Pizza Pizza!

A universal truth we have learned in the DR: all kids love Pizza! We had a wonderful donor who provided for a pizza party for our kids, and we were blessed to get enough pizza that each kid was able to have two slices, with some of the older kids sneaking three. They LOVE pizza! Here are pictures of the PreK3 and Kindergarten classes chowing down on their slices.

Chinaida, Blaini and Carlos Miguel are chowing down!Chinaida, Blaini and Carlos Miguel are chowing down!
Michael, Maria Estefani and Nikauri love eating pizza!Michael, Maria Estefani and Nikauri love eating pizza!
Peter, Estefani and Diana are enjoying their slicesPeter, Estefani and Diana are enjoying their slices
Ayline and Katy are almost done with their first slice.Ayline and Katy are almost done with their first slice.
Yiskeiry, Rosita and Renaldo gobbling up their pieces.Yiskeiry, Rosita and Renaldo gobbling up their pieces.
Willy, Wandy, Isaac, Andy and Paola are excited about pizza!Willy, Wandy, Isaac, Andy and Paola are excited about pizza!
Ricardo, Ana Wendy and Warner love pizza!Ricardo, Ana Wendy and Warner love pizza!
Anthony, Yunairis and Nelisa eating their slicesAnthony, Yunairis and Nelisa eating their slices
Miguelina and Raidi can't wait to enjoy their pizza.Miguelina and Raidi can’t wait to enjoy their pizza.
Benllina and Nicole think there is nothing better than pizzaBenllina and Nicole think there is nothing better than pizza
Profe Nicole and Miguelina love their pizza.Profe Nicole and Miguelina love their pizza.
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Put on your Christmas Spirit!

We had our Christmas party at school on December 9th. The purpose of our party is to reach out to the parents of our kids to show them some of what the students are learning, and the kids get to put on a skit or recite a bible verse for their parents. The kids LOVE party days because they get to dress up in their best party dresses and fancy clothes. We love to see all their finery, from the elaborately done hair to the princess dresses to fancy polo shirts. The kids also love to strut their stuff, and they feel so proud of their clothes.

Enjoy the photos!

Wendania in her pretty pink dressWendania in her pretty pink dress
The girls of the PreK4 classThe girls of the PreK4 class
The boys of PreK3 and PreK4 looking handsome!The boys of PreK3 and PreK4 looking handsome!
Katy, Estefani and Heidi had fun shirts for the day.Katy, Estefani and Heidi had fun shirts for the day.
The littlest ones: Rosita, Yiskeiry, Chinaida and Maria EstefaniThe littlest ones: Rosita, Yiskeiry, Chinaida and Maria Estefani
Arturo rocking his polo shirtArturo rocking his polo shirt
Sweet BlainiSweet Blaini
Peter is enthralled by the performancePeter is enthralled by the performance
Estaci had fun curls in her hairEstaci had fun curls in her hair
Miguel Angel had a sweet hat and fancy pantsMiguel Angel had a sweet hat and fancy pants
Merili with a pretty headbandMerili with a pretty headband
Rebecca with her santa hatRebecca with her santa hat
Rosita had a beautiful dress onRosita had a beautiful dress on
Yiskeiry was a yellow bumble bee, complete with a flower in her hairYiskeiry was a yellow bumble bee, complete with a flower in her hair
Luis Fernando rocking the sunglassesLuis Fernando rocking the sunglasses
Darling Frid had a fun dress onDarling Frid had a fun dress on
Chinaida and Yunairys are all dressed upChinaida and Yunairys are all dressed up
Nikauri with her pretty red and blue dressNikauri with her pretty red and blue dress
Profe Sarah with Manuela... this describes Manuela perfectlyProfe Sarah with Manuela… this describes Manuela perfectly
Ayline looked like a present with the bow in her hairAyline looked like a present with the bow in her hair
Regina and Mari LeydyRegina and Mari Leydy
Cousins Maria Estefani and Ana Wendy are all smilesCousins Maria Estefani and Ana Wendy are all smiles
Camila and Ricardo with their dadCamila and Ricardo with their dad
The purple club! Profe Narolin, Imani and Miranda with Ana Wendy and AldianiThe purple club! Profe Narolin, Imani and Miranda with Ana Wendy and Aldiani
Sweet Ruth and Lucia are in matching white smocked dressesSweet Ruth and Lucia are in matching white smocked dresses
Erickson loves his fancy football shirts and jeansErickson loves his fancy football shirts and jeans
Carlos Alfredo, Raidi and Yeri all looking greatCarlos Alfredo, Raidi and Yeri all looking great
Alexander and Sariel in the traditional Dominican poseAlexander and Sariel in the traditional Dominican pose
Estaci, Aldiani and HeidiEstaci, Aldiani and Heidi
Martin was looking smart in his button up shirtMartin was looking smart in his button up shirt
Miguelina, Chinaida, and the Doctora!Miguelina, Chinaida, and the Doctora!
Escarlet and Neifi were pretty in pinkEscarlet and Neifi were pretty in pink
Friends Wandy, Anthony and Isaac looking greatFriends Wandy, Anthony and Isaac looking great
And in came the crowd! Willy, Wandy, Anthony, Isaac and Wilson, with Miguelina V in the backgroundAnd in came the crowd! Willy, Wandy, Anthony, Isaac and Wilson, with Miguelina V in the background
Valentina, Escarlet and NeifiValentina, Escarlet and Neifi
Son, Daribelto, Yeri, Luigi, Martin and Andy posing for a photoSon, Daribelto, Yeri, Luigi, Martin and Andy posing for a photo
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Soccer, the universal sport

If there is one thing that draws people together around the world, it’s a good sporting event, and soccer here reigns supreme. No matter their age, race, or physical ability, our students love to get out and kick the “pelota” around. There isn’t much strategy to how they play, they just love to be on the field together, running after the ball.

The PreK3 and PreK4 classes tend to just kick the ball back and forth to each other. Their “games” tend to be everyone crowding around the ball at once.

Michael kicking the ball with styleMichael kicking the ball with style
Aylin proving that girls can play soccer tooAylin proving that girls can play soccer too
Wilner and Estefani race for the ball.Wilner and Estefani race for the ball.
Renaldo waves his flag to "referee"Renaldo waves his flag to "referee"
Carlos Miguel shoots... he scores!Carlos Miguel shoots… he scores!
Wilton kicks the ball across the yard.Wilton kicks the ball across the yard.
Erickson and Sariel kick the ball back and forth.Erickson and Sariel kick the ball back and forth.
Wilner goes after the ball.Wilner goes after the ball.
Profe Miranda playing with Sariel, Wilton and ManuelProfe Miranda playing with Sariel, Wilton and Manuel
Alexander focuses on kicking the ball.Alexander focuses on kicking the ball.

Our older kids in Kinder, 1st and Second grades are very competitive in their games. The kids love it when the staff gets out to play with them. We have games every day during recess, and everyone always wants to be the goalie (portero), so we rotate that spot between different people multiple times each game.

Ricardo, the "portero" won't let any balls get by him.Ricardo, the "portero" won’t let any balls get by him.
Anthony kicks hardAnthony kicks hard
Isaac goes for the ball.Isaac goes for the ball.
Wilson and Ricardo watch as Daribelto protects the goalWilson and Ricardo watch as Daribelto protects the goal
Isaac, Anthony, Luigi, Daribelto, Estiven and Raidi chase after the ball.Isaac, Anthony, Luigi, Daribelto, Estiven and Raidi chase after the ball.
Arturo, Raidi, Wilson and Anthony playing soccer.Arturo, Raidi, Wilson and Anthony playing soccer.
Arturo stops the ball from entering the goal.Arturo stops the ball from entering the goal.
Profe Johan plabing with Memo and Wilsenci.Profe Johan plabing with Memo and Wilsenci.
Daribelto and Andy race toward the goal, with Raidi and Luigi in pursuit.Daribelto and Andy race toward the goal, with Raidi and Luigi in pursuit.
Miguel Angel and Carlos Alfredo both aiming to kick the ball.Miguel Angel and Carlos Alfredo both aiming to kick the ball.
Gustavo proctecting the goal from the 2nd grade class.Gustavo proctecting the goal from the 2nd grade class.
Johan celebrates Bienvenido's goal, as Miguel Angel sits in disbelief.Johan celebrates Bienvenido’s goal, as Miguel Angel sits in disbelief.
Miguel Angel kicking the ball away from the goal as Luis watches.Miguel Angel kicking the ball away from the goal as Luis watches.

Enjoy the photos!

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Medical Team Success!

One of my Jobs as Health Care Administrator for Makarios is to organize the medical team that comes down each year. Comprised of health care workers from Ohio, Texas and Atlanta, this team has been coming for the past 5 years to provide medical care for our kids, and we are very blessed to have them. One of the basic needs that many people do not have met here is quality medical care, and it is a blessing to be able to provide for our students. As the Apostles went from village to village healing the sick, so did our medical team, serving the people of Montellano, Pancho Mateo and Chichigua.

We worked HARD from Monday through Thursday. The team was composed of Doctor Merrillee and PA Darren, who performed checkups on all of our kids and saw their families as well. We also had Nurses JoAnn, Pam, Denise, Laura and Becky, Respiratory Therapist Tonya, Paramedic Tyler and PCA Tanda, who did triage with heights/weights/vital signs, assisted Darren and Merrillee and ran to the pharmacy when we needed more meds.

We started in the Office to get charts ready to go.We started in the Office to get charts ready to go.
Anthony and Ricardo patiently waiting their turns.Anthony and Ricardo patiently waiting their turns.
Jen checks Neifi's height to see how much she has grownJen checks Neifi’s height to see how much she has grown
Andy is excited to see how much weight he has gained.Andy is excited to see how much weight he has gained.
Jen checking Neifi's pulseJen checking Neifi’s pulse
Denise checking a blood pressure with Ricardo watchingDenise checking a blood pressure with Ricardo watching
Denise listens to Anthony's heartDenise listens to Anthony’s heart
JoAnn listens to th elungs of a neighborhood kidJoAnn listens to th elungs of a neighborhood kid
Tanda checks Manuela's chart one last time before she goes backTanda checks Manuela’s chart one last time before she goes back

In four days, we saw over 320 patients! This included our 80 students, their families, and others who live in the community that we were able to serve. Each student received a full physical exam The most common complaints included gripe (stuffy nose) and stomach problems. We dewormed all of our students and many of the other youngsters in the community.

Michael does the chicken dance to show all his joints and nerves are working well.Michael does the chicken dance to show all his joints and nerves are working well.
Michael showing Dr Merrillee his big smileMichael showing Dr Merrillee his big smile
Julian our trnaslator showing Luis how to bend over for his scoliosis checkJulian our trnaslator showing Luis how to bend over for his scoliosis check
Wilner gets a good checkup!Wilner gets a good checkup!
Darren listening to Fani breathe.Darren listening to Fani breathe.
Vanessa was focused on her deep breathsVanessa was focused on her deep breaths
One of our students gets a breathing treatment with Pam to helpOne of our students gets a breathing treatment with Pam to help

We also took a trip out to Chichigua, a batey where many of our students come from, and were able to see over 50 patients there including younger siblings and other family members. We gave out antibiotics, asthma inhalers, vitamins, and a lot of love and support. The team selflessly poured out their hearts to serve those less fortunate than they were, and showed the love of Jesus to all who came to be seen.

We saw over 50 people in Chichigua!We saw over 50 people in Chichigua!
Darren listens to one of our student's mothers.Darren listens to one of our student’s mothers.
Doctor Merrillee checking a future Makarios studentDoctor Merrillee checking a future Makarios student
This little one checks out well!This little one checks out well!

At the end of the four days, the First grade class made thank you notes for all the medical team, and had a fun presentation to give them out.

The first graders made thank you notes for the team.The first graders made thank you notes for the team.
Luigi gives Laura his noteLuigi gives Laura his note
Tyler with Son, Daribelto, Yeri and Mari LeydyTyler with Son, Daribelto, Yeri and Mari Leydy
Thank you Medical Team!Thank you Medical Team!

We were so grateful to the medical team to come down. They provide such a service for our community, and we are thankful to have them.

Us with Darren and his wife BeckyUs with Darren and his wife Becky
Merrillee and MeMerrillee and Me
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