If you have ever heard me talk in depth about The Cercadillo Project, you have most likely have heard me speak of “My Maine Ladies”… friends from New England who traveled to the DR many times over the years. Their original visit in 2008 birthed our sewing and crafting initiative. Many times, they came to introduce a new product that our women could make. One time they came to prepare materials for tutoring and in January 2022 they came to make curtains for our mission base. Always they came to encourage. Always there was much laughter.
There were four key ladies, with occasional others as well. We lost Janie Keith to cancer in 2022 and Jean Smith in 2023. Last night I received word that Susan Brindle passed. Three of “My Maine Ladies” are gone. I deeply feel the loss of those three today. Three ladies who supported me and our ministry here through the years with their praying, giving and serving. Three ladies who I am sure heard “Well done” as they entered eternity.
Today as I am processing this grief, I am also reminded of the how many, many others have supported this ministry through the years, and I am thankful. Today I am hopeful knowing that the same God who sent us “The Maine Ladies” at just the right time is calling and preparing others to fill their shoes. As we continue to pray for and plan for the development of our community campus, we know we need those who will come for short term trips, those who will help raise resources to build, and those who will come and plant their lives here. Might you be part of the exciting future that God has in store for our communities of Cercadillo and Vietnan?
Here are some ways we are reaching the whole person,whole family and whole community with the love of God here in the Dominican Republic!
A Summer To Remember
Wow. What a summer!
78 kids, 3 camps
150+ pairs of black shoes distributed (required for kids to attend public school)
360+ school supplies given
40+ pairs of glasses given at a free vision clinic with a gospel message!
3 incredible church partners
All that adds up to 1 AMAZING SUMMER! Thank you for all you do to support the ministry.
A Message From Ina
I love summer camp! I love giving our kids the chance to just be kids, if even for a short time… laughing, participating in crazy games, singing lively songs, hearing engaging Bible stories, making crafts and receiving lots of positive attention from the staff.
We strive to have high, consistent behavioral expectations of our campers with an emphasis on “catch ‘em being good!” Three examples of how this is promoting behavioral change are:
“R” is an 11-year-old girl who lives with a very angry mom. In turn, “R” is a very angry child who tends to be quite mean to others. One day during crafts she helped another girl who was struggling! The staff noticed and mentioned to the kids in that activity that “R” was modeling our theme for that day about helping others. “R” had been called out for something good and she began to blossom just a little.
The staff told me about this, and I checked three times to be sure we were talking about the same girl! We then recognized her in front of the whole camp. When I called her name to come up front she did what many do, she hung her head as if in shame, as if she was about to get in trouble. After hearing that she was being recognized for applying the day’s lesson, it was as if the blossom opened before our eyes. She smiled and kept smiling and had no more behavior issues during the week.
“M” is a 9-year-old boy who during our first week of camp in June was refusing to follow our basic rules and was repeatedly disrespectful to both staff and campers. After many attempts of trying to redirect him, I had to tell him he couldn’t participate any longer. (I hate sending kids home!)
“M” wanted to return for the second week of camp and became one of our target kids for extra attention and prayer. Throughout the day various staff tried to “Catch him being good!” Every day he completed without behavior issues we pulled him aside to celebrate him with High 5’s and words of encouragement, and “M” made it through the entire week!
“K” was one of our target kids last year, a 9-year-old boy who was no longer in school due to his behavior issues. One of the staff connected well with him and “K” was able to stay the entire week. This was a huge accomplishment for him.
Fast forward a year and “K” blended in well with the other campers. In fact, he blended in so well that I almost forgot he was so difficult the year before!
Do we have 100% success? No! Have we significantly changed the chaotic homes they are returning to? No! But hopefully they leave camp feeling seen and loved, having understood that they can choose better behavior and for at least a few days having had the chance to just be kids.
I love summer camp!
-Ina
Black Shoes
Black shoes are a requirement to attend public school in the DR. No shoes, no school! (Pic on the left) 6 year old Franchesca being helped to find the best fitting pair of donated black school shoes. (Pic on the right) 16 year old Franchesca helping a boy try on donated black school shoes. We love seeing our youth mature and help those coming up behind them. Way to go, Franchesca!
