My last email update

We’re gearing up for summer here in the DR. With summer comes weekly work teams, lots of other random visitors, 20 or so summer interns that are here for 6 weeks to help with the summer program, this includes my sister Sarah, the summer program itself, warmer weather, more mosquitoes, overall, just a lot more stuff on our plates. Not that I’m complaining, I like staying busy and the summer is always a happy time.

But, enough about that stuff, it’s time for a story. In the last month or so I’ve had several reminders for why it is that I am working here. I know it seems like seeing all the kids running around should be a daily reminder for me, but sometimes my tank is running a bit dry and I need some added encouragement. A great reminder came during the 6^th annual Ark Marathon. The “Marathon” is not the true 26 miles, it simply signifies a long distance race. We put this race on mainly for the kids at the orphanage, but we invite anyone who likes to run to come out and compete as well. The race distances varied from a short sprint for the little kids, up to 7 kilometers for adults. But this isn’t a story about the race so much as it is one of the competitors. Yosairy is an 11-year-old that came into the Ark with her 4 brothers and sisters last summer. When the family came into the Ark, they had been purposely starved by their emotionally unstable mother. All children were ghastly thin and several were close to death. So in that state, Yosairy came into the Ark 8 months ago. Fast forward to race day and I am waiting at the finish line, to record the names of those crossing the line. Several of the boys cross the line, the usual suspects. I had been running with them for the past month, to help get them in shape, so I knew who had the best chance of placing high. Eventually, however, I see the first girl come up on the horizon, it was Yosairy. This little girl, that had not so many months ago come into the Ark as the defunct mother to her 4 younger brothers and sisters, half-starved, and unschooled was now strong enough to run a 2.5 mile race, and not just run it, but blow away the competition within her division. It’s incredible to know that this girl would probably be dead right now, but instead she’s strong and healthy, happy, learning to read in school (she began the year as an 11-year-old first grader, having never been to school, but she has since moved up to second), and more importantly being shown love by everyone that surrounds her as well as being taught about the love of our savior.

I have another story, although, not quite so happy and positive, that was a reminder of why I’m here. I was a witness to some domestic violence in the street one night, it was pretty unbelievable. I wrote about it on April 30^th in my blog, you can take a look at it if you’d like. The blog also contains a few pictures of Yosairy.

Here’s the aforementioned link: http://dominicanjon.blogspot.com/ If you are interested in more frequent updates and pictures, it’s a good place to look.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I love you all.

Jonathan Coleman