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!