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You are here: Home / Archives for La Vega Christian School

Making Headway on Projects! Fall 2022 Update

November 1, 2022 By admin

We appreciate each and every one of our partners, whether you are praying for us or are part of the financial lifeline. We are so thankful for you and for God, for what he is doing here in the Dominican Republic. Wishing you a special Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends! 

Mitch & Debbie Martinez, Missionaries to the Dominican Republic

Project Updates

By the time you read this note, the Limoncito Sanctuary Project will be completed. Downstairs, the Haitian Education Center will finally have its own space for classrooms. A team from Evangel Assembly, MA will be with us to help partition the classrooms, and will minister to children and adults plus provide healthcare.

The El Hatico Sanctuary Project is moving forward and our goal is to have the sanctuary complete before the end of November. We are grateful for the funds we have received for this project. Hopefully within a week or two the floor, electrical, windows and doors should all be in place. This congregation will celebrate Christmas in a new sanctuary!

We are receiving funds for small homes for three pastors. Pastor Frantz of the Barranca project, Pastor Alex of the Sabaneta Project, and Pastor Danes of the Cutupu Project. These ministers work sacrificially and have tough living situations. What a blessing for them if we can help them. We are estimating a need for $11,000.00 each. Material costs are affecting us strongly. We have received $9000.00 thus far. PTL!! 

  • El Hatico Project Progress
    El Hatico Project Progress
  • El Hatico Project Progress
    El Hatico Project Progress
  • El Limoncito Project Finalizing!
    Limoncito Project Finalizing!

El Pino Needs a Building!

Our Haitian Education Center in El Pino has been under some pressure to move from the church where they have been meeting. Thanks to our donors, we were able to purchase a property and have the funds to start with the foundation. We will need $25,000 to complete this project; this will ensure 4-6 classrooms for up to 100 children. This Thanksgiving will you consider sending funds to help with the El Pino Education Center and Church Project? Your gifts are tax deductible. Pastor Wilner is committed to helping these children.

Without the school many children would not receive any education. Public schools are over-crowded and the Haitian children are last to be offered placement in a classroom. They don’t speak the language, and they may not have proper legal documentation They are part of the immigrant population fleeing the dangerous living conditions in Haiti. Debbie has been raising funds to support 15 schools with over 1000 Haitian children on a monthly basis. She believes it is a crime for a child not to be able to receive an education. Will you consider providing help? For $25.00 a month you can sponsor a child. If you would like to help with this project, or provide on-going support for the children’s programs, please email Debbie at lavegaschool@gmail.com or call her at 1-809-696-9928 or 863-248-1119. You can donate online at https://www.tfaforms.com/4840424 (under Donation Designation select “DR Schools – LaVega and Haitian”

Debbie at El Pino Shared Classroom
For Info on how you can give, CLICK HERE TO GIVE
call us at 863-248-1119. Your gifts are tax-deductible.

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Dominican Republic, El Hatico, El pino, La Vega Christian School, short-term missions

New Projects are Launched!

November 15, 2021 By admin

We are humbled by the faithfulness of God’s children during this extended COVID period. We expected our budget to be badly affected. Instead, our supporters and supporting churches gave priority to making sure support to their missionaries continued. Thank you for your help and know that God has not overlooked your act of charity during this time. The Lord richly bless you! Thank you for partnering with us.

Haitian Program Needing A Boost!

The staff of 86 teachers, cooks, and administrators of the Haitian schools by faith have received a good salary increase this school year. We are trusting the Lord to touch supporters’ hearts to provide for this much needed raise. They will still be way below the national average. If you feel the Lord leading you or your church to help with this contact Debbie at lavegaschool@gmail.com.

Construction began on the El Hatico Project in earnest after the new year.

This project is one of the most ambitious yet for a Haitian School. When finished i t w i l l have 10 classrooms and hold 200 children or more. This is the culmination of the efforts of RIP Ministries to take care of the two schools that they sponsor. By combining the two into one building they will free up monthly expenses and provide an excellent facility for the children. Making Christ the center of the education program is the chief goal in all this. Mitch has been overseeing this construction project. 

The combined Faith Church ministries from Summerville and Charleston, SC, brought a team of men to make sure the building was ready for the opening of classes. They welded the tr usses in place and setup for the industrial metal roof that covers almost 8000 square feet of floor space. Classes started October 4th in the new facility. The next phase of the project is to finish the second story and then build the sanctuary that will serve as an auditorium for the school and a church for the Haitian congregation.

The Limoncito Project is moving forward with the 2nd Story Sanctuary addition.

Pastor Petit Techner has been waiting a while to see progress on this church project. They have been meeting downstairs in the same area used for the classrooms for his school program. 70 children meet here daily for classes. Every corner is used for a classroom. This area is also used for his church meetings. Unfortunately there are many columns obstructing the view of the pulpit area on this first floor. This building had been a warehouse before and had rows of columns supporting the concrete roof that will serve as a floor for the 2nd story. The 2nd story will expand the size of the sanctuary almost 25% and this without the obstructions of the columns down below. Currently the trusses and roof have been installed. We are hoping to get the exterior walls up soon and are still $5000.00 shy of projected expenses. If you or a your church would like to donate to this project, please call us at 863-248-1119, or you can email Mitch Martinez at dominicanmissions@hotmail.com.

Congrats to our daughter
Sarah Joy Rios
Ordained as a Minister
In October
in Massachusetts!

For Info on how you can give, CLICK HERE TO GIVE
call us at 863-248-1119. Your gifts are tax-deductible.

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Dominican Republic, El Hatico, La Vega Christian School, short-term missions

Spring 2021 Ministry Update

June 22, 2021 By admin

Progress continues on the El Hatico Project.  This will be a 2-story structure with 10 classrooms for 200 children.  In a week or two we should see the walls rising on the 2nd story.  Our goal is to have the building ready for use by the end of August.  It will take some prayers!

We are starting to see requests for hosting short-term ministry teams.  This June we had our first team visit from Timberline Church in Colorado.  They went all out with end of school children’s programs for four of the Haitian schools. In Cutupu they repainted all the blackboards, all the school benches, and even built 8 more benches for the children.  This was a hardworking team of six. Their trip to Limoncito reminded me that we are still gathering funds for the badly needed 2nd story addition there.  Construction materials have increased on an average 40%.  We are estimating $22,000 for the cost of this addition.  We have received $10,000 and a promise of $3000 more.

Currently we are still living with curfews and mask rules but La Vega is one of four provinces with a late curfew because of the low incidence of COVID-19.  Your prayers are working!

short term mission trip to DR
A freshly made school bench thanks to the Timberline Church Ministry Team

On the Homefront

We had an opportunity to be in the States last month and were blessed to visit our children and grandchildren. From sunny Florida we travelled through North Carolina, where Paul, Nicole and their awesome four children live. We then visited Debbie’s dad, Mike (94 years) and his wife Roz in New Jersey. Then travelled near Boston to visit Sarah, Aaron and their five beautiful girls. They are all doing well. Our biggest concern is that COVID has held up Karina’s (Joshua’s wife) request for residency in the U.S. This means she can’t currently travel to the US. Their two boys are ready; Ken and Ethan have their US passports. Please pray for them, they have been waiting over 2 years now for this approval!

We found some stowaway grandchildren.


 

Haitian Schools Update

End of Year Parties – We are so thankful to our faithful supporters who provide funds to feed the children. More funds are still needed! Write me at lavegaschool@gmail.com.

These sweet girls above are thankful for a hot meal, a party and a gift to take home. Most of all they are happy they can go to school and learn about Jesus

The schools are growing

Pastor Gesner’s school grew from 12 to 20 to 45 in just two years. His landlord is building a bigger facility behind the present school.

Teacher Training – We had a successful teacher training on June 12. The teachers are hungry to learn how to effectively teach the children. They are determined to come, even like this!

 

For Info on how you can give, CLICK HERE TO GIVE
call us at 863-248-1119. Your gifts are tax-deductible.

 

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Dominican Republic, El Hatico, La Vega Christian School, short-term missions

Fall 2019 – News from Your Missionaries Mitch & Debbie Martinez

November 28, 2019 By admin

As the Holidays approach, we want to give thanks to the many who so faithfully have prayed and given towards the work that is being carried out here in the Dominican Republic. We cannot fully express the joy we feel in knowing that your hearts are with us. After 27 years we still count it a very special privilege to have you as friends and partners in this ministry. It is God working through you that has helped us to touch so many lives here. May the Lord richly bless you!

Debbie translating for a medical volunteer with Caring Partners
Debbie translating for a medical volunteer with Caring Partners

It was exciting to have a visit this November from Caring Partners, an international ministry focusing on people’s medical needs and sharing the Gospel. Working with Pastor Gemuel Delgado in the Rieles area, and Pastor Roberto Hernandez at La Vega Christian School, they examined 930 patients at the respective church locations in four days. The pastors and volunteers also prayed with over 70 people to receive Christ into their hearts. What a blessing to partner with them that week.

 

 

It was so nice to have a visit from our good friends from South Carolina here last month. Calvin and Barbara Fortner came with Sharon Gossett and Grace M. Bell. It is always a blessing to show first hand the progress being made in the ministry. They have been supporting this work for many years

Pastor Leomar Sirit and his daughter Daniela

Rose of Sharon – Sunday October 27th we had 30 attending, our best turnout yet for the morning service. This is a struggling new church plant in a poor community where we had filled in as pastors the past year and we still attend. It needs prayer. We been blessed with a new Pastor Leomar Sirit who is committed to this congregation. He is an answer to prayers!

PROJECT UPDATES:

Cutupu – Church and school: Walls are up to bondbeam height (Top of windows) and columns have been poured. The next step is to lay three lines of block above the bondbeam and start on the roof. We have funds on hand for the roof and are looking for help with the floor, windows, and doors. Later comes plumbing. electrical, and kitchen. 130 children are truly needing this new building. $8000.00 still needed.

Sabaneta (Pastor Alex) – The school wing is almost complete. We are finishing up the kitchen and the electrical work still needs to be done. The new bathrooms and kitchen are functioning. The cook gave me the biggest smile for her new kitchen. Previously the director’s office had been the kitchen for the 70+ children. $ 1200.00 for electrical.

 Limoncito – This school is functioning great with 45 children. Pastor Pettit Techner has moved into the parsonage and is leading the congregation. The next stage for this project is to move the sanctuary to the 2d floor, and leave the school on the first floor. The slab is already in place for the new sancturay, we anticipate $15,000.00 needed to complete this 2d phase. This is a great project for a missions minded church (hint).

Ranchito – Sunday School Addition This church has a great sanctuary but no classroom facilities for Sunday School. They have been using the Sanctuary for four makeshift classrooms every week for the past six years but conditions are tough as only blackboards divide the classroom spaces. We need $5000.00 to start this project. This is for the foundation of the new wing.

For Info on how you can give, call us at 863-248-1119. Your gifts are tax-deductible.

 

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Dominican Republic, La Vega Christian School, Los rieles, medical ministry, Rose of Sharon

Summer 2019 – News from Your Missionaries Mitch & Debbie Martinez

September 9, 2019 By admin


Summer short term missions teams continue to have a great impact in local churches with outreaches and construction help.  Special thanks to Living Water Fellowship, Kissimmee, FL, Greenville First, SC, and to New LIfe AG, Grand Ledge, MI.  Also in May, a team from the Univ. of Maine (Augusta Campus) kicked off our summer.

Health Awareness Talks.  The University team from Augusta, Maine, did an outstanding job helping children in various schools understand the importance of dental hygiene and other health issues.  They were well received by the parents and school staff attending. It was their first visit to the Dominican Republic, we hope they will visit again.

 

New Life A/G worked in Villa Altagracia where they dedicated their time to the construction needs of the House of Prayer Church.  They were responsible for adding the 2d story to the administrative wing of this church. They did some heavy work under very hot conditions.

Crew hard at work

They also teamed up with a  Dominican construction crew to put in all the divisions in cement block for the office and bathroom areas of the church on the 2nd story.  We so appreciated New Life’s positive attitude and strong work ethic.  It was great to see the results after a hard week of work.  And they also ministered in area churches while in the country.

 

The Living Water Fellowship Team was on here for the end of the year party for the 14 Haitian education programs.  There were 700 children at this event.   Debbie was so happy to have this team with their servant attitude assist her. They also ministered in area churches, and put on work gloves and helped with the foundation work of the Cutupu church mentioned on our header above. It was hot grueling work and they never complained.  Thank you Living Water!

 

Greenville First conducted Vacation Bible School at various local churches and also helped with construction needs.   There are many churches in this country that cannot afford a special summer program for the children.It is a great blessing to help the kids learn the Bible lessons that they can apply in their own lives.  We encourage churches to come and host the VBS programs here in the Dominican Republic. The team also poured the floor for the Good News Haitian Church in Sabaneta, and helped with the foundation work of the Cutupu church.

Volunteers will be missed!
The Palmer family returned to the United States after serving the Haitian Schools and the International Church for two years.  They will be greatly missed.

We will also miss Sallie Wham who faithfully worked with the English program at La Vega Christian School, and also worked with the Children’s program at Rose of Sharon Church in Barrio Inco.  Debbie will surely miss her help in that program.

La Vega Christian School (LVCS) is always on the look out for volunteers willing to give a year or more of their life teaching English in a Christian environment. At  LVCS they have freedom to impart spiritual truth as they teach.  Our volunteers don’t have to speak Spanish to teach here.  If you are interested in applying for a short term mission at LVCS contact us today.

Short term missions teams are encouraged to network with us to impact local churches, schools, and communities! We cannot overemphasize the impact that church teams have had on our ministry here in La Vega.  There are more than 40 building projects over the years that could not have been accomplished without the help of these gracious US teams.  The Cutupu project above needs help today.  If you or your church would like to help, visit our Dominican Republic short-term missions trip webpage  for practical guidelines to prepare for your visit.

 

Congrats to Pastor Aaron Rios
Aaron Rios was installed as Lead Pastor at Garden City Church in Beverly, Mass.  He is our daughter Sarah’s husband. It was great to be on hand for this event during our summer visit to the U.S.  Previously he was an associate pastor for 4 years at New Life Church in Leominster, Mass.

 

 

 

1,800 Missionaries Attending  
We found ourselves attending a world missions event in Orlando with 1,800 other missionaries.  The Assemblies of God World Missions organization said history was made as missionaries from 160 nations gathered for encouragement and edification.  Outstanding speakers such as Dick Eastman from Every Home for Christ challenged us to prayer.

Filed Under: News & Updates Tagged With: Dominican Republic, Greenville First Assembly, La Vega Christian School, New Life Assemblies of God, Villa Altagracia, volunteering, volunteers

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