Makarios

A week with La Docotora

Imani Folkes — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:49:19 +0000

You might know her as Lauren, but to everyone within the walls of our school she’s “Doctora.”
Lauren is our health administrator here at the Makarios school. On average day she can treat anything from stomach aches & runny noses to abscesses & broken arms. Beyond taking care of the wounded, she also takes a ton of preventative measures such as: giving students de-worming medicine (medicine that lets parasites pass if the children have any), giving physicals, making sure they have vitamins, and giving out tons of hugs. She also coordinates the medical and dental teams that come to take care of our kids and their families.

Here a few pictures of what a “typical” week can look like for Lauren (focusing in on the medical side of her day). Be sure to click on a picture, if you want to view it on a larger scale.

Pulling out teeth


Pulling out Gustavo’s loose tooth. View at Picasa Pulling out Gustavo's loose tooth.07-May-2012 07:56, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1600	It was so loose, it came out in a few seconds! View at Picasa It was so loose, it came out in a few seconds!07-May-2012 07:57, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 24.0mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1600	Gustavo pointing as to where he is going to throw his tough View at Picasa Gustavo pointing as to where he is going to throw his tough07-May-2012 07:58, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 400
Talking it over with his Profe, Johan. View at Picasa Talking it over with his Profe, Johan.07-May-2012 07:58, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400	And there he goes! View at Picasa And there he goes!07-May-2012 07:58, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 400

Treating a broken arm.


La Doctora checks on Ismael’s arm after he had an accident with on the monkey bars. His prove, Bella helps comfort View at Picasa La Doctora checks on Ismael's arm after he had an accident with on the monkey bars. His prove, Bella helps comfort07-May-2012 08:12, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 3.5, 18.0mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 1600	Checking for arm movement View at Picasa Checking for arm movement07-May-2012 08:14, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.0, 33.0mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 1600	Wrapping it in an Ace bandage until they were able to get it X-rayed. View at Picasa Wrapping it in an Ace bandage until they were able to get it X-rayed.07-May-2012 08:15, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 3.5, 20.0mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 1600
Along with the Ace Bandage came the sling View at Picasa Along with the Ace Bandage came the sling07-May-2012 08:17, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.0, 19.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 1600	This was after Lauren took Ismael to the hospital to get X-rays, and his arm casted (it turned out to be broken). Here they are enjoying a late lunch together in the school office. View at Picasa This was after Lauren took Ismael to the hospital to get X-rays, and his arm casted (it turned out to be broken). Here they are enjoying a late lunch together in the school office.07-May-2012 11:44, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 3.5, 21.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

Giving out stomach medicine


Vanessa had a stomach ache, so Lauren gave her medicine View at Picasa Vanessa had a stomach ache, so Lauren gave her medicine10-May-2012 11:20, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.0, 25.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	Drinking the whole glass of water to get down her medicine View at Picasa Drinking the whole glass of water to get down her medicine10-May-2012 11:21, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.0, 26.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800

Giving out deworming medication


Lauren explaining that the deworming pill is chewable, but it won’t taste the best going down. View at Picasa Lauren explaining that the deworming pill is chewable, but it won't taste the best going down.11-May-2012 11:25, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.0, 25.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800	Luis Fernando (2nd person after Lauren) doesn’t look too excited View at Picasa Luis Fernando (2nd person after Lauren) doesn't look too excited11-May-2012 11:25, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.5, 24.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800	Lauren giving the medicine to Ana Wendy View at Picasa Lauren giving the medicine to Ana Wendy11-May-2012 11:27, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.0, 22.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
Anthony and Ricardo chewed their pill without any problems! They were very proud to show their empty mouths once the pill was gone! View at Picasa Anthony and Ricardo chewed their pill without any problems! They were very proud to show their empty mouths once the pill was gone!11-May-2012 11:27, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 4.0, 29.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	She’s also pretty skeptical View at Picasa She's also pretty skeptical11-May-2012 11:27, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.0, 60.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	Paola isn’t the most excited about the medicine.. View at Picasa Paola isn't the most excited about the medicine..11-May-2012 11:27, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 75.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
But after she started chewing it and realize it wasn’t so bad she wanted to show off View at Picasa But after she started chewing it and realize it wasn't so bad she wanted to show off11-May-2012 11:28, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 69.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	Yunaris showing off how she’s able to chew the pill View at Picasa Yunaris showing off how she's able to chew the pill11-May-2012 11:28, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 100.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	Andy joins the fun View at Picasa Andy joins the fun11-May-2012 11:28, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 92.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
And a note home to the parents explaining the medicine La Doctora gave them! View at Picasa And a note home to the parents explaining the medicine La Doctora gave them!11-May-2012 12:25, Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi, 5.6, 92.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800

And a slideshow of the kindergartners getting weighed and measured

Crazy, wonderful Regina

miranda.bell11 — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:43:48 +0000

Meet Regina, an 8 year old first grader at Makarios. Like many of our kids, she struggles in the classroom, so she’s been seeing me in the library for daily tutoring sessions. I have a confession to make about Regina: I love her, but I she is sometimes hard to love.

On a good day, Regina is entertaining, loving, and has an ‘off-the-wall’ sense of humor’. On a bad day, Regina is disobedient, stubborn, and a little bit ‘crazy-town’. Have I mentioned she is sweatier and snottier than any other child in our school. Oh yes. When she runs up with a huge snot bubble coming out of her nose, I struggle to show her the unconditional love that every child deserves.

Thanks to a community effort at Makarios, Regina is catching up with the rest her class. During her end-of-year assessments, she tested as one of the top readers in her class! I can’t take any credit, because I know God is at work during our time together. Not just in Regina, but also in me.

Love for the unlovable does not come naturally or easily (for me anyway). But I serve a God loves me when I am at my worst. And He loves me unconditionally. I struggle to love like He loves, and I succeed only when I rely on His strength. He pushes me out of my comfort zone, and into a place where I’m relying on Him. The process is hard, but the results are beautiful. Just like Regina.

A Friday at the Makarios school. In photos.

Imani Folkes — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:03:05 +0000

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy a peek into what goes on on a typical Friday at the Makarios School!

Photos include:
-4 yea r old Manuel losing his first tooth!
- The first graders practicing for a play they will perform at the end of the school year
- Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4 Recess

Manuel’s First Lost Tooth

First Graders Practicing For a Play

Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4 Recess

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Love,
Makarios

Tamarindo Village Visit

Imani Folkes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:53:26 +0000

Every Wednesday afternoon our staff visits one of the villages that our students live in. (Chichigua, Tamarindo, or Pancho Mateo). We do these visits primarily so the teachers are able to speak with parents about how their children are doing in class. The visits are also a great time to share life and build deeper relationships with our students, their families, and the rest of their community. Every village visit is an amazing time, and we believe God uses us in specific ways every time we visit!

We blogged about one of our visits in Chichigua, and this time we wanted to show everyone about our time in Tamarindo! We followed around Profe Dena & Profe Nicole of our Kindergarten class as they visited their Tamarindo-ian students homes!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Love,
Makarios

Conversations with a 3-year-old.

Imani Folkes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:58:02 +0000

We’ve been fairly busy at the school (with 4 visiting teams over the last 3 months) so we’re a bit behind on handing out the students Christmas gifts from their sponsors. A few weeks ago, I was giving the adorable 3-year-old Katy her Christmas gift from her sponsor. We had the following conversation:

Imani: Katy! Look! You have a gift from your sponsor!
Katy: Did you give me this gift?
Imani: Nope, it’s from your sponsor! Do you know what a sponsor is?
Katy: Yes
Imani: Explain to me what it is.

*Silence. Katy continues to pull out things from her gift bag completely mesmerized by the clothes, markers, stickers, etc.*

Imani: A sponsor is someone who is helping you attend this school! Your sponsor lives in the United States and is praying for you! Every student in the school has a sponsor that is helping them. Look, here are your sponsors in this picture

*Katy continues to pull out her gifts, not really listening to Imani.*

Imani: So Katy, tell me again. Who gave you these gifts?
Katy: YOU!
Imani: Nope
Katy: La doctora?
Imani: Nope, remember what I said before? Every student in this school has a… what?
Katy: A brother!
Imani: Not quite, Katy. Every student has a sponsor! Do you remember what a sponsor is?
Katy: Nope.
*Katy goes back to admiring her gifts*

Conversations with a 3-year-old, gotta love them!

Katy’s only in our Pre-K 3 class. As she continues through our school, we’re positive she will one day understand what a sponsor truly is!

Poverty.

smegilligan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:15:05 +0000

It’s my job – what I do for a living. I’m either around kids in need, or working to help meet their needs. I get used to it. Poverty becomes the norm, to the extent that when I meet someone who hasn’t been around it, I have a hard time relating.

When I’m in the DR with visitors or new staff, I am reminded of the fresh perspective of seeing these kids, these families, these needs for the first time. And then I forget and go back to my stale view of poverty.

But sometimes I have these moments. Walking through a village and it just hits me – the extent of suffering and the lack of basic necessities that these people live with every day. Sometimes my eyes well up and I’m glad I have sunglasses on to hide it.

Today I’m in Austin, but it hit me again while watching the news about the conflict in Syria. They showed brief footage of kids opening relief packages from the UN. Nothing in particular stood out in the video, but I was struck by the reality that so many people – so many children – face each day. Hunger, sickness, pain, loneliness, hopelessness.

While I have a compassionate heart and have made a vocation of helping impoverished people, I’m also very pragmatic. Poverty is a worldwide reality. I can only do so much. I am not responsible to carry the weight of the world.

At the same time, God has put in me a desire to act – always looking for new solutions to problems and being willing to take risks to address those problems. I’ve struggled through the process of understanding what it means for me to rest, to trust God, and to not act as though God needs me to meet the problems of the world. But as I’ve learned more about resting in Him, He’s also reminded me that He has called me to act. He has wired me to be most effective, motivated, and fulfilled when tackling problems and putting things in place to meet needs.

God is still moving in my life to bring me to a point of next steps – for Makarios and for me personally. Regardless of where this goes, I want to live each day for a purpose beyond myself. I want to give in a way that makes a difference and that makes me lack something I’m used to. I want to feel it. I don’t want to settle in my normal “helping the children” routine and feel like I’ve done enough.

Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

Fun Recess Games!

Imani Folkes — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:36:25 +0000

Recess is a great time for our students to spend time with each other, be creative in new ways, and get their “wiggles out” before heading back to class to continue learning. Today Profe Yomo had all of her Pre-K 3 students create fun drawings on the sidewalk. And for the Pre-K 4 class, Profe Bella & Profe Marnelia planned a special competition! They brought out long play tunnels and had the students crawl through the tunnels, touch the wall and crawl back through the tunnel. The student that did it in the fastest time, won!

What kind of fun things did your teachers plan when you used to have recess?

———–

And two bonus pictures. Have you seen Dominican Spider Man as yet?
His name is Peter, he’s in our Pre-K 3 class and he came to school in this shirt today:

*Thanks Andy & Lauren for taking such great pictures!

We hope you had a great weekend!
Love,
Makarios & Spider Man!

Starting the day off by praising our God!

Imani Folkes — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:31:28 +0000

Here’s a brief view into our mornings at the Makarios school:

8:00am- Staff arrives
8:20- Staff devotionals
8:45- Students enter the school grounds, give hugs to the teachers, and run around to get some of their wiggles out
9:00- Split up into the upper and lower grades to sing worship songs and pray blessings over our breakfast and our day!

The Makarios students & staff love to sing! We sing various “children” songs with themes such as: Jacob, Jonah, and not needing a telephone to speak to God; as well as popular worship songs you’d sing at a Church service (Here I am to Worship). After 15 minutes of singing, one student leads everyone in prayer, then it’s off to breakfast & to begin the school day!

Here’s a few pictures of the Pre K-3 & Pre K-4 classes singing on Friday morning!

The Makarios school is officially on it’s Spring Break! We hope everyone has a great Easter, and is able to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Hill Country Spending Time in Our Communities

Imani Folkes — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:46:11 +0000

If you missed out on our first few posts about Hill Country’s week with us, be sure to check them out here, here and here!

It was great to see the Hill Country students not only spend time with the Makarios students in class, but spend time with them in their communities. At Makarios, our holistic approach to education means addressing needs outside of the school. We do this by spending time in the communities where our students come from. Every time we’re in the community it’s a great time for us to share life and build deeper relationships with the students, their parents, and their neighbors. And it’s always amazing to see our short term teams get involved in the communities that we serve, as well!

Here are some pictures of the group spending time in Chichigua and Pancho Mateo.

Part of our community outreach program is to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to people that aren’t in our elementary education program. The group was able to help in this aspect, by teaching in our Los Cireulos ESL class.

This concludes the series of our posts on Hill Country’s week with us in the DR! Thank you so much Hill Country Christian School for giving up your spring break to serve the Lord through Makarios! We know not all of you were pictured in these photos, but know that we appreciate every single one of you for your service! Hoping and praying that the rest of your school year finishes up well!

Hill Country. Playing during recess & pouring concrete!

Imani Folkes — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:36:16 +0000

After spending time with the students in the classroom, the Hill Country group was able to play with the kids during recess. Here are a few pictures from their times together!

Beyond teaching in classes and spending time in the villages the group was also able to help out with various “labor” tasks around the school and hours. Those tasks included making our cement driveway, raking the school yard, cleaning windows, and organizing our supply closets. In the words of our DR director, Josh, The great part about groups is that we get so far ahead of where we would have been and now we can focus on relationships in community, discipleship, kids at the school, future growth, etc.

Come back tomorrow for a final post on Hill Country’s week in the DR!