La Sala de Tarea

Hola amigos! Como estan? I have now been here in the D.R. for 3 months and love it so much more than when I first arrived. There has been so much going on and I am excited to share it all with you. We have started having weekly Bible study which is so amazing. It's Allison and I, and our 3 girl volunteers. It's been awesome spending time with them every week in a really casual setting just getting to know them. I talk Spanish around them and it's great to just listen to them too. My friendships with the girls are growing stronger in the midst of it. The children's ministry starts next Tuesday. It has been kind of stressful trying to get it all ready...figuring out what to do, having time limits, finding space and materials, finding kids to be involved and volunteers to help daily. But now that things have really started to come together, I am unbelievably excited about it! It is a Sala de Tarea which is pretty much homework help. It's mainly for elementary aged kids to come and do their homework in a supervised setting because most go home while their parents are at work and have no one to help them with their assignments. It'll start everyday around 1:00pm and last till about 6:00pm. The main focus is homework help, but I also have all sorts of other activities planned; a Bible time with a devotional and possible crafts and songs, board games, all sorts of books both in English and Spanish, crafts, and so much more. I've been working really hard over the past few weeks trying to get it all ready. It's kind of hard because there is no funding or supplies for the ministry, so I'm starting off with very little. So if you would like to send anything...used books or craft like materials, anything fun for kids to play with, I would greatly appreciate it. If you are interested in doing so you can email me at agmahathey@triad.rr.com My relationships here are getting stronger and stronger everyday as I get to know the people and learn the language better. I was riding in the back seat leaving the office the other day and it just hit me how much I'm going to miss it here when I have to leave...which is awesome. That's exactly how it should be and I'm excited that I finally truly love it here. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as you are all in mine too. Pray for this ministry...that I will continue to get more volunteers and supplies, that I will truly be able to help the children and be able to show them God's love. Pray for the many minitries that YFC is starting here...there is a program called Sin Excusas..the truth about life, love and sex. We are starting youth ministry training programs for various churches in the community as well as trying to come up with new, fun ideas for Vida Full. Thank you so much for all of your support! You have no idea how much it means to be so far away yet know that I have so many people back home that are supporting me and loving me through it all. Dios te bendiga.