community...church...Altagracia

This summer we spent quite a bit of time with a community called Altagracia. It is located about 10-15 minutes outside of Barahona. We would call it a village, but in the Dominican, these particular villages are called bateyes. The people who live in Altagracia are of primarily Hatian desent and live in poverty. Children of the Nations serves the children in this bateye, providing education, spiritual direction, health care and family support. In the photos above, you will meet Wilson, Manuel (pictured with Vic) and Yelin (pictured with Carly). These three young men, in their early 20's, are leading this community spiritually in the way of Jesus. (see group photos) They have stepped out in faith to lead courageously ever since their pastor died unexpectedly four months ago. The community of Christ followers (church) is a small group made of predominately of young people and children. There are a few adults, but not many. Each Sunday, Yelin teaches the children Bible stories from the life of Jesus and others. It is a precious sight to see the children gathered around Yelin each Sunday morning. Manuel and Wilson teach and share truth with the adults and teens. It is beautiful to see this team of young guys share the love of Christ with their community. Wilson is also principal of COTN's pre-school - kindergarten program in Altagracia. He and Manuel also attend university in Barahona. Yelin is also taking classes. They need our support. Learn more about the mission of COTN and the Dominican Republic from this website - http://cotni.org You can also donate to this mission here. We, the Woodwards, have a special place in our hearts for this community and these young men. We love them! Please join us in prayer for Altagracia, specifically Manuel, Wilson and Yelin.

Interns serving

The interns, Julia pictured with a little boy on her back, Carly giving swimming lessons, Laura helping a girl with her decoration and Olivia teaching volleyball, served in their giftings and passions this summer. Most of these pictures were taken at a kids camp where around 90 kids from the bateys came for three days of fun, games, lessons and encouragement. These intern ladies were a big part of making the camp a success.

Las Internas

Monique and our friend Bethany (see pictured with Carly W.) were blessed to serve as intern leaders for COTN's intern program in the Dominican Republic. The young women, Carly, Olivia, Julia and Laura lived with Dominican families for their 8 weeks in country. Here is a little more info. on this program.

The 8-week Global Internship Program is a hands-on, cultural immersion opportunity for students 18 to 24 years old to serve for eight weeks during June, July and August. As an intern, you will work and interact daily in COTN villages/bateyes with national staff, other interns, and our children. You can read more about this program here - http://www.cotni.org/pages/intern

Laura and Carly, pictured with health clinic lead nurse Yaneth, helped out in the clinic and also taught hygiene and health classes in the bateys for teen girls. Olivia and Julia, pictured with one of their English classes, taught classes and helped out in the office with staff. One of the growing experience each of these young women had was living with a host family; such an excellent way to be immersed in the culture.

Monique and Bethany led morning devotionals, evening times of sharing and a retreat throughout the summer. It was a wonderful summer for all...growing in trusting God and others. Our Ellie and Carly were enriched by the relationships that developed with these young ladies. They also took part in serving alongside them in their ministry. Beautiful! Thanks be to God for all He is doing.

Origami and Dance

It was so much fun watch the Jacobsen family serve with their gifts and talents. Pete, Lauren and Eric showed the teen girls origami and taught a priceless lesson on living for Christ in freedom. The verse Eric taught was Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoik of slavery. Kate and Liz taught dance to a praise song with the other group of teen girls in Don Bosco. After the dance, she and Kate spent time with the girls, getting to know them and letting them ask questions. Beautiful! Both of these lessons involved learning while engaging the girls with a hands on activity...something they will always remember. I think the family learned from the teens while giving too. We've seen several family teams experience the love of Christ and share their hearts over the last two years in the Dominican Republic. I love the fact that the COTN Venture program makes this possible. Check it out - http://bit.ly/pWigj1

Jacobsen family team

During our last two weeks at Casa Batesada we were blessed by the Jacobsen family, who stayed with us for a week. Eric, pictured with origami, and family were on the final week of a 5 week sabbatical spent in the Dominican Republic. Eric pastors 1st Presbyterian Church of Tacoma. His wife Liz, pictured with a Bible, brought their kids to the DR to be immersed in another culture. Eric spent some of his time completing his second book...check out his first one on Amazon -http://amzn.to/ojrg08 It is titled, Sidewalks in the Kingdom.

Liz and Kate shared interpretive dance with the girls in Don Bosco and Altagracia. They used contemporary worship music and put a dance together for the girls to learn; beautiful and the girls loved it. Eric, Pete his younger sister taught a Bible lesson, following Jesus in freedom, grace and truth, using origami. Awesome! More photos of this coming in the next blog.

Knicker bocker - Knicker bocker

Click on this link to see the fun -http://vimeo.com/27369830
Laughter is such good medicine and our family took in daily doses of laughter this summer in the Dominican Republic. Sometimes the laughter and fun were provided by Americans and often by our Dominican friends. In this little video, our friend Paula from Des Moines, Wa, shares a little activity with the children in Altagracia. Paula is such an encourager for our family and everyone I think. Can you tell she is a music teacher among her many other talents.

Home with more stories to tell

We arrived home in Friday Harbor at 5:30 a.m. on Thurs. Aug. 4th. We left Santo Dominog on Wed. at 2:50 p.m. and arrived in Seattle at around 12:30 a.m. on Thurs. There was some concern that tropical storm Emily might cause delays in our flight, but thanks be to God, the storm stalled in the Carribean and our flight left on time. The damaging high winds did not hit the Dominican Republic, but heavy rains caused some serious flooding in the DR and Haiti. Please keep these people in your prayers. The photos we've seen show flooding that is displacing people from their homes.

There are so many stories yet to be told from our time in the Dominican Republic...so we will continue to write...stay tuned. Our family really became good friends with the Casa handyman Leo. What a great guy! He and his wife are expecting there first child and he announced this to us a week ago. We are so excited for them.

Speaking of Baseball

I Love Baseball is a program that COTN offers young guys in Barahona and the nearby bateys. I love the goal of the program...

“Our goal is to help develop young men into leaders and encourage them to pursue an education and spiritual growth while training for a career in baseball.”

I had the opportunity to check in with manager Rudy and coach Maximo and see the guys on the team. The day I stopped by the field the older guys were playing a game against another local team. The younger ones, ages 11-14 were on the sidelines. This baseball program is unlike any other in the Dominican Republic as most young baseball prospects in the Dominican Republic abandoned their education to pursue baseball with a baseball academy located near Santo Domingo. The percentage of young men who ever make to Major League Baseball is very very small. When baseball is over for young men they are left without an education or any direction in life. ILB offers them an eternal perspective as well as an education. Would you consider sponsorship of one of the players? This program needs our support today. It goes against the cultural grain in the Dominican Republic and offers hope to these kids. Check out the website for more information. Check out the website at...http://ilovebaseball.org

Native Shoes for kids

My last trip out to the bateys was a trip to Algodon to see Barclay Klingel's team from Seattle, distribute new shoes to the children who are in COTN's program. Native Shoes, see this website, http://www.nativeshoes.com Barclay is pictured in the truck off loading shoes. This is his second visit to the DR and after his first visit he saw the huge need for shoes for kids. A boy in Algodon, Luis Sneaks, inspired Barclay and birthed a vision for shoe distribution for these needy kids. He researched on the internet all weather shoes and found Native Shoes which is located in Vancouver, B.C. Barclay shared with them the need and they generously donated 1,200 pairs of shoes.

God's leading again evidenced here through others, for the sake of others...Hallelujah!

New Smiles

Dentist Paul was assisted by friend Ana and medical student Johani in the clinic two weeks ago. Paul made teeth for a number of adults and chlldren and gave them new smiles. Everyone was so grateful for his tireless work here. He and Ana went non-stop for at least 10 hours a day it seemed. They did get an unexpected break when their air compressors died one day. Oops!

Larimar Mine Trip

Last weekend we took a very wild ride up the mountain to see the Larimar mines. Larimar is a beautiful blue stone and when polished make beautiful rings, necklaces and bracelets. The roads up to the mines are horrendous and on this day we encountered torrential rains on the way up. It was really very dangerous. Once we reached the mines, the miners were running for cover and getting out of the mines as fast as they could to avoid being electrocuted. The lifespan of a Larimar miner is much shorter than most any other work here in the Dominican.

The hole is owned by one man and he hires workers to dig the mine and mine it. You can probably guess who makes most of the money from the mining of the stone. The mine owners have just three more years of mining and then the government takes over the land. It looks like there is much exploration going on right now. Time is running out for the mine owners. The government will probably lease the land and take some of the profits.

Fun and Games

I'm always blessed by seeing children and their creativity in the bateys. The games they create remind me that God has created us (humans) with curiosity, desire and passion for living. These children encouage me each day I visit and play with them. All of the Americans who come here experience the joy of the children...yes there are some difficult scenes, I don't deny that, but the joy and laughter often prevail here in the simpicities of life refreshes my soul. I'm including a little video of some girls in Don Bosco who got together for some fun hand clapping.

I'm convinced that American life is robbing children of the creativity God has placed in them. The beauty of play and relationship building in the midst of play can be a missing link for many American kids. God knows how we can reconnect with the simplicities of living...will we listen.

Child Sponsorship

Child Sponsorship through COTN is a huge blessing for our children here in the Dominican Republic. Monique and I were riding the bus the other day with two precious girls, Marilese (pictured with me) and Francisca (with Monique). They are so cute. To the best of our knowledge, the two of them need sponsors. Our good friend Goose Torres from Summit Church in Orlando, FL sponsors three boys, see photo, and has built a beautiful relationship with them through letters and visits here. Would you prayerfully consider sponsoring a child in the Dominican Republic?

Here is some more information from the COTN website...www.cotni.org

Village Partnership - $32/month

Our Village Partnership Child Sponsorship Program provides for a child living with destitute caregivers or a family who is unable to properly provide for them. Monthly sponsorship provides for a child's enrollment into our program which includes education, medical care, daily nutrition through our feeding center, and more. Each child in our Village Partnership Program is assigned multiple sponsors to fully fund their care. Sponsors are encouraged to communicate via letters with their sponsored child and will receive at least three updates from their child per year. (View available children now.)