Ready for the summer of 2015

     As I write this post, we already have 4 of our 7 short term staff for the summer here in Jarabacoa.

4 of the 7 Short Term Staff for 2015 in Jarabacoa

There will be one more coming in tomorrow afternoon and the last two in a couple weeks. Our first teams of the summer arrive on Monday the 18th. Crown College from MN, Grove City from PA, Olivet Nazarene college IL, and His House WI. There will be a total of 34 people and 5 Short Term Staff and we are ready to roll with 3 months of back to back teams here in Jarabacoa. It will be great to see what God does in all this. Over 600 people have so far reserved spots for teams in 2015. Whether it is a group of 60+ from one school or an individual person coming down to join up with an outreach, we have seen God do great things here, using our staff as a tool to reach the lost or encourage a current believer. Those of you that are reading this and have been praying for our family and SI and those that have been supporting  financially our family and/or SI have a direct involvement in those stories as well. THANKS!!!!
      The work on the Santiago location continues to progress smoothly and on time. With 3 of the 4 sites now in place, we anticipate the 4th one right on time for our teams that are scheduled this summer beginning on June 29. We will also have 4 Short Term Staff helping out there. Marcy and I have been spending a lot of our time getting the base (Finca de Gallos) ready to host the teams for meals, morning worship, teaching time, team time and all else that they do. The Medical Site in Los Mangos had their Grand Opening this last Friday the 15th of May.

50+ people in attendance for the grand opening.

Dr, Fernando leading the group for the grand opening.

Dr. Fernando, the SI Medical Site supervisor from Jarabacoa,  Daisy, the SI Social Work Site supervisor from Jarabacoa, and Eric Miller the SIDR Finance director were all present to rejoice and celebrate with Dr. Brendaliz Hernandez opening her clinic for the first time. Over 50 people from the local communities were present.  How exciting and also making it real that in fact, Students International is opening up in Santiago. Also the same week Pastor Alex Jimemez made his first two sand water filters to go begin the Appropriate Technology Site in Progresso Segundo. GOD IS GOOD. We are just so excited to be part of what God is already doing in all these communities.

     Sissy Entrekin continues to improve in Huntsville AL. You can look back at my last post to see more details on this. Brian was back here for about 2 weeks and then returned with their girls. Their intent is to stay until the end of May and return for a week or so of school activates for the girls then back to Huntsville for the remainder of Sissy's time there. Everyone is hoping she will be able to come back to Jarabacoa by mid to late summer for the remainder of her therapy. Only God knows and He is really the only one that needs to know :). Daisy, the other lady involved in the accident is doing great and is ready to host her first summer team next week.
     Thanks again for the prayers, support, emails, text messages, phone calls and everything. Mike, for the family.

A pick-up with advertising on it. Marcy noticed it in Santiago and said "GROSS DAD!!! Look at that truck" I guess not your typical advertisement that you may see in the US???