Joshua 2013

Joshua team 2013  Julian Rios,  Jonathan Judge, Alyssa Green, Hannah Pettey, Micaela De La Rosa

        Everything that we had heard about the "Joshua Teams" came true and was even better than described, young adults growing their relationship with Christ. We were so blessed to have 5 of the team at our site. Here are their words of their experiences. 

How does one go about explaining an experience that is still being processed…I know not how to directly tell you what I have  seen or felt from the good Lord above, yet I will do my best to communicate what has transpired these past days. 

Allysa and Mic pulling vines in the yard at the new site.

Mic in the hall while the youngest class waits for the bathroom

OK, so we didn't work all the time I guess. Alyssa caught a live snake.

 

I truly had no expectations when I found out I was assigned to work at Genesis, I was unsure what the experience would be like. The only thing I knew is God would make His majesty and splendor evident, as He always does.  One thing that is shown so loudly here, not only in Genesis but in the people as well, is the love they give.  Being able to see the genuine care and appreciation the kids, and teachers exude is ever so humbling. The children have this ability to love you selflessly, without reservation and expectation, the smiles that light up their faces and the hugs. It is just a beautiful thing to see and receive.  They love you not because of what you have to offer, as I feel is the case so often with people, but they love you because you are there, because you play with them and because you talk to them. Though there is a language barrier and many times I find myself blundering over the words, the communication is there, mostly in smiles, laughs and just joy.  Yes this communication is limited, but at the same time relationships are formed, that are true and deep. 

Working with the teachers has been a wonderful learning experience, seeing the patience they have, the compassion, and how God permeates everything they do is…well it makes my heart happy. I love to see God use his people, his people here are being used in so many ways. Every day after lunch we all gather in a circle and sing songs. The teachers do a lovely job of incorporating all the children, and making sure the children have a good time as well. Each child has an instrument, and you can only imagine the clamor that comes with it, but even with all this going on the teachers maintain order, and guide the kids so well. They are able to direct their energy and enthusiasm in such an elegant way it is just  awe inspiring to watch. Not only are they able to maintain order and routine outside while the kids are having fun, but they do even in the classroom.  Oh it just makes me ever so happy to see God working in evident ways, that are visible on the daily.

-Julian A. Rios

The Joshua team loved the Bible Story time every afternoon.

In front of one of their trash piles at the new site.

Dinner in the Community at one of our teachers house, Angie Rodriguez 

Honestly, even thinking about the fact that the reason I’m writing a blog for Génesis is because our time here is coming to a close make me extremely emotional. I’m already prepping for saying goodbye because I know I’ll be fighting back tears the whole entire time. The impact Mike, Karen, the teachers, and children have had on our lives is enormous. For me specifically, though, I can tell you all a little bit about why I know that I’m going to walk away from this school completely changed. I didn’t walk into these two weeks with any expectations because I didn’t have any predisposed ideas as to what I would be doing. I don’t really even recall placing Special Education high up there on my options of sites on the Student’s International website. Apparently I did, though, and I sincerely think it was a God thing.

Our site is about a mile and half away from the base enclosed with an abundance of greenery. It’s incredibly beautiful and my first thoughts were, “I’m going to get to hang out here for two weeks?” I didn’t realize that I hadn’t even seen beautiful yet. Beautiful is the smile on these kids’ faces, seeing them running around playing without inhibition, freely giving kisses and hugs, and having the benefit of joining them in all of that. My only regret is not getting to stay and be a part of their lives for a longer amount of time. They’re in wonderful hands with the teachers here at Génesis where they’re taught about the meaning of life. They’re constantly reading, singing, or learning about Jesus and being filled up with the overflow of love that’s coming from the Christian adults in their lives. Two of these adults whom I have come to know and love these past couple of weeks go by the names of Mike and Karen Unternahrer. Readers, you may have heard of them… or been blessed by knowing them… but sincerely, they are some of the greatest people I’ve ever known. I’m not fooled into thinking their strength comes from anywhere but God Himself because I know as humans we are not capable of such generosity, humility, and selflessness. I’ll stop because I don’t want to embarrass them but you have to grasp an idea of how much I appreciate their openness with us and allowing deep relationships to form over such a short amount of time.

            I know that I’m going to be learning from this experience far into the future and looking back on the memories that we created fondly always secretly hoping I’ll be able to come back one day and see the progress that has occurred. I’m excited for the school and the opportunity they have to move on to a new and different location. I’ll be praying that they continue to grow and bring more children and families to Christ through their example in their lives. I’m so thankful for this opportunity and blessed by the kindness of all the people in the Dominican Republic that I’ve met. I’ve fallen in love with this country and will carry a piece of it in my heart wherever I go next. 

Alyssa Green

The Children at Génesis are all kind, joyful, and friendly. Until I started working here, I didn’t think I was good with kids. But I feel like I did all right. I had a lot of fun talking and playing with them, even when I didn’t understand them. The teachers are also great. They were always happy and never tired. They also seemed to appreciate us very much. These two weeks seemed to have passed faster than almost all others I have seen.

-Jonathan Judge

These past two weeks at the Dominican Republic has been amazing. First off, the Dominican is probably the most beautiful country ever, it is filled with beautiful trees, rivers, waterfalls, and people. On Wednesday Mike took us to a waterfall here and it was the most beautiful creation that I have ever seen. I love this country and the creations that God has placed here.

Working at Genesis, being with these precious children and the amazing staff has made me realize how much I have by just being an American. These weeks were definitely a time in my life where I will always look back and remember with great affection. Seeing the joy on these kids’ faces has been the highlight of my time here. They have so little, and they still have the joy of Jesus in their lives. Mike took us to two different houses, one of a former student and one of a present student, two different afternoons, it was an extremely humbling experience. When we went to Juan Carlos’ house they gave us soda out of a tiny plastic cup and gave us saltine crackers, and I didn’t even want to take it because they have so little but they are so willing to give us literally whatever they have to make us feel comfortable.

The impact that the teachers, the students and Mike and Karen have had on my life these past two weeks is unexplainable. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to be here and see what God is doing in the Dominican Republic

~Micaela

So living in the Dominican is kind of awesome. And working at Genesis makes it that much better. It has been an incredible two weeks were I learned a lot about God, my Joshua siblings, and myself. Something God has been teaching me here is that I really can’t do it myself. No matter what I do or think or say, I really can’t. I’m the kind of person who reaches out to others who need help, but when it comes to offering me help I won’t accept it. Not with a happy heart anyway. But being here at Genesis and seeing these kids who daily rely on someone else to help them walk, eat, and even go to the bathroom, it made me realize that I need to rely on someone too. God. I’m afraid to give Him my burdens. I want to carry them myself. There is one kid here who absolutely loves going down the slide, but he can’t walk. So I carry him up the plank and send him down, then run back down to do it again. Let me tell you, it’s exhausting! However, that’s exactly what God does. He carries you and when you fall, He picks you right back up and does it again because of His unfailing love for us. I’m ready to start accepting help from people, and to being more ready to give up my burdens. This has probably been one of the most eye opening experiences ever and I can feel God calling me to working with special education kids in my future. I don’t know what that will look like exactly but I can’t wait to see what God has for me!

~Hannah Pettey

 Thanks again for a great two weeks. Your help in the classroom, on the playground, raking leaves, cleaning the yard at the new site, cleaning the floors at the new site, and everything in between was appreciated,