*This is slightly dated, but is a story that we really wanted to share
If you've been reading our blog for a few months now, you probably have a good idea of what Doulos Discovery School (where Christen and I work) is all about. However, for those newer readers, allow me to recap. Doulos is a Christian school in the central mountain town of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. In addition to being a Christian school, Doulos is an expeditionary learning school - put simply, a good portion of our students' learning comes through experience rather than simply classroom intensive instruction. And in addition to being a Christian, expeditionary school, we are a discipleship school that seeks to educate and equip servant leaders and disciples for Christ. And finally, in addition to being a Christian expeditionary discipleship school, we are a financial equal opportunity school. This means that exactly half of our student body attends Doulos on need-based scholarships, while the other half of our students are full-paying. One of the main reasons that Doulos exists is to provide a faith-based community where financially privileged students interact and build strong bonds with students who have grown up in poverty - to bridge economic, cultural, and even religious divisions in the community.
If you've been reading our blog for a few months now, you probably have a good idea of what Doulos Discovery School (where Christen and I work) is all about. However, for those newer readers, allow me to recap. Doulos is a Christian school in the central mountain town of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. In addition to being a Christian school, Doulos is an expeditionary learning school - put simply, a good portion of our students' learning comes through experience rather than simply classroom intensive instruction. And in addition to being a Christian, expeditionary school, we are a discipleship school that seeks to educate and equip servant leaders and disciples for Christ. And finally, in addition to being a Christian expeditionary discipleship school, we are a financial equal opportunity school. This means that exactly half of our student body attends Doulos on need-based scholarships, while the other half of our students are full-paying. One of the main reasons that Doulos exists is to provide a faith-based community where financially privileged students interact and build strong bonds with students who have grown up in poverty - to bridge economic, cultural, and even religious divisions in the community.
That said, I'd like to share about the experience of one particular student that we've had the opportunity to get to know in our first year here. (I will refer to him as Josh as the pronunciation of his name will likely be confusing).
Josh grew up in Queens, NY, the son of a Dominican father and an American mother. He visited the DR (where his dad lives) every summer and spent the rest of the year in school in New York. Being a bright student, Josh was accepted into an Economics and Finance High School in NYC. In addition to being a good student, Josh is a pretty decent baseball player - he is a lefty pitcher with a pretty good hook on his curve ball. Because Dominicans idolize baseball, his father encouraged him to continue playing throughout high school. After his sophomore year, while on his yearly trip to Jarabacoa this past summer, Josh's dad suggested that he stay for a while and work on his baseball skills - if he could improve a little, he may have a shot at making it big. After some convincing, Josh finally agreed that it would be a good experience. However, being a serious student, he also wanted to find a school where he could continue his studies and transfer his credits back to his US high school. He and his dad happened upon Doulos (the only US accredited school and one of just two English/bilingual programs in town) and he enrolled for the semester.
Little did he know the plans that God had in mind for this time beyond baseball. Over the course of our first semester, I had the chance to interact with Josh several times and I was always impressed by his maturity and his intelligence. He was always very thoughtful and respectful, but I honestly knew very little about him. Then, towards the end of his time here, I had a few opportunities to actually talk to him and hear about what was going on in his life. An amazing story emerged of a confused young man who grew up not knowing anything about Christ. However, through the unlikely experience of coming to the Dominican for several months, God worked mightily in his life and He came to accept Christ. He often told people "I thought I was coming here to play baseball, but God had much different plans for me. Now I am a part of a much bigger story." Not only did his testimony give me (and all of our staff) great joy, but the way that his entire class rallied around and encouraged Josh was a thing of beauty that only God can bring about.
At the end of March, Josh headed back to NY to finish the school year at his high school there. The night he was set to fly out, his classmates decided to throw him a going-away party, which Christen and I had the privilege to attend. It was amazing not only to watch Josh show Christ's love to others and encourage them, even as he was the one preparing to leave, but also to witness this group of 17 year olds laying their hands on him and sending him off with a prayer for peace and encouragement. The maturity and level of relationship that many of these kids have with our Savior is such a blessing and encouragement to us and we continually thank God for the work that he is doing in this place. It truly is the Doulos Difference.
Thank you for being a part of all that is going on here; whether it is through prayers, financial support, encouraging words, reading our blog, thinking of us, or all of the above.
As we near the end of this school year (we are done in just over a month), please pray that God would continue to work in this community. Pray for teachers and staff to fill vacant positions such as 3rd Grade, Middle School English, High School Geography and High School English. Pray that God would continue to strengthen us and help us to finish this school year strong! We know He is faithful!
Thanks for reading and Soli Deo Gloria!
jrb
Josh grew up in Queens, NY, the son of a Dominican father and an American mother. He visited the DR (where his dad lives) every summer and spent the rest of the year in school in New York. Being a bright student, Josh was accepted into an Economics and Finance High School in NYC. In addition to being a good student, Josh is a pretty decent baseball player - he is a lefty pitcher with a pretty good hook on his curve ball. Because Dominicans idolize baseball, his father encouraged him to continue playing throughout high school. After his sophomore year, while on his yearly trip to Jarabacoa this past summer, Josh's dad suggested that he stay for a while and work on his baseball skills - if he could improve a little, he may have a shot at making it big. After some convincing, Josh finally agreed that it would be a good experience. However, being a serious student, he also wanted to find a school where he could continue his studies and transfer his credits back to his US high school. He and his dad happened upon Doulos (the only US accredited school and one of just two English/bilingual programs in town) and he enrolled for the semester.
Little did he know the plans that God had in mind for this time beyond baseball. Over the course of our first semester, I had the chance to interact with Josh several times and I was always impressed by his maturity and his intelligence. He was always very thoughtful and respectful, but I honestly knew very little about him. Then, towards the end of his time here, I had a few opportunities to actually talk to him and hear about what was going on in his life. An amazing story emerged of a confused young man who grew up not knowing anything about Christ. However, through the unlikely experience of coming to the Dominican for several months, God worked mightily in his life and He came to accept Christ. He often told people "I thought I was coming here to play baseball, but God had much different plans for me. Now I am a part of a much bigger story." Not only did his testimony give me (and all of our staff) great joy, but the way that his entire class rallied around and encouraged Josh was a thing of beauty that only God can bring about.
At the end of March, Josh headed back to NY to finish the school year at his high school there. The night he was set to fly out, his classmates decided to throw him a going-away party, which Christen and I had the privilege to attend. It was amazing not only to watch Josh show Christ's love to others and encourage them, even as he was the one preparing to leave, but also to witness this group of 17 year olds laying their hands on him and sending him off with a prayer for peace and encouragement. The maturity and level of relationship that many of these kids have with our Savior is such a blessing and encouragement to us and we continually thank God for the work that he is doing in this place. It truly is the Doulos Difference.
Thank you for being a part of all that is going on here; whether it is through prayers, financial support, encouraging words, reading our blog, thinking of us, or all of the above.
As we near the end of this school year (we are done in just over a month), please pray that God would continue to work in this community. Pray for teachers and staff to fill vacant positions such as 3rd Grade, Middle School English, High School Geography and High School English. Pray that God would continue to strengthen us and help us to finish this school year strong! We know He is faithful!
Thanks for reading and Soli Deo Gloria!
jrb
