New site looking better

      As we had our last team and last day of classes
for the winter on April 4th, We continued to work

Dave and Ryan working the concrete on the back ramp

Re-constructing the playgroung equipment.

Dave and Gerald working on the TV shelf

Vernon Working on one of the closets

Dan working on one of the closets.

Gerald Lee and Ryan Troyer on the back ramp

Angela Miller helping out during their stay with us.

The Shore team on the last day after a great week.

at the new site. Karen and I both had some help there over the last several week as the Miller family from Middlebury, Indiana (That leaves it pretty open as to who :)) spent a week with us helping out. Joel helped me with several small projects that needed finished up and Angela helped Karen with a little and a lot of organizing. Thanks for the help and encouragement while you were here.
      Then the second week in April, Shore Mennonite, our home congregation, sent a team down of 8 men to basically finish up everything else and do the actual move. By weeks end, we had poured about 5 yds of concrete, moved the playground and reset it up, put numerous doors and shelves up, even moved about 40 banana trees. Thanks to Gerald Lee, Gerald Nisley, Dave Wenger, Dennis Troyer, Ryan Troyer, Vernon Birkey, Greg Unternahrer and Dan Unternahrer. We also had the privilege of having Carlos join us for the week from right here in Jarabacoa. We had such a great week overall. At one of our breaks Gerald Lee and Dave were asked what the were working on inside and the reply was "well whatever Karen tells us to do" I told them, welcome to my life. Ha.
       On a more serious note, this past week has been more of a reflection time for me as it was my last week at Genesis. Monday a couple of us will be meeting with some leadership members and looking to see what some of what my new role will hold here. More on that on the Unternahrer family blog .
      We will be re-opening in May with the teachers returning on the 6th, the teachers on the 13th and then the first team of the summer on May 20th. We are also still working on the details of signing up as a recognized school with the Dominican Republic. That has been on Karen's list of things she has wanted to accomplish since arriving almost one year ago. It is fun to see her and Maribel get excited about that prospect and what all it will mean. Hopefully more details on that later.

Progress on the new site

Back yard with the banana trees trimmed

Front yard getting greener

   As you can see from some of the pictures, we are getting closer to moving day. There is still much to be done but so much has already been accomplished. With two more outreach teams, a family from our home area and then a work team from our sending church in Indiana the second week in April, we should be ready for the move by the middle of April. Karen and I have both mentioned that the more that gets done, the more we see that needs to be done. As of this past weekend, the property is a bit more secure now that the chain-link fence and the new gates have been finished. All the banana trees in the back center yard have been trimmed and fertilized. Once a tree produces a stalk of bananas, it wont produce again. so it needs top be cut off about a foot from the ground and then a new shoot comes out of that stump. I know that most of you will use that information with the banana trees in your own back yard :).   The "new" used stove and refrigerator have been installed in the kitchen and are ready for use. Currently at the old site, there is a neighbor lady that cooks the meals for the kids in her home and then brings them on a moped at lunch time. With the new site having a larger kitchen, she will begin to cook the meals on site.

New Gates and the finished fence

Banana tree stump just 2 days after trimming (actually cutting it off)

A couple of weeks ago, we had a visit from the Ministero de Educacion. We are now in the process "again" to register Genesis as a recognized school here in the country. It will most likely be awhile until that actually takes place but the process has begun. There are advantages and disadvantages to that but we feel that the pluses outweigh the minuses. So far the people that we have been in contact with have been very helpful in helping us with the process. You can pray for that area that if this is the direction that God wants Genesis to go, then we would follow through with it and that it would be a smooth transition. Our hope is that we can be all done with the process by the time that the school re-opens in May. Keep watching for more pictures and updates of the moving process.

Stump only 1 week after cutting.

Genesis Is Moving

The front yard needed a little trimming up.

Looking in from the front gate before we had keys to start working

  After working out of the current location now for 7+ years, Génesis is moving to a new place. The first week in January we were told that we had the opportunity to buy the current house we are working out of or we need to move out in the next six weeks as it was for sale. Since the price was out of our reach, we opted to look for a new location more seriously than we had been before. We knew this day was coming so we have been thinking about options and locations. Some things we did not want to give into included being out in the country so far that the kids could no longer come to us, even though the rent would be much cheaper there. Another thing was that we wanted to be closer to town so that we would get better “exposure” to the community that we are serving. A bigger building would be nicer but not a necessity. Internet would be a big plus as the teachers use programs on the internet to teach at times. Good reliable electric again would be a plus but not a necessity as we are only there during the daytime anyway so it if goes out for a few hours, we could deal with that since we have a battery backup system in place. A single story building would be a big plus since we have 3 in wheel chairs and 3 in walkers, a two story building would face certain challenges.

Utilizing one of our spring teams to start cleaning up.

Looking to the road from the house before the "big trim"

The front yard ready for new grass

      After focusing most of my attention on this for the better part of one week and driving many streets and knocking on many doors, we did locate a spot that would work great and had been empty for several years. It meet most of our criteria, all but one actually. It was a two story building. After thinking about that obstacle for some time, we decided that with a concrete ramp/sidewalk to the back side where there is a ground entrance to the second floor, this building would work out great. Since it had been empty for that long, there was much work to be done so it only seemed natural to me to start before we had actually officially secured the site. God is good though, and a week after the cleanup had started we had signed a 5 year contract with the first option for another 5 years. It is about a 5 minute walk to downtown and it is on a main road leading into town. One thing that we had not thought of is that it is right across the road from the local emergency room. That will also come in handy I am sure.

     Two weeks ago we had a couple from our area stay with us and I took advantage of that time to put him to work engineering a drain for the rain run off water and then pouring that concrete and also poured a new front approach to the driveway. Thanks Fritz Bontrager for the help that you provided. While we were working there, Fritz’s wife Kris was working at some of the other SI sites to see how one of the social work sites work and one of the pre-schools. (We did squeeze in time for some moto riding in the mountains though).

Frtiz Bontrager helping pour the new approach for the driveway

Getting ready for the concrete ramp/sidewalk

        As far as progress on the new site, we have been mainly cleaning up, reseeding the yard, tearing down the old concrete front wall, knocking a hole in one of the interior concrete block walls for a doorway, sealed some cracks in the roof where leaves were blowing in and replaced two windows. Things need done yet. We need to move about 75 banana trees from the back yard to the front yard. Put up a fence for a couple of goats in the back yard to keep the weeks down. Put up a new chain-link fence in the front yard with a gate, move the swing-set from the current site, put a divider wall up in one of the class-rooms, purchase a refrigerator and oven (we have been doing more in the kitchen with the students teaching them how to cook basic recipes), move the battery inverter to the new site, and one of the bigger projects is to pour the sidewalk/ramp to the second floor around the back of the house. Our home sending church will be sending a team of 8 men down to help with that project the second week in April. We are especially blessed to have our son Greg on that trip.
     In church this morning our closing song was "The Heart of Worship". Having sung that song many times in our home church in Indiana, I never noticed the words "I am sorry Lord for the things I made it when it's all about you, its all about you Jesus." I was really taken back a few steps thinking about Genesis, the new site, serving here in the DR and just everything in general. What have I tried to make it? I have to admit that too too many times it's hasn't been all about Jesus but rather I have made it more about "me." As I reflected on those words this morning, it brought a few tears of embarrassment and shame. Lord help me to keep You the main thing, and  help me to give You and You alone all  glory and everything else will fall into place the way that you want it too. Amen.   

The beginning of the ramp at the lower level

  



   I will try to have updates every couple of weeks as the progress continues. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for this over the last year as one of our duties when we arrived almost a year ago now was to find a different location for Génesis.  

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,