that we serve.

Thank you all for your continued love and support, we look forward to seeing all of you in June and July when we return home for a few weeks...