my last email update
If you don't get these email updates, but you'd like to, let me know. My email is JColeman@alumni.cedarville.edu.
Hello everyone,
It’s time for a quick update on what’s going on in my life here in the DR. I feel like the last few months have really flown by. I was in the US in August, doing some speaking at my home church, visiting the Kids Alive home office, and spending time with family and friends. Since my return, I’ve been working hard to catch up on all the work that got pushed aside during my time in the US, as well as throughout the busy summer schedule in the months before. I’m still not entirely where I need to be on some different projects, it’s November now, so you can see how far behind I actually was, but I’m making progress every day. Maybe by Christmas I’ll finally have my head above water (that was meant to be an exaggeration, but the more I think about it, it actually seems quite accurate).
I have resumed my sports classes for grades kindergarten-4th grade at our school in Palo Blanco, with renewed vigor to train the kids to respect my authority, listen to what I say, and keep from cursing and/or fighting every few minutes. While these ideas seem pretty basic, this particular area is known for its violence, poverty, and immorality, so most of the children don’t have a great concept of this, or at least they didn’t before entering our school. They’re learning though, and for that I am thankful.
We had an exciting time a few weeks ago as three new children moved into the Ark. This is the first time since I have arrived that new kids have been brought in. The children all have the same mom, but from two different dads, and all three are involved in selling and using drugs. All three parents also have AIDS. The situation was such that judge decided to remove the children from the home (for this to happen in the DR, it had to be really bad.) The kids are still in the process of adjusting to life with us. Some changes are easy, having their own bed, never going hungry, etc., but some are much more difficult, such as living a life where rules actually exist and are enforced. In their former life, these kids roamed the streets as they pleased, watched their parents use and sell drugs, saw and experienced more in their few years than I have in my 23, so the adjustment process will take time, but it will be a happy one. They are safe now, they are loved now. If you’d like, you can pray for them, their names are Marlenis, Yeraudy, and Destiny.
I have attached a picture of the 3 kids onto my blog, which is at this website:
http://dominicanjon.blogspot.com/
The blog has been dead for a while, for that I apologize, but I plan on trying to stay on top of keeping it updated for a while. Check it out for more regular updates.
Some of you might have heard that I was sick last week, I was, but I’m much better now, thanks for your prayers.
I will be in the US for Christmas, so hopefully I will be able to see many of you then. Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, and support. I will be praying that God bless your life and that you will learn to serve him with all that you are, as I am striving to learn myself.
With love,
Jonathan
Hello everyone,
It’s time for a quick update on what’s going on in my life here in the DR. I feel like the last few months have really flown by. I was in the US in August, doing some speaking at my home church, visiting the Kids Alive home office, and spending time with family and friends. Since my return, I’ve been working hard to catch up on all the work that got pushed aside during my time in the US, as well as throughout the busy summer schedule in the months before. I’m still not entirely where I need to be on some different projects, it’s November now, so you can see how far behind I actually was, but I’m making progress every day. Maybe by Christmas I’ll finally have my head above water (that was meant to be an exaggeration, but the more I think about it, it actually seems quite accurate).
I have resumed my sports classes for grades kindergarten-4th grade at our school in Palo Blanco, with renewed vigor to train the kids to respect my authority, listen to what I say, and keep from cursing and/or fighting every few minutes. While these ideas seem pretty basic, this particular area is known for its violence, poverty, and immorality, so most of the children don’t have a great concept of this, or at least they didn’t before entering our school. They’re learning though, and for that I am thankful.
We had an exciting time a few weeks ago as three new children moved into the Ark. This is the first time since I have arrived that new kids have been brought in. The children all have the same mom, but from two different dads, and all three are involved in selling and using drugs. All three parents also have AIDS. The situation was such that judge decided to remove the children from the home (for this to happen in the DR, it had to be really bad.) The kids are still in the process of adjusting to life with us. Some changes are easy, having their own bed, never going hungry, etc., but some are much more difficult, such as living a life where rules actually exist and are enforced. In their former life, these kids roamed the streets as they pleased, watched their parents use and sell drugs, saw and experienced more in their few years than I have in my 23, so the adjustment process will take time, but it will be a happy one. They are safe now, they are loved now. If you’d like, you can pray for them, their names are Marlenis, Yeraudy, and Destiny.
I have attached a picture of the 3 kids onto my blog, which is at this website:
http://dominicanjon.blogspot.com/
The blog has been dead for a while, for that I apologize, but I plan on trying to stay on top of keeping it updated for a while. Check it out for more regular updates.
Some of you might have heard that I was sick last week, I was, but I’m much better now, thanks for your prayers.
I will be in the US for Christmas, so hopefully I will be able to see many of you then. Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, and support. I will be praying that God bless your life and that you will learn to serve him with all that you are, as I am striving to learn myself.
With love,
Jonathan
posted by Jonathan Coleman at 3:28 PM
1 Comments:
These are beautiful children Jonathan. I have no doubt God has plans for these little ones.
I'm so thankful to hear you are feeling better!
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