I love a good yearly planner and almost get a little giddy switching from one year to the next. Are there any other dinosaurs like me left on the planet? Anyone else who records scheduled events and to do lists with paper and pen? 

A glance through my 2024 planner shows weekly Kids’ clubs, tutoring, women’s activities, weekly leadership meetings, six week-long visiting teams, two camps, black shoes and school supplies given to campers, a wedding celebration in Vietnan, repaired/replaced zinc roofs, garden fences constructed, garden seeds distributed, an eye glass clinic, basic medical training, new youth leadership program initiated, a leader trip to the beach, three Christmas parties, and many meetings with architects and engineers. (Obviously, not in chronological order. ?)

The planner doesn’t record my joy as groups of little girls came up to me after Marcelina’s wedding to ask, “Ina, when we get married, will you help us have a wedding this beautiful?” “Oh yes!” I replied. “And even better!” Hope of more stable families was alive that night as the community participated in what I was told was the first wedding ever celebrated in Vietnan. (Kudos to Amazing Grace and friends who transformed a little poll building into a wedding chapel and made 150 little decorated wedding cakes.)

The planner doesn’t record my despair when our architect/general contractor died unexpectedly and all work on our community campus stopped. 

I could go on for a few hours about the ups and downs of 2024; as I am sure you could as well. This is life, no matter where we are. I am thankful that God’s faithfulness does not change nor his presence with us during the time when all went as planned (or better!) and when everything seemed to fall apart. I am thankful for those of you who prayed for me and for the ministry here in the DR this last year. I am thankful for those of you who gave in 2024. I am thankful for those of you who came during 2024. May God richly bless you for your participation. 

Although we haven’t officially started 2025 yet, my planner is already filling up with groups and activities. Some exciting stuff is going to be happening! Would you please be praying for:

• Four Canadian young women who will be volunteering with us from January 5 to March 10
• The building permit for our open-air multi-purpose building. Pray that we receive the permit quickly!
• A well we hope to drill on our land in January.
• A bathroom we hope to construct on our land in February.
• Construction of the open-air multi-purpose building!!!

As of tonight, combining pledges and donations we have 70% of our goal of $58,000 for the building. Only $17,650 left to give!

If you are an end-of-the-year giver and are still looking for a place to donate, might I recommend a good cause? ?(You can donate here)

Blessings to all and may your 2025 be both joy and faith filled!

Ina

A Little History…

In January 2008, Brad Cowger from Colorado brought a team to construct the first pavilion for The Cercadillo Project. Shortly thereafter a much-needed second pavilion was built by a team from New Hampshire to provide space for our growing ministry. Through the years a total of four wooden pavilions with tin roofs were added to our leased land by teams from Pennsylvania and Virginia. A team from Missouri made a little basketball court in the center of the pavilions. These pavilions have served us well but are now termite ridden and the crumbling cement floors are a tripping hazard. The bigger issue is that the lease terminates in August 2025 and is nonrenewable.

In Fall 2021, God miraculously provided the funds to buy a little over two acres of virgin land with a clear title. Did you catch the two miracles in the previous sentence? 1. I had been looking for land since 2007 and this was the first with a clear title. 2. At just the right time God provided the funds to buy the land!  

The ministry began in Cercadillo but has now expanded to the neighboring community of Vietnan. Our land is located between these two communities. Aren’t we glad we serve a God who can see the future?

My plans WERE…
I thought that by this fall we would be launching a capital campaign. I thought we would have a well-developed site plan with 3D renderings and a detailed proposed budget outlining various construction stages for our school building. However, that has not been finished due to the surprise death of the engineer/project manager.  

A new direction…
As I was praying and contemplating what we could possibly do, Brad Cowger (from 2008) called to ask about bringing a team in the spring to “help meet any need we might have.” As we talked, the suggestions of other advisors were confirmed. It was time to think about a different type of building.

We are now planning a large multi-purpose pavilion (40 ft X 72 ft) with cement poles, an Aluzinc roof and a cement floor. The roof will be high enough to allow for basketball and volleyball, thus meeting one of the requirements for a DR school. In the future the building can serve as the school cafeteria as well. In the meantime, it will be used for our ongoing activities: Kids’ Club, tutoring, summer camps, various community Bible studies and meetings, and the expansion of our current ministries to include church services, employment opportunities, ESL classes, sports outreach, etc.

How can you get involved?

• Join us in praying specifically for this first development on our land.
• Give to help us reach the goal of $58,000. We already have $35,000! Only $23,000 to go! Donate here.
• Bring a group this spring to help with the construction. There are still a couple of weeks open.  

How thankful I am for all of you who continue to journey with us!  May God richly bless you for your partnership.

-Ina