Tuesday, much better!

It's starting to look more like a school! Here are some pictures and a few videos:


Odilsia, a shining light in our school, handing out the pan to all of our kids. She walks around to each class every morning to make sure that the kids eat all their food and drink their cup of water!


Charlie helping to carry hot cups of avena (an oatmeal drink) to the classrooms


Cristina's class waits in a perfect line after singing


Kim's class stays in line as they walk to their classroom


Ashley's class is mostly made up of the students who were with us last year, with the exception of 3 students, and so they have learned how to line up. We frequently remind them that they are the examples for the rest of our students.


Profe Lorena's (Lauren) class acts like a train as they walk into their room


I managed to take a video of each class while they were mostly staying focused on what they were supposed to be doing. It's hard to believe that 5 school days ago the kids were going crazy! That's not to say that Ashley class doesn't have a fight break out every 10 minutes, or that Lauren's class doesn't burst out in tears every 5 minutes, or that all of Kim's class sits and plays well together, or that Cristina's class doesn't have their fair share of not wanting to share! It does mean that we're seeing improvement, and that's exciting. I can't wait to get to the end of the first 6 weeks and see how much more smoothly it will run! Here the videos that make life in Colegio Makarios look easy:


Ashley's class. Notice Rachel and Luis Fernando are sharing!


Cristina's class during recess.


Kim's class is playing with little blocks!


Lauren's class plays at their tables!

Day 4

This was right after school. Exhaustion. The kids were pushing the limits today. Lauren had 2 criers/screamers that were sent home. She had 6 boys acting out all day. Ashley had multiple fights (once she was breaking up one and looked over and Kendall was breaking up another one) and had a biter. Cristina had 2 criers pretty much all day. Kim had a 2 criers and 2 choosing to not behave well.

Pray for us this week. It will be our first full week. The kids are starting to get to know the routines and are starting to push into the rules to see exactly where they lie.

Pray for good rest. Pray for perseverance. Pray for the love of Christ to come out even when we are at the end of our rope and that one kid keeps acting out. Pray that we would be filled from our own personal time with God that we might pour out to these kids, their parents, the community. It's not easy, but by the grace of God we will see that when we are weak He is strong.

Praise God that right now in MonteLlano a thunderstorm is passing over. There are few things so relaxing as falling asleep to the pouring rain and the rolling thunder!

Fotos from the last few weeks

Here are some of the things that have happened over the last month:


Welcome home, Lauren!! I tried to get a picture of everyone as they came in but I forgot my camera after Kendall. Oh well, you get the point. We picked them up at the airport and probably yelled a lot!


We had movie night at the Mak house and watched The Sting with Robert Reford and Paul Newman. It was SO good. If you haven't seen it you should!


Cara modeling our fridge in true Dominican style. We had to buy a new one since we're 4 of us in the apartment now with Kendall and that tiny thing was barely holding our food. I don't have a picture of the new one but it's baby blue and from the 70s.


Kendall arrived!! Welcome home, new roomie!


Welcome home dinner for everyone coming back from MTI. We played the greatest game ever: Telephone Pictionary. If you haven't heard of it let me know and I will teach you. It's sooo funny!


Eating fish in Maimon. Apparently Ashley saw me taking the picture!


This was Anne's meal...it could talk. And, so says Anne, it was delicious.


Emilio and his popcicle-stained tongue


Ambiolix was looking to make sure that there wasn't any tiny piece of chocolate left in his ice cream


Ohh goofy Memo! This picture's for Kendall


Wilsenci!


Migue and his beautiful little sister Katy

¡El Tercer Día de la Escuela!

The 3rd day of school was possibly the hardest yet. I think the kids are starting to learn the routine and are now pushing the limits to figure out all of the rules and procedures. We had all but one student show up! We didn't have as many bites or crying kids. But each classroom seemed to have its own issues cropping up. But we still walked away from the day recognizing that the Lord has provided strength and patience. We now have a 4 day weekend and we're excited for rest! Here are some pictures from the day:


Ashley is teaching her class the sign for when she wants them to be quiet: Mouths covered and hands up


Ashely's class motto is PUEDO (Spanish for I can...)


Cristina was teaching through art.


Lauren's class was learning the rules of the classroom during Morning Meeting


Kim's class was learning about the bathrooms. One already broke. We called Miguel to fix it and he said that the was MUCHISIMO toilet paper clogging the toilet...


Time to eat breakfast (sorry these aren't in order... they eat before they have Morning Meeting). Andy enjoyed his avena (oatmeal), bread, vitamin, and water.


Coming in from singing outside. Cristina's class is asking like butterflies.


Some parents are still helping their little ones get adjusted to life in school.


Everyone lines up at the beginning of the day to sing and pray. Look at how straight those lines are!


Ashley's Pre-K 2 class


Cristina's Pre-K 1 class


Lauren's Pre-K 1 class


Kim's Pre-K 1 class

Second Day of School

Our second day of school was infinitely better than the first. We still had about 15 kids cry at the beginning of the day but by lunch time, only one was still crying outside of class! The students are starting to figure things out and the teachers are getting to know their classes. Here are a few pictures, in no particular order, of the second day of Colegio Makarios:


Profe Lorena's class is learning where the bathrooms are and how we use them


Morning Meeting time. Do you see how lovely that circle is?! They are working on learning each others' names.


Anne, Charlie, Riley, Holly, Kendall, myself and Jody (when not helping Odilsia in the kitchen) have be spending our days holding kids who aren't sure about being in school. In this picture, Anne is holding Danillo, who didn't want to be in school for the first day and a half but then changed his mind and now loves it


Profe Ashley's class had their Morning Meeting outside.


Profe Kim's class is also learning names.


Merili, Nathali, and Ariela walk into Profe Lorena's class


Profe Kim's class walking to their aula


We're still working on lining up with their own class, but considering it was only the second day, I think that they are doing quite well


DarlingFrid gets ready to pray


Leury. The first day he came to school he had on a red Phat Farm shirt. Today he came in a Blue's Clues shirt.


Everyone at the front of the school waiting to be called to get in line


Monday night, somewhere around the MonteLlano area, someone burned a sugar cane field. The result is that the entire ground is covered in cachipa, ash, and as the day goes on, it falls from the rooftops, tree, etc and go through the windows. Yesterday was a day covered in cachipa.


Jody has been helping out Odilsia in the kitchen


Odilsia has been working so hard to make breakfast and lunch for roughly 60 kids. Not to mention washing all their dishes and cleaning the school. And helping us with kids who don't speak much Spanish but rather speak Haitian Creole. She has had 2 very full days.


Ok, so this is from the first day, but it's too cute to not post. Cristina (teacher for Pre-K 1), Lauren (Lorena, teacher for Pre-K 1), Kendall (teacher's aide), Ashley (teacher for Pre-K 2), and Kim (teacher for Pre-K 1)

First Day of School!

Our first day of school was yesterday! It was an exciting day that had a few bumps along the way. Here are the stats:

48 students showed up

15 cried

5 cried all day

2 kids bit

1 kid tried to escape

13 staff members made it to the end of the day

1 million (roughly) mini prayers were said all day

We are so joyful for the kids that the Lord has given us. It’s a huge job and, at times, a scary one. But we know that we have been placed here and that our students have been handpicked to be taught by us. Continue to pray for us as we teach rules, give hugs, discipline in love, and persevere through the beginning of this new school year.

Just before the madness began

This is how super excited the teachers are!! Hooray!

Our wonderfully amazing new cook: Odilsia!! She is an amazing person!

“Ok, everyone get in line. We’re going to start singing. Now, you go over there. Wait, you’re line is that way. Oh, don’t cry…” etc.

First time to get in their classrooms! Look at that lovely line!

A lot of parents wanted to stay and watch the beginning of the day

Franchesca, Jeson, and Bernito praying before entering Profe Ashley’s room

Profe Lorena’s (Lauren) and Profe Ashley’s classes

Walking into their new classroom!

Ambiolix and the rest of Profe Kim’s class singing

Yunairi and Bianca Nicol

Wili and Raidi are new friends

The End! Por fin. It was a great/crazy/hard/full/fun day.

Looking forward to day 3 after 10 hours of sleep tonight!