Another good-bye

Last year we lost one of our best teachers, when she moved to the USA. This year we are losing one of the two I spent the year training; she is moving to Spain.

From the middle-class on down, pretty much everyone wants to leave the Dominican Republic. If you ask ten people, probably at least 9 of them will say they want out. And a good proportion of the population is in process of getting a visa. The US consulate is deluged with applicants. As a matter of fact, last I heard, Santo Domingo is the second busiest in the world, behind the leader, Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.

This affects us greatly in terms of teaching staff. We invest a lot in training teachers, only to see them leave.

I asked Maria, the director of the school, what her biggest need was at the moment--what she wanted me to tell you we need. Now, understand, I was sitting in the office at the new location, where the walls need painting, the classrooms don't have any doors or windows, the bathroom has no sink, and the toilets only flush with a bucket. She responded, volunteers to come and teach.

So there you have it. Please pray for workers. Or, pray and come yourself, if the Lord leads you that way.