Sharing the gospel through Art

Two weeks ago we had a group of students come down to serve with us from Bakersfield Christian High School. One of the projects that we worked on while they were here was painting. We continued the project of painting the swingset and play house. This is still a work in progress...
They also added their own special touch by painting murals on our lunch tables. The first one is a picture of the world with the saying "God has the whole world in His hands". THe kids love looking at the map and pointing out the island of the DR on the map
The second table was painted with a scene of Noah's ark. This one was fun for the kids as they identified all of the different animals.
Thank you, Bakersfield Christian, for leaving a beautiful, lasting impression on the school. Thank you for showing love through Art.

Mountain Top

I recently took the kids and visiting students from Bakersfield Christian High School on a hike to the top of a hill in Mata Gorda. From you top you can see the whole community, including the school. The kids loved the hike and were so excited as they pointed out the school and different locations in the community. It was fun to share with the kids my love for nature and talk about how God in His love for us created such a beautiful place for us to live. Before we descended the hill the kids chanted “Gracias Dios!” “Thank you, God!” thanking God for His beautiful creation.

Traveling.....again!?!

This past week I found myself back in California again. After 2 trips home in 10 months, you can bet I wasn't excited about the traveling, but the reason for coming home was well worth it.

I arrived in San Francisco and got to spend a few days with my sister's little family. It was so fun to get to see them, especially little baby Lyla, again.


I then boarded a train, with Leah and Lyla in tow, headed to Mariposa. I got to spend a nice relaxing week with my family and most importantly, the reason of my trip, my dear friend Marissa. It was great to be back in Mariposa with her as we prepared for her wedding. We took a day trip to Yosemite, which was wonderful, as it had been quite a while since I was there. On Friday the wedding festivities started with a trip to the nail salon, bachelorette party and rehearsal. The wedding on Saturday was absolutely lovely and so much fun. It was so special for me to get to participate in this joyous event as Marissa has been my best friend for many years now.

Gardening

This summer, Alberto and I have decided to try to beautify our school a little bit. In this tropical climate, plants grow very easily, so we have begun planting some flowers and bushes around our school. This is a fun activity for the kids, as they love getting their hands dirty and a great activity for our visitors from the US as they are making a lasting contribution to our school. These beautiful plants truly are a blessing and are really brightening up face of the school.

Sum Sum Summa time

Wow! I can't believe that summer is here already. Summer here in the DR is our busiest time. Instead of a nice relaxing summer vacation, our summer is packed full. Starting on Monday our first summer team will arrive and then for 3 straight months we will have 2 week teams one right after the other. Having a team here basically doubles my role here with SI. In addition to the full time responsibility of teaching my kindergarden class, I am handed another full time responsibility of integrating these volunteers into my classroom and my community and ministering to them during their two week outreach. My additional responsibilities also include leading worship occasionally for the team in the mornings and translating (from Spanish to English) Bible study talks given by other SI staff members.

Although as an intern I experienced the craziness of the summer team season, this will be my first summer as a full time staff member. Please pray for me during the summer against fatigue and burnout. Pray that God would bless me with health and the physical strength that I need. Pray that He would give me the wisdom and spiritual strength to be an effective leader to the students who come down and that I would also have the emotional stability to balance my classroom responsibilities with those of ministering to the teams.

Praise God for this busy team season. I am so thankful for each and every visitor that comes down to serve with Students International. Pray also for them, that they would experience God in a new way while they are here and that God would open their eyes to a different worldview.

Thank you so much for your continued support and prayer.

Check back soon for more stories and pictures!!

Visit Home

I just got back from a fun, relaxing two weeks visiting with my sister in San Fransisco. The purpose of the trip was to see a baby born, which I did get to see, 3 hours before leaving again for the DR. That little baby came just in time and I was so thankful and blessed to have been able to experience her birth. Also it was great to get to spend two whole weeks with my sister, pre baby.

Marissa came to visit me on my birthday. It was wonderful!
Leah and I, just a few hours before she went into labor.

Finally, it was time for the baby to come. I showed up to the hospital, on a hunch, just in time. I sat outside Leah's delivery room for about 30 minutes, unknown to Leah, listening to the most painful noises I have ever heard. I then heard a nurse say, "Time to push!" Leah, then knowing that I was waiting outside, said, "Tell Katie to come in!" I was so excited and felt so privileged to get to be in the room. It was the most amazing experience to be with Leah during that last hour of labor. And at 12:20 am on Sunday morning, Lyla Mae Davis came into this world. I cannot explain with words how amazing it was to watch a baby being born. But I will say that is was kind of an other worldly experience and it was truly an amazing experience that I will never forget. Here are some pictures:

So, the baby was born at 12:20 am on Sunday morning, I stayed at the hospital for about 2 hours and then headed back to Leah and Jared's house, just in time to change my clothes and gather my suitcases and leave for the airport. I boarded my flight at 6 am and headed back to the DR. It sure was a crazy, emotional way to end my trip, but I am so thankful that Lyla came just in time for me to meet her.

Eater Egg Hunt

On the last day of school before the Spring Break se had a little easter egg hunt. My Uncle Dan and Aunt Linda had sent me a care package full of Easter candy and plastic Easter Eggs. I decided to share the love with my kids at school and hid the eggs all around the school yard. They had so much fun looking for the eggs and enjoyed the special treat of candy inside.