These monthly photo dumps may look a little different since we’ve relocated, but hopefully the mix of ministry pictures and family happenings can still give you a good idea of what’s going on – both with the Mitcheners and with our favorite ministry in the DR. Enjoy these 31 January shots!
We took a quick trip to Ohio to visit family. Cal has claimed this kitty as her own and treats him like her dollbaby.A winter wonderland! All 3 kiddos loved the snowy fun this month!Cal got a fancy paint set for Christmas and has enjoyed trying her hand at some canvas painting.Back in the DR, many of our teachers, staff, and admin attended an ACSI conference in townKids were happy to return to school after a 2-week Christmas breakMs. Rosa warmly welcomed her secondary students back to classKrista and I were able to take a trip back to Freedom this month to help with some projects on the ground!We helped deliver a good number of sponsor lettersWe met the newest member of the Freedom ground team!Some afternoon iced coffee and computer work overlooking my favorite school buildingI would never admit to having favorites, but Cristofer has always made me feel like I’m HIS favorite with his big hugs and sweet smilesOur high schoolers are already preparing for their Independence Day celebrationLuis Manuel and Enmanuel asked me to take their picture – Roger enjoyed photo bombingOh.my.word. I couldn’t get enough hugs from these two sweeties! This little family has my heart for sure.Commence the food photos! 🙂 A typical school lunch at Freedom.Gotta catch a “sunrise over Freedom” shot, of courseYuleisy fixed us a huge spread of Dominican deliciousness. Locrio is a fave, and my family was salivating back home when I sent them the pictures.Salami and peppers served over bolloThis is heaven on a plate for me: Dominican avocado and fried plantainsI was able to spy on Scott playing bass Sunday morning from a couple thousand miles awayAnllelo has just 1 1/2 years left before graduation. He was one of my kindergarten babes! He helps the kitchen staff with breakfast jobs each morning before the majority of our students arrive.Jhoan! We miss this guy! Krista and I timed our trip perfectly! Some wonderful friends were also visiting while we were there!Exciting to see some work happening on a new playground area specifically with our pre-schoolers in mindAustin talked to the student body one morning about evaluating what is in your heart – whatever is found there will come out in your words!Ms. Diana working with her group of girls in English tutoringSoaking up those cuddles!Sweet dreams, little man!Headed back to INFor my birthday, my family indulged my board game obsession by getting me some fun new titles. Now, to find the time to play them! 🙂I know this little gal will very soon exchange her Barbies and doll-playing days for more grown-up activities. I’m dragging this season out for as long as I can because little girls don’t keep.
Wow, what a hot June. Crazy that this is “the end of the road.” In just 10 days, we touch down on midwest soil for good. We got to say lots of goodbyes and finish most of our packing this month. God is good!
Noah spent this school year running sound for morning assemblies. I’m proud of his hard work!Marcia came over one last time – we had some good conversations. She braided Cal’s hair!Cal made a new friend the first week of summer!The aftermath of the braidsOur friends are still dropping off plastic babies all around our apartmentCaleigh’s purple stripes are sadly going away! It was a lot of work painting them, but she loved them!A few more beautiful sunsets to enjoy this month.Cal enjoyed one last summer program – and the fun obstacle courses that came with it!Paper plate reminders from summer campClaire loves Freedom, and we were so glad to see her one last time in the DR!We went with our summer interns on a boat trip down the Soco RiverWhere we stopped on the riverbank for some coffeeEthan teaching Leyton a card gameFishing on the riverCoffee!Jade and I enjoying our coffee on the riverbankGoodbye, sun!Hello, sun!Our Kindergarteners got some extra English practice from some Ohio friendsA friend came to visit, and she cooked our family dinner for the week!Saying goodbye to delicious fruit!Leyton listening to the morning devotional time with AlbertoAylin loving a horsey rideSo fun to play one last game of Dutch Blitz with a few of the best!Memory verse scramble!
May 2024 in pictures! Just 6 more weeks until we get on our one-way flight back to the United States. We’re doing our best to treasure each moment as we continue packing and saying goodbye.
Leyton had to make a 3D model of the solar system as one of his last science projects for his online class.Celebrating the end of homeschool!Leyton finished up his 6th grade year of online school!Cal is happy to celebrate her brothers if french fries are involved!Cal doesn’t have many more days of hanging with this cutie.Uh oh! Someone found some mud!Those are not long sleeves… All dirt!Scott and I are trying to finish up some one-time play games so we don’t have to pack them in our suitcases. We escaped the Sultan’s castle with 10 minutes to spare!This girl loves to help cook!We bought some of those gender reveal baseballs for Joan and Yuleisy!Will Aylin have a baby sis or baby bro?It’s a Boy!Yahoo!Our apartment is well-loved by the lizards – inside and out. I don’t get grossed out by them like I used to 12 years ago, so that’s something!I will miss watching Elena walk to feed the animals in the evenings when I go on my walks/runs.Cleaning up the walls before we moveLeyton helped remove his bunk bed from the wallMore dinner prep – burgers!We had week-long Mother’s Day celebrations – our students’ moms spent time with their kids at school!Cal recited a part of a poem with her friendsLittle sis and big broAustin has a running club with a few of our older students. Joan’s partner didn’t come, so Noah jumped in and ran 3km without any training!We cheered the kiddos on as they emerged from the woods!Jade planned a fun ladies’ event for us before summer season beginsOur family walk didn’t last too long -the boys got bored, but at least we got a selfie together before they leftThese little pups have been all the rage among the MKsAnother baby tooth is gone!This is what a garage sale looks like for a family of 5 and a family of 7 after spending a whole lot of years in a foreign country!Our missionary team prepared a goodbye celebration for us – we loved reminiscing by watching some fun clips of the boys from a few years agoThe Freedom staff put on a luncheon as we get ready to head back to the States – there was singing, dancing, laughter and dessert! Thankful for their dedication to this place!We will most certainly miss our fun-loving Mery!
The Mitcheners 