Feliz Navidad from Colegio Timoteo

Let's Take a Hike up the Mountain

Recently, I have been trying to find ways to connect with some of the older boys, who many have stopped coming to Club. I wanted to do something fun with them, that they would enjoy, but at the same time that would be an intentional time to continue to deepen the relationship with them. I would like it to be consistent but yet keep it a special time with them.  So I have thought perhaps do something special one a month or every other month. At the beginning of the month of November, a group of 12 boys and I climbed up a nearby mountain, Mogote, which most have never gone up before.  As I had been planning this event and as the date came closer I was getting more nervous because the reality was settling in that I was out-numbered to a group of kids from the street, who are not necessarily the most obedient people in the world, and I would be taking them up a mountain where there is quite a bit of risk, and I would be responsible.  One of my requirements for allowing the boys to go was that I needed to get personal permission from their parents. This was a good, but at the same time an interesting and uncomfortable experience. I can imagine it to be a little weird for a parent if someone were to come up to them and say, “Hey, my name is Jim. I have known you boy now for about 4+ years, and I would like to take him up to the top of the mountain, but you and I have never met…” It was nice to finally meet some of the parents and surprisingly, some of the parents had heard of a few things about me, and I literally had no problems getting permission from their parents and their trust. Praise God.

The experience as a whole was actually a very good experience, and the boys totally eliminated all of my fears/ worries that I had had before going up. They behaved really well, and they surprised me because they themselves initiated some deeper conversation. They had several questions about God and the Christian faith. We talked about Mary and what a rosary is… These are two topics that unfortunately really divide the Catholics and the Evangelical Christians here. It was really neat to be able to answer their questions and the fact that they opened up to talk about this and the fact that they took the initiative to start a conversation such as this was very encouraging. This tells me that they do care to know God deeply and that they do have questions that they would like to have answered. When we finally arrived to the top of the mountain, it was such a relief for the guys because it is a pretty intense hike up, but definitely the view made it well worth. It was neat to see them and their excitement because they could see their whole town where they live day in and day out. That sight really makes one think about how small we really are, and how big God really is.

A Special Thanks

I want to send out a Special Thank You to the Youth of the VBS of Union Chapel Missionary Church in Lima, Ohio for your generous contribution for Sports Equipement for our boys. We have been able to buy balls and equipment for sports class and club. we have even been able to introduce new, fun, and team building games to the boys thanks to you. The guys have been thoughly enjoying the blessing that you guys have provided. Thanks so much. God Bless.

The 2013-2014 School Year has Begun

This year, we have had a lot of changes and improvements in Colegio Timoteo.  Before classes began, we had an international training for the entire staff in the Accelerate Christian Education Curriculum.  This has helped us a lot to be a better and more organized school that provides a quality Christian education for its students. The school is growing as well. We currently have 23 students, and it has been such a blessing to see how God is growing the school. We have also had a group of young adults who have been a great blessing by volunteering their time and talents in the school. We also have begun the process of trying to get the school accredited. This will bring on many more benefits for the school and its students and staff, so we are praying that all goes well and that God continues to take control of His school.

Summer Camp 2013

Created in the Image of God- Creado en la Imagen de Dios

This year we had our yearly Summer Camp from June 25^th-28^th. Every year a group from Elmbrook church in Wisconsin comes down to help put on this camp for the boys. This year’s topic was focused on identity and finding your identity in Christ.  This teaching was based on the testimonies of King David and King Saul, and how both were kings and had dealt with some similar things, however, King Saul didn’t allow God to guide his life and King David did, and despite even the bad things that King David had done, because David was a servant of God and obedient to Him, God restored King David’s life and blessed him. I feel that this year’s topic really allowed us to go deeper with our boys and even go deeper within our staff. 

The boys and staff were challenged to make a box that would represent them. The outside of the box represented the things that they think that the people perceive them to be or how they feel they portray to be themselves on the outside. Then they were challenged to share what is “inside their box,” the things that perhaps they don’t outwardly show, but they know themselves to be on the inside. Those things were pasted inside the box because those things are some of the things that make them who they are. The final challenge was then to place hurts and thing that had really affected them in a negative way; things that they have perhaps kept bottled up inside, and they were placed in their box (but not glued).

The final day, we were all blessed to hear the testimony of one of the Elmbrook Team members. This testimony touched everyone present, to hear of the difficult things that this person had gone through and it was so encouraging to hear how God restored her and her life. This left a very reflective moment for all of us, even our boys! We then took those hurts and pains that were inside of our box, and took them out of the box and laid them before the cross as a symbol of giving them over to God. We then burned those hurts and pains and the boys picked up promises that God has for us and replaced those hurts that were inside their boxes with God’s promises for their lives. This camp really opened up the boys and staff to talk about and discuss some difficult things that have happened in their lives. It was really a blessing to see the boys’ reactions when they saw their hurts and pains being burned up in the flames. You could just see this relief come over them as a big weight was just lifted off of them.

 This camp was a huge blessing, and really allowed for the boys, Dominican staff and the Wisconsin group to deepen and strengthen their relationships first of all with our creator, but also with each other.

 

How Deep the Father's Love for us

Something really cool happened today… Within the last month or so, I had noticed that little things in my house were beginning to disappear after some of my guys had been visiting me here in my house. I had a pretty good idea who it was because they were things in particular that I knew he liked, and things that he had brought to my attention, however, I wanted to be very careful in confronting this person because I never want to have the boys feel that I view them as thieves (which unfortunately their responses from others is just that, that they are thieves and delinquents.) So, until I knew for sure I was just going to be aware, and continue loving on them.

Today, this boy who I had suspected had been stealing from me came to me and began saying some weird things. He told me that he didn’t deserve to have the friends that he has and especially me. I was quite confused, but asked him why he thought that. He was hesitant, but he finally opened up, and with much shame in his eyes, confessed that he had stolen from me and he specified each thing that he had stolen from me (which happened to be the very things I noticed missing: toothpaste, nail clippers, a flashlight, etc.) It is pretty crazy how God works because it seems that God has been confronting him a lot in his heart lately because he even said that he felt something telling him that he needed to share this with me, and ask for forgiveness.  He felt very ashamed, but definitely confessed and repented, and was willing to accept the consequences. He had told me that he had wanted to return the things and that he understood that to be the right thing to do, but he explained to me that he had already sold the things for money for food, clothes, etc.  He was afraid because he thought that my love for him would change or that I would view him as a thief. It was neat because I could really minister to him in that time and teach him many things. I explained to him that what had happened hasn’t changed how I feel about him that in fact, he is still very important to me. However I did express to him that it does make me sad to know what has happened, but I am proud of him for having the confidence to confront me and do what is right. I was provided the opportunity to talk to him about character, which with this boy in particular God has given me the privilege to see some of the fruit of all the effort that we have been putting into him to teach him and form in him character. (I am talking like 180 degree change from when I first met him). I told him that even though we ALL have needs, we have the decision to steal or not, and that our “needs” don’t give us the excuse to steal, and that unfortunately through stealing we lose something much greater in value which is our character, trust, integrity. He had told me that he would never steal from me again, and I told him well together we can work on this temptation.

I forgave him, and was given the opportunity to explain to him, WHY Jesus died on a cross for us... We are NONE of us perfect, but even so God sent his son Jesus to die for ALL of our sins, past, present and future....I also explained to him that when we accept Jesus in our hearts, ALL of our sins get erased, and that God no longer sees us. He sees Jesus living within us... It was a very good time to share with him what forgiveness is, and even to just teach him about simple things about house etiquette and boundaries, respecting others... Thank you Lord for working in this boy’s life, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of it. Please continue to reveal yourself to him, and continue to build him up to be a solid son of yours. Thanks Jesus that you paid for all of our sins, past present and future, help us to walk firmly in your ways. In Jesus’s name I pray… Amen.

Marcos Yeroide in Concert

Last night at a local Christian school here in Jarabacoa, Doulos Discovery School, there was an amazing worship concert by a pretty famous Latin Christian artist. Marcos Yeroide was a member of the Christian group, Tercer Cielo (Third Heaven).  

Earlier in the day, the pastor's wife had asked me to look for the boys in the streets and and invite them to go to this concert. So my hunt was on... IT was a little more difficult that day because it had been raining for the past 2 days straight and few people are in the streets... I went to the park, and the local supermarkets where many of the boys work. I found several of the boys, and I had asked them, "If you could go to a concert where a member of Tercer Cielo is going to be... would you go?" Of course the answer was "YES!!" however, a reality would hit them that they couldn't because of money, etc. But when I presented to them a ticket saying that the club would like to invite them to the concert, an overcoming joy would come over their faces. It was so awesome to be able to see their huge smiles. Many of these boy had never been to a live concert in their lives, so for them to go to a concert of a very popular artist was an unbelievable experience for them. IT was neat to be a part of that experience with them as we danced to the music in the stands and doing the wave. I loved to see the faces of the boys as the stage lights were going because they were so memorized by the stage lights, smoke, dancers, and of course, the music. It was a great time to deepen my relationship with some of the boys, and even talk a little bit about who it was we were singing about... Jesus!

Reflections: The Power of God's Church & How HE uses All Things for His Glory

Hey everyone. So Ever since my update email, I have received some responses asking about how I ended up in jail. Just after the experience, my pastor here had asked me to write out  everything that had happened as a reflection for myself... For those who are interested, the following is my detailed reflection, and even how I saw God working in and through this experience.

(Note: This is pretty much in its rawest form)

On Monday morning December 10^th, something happened that I least expected. I had just finished working for the weekend with a group from a church in Wisconsin who was here in the Dominican Republic to see of any opportunities where they could serve in ministry. They had just left Monday morning and I was working at the school when all of the sudden a man walks into the office looking for me. I had assumed that he had some questions about the school and he had asked me if we could talk in private. We began to talk and he had told me that one of the boys that I have been working with is in custody, and he says that he has some clothes/ shoes stored in my house. About a week prior I had allowed this boy to wash his clothes on the roof of my house because this boy in particular lives in the street, and has no place to go, and was in a need of clean clothes and a shower. I had allowed him to take a shower and clean his clothes and he had left his clothes there hanging to dry. They had taken me to the car where they had the boy in the back seat surrounded by officers with large rifles and pistols. I had told him that yes this boy in particular had some clothes at the house because he had washed them there about a week ago. I was told to go get them and that they would wait for me there. Little did I know, right when I got on my motorcycle to go get them, was when they began to pursue me.

When I arrived at my house, I was accompanied by three other officers up to the roof of my house. My neighbor was very worried for me, but I had assured her that everything was going to be fine. We get to the roof of my house and they said that these were not the clothes that they were talking about (they were clothes that I had originally donated to him because he didn’t have any).  I told the officers that these were all of the things that belonged to him. The officers didn’t believe me and demanded that I open my home so that they could search inside. I had told them, “I promise you there is NOTHING of his inside my house!” They still didn’t believe me and demanded me to open the door. This is crazy because this is where I saw God moving the first time in this whole ordeal. I opened the door to my house and told them, “Ok,” and it was crazy because the police just looked in, but something had come over them that they were scared to enter my house. However, they didn’t believe me anyway and they escorted me to the jail.  I literally was forced to drive myself to the police station, with an officer riding with me.

 I arrived at the police station and as soon as I enter they demanded me to take off my belt and such. They took me to the desk where they actually take in the inmates to put me in the jail cell (which let me tell you, are disgusting, they reek of bodily fluids and feces and is the place of being severely beaten by the cops).  This is where I saw God’s hand for the second time because the guy at the desk was very flustered and frustrated because at the time he had been in the process of putting several people in the jail cell, and he had had enough and  just said, “ I can’t do all of this right now! Just put him in the office for now!”  So they put me in the investigation office. While I was there, I was asking why they were taking me in, and what was going on, and no one was willing to give me any answers or tell me anything.  I kept getting accused of doing something I was completely innocent of doing, and I kept saying, “I didn’t do anything, and I don’t know what you are talking about!” I had explained that I work for a ministry that works with the shoe shiners and high-risk boys, but that didn’t seem to matter. I had asked if I could at least call my boss to let them know where I was, but just my luck I was out of minutes on my cell phone, and no one was willing to let me use their phone. Soon after, another crazy God thing, I had actually received a call from the director of the school asking me where I was. I explained to her the situation and she had assured me that they would get me out and had said that she was going to send the co-pastor.

 Finally the co-pastor arrived and it was crazy because he came in to try and get me out, but the police wanted nothing to do with him and sent him out. The thought went through my head, “Wow, I’m never going to get out of here.” While I was waiting I was thinking, “Wow, I brought this up in our meeting last week about letting the authorities know about what it is we do in this ministry, and who works for this ministry, so that they can understand that we are trying to help these boys get out of the things that they are in, and in the end change their lives. However, I was told that they were already aware of this ministry.” The police also brought in my neighbor and another guy who were accused of doing something related to my boy. They were completely innocent as well.

 I remember the police began accusing me of being the accomplice of a theft, and I had told him that no, it was not true, and that I had no idea what it was that they were talking about.  I am completely innocent, and I hadn’t done any of the things that this cop was saying that I had done. It literally got to the point where I just shut up and was thinking “Wow, is this really happening? This man is so stupid!” I felt like Jesus on trial and when he was being accused of things he didn’t do. Jesus remained silent because he knew that the men were already set in their thoughts and there was nothing he could say or do to change them. That was exactly how I felt. 

Soon after that my Senior Pastor walks in with a sister of the church who happens to be a lawyer, and in very high respects in the community. They came in to fight for me as well, and were then also sent out.  The next thing I know, the cops bring in my boy and they have him standing by the wall with officers on either side of him and in handcuffs. The boy was there and just began to stare at me. He said, “Jim, I am  so sorry to get you in the middle of all of this,” and he just began to break down and cry and ask for my forgiveness. Before I had a chance to say anything, the cops were yelling and demanding everyone to shut up, and demanded him to stop crying, and immediately they beat him in the face for crying, and yelled at him to shut up. At this moment, I was enraged within, but had felt helpless to be able to do anything. They then took the boy out of the office.

The next thing I know, another sister from the church who is really well known and respected in our community, came in and she began fighting for me with the police as well. At this point I was almost in tears to see how God was moving and how God uses HIS CHURCH to fight for one another and have each other’s back. However, for fear of the authorities thinking that I did something, when I did not, I fought the tears. I was totally humbled and in awe of God’s great love and power, and to see His church in action. She had asked why they were treating me as a criminal, when no evidence had been found of me doing anything wrong. She was also very upset that they had taken my belt off and she had demanded for all of my things. That was totally a God sent because many times the cops rob you of what you have, and well in my pocket I had an offering that the group had left me for the school of a substantial amount in dollars. First of all, it was a God thing that they didn’t check my pockets, and second it was a God send that He sent this sister who was wise enough to know the ways of the cops and who fought to protect. Honestly, that was a huge relief because the whole time I was worried about that because I was thinking, “Oh man what if they think I stole this money, or what if they steal it from me?” So I very gratefully emptied my pockets and passed everything to her, and she was also sent out of the office.

Now that they had emptied our pockets, they were getting ready to send the two other men and myself into the jail cell, but thank God, the Senior Pastor and the sister who was a lawyer came in to fight for me again. This time it was a success, and God opened up the doors for me to leave, however, I left worried about what would happen to my boy and my innocent neighbors. I had to go with the pastor and the corneal to my house to show him what it was that was at my house. As I was being escorted outside, I saw a line of about ten brothers and sisters from the church that had come to fight for my release.  As I head out the doors I happen to see a couple of the guys that I work with who, with very confused looks on their faces, were asking what I was doing in jail. I said that it was a long story and I would explain later.

The pastor drove the corneal and me to my house, and on the way, the corneal explained to me that a cell phone chip was stolen from a guy who works at the gas station, and that he had fallen asleep, and when he woke up he realized that it was gone. He accused my boy of stealing it. When we finally arrived to the house, I showed the clothes that were left on the roof. The corneal said that it was nothing but trash and said that it is not what they were looking for. 

We took the corneal back to the police station and the pastor took me back to his house for some debriefing. I honestly felt very ashamed for everything that happened, but the pastor reassured me that I did nothing wrong and that if anything, I made a better name for the school/ church. He said that the enemy will try to do all that he can to bring a ministry down, and he explained that I was like Paul. (He still jokes around with me and calls me Paul). He said that I have become a voice for these boys who have no voice, and God is going to use this experience for HIS purpose.

I was so worried about the people that I had left behind in the jail, and the Pastor had reassured me that we need to pray for them, but that I shouldn’t go near the jail for some time. He said that they realize now, that there is a church that is supporting me and they are now aware of the ministry that we’re doing for these boys, and that hopefully we shouldn’t have any other problems. At this moment, the pastors wife said to me, “Jim, didn’t you say something last week in our meeting about informing the authorities about the type of work that we do, so that there is no misunderstanding?” I had said, “YES!” That was something that I was starting to realize as I was getting more involved with the lives of these boys. I realized that many of them have a very bad history, and unfortunately, the people have a very poor perspective of who these boys are. Many times this poor perspective can create some problems. So we began talking about some changes we are going to make as well as boundaries and about trying to sit down with the authorities and present to them what it is that we do, and see how we can work as a team. Come to find out, at one time the police did know about the shoe shiner ministry, but just recently everyone in the town's district was moved out and replaced, and the new authorities were not informed.

When I finally left the pastor’s house I went to my neighbor’s house to see if he was set free.  He was there and he had told me that they were both taken into the cell (where I was heading) and they were beaten. I had apologized for what had happened, and thank God he was very understanding and said that I had nothing to do with this. He knew that my work is trying to help these boys. He told me that the police abuse their authority, which I have definitely found to be true. 

The next day, my boy was released and had to be rushed to the emergency room because of the beating that he endured in jail. Come to find out, he was completely innocent of stealing, and it happened to be another Haitian boy. The Pastor’s wife had told me in our meeting that this experience could totally make me hate this country, or it could create in me an even greater passion for these boys. I have found that my passion has grown immensely for these boys and I now see the desperate need of these boys to have a voice. I am praying that God will allow me to continue to have the opportunity to touch and impact these boys’ lives, and that God will do some amazing transformations in their lives, and that they can become solid, godly men and leaders in their community.