January 2017 in Pictures

Another year has begun! Click on the images to check out some highlights from our first month of 2017.

November and December 2016 in Pictures

Another end to another year! How I pray that the Lord was glorified. I hope that our family looks to Him for strength and joy as 2017 begins.

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Our students visited the zoo this year for their field trip!
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Checking out the flamingos
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Our team enjoyed another Thanksgiving together as a group
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Thanksgiving getaway! A great time of fellowship for the weekend.
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We’ve been trying to battle a serious mold problem! Gross!
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We finally took our new desks and cabinets apart and painted all the areas where the pressed wood was exposed. Yeah, it’s humid here.
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Miss Rachel and Miss Emma planned a 100th Day of School party for their kindergarten cuties
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Silly Jesús with his 100 Days crown
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We had fun putting our tree up a little earlier than usual this year!
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Caleigh tested out our new LED lights for us
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Scott confirmed that he was NOT pregnant. He battled some scary abdominal pain for a few days!
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We thought for a moment that we may have had a case of appendicitis! Caleigh helped take care of Dad while he was on the mend.
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God is so good. Katie brought us dinner one evening while Scott was sick!
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Parent-teacher conferences in the villages!
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One of our families in  Cabeza de Toro made a Christmas tree out of green pop bottles!
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Our two-night Christmas program was a success!
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Noah helped his teacher Miss Mery pass out papers to the parents one evening at the program
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Our Freedom team! So thankful for these people!
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Staff Christmas party fun!
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A church back home sweetly sent our family an entire suitcase of goodies for Christmas!
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So blessed!
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We loved spending some time with Memaw and Pepaw over Christmas!
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Piñones cuties!

October 2016 in Pictures

Another full month in the DR! Highlights: Day camp for 2nd/3rd grade and more construction progress!

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Third grade circling up for an afternoon of fun at their first-ever day camp!

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The kids enjoyed a group game where they introduced themselves with animal noises/silly actions.

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Guys and girls competed to see who could carry their volunteers the fastest across the human bridge!

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Enmanuel playing a game with his small group

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Marcia posing for the camera

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Fabiola coloring a picture after listening to the lesson

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We love these two! Thankful Rachel is back in the DR as a full-time missionary, and thankful that Katherine has been doing much better behaviorally in school recently!

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Three little goobers

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We’re reaching the 3rd story!

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Lots of floor pours this month!

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Caleigh continues to keep us on our toes! We had a little milk mishap one afternoon.

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We got in the Christmas spirit a little early when Dad found a couple of Christmas cookie box sets on super sale at the store!

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The Pyle girls joined us for the making of some melty snowmen!

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Rachel has been settling back in to Kindergarten! The kiddos have been learning lots!

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Patricia showing off her writing notebook

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Just answering some emails with Dad

September 2016 in Pictures

Three more months, and 2016 will be history. It’s funny how days seem long, yet the months and years just fly. At the close of each day, I fall into bed so very exhausted. But, the Lord! He’s so faithful and constant and near. As difficult and full as each day is, I’m thankful for His presence and strength. You can pray that our family would keep our eyes solely on our Jesus as we make our way through each day.

Enjoy some pictures of this past month in the DR!

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This section of the school building has reached 3 stories! Scaffolding gone – looks pretty impressive!

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More footers and subwalls for new classrooms. God’s provision!

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Scott continues with music class!

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Noah loves that his dad gets to spend a little part of the day with him. Enjoying class with Sebastian.

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Leyton and Cristofer are buddies!

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Our Accelerate! program continues – Desiree helping her students read through Spanish syllables.

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Two shipping containers arrived with more tools and supplies to continue the ministry!

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Airport run! We decided to take the back route through the bateyes. When we were unsure of where to turn, we just asked people along the way if we were headed in the right direction! Who needs maps?!

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This little one-year-old is developing quite the personality.

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During our down week, we were able to work on some house projects. Thanks to Gabe for helping make loft beds for the boys!

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Leyton continues growing. Trying to take advantage of Tuesday and Thursday mornings with this big man.

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Someone forgot to close the bathroom door one afternoon. We heard splashing and found Caleigh enjoying a new place to play! Bathtime ensued (immediately after the picture). Always an adventure…

July and August 2016 in Pictures

Tick-tock! Time marches on – our babies are growing, our ministry is changing, our students are maturing. There’s nothing we can do but take advantage of each moment. Here are some pictures of life in the DR from the last two months!

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Digging out the footers for new schoolrooms

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Such hard work!

 

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Heather talking with Estaylin after a trip to the office. He recently chose to accept Christ! This little boy’s life is changing!

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Smiles from Meroli as she enjoys spending time with short-term team members

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Some of our littles took some time to get accustomed to school. Cuddles with Elle!

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Summer teams built the walls of these two new classrooms

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Noah working at his technology center in 1st grade

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Noah says Jose Miguel is his best friend at school

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July was Caleigh’s 10 month

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One of the MK’s favorite pastimes is toad-hunting

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It’s neat to see Mery as she grows as a teacher. We co-taught our first years in kindergarten.

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This little girl loves getting into everything

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My little laundry helper

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Our newest good behavior incentive – a book giveaway!

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We’re loving Anna Luisa’s smile as she picks her book to take home

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Caleigh loves to play peek-a-boo

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Smiley girl!

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Noah leading his class in the Spanish alphabet

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Sebastian and Noah

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August was Caleigh’s 11th month

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First-third graders are beginning music class with Mr. Scott

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Carla is learning about musical instruments and their families – she made her own “maraca” out of paper plates and rice!

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Fernancia and her classmates continue learning and growing!

May and June 2016 in Pictures

Wow! Life. So full! Two months of pictures. Praising the Lord for all He has done!

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Mother’s Day Celebration in May!

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Students and mothers worked on a craft together

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Caleigh completed month 8!

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Noah graduated from Kindergarten!

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Yeifrey and Caleigh at graduation

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Our last Parent-Teacher conference of the ’15-’16 school year.

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Abby and Yuleisy talking with families about student behavior and achievement

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Two of our students from Batey Campiña

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We moved! The MK’s did a ton of work helping us get out to Freedom’s campus.

Road Progress
The road to campus was upgraded! No more potholes or standing water!

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Furlough has changed to May! Headed back to the States!

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Scott shared at an interest meeting for a future DR trip

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The boys enjoyed the Columbus Zoo with Grammy and Grandpa

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Ripley’s Aquarium with Memaw

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Our amazing interns joined us soon after we returned to the DR!

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A shower house was built to the side of the apartment building

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Leyton and Noah on their first day of the ’16-’17 school year!

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We’ve enjoyed life with several short-term teams so far. Six weeks left in the summer!

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Caleigh passed the 9-month mark in June!

 

April 2016 in Pictures

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Our 1st and 2nd graders enjoyed their first-ever field trip to the National Aquarium

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Alfredo, Woobens, Achuchu

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The kids were in awe of everything – the bus ride, the fold-down seats in the theater, the exhibits, the playground…

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Noah is almost finished with Kindergarten!

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April was Caleigh’s seventh month

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Noah lost his first tooth!

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Leyton is all boy – he ran into our sideboard and got a fun little cut one afternoon.

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Scott and our intern Patrick had one last weekly meeting at our favorite pizza place before Patrick headed back to the States

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Ang worked on sponsorship letters at the end of the month

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1st grade students drawing pictures for their sponsors

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Our $12,500 matching gift was met! A new road and drainage system are being put in!

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The pad in the middle of the school’s octagon was leveled out. A multi-use building will eventually be built here.

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Our family is the last to move out to our campus! We are packing everything up!

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Caleigh helping Daddy fix the laundry room walls before the big move.

March 2016 in Pictures

A few pictures from our month of March!

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A Christian school here in San Pedro came out for a community service project – they did a fantastic job working with our students!
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March was Caleigh’s 6th month
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The apartments are tiled!
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Our sweet Yuleisy is moving soon!
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Freshening up her new place with some paint!
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Rachel and Yuleisy
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This little man isn’t so little anymore – Yeifrey is almost finished with 2nd grade!
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Missionary bonfire on Freedom’s campus!
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The girls hanging out in Caleigh’s new room one afternoon while Daddy did some work
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Beautiful sugarcane fields
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Caleigh visited Yuleisy’s family in Lima. Basilio calls Caleigh his “Americanita”
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Caleigh and Wilmin
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Hanging out with Yuleisy’s parents
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It’s ash season! The sugarcane factories are making sugar – and they’re making my floors dirty too!
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Easter Sunday breakfast on the land with the team
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Happy Easter from the Mitchener family!

Table for Five, Please

Surprise, surprise! The Mitchener family is growing by one!

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We’re praising the Lord that our third little munchkin will arrive sometime in August. God’s timing is always perfect. We are already excited for all the adventures this new little life will surely bring to our family.

It looks as if we will be heading back to the States for the birth. With Ang’s history of preeclampsia, we honestly feel most comfortable seeing the midwife who delivered Leyton. Our plan is to extend our August furlough a bit as Angela won’t be allowed to travel after being 8 months pregnant. Ang and the boys will leave for the States in early July, and Scott will join a couple weeks later.

We’ll head back for another checkup here in the DR in a few weeks to find out the gender and make sure baby is still developing properly. Prayers appreciated as we prepare for the arrival of Baby Mitchener #3!