The question mark represents what might be coming soon! There's a $37,500 match, which ends Dec. 21, that will help us get a camp up and running. But, maybe you're wondering.......... Why a camp? Well......., I'm glad you asked!
If you’ve been to Freedom you’ve heard us talk about why the school exists. The goal is to see students glorify the Lord with all that they have. Because of that, we think students will be excellently educated, and excellently discipled. However, inside the course of a normal school day, we are busy; making the most of every minute as a bilingual school, accomplishing, among many things, dual language arts programs within 7.5 hours. The important foundation is being laid. We can’t disciple without it, but how do we find more time to answer Luisanna’s question, “My boyfriend wants to kiss me, so should I?” or Marcia’s question about drinking wine that her stepfather bought her for her birthday. These are both fifth graders, like the ones pictured below. We do find time within the school, and I’m extremely thankful to have been involved in both of these discipleship opportunities. However, think about this?What if kids were provided with overnight experiences, with God-fearing leaders and teachers, and entire conversations could be had about these topics; actual hours devoted to it. The odds are stacked against our students. They don’t have many, if any, Godly examples in their lives so the possibility of another avenue into their lives excites me. The camp provides more time. If you're excited about it like we are and would like to help out, don't wait too long. A little over $11,000 has been given, and the match ends soon! Click here for more information.
Each afternoon in the school, Christmas songs about Jesus's birth can be heard coming from the classrooms. We are gearing up for our Christmas program on Tuesday (you can see the kids waiting to rehearse at the right), but the impact has already been occurring. Week after week, students have sung Biblical truths which we pray have taken up root in their lives. Week after week, construction workers have heard the songs, that even now they join in singing. And, tomorrow night we'll present Biblical truths to parents, and our prayer is the same. That the true meaning of Jesus' birth impacts them in such a way that they understand their need for a Savior in light of a loving, Holy God.
On the family front, we are all back together in the Dominican. Kinsey and Elle joined us this past week, and our hearts couldn't be any more full! It's been a year since Kinsey has been here, and almost a year for Elle. They have jumped right back into ministry alongside us, and it's been neat to see them rekindle relationships with Freedom missionaries, staff, and students. We pray that their time spent here builds those around them up, as well as refreshes and renews their hearts, too.
And, to you, our supporters, you make our hearts full, too. We honestly thank God for bringing you into our lives, and for sharing in ministry with us. We hope we can communicate how much we value you, and appreciate your partnership. It'll be so wonderful to stand alongside you all in glory one day and see the impact that the Lord made through each one of us in the lives of Dominicans. Our love, Josh and Toni
