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!
Our 2nd grade team in a morning meetingNoah enjoyed this cute little distraction while working on homeschoolTwinning with one of our 10th graders, GenesisThe daughter of one of my high school teachers joined us for a week!Baby Izzy came to visit! She looks awful tiny on that big old couch.I went to school with this lady’s hubby many moons ago. I’m getting old…Homemade pizza for dinnerThis little squish is just about the cutest thing!The field fire “fun” continues…Thankfully, we were able to reach this fire with our water hoses before it hit our propertyCaleigh’s teacher will soon get married!A battle reenactment one morning during assemblyThe afternoon preschool group gathering around the flagpoleA finished pergola at twilightMiddle school teachers stayed after school one afternoon to get some extra work done and enjoy dinner togetherA lazy Saturday morning in our PJsFirst grade team celebrating birthdays togetherThis one works at my alma mater!One of this quarter’s Honor Roll students!I’m hoping to write a special little blog post about this someday. One of our kiddos getting help from a visitor.Parent-teacher conferencesI don’t know of many schools who send their teachers house-to-house to talk to parents. Talk about commitment!Have you ever had a parent-teacher conference in the middle of a sugarcane field?Rosa Elena helping one of our mothers sign her name on the report cardMorning assemblies featured some Easter dramas leading up to Semana SantaAlfredo, Yefry, and AnlleloSharing the Easter story/gospel with the student bodyLove this photo of Miss Rosa talking with her group of dancers after their morning presentationA far-off field owner doing a controlled burn at sunsetI’m not sure who enjoys these after-school meet-ups more – Cal or AylinWorking through some training with our teachers
Happy 11th birthday to Leyton!Celebrating more birthdays!Cal and her bestieField fires have been spreading easily in recent weeks. The guys have had to run to put a couple out near campus.Our teacher Rosa Dileini performing in morning assemblyThe start of the new pergola!Pergola progressA visiting team came down and poured some amazing new sidewalks for us!The sidewalks not only look amazing, but they also drastically cut down on the dirt/mud situationMr. Ruddy and the twins with some arm wrestling funStars and such.Jade and Ang have been able to work together this year more closely.Cow crossing!Noah has been doing his schooling completely online this year.The middle school crew!Cal and her class for Valentine’s DayDominican Independence Day!Two of our faves! Yuleisy and Aylin celebrating on February 27thJoining the 4th-6th rade teachers for a photoAng has had the privilege of working through a book for teens with 9th grader GenesisMaira and LoriesterCal posing with her teacher JereiciOur adorable pre-schoolers opened up the eventAng posing with our fun-loving first grade teamTeachers opening up morning assembly with a choreographed songStill loving the dress-up stage of childhoodNever too old for car races!Three families of MK’s enjoying a pizza night
A January wedding!Yay for ice cream weekends!Leyton is our lover of the chocolate ice creamSprinkles? Always!January meant our first team of 2023!Pizza for lunch and slides while we’re waiting!Ang may or may not have pulled an all-nighter to prep some learning notebooks for our elementary students. 😉It was fun to learn how to use this beast of a machine.Growing campusRosa made the Honor Roll!Leyton did well too!Some of our spirited 5th gradersSunrise!SunsetAfter school homework palsSydney came back to visit us!Caleigh is loving having Miss Rachel as her teacherAng started walking two of our 9th grade girls through a book this semester called “Joven Verdadera”We started working on a pergola this month for some added playground expansion for high school studentsTeams are a huge blessing to us missionaries! Lisa brings me sweets that don’t exactly help my waistline. 😉Helping out in our 6th grade classrom in a science classPlaydough Pals – and yes, my tree is still up in JanuaryCaleigh dressed up for a “Career Day”One of our 2nd grade teachersBurning off the sugarcane fields in the distanceMaking forts in the living room – is any childhood complete without this activity?Juan Pablo Duarte was one of the founding fathers in the DR.Our little gal caught pneumonia and spent a couple nights in the local clinicThe fam and some friends took me out to celebrate year 37!Love this little one!Sweet school staff surprised me with a cake for my birthday!
Busy school days, birthday fun, Christmas program, spending time with family – all wrapped up in one month! Thankful for some time to relax and reflect on Jesus’ birth!
Welcoming in December with friends!Mari Cruz and Olaf!Cal loved singing with her second-grade classmates for their Christmas presentationThis kiddo spends a couple hours a day with me taking some homeschool classes – and enjoying blue candy when the opportunity arises.Some little preschool cuties!Yuleisy turns 29! Hard to believe the first birthday we celebrated with her was #19Rachel made Yuleisy’s beautiful cakeYuleisy’s high school team surprised her on her birthday too!Lots of emotions seeing these big kiddos so grown upThe after-school routine: play together in the playpenTranslating in our 1B classroomAn extremely bright rainbow this December morning!The ladies had a White Elephant party!Biased and don’t care – our favorite little friend!Caleigh excitedly wrapping presents and placing them under the treeA local first responder came in to talk to our 1st graders about first aidAylin tackled Leyton – who didn’t mind taking a break from homeschool 🙂Our interns headed home for Christmas break. Thankful for their service!Ms. Jinnauris is one of our 1st grade teachersEach of these boys has a story. Praying at some point, their journeys align with what God would have for them.Fabiola, Marleny and Faniry. Three of our beautiful 8th graders.Beautiful eyes and perfect smiles – praying these 3rd graders learn to love Jesus with all they’ve got!The high schoolers had a surprise Christmas luncheon out at the camp multi-use. Scott read them a story!Those on the Freedom team who were here for our staff partyCuddles from the cutie pieChristmas break would not be complete without a lazy day watching the Sound of Music!Putting together a lantern with Pepaw one morningChristmas morning sunrise!Saying goodbye to the grandparentsTaste testing chocolate chip cookie dough is a mustScott taking on the crazy ridiculous puzzle we tackled over break
Cal got to spend a day hiking with her cousins on our short trip back to the StatesFlying has become old hat for these kiddosSinging the Dominican national anthemMy dishes helperThese kiddos are loving their suckers!The homework champLeyton loves this book seriesMaria Martha reading to some of her little first gradersWe had a very sweet 10-year celebration with our team!Ice cream and coffee for breakfast? Absolutely!A happy gal!This team is a huge blessing!Our kids have loved reading all the messages from different students, staff, and missionaries.Simona helping fill out forms on Mother’s DayCaleigh’s class performing for Mother’s DayLeyton made me a card!Our teachers spend a lot of time decorating their classroomsNoah performed a sweet little recitation and gave me a little gift!Guyllana is mom of two of our students and works on the cleaning staff!Leyton with Romel and his grandmaKimberly assessing our preschool kiddos in EnglishIntern and 8th grader meet for a good old-fashioned arm-wrestling competitionStudents praying for our interns who are leavingWeekend trip with MarciaBergica takes on a bacon burgerIce cream and games with these threeA visitor brought me two big bags of one of my favorite sweets!Games with friendsParent-teacher conferences in Lima7th and 8th graders working through a leadership training
Parent CommitteeCal and K enjoying one of their pull-out classesA new addition to the playground – four-square and basketball!Krista caught Cal taking care of big bro during a team nightMy silly ice cream eaterIt’s a rule – rainbows over Freedom must always be sharedWe snagged a pic with Fabiola who was staying the night with friendsTodd and Angie made some awesome homemade pizzas!Speaking of pizza… dinner and lesson planning with 2nd grade teacher Betsaida!This big gal loves to play on the chalkboard while mom’s at work.Daniela dressed up for Independence Day celebrationJorge is one intelligent 5th graderOne of our wonderful teams This little lady has stolen everyone’s heartsTeams tutoring in our English roomsRuth Elizabeth was made to teach!This dear friend came for another visit!The bus still gets stuck on occasionThis girl cheers me up just at the sight of her!Adding library books to our new electronic system!Another new classroom in the works!Bus drivers meet for a morning devo each workdayThese boys have grown into young men!Teacher were trained on how to self check-out library booksYuleisy and her mini-me hard at workA historical drama at breakfastThe whole gangA few of Leyton’s classmatesKenia at campOne of our 2nd graders
Thank you for your prayers for our family and for Freedom!
It’s heating up here in the DR! June 2021 in photos below!
Enjoying lunch with friends while mom and dad are at a meeting.
If that ain’t the cutest little gal you ever did see… Smiles in church.
MK class with Mr. Jacob
School will be allowed to reopen this month! We are so excited!
A group from the States who has been praying with us for the school to reopen rejoiced with us from afar!
Celebration cake that Pettisville Missionary Church made!
Our first team of summer!
Our awesome summer interns!
Check out that bus fleet! Our mechanic Daniel has been working hard to get these babies ready for their first day on the job.
First flag raising in 15 months!
Hand sanitizer for every kiddo
Ms. Emma explaining the distancing rules
MK’s attending VBS – learning about the armor of God!
The library queen! Ms. Becky brought all these new reads down in her suitcase!
Love these ladies!
The inside of a kitchen in Lima.
On a birthday mission.
Our 4th graders made a quick trip to the library one day
Our good friend Mark came down for a week and snapped some family photos for us! Noah-man.
Leyton
Cal
Yuleisy has been meeting with various members of the District Office and Regional Office as we work through regulations for in-person classes and other necessary requirements for high school approval.
Sunrise!
We’re super excited about all the new walkways! This one will have a flagpole in the middle.
Our current Board Chair came down to be involved in the ministry for a couple of weeks.
Sister-in-laws painting like crazy!
Noah really enjoys teaching. Jade sent me this sweet photo of him reading to the other MK’s.
The Mitcheners 