April 2024
Seeing God At Work
(5-Minute Read)
It can be hard to explain exactly what Doulos is like to someone who has never been on the Doulos campus.
One way we try to capture it is by saying, "You can take a ten-minute walk through campus at any time, on any day, and you will be inspired by the work that God is doing here."
Last week, we decided to grab a camera and put this idea to the test.
Without planning the time in advance, one person randomly walked around campus for 10 minutes. Here are the photos of what they saw...
Students collaborating...
Staff members enjoying a little chat together...
Pre-K students engaging in learning...
An empty 1st grade classroom-- the students were off-campus doing experiential learning...
A panel of community members and a professional psychiatrist sharing stories of their personal experiences with physical disabilities...
Our maintenance team turning a wall into a door to create more classrooms on campus...
A counseling team member doing a mentoring session with a student...
Our high school math teacher enjoying time with her students...
During any ten minutes of any day you can literally see God at work here. You can see the impact Doulos has on the staff, the students and the families. It is so inspiring! And, as we regularly look around and see the impact, it also starts to create a longing for Doulos to impact even more lives.
For years, there has been the desire to deepen the work Doulos is doing and expand to reach more people. This has led to many prayers. As we zoom out, we can see God responding.
Over the past couple of years, it has been a joy to see God calling, inspiring, and equipping staff to continue to innovate and deepen the impact of Doulos. God's been deepening intervention, teacher coaching, athletics, curriculum, counseling, discipline, development, and much more.
At the same time, God has been creating a path for Doulos to impact more families. Last year, God provided land for our permanent home. Thanks to a matching gift and over 200 people doing their pieces, the puzzle came together. Today there are only a few little details remaining until the title is in our hands!
This month, we met with an architect to begin designing how the new location might deepen and expand God’s work here. The first concept drawings should be ready in a couple of months and the final drafts by the end of the year.
On top of all this, we are VERY excited to share that, because of the incredible number of families who met the requirements of our enrollment process, next year we are going to have TWO Pre-K3 classes. This will be the next step to discover if Doulos is ready to begin expanding from one class of each grade to two classes.
Step by step, God is deepening and expanding His work at Doulos, and more than ever you will have a critical role to play. First, by praying for continued wisdom, protection, and guidance during each step of the process. Then, by taking a little time to ask God how you might be (or continue to be) part of it.
As we finalize the plans for our new facilities, there will be a variety of ways that you can join in bringing the vision to life-- short-term building teams, sponsoring specific projects, etc. As we move from one to two classes in each grade, it will significantly increase the number of scholarships we can offer. Normally we can only offer 8-10. Next year, 31 new students (who would otherwise not be able to afford this kind of education) will be offered scholarships!
Most likely you are reading this email because you too have seen the beautiful work God is doing at Doulos. It means so much that you’re in the loop and up to date on everything that’s happening. Even more than that, we are grateful that you’re part of this "Doulos Family"-- this big group of people that God is using to advance his kingdom in the Dominican Republic.
April's Highlights
Continuing Ed
Teachers did a half-day workshop to reflect on and apply how they embody Christ's character through their teaching.
“Macho Ball” Volleyball Games
To inject a little fun into April, we had a “Macho Ball” where the guys from different classes faced off. The all-guy staff team took the championship!
Special Training
Leaders of the Intervention Team did a week-long training to learn more tools to help ALL our students reach their full potential.
Architect Meeting
Any staff member who wanted to share ideas about our new facilities was invited to a collaborative meeting with the architect.
How can you impact these numbers?
For $75 a month...
Provide the second half of a "partial sponsorship" for one of the 34 students. OR provide the first half of a "partial sponsorship" for one of the 11 students who have no sponsor at all.
For $150 a month...
Provide a "full sponsorship" for one of the 11 students who have no sponsor at all.
Click here to learn more and see the specific students in need of sponsorship.
Please join us in praying for...
Architect’s Plan - Now that we’ve had our initial meeting with the architectural team, they will be working on creating a first concept drawing for the space. Please pray for God's inspiration and guidance as they work.
Executive Director - The board has received an encouraging number of applications! From here, they will narrow it down and conduct primary interviews with six candidates.
End of the School Year - Pray that God would fill our teachers' hearts with love and bodies with energy as they press down the home stretch.
Recruitment - Last month we had the privilege of removing some open positions from our web page!! Thank you so much for your continued prayers for God to call His staff for next year.