| A Note from the President |
 It is difficult to believe that the month of July is behind us! As our summer outreach season comes to a close, I am grateful for all the kingdom work happening in the countries in which SI serves.
Janice and I are sitting in the international airport in Fiji as we write this letter. We have just observed the last few days of a summer outreach here, and then we had four incredible days just with the Fijian staff. We are reminded through our staff of how blessed we are to be a part
of this international work.
As I read through the stories of the Dominican Republic in this newsletter, I am confident in saying that lives are being transformed in a similar way throughout the whole mission. Please continue to pray for all our staff as they finish up their summer teams and get some much needed rest. We value your partnership in this ministry!
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Getting to Know... Silvio Martinez | | Silvio Martinez, our Physical Therapist |
Where are you from?
I�m from Nicaragua.
Where do you work/Describe your ministry site:
I work in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic and my site is the Physical Therapy and Rehab Center. I am a Physical Therapist, and I see patients with many different physical disorders (including musculoskeletal, orthopedic, and neurological disorders) that impede motor function. Before coming to therapy, patients are evaluated by a doctor who indicates treatment, then I begin implementing the treatment plan through therapy sessions. Many patients have passed through the clinic and received care that restores their motor function. I also am working alongside our Special Education Center- Genesis giving therapy to children with various disabilities and developing gross motor skills in children with Down Syndrome. I have also visited patients with paralysis who cannot leave their homes because of their physical condition. In addition to giving physical therapy treatment, I try to make each person feel loved by God and share His word with them.
How long have you been working with SI?
I have been working with SI for five months, entering February 2013.
What is your favorite part of your work?
My favorite part of my work is when God opens the door to speak to my patients about Him in just the "right" moment.
Do you have a favorite verse? What is it?
My favorite verse is Philippians 2:4,
"Each one should look not only to his on interests but to the interests of others."
I like this verse because God tells us we should not be self-focused. Rather we must die to ourselves, and in doing so make room to see the needs of others. His word challenges me in this way.
Why did you decide to join the SI team?
I decided to join SI, because I was asked a very pointed question. The question was:
"Silvio, if God took away the instrument you play, in what other way do you serve Him?"
I was left without an answer, and was going through a difficult situation in my life. I went home and began to reflect, and I realized that music was not everything. I could do more- like my work in physical therapy. I could use therapy as a ministry to serve in the kingdom of God. That is when I decided to join SI- because I knew God was calling me to come to the DR- leaving behind my loved ones and just obey His call.
What is one thing you are looking forward to in your future with SI?
I look forward to the opportunity to see other PT sites open in the countries where SI works and see the ideal persons minister in those sites. I especially hope to one day serve in my home country of Nicaragua with SI using physical therapy to minister there. |
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Students International eNews
August 2013
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It is a Revolution! A Volleyball Revolution
Something more than volleyball
Here in the Dominican Republic we have a VC Revolution- Volleyball Club Revolution. The idea is to "revolutionize" the way volleyball is coached. We want to not only be a great volleyball club, but we want to teach girls something that will last much longer than just volleyball.
I've always heard that parents have a tough time when their kids go off to college. I never understood that until last month when four of our girls graduated from our VC Revolution program. To be a part of our volleyball ministry, girls can start at any age and as they get better, they can move up to become a "varsity" player. Throughout their years in our program, there are pretty high expectations of achieving certain grades, being a good role model in the community, as well as intense volleyball training. We have had the opportunity to coach and disciple many girls for multiple years. However, this past year was the first time that we actually had to "graduate" four Dominican girls from our varsity team. Mabelis Acevedo and Loreidy Hernandez have been a part of VC Revolution for four years, Dianny Moronta for three years, and Caroly Trinidad for two years.
I wish these girls could have stayed on varsity forever, but I knew we had to push them out of the nest. It is difficult, however, since many of them come from extremely poor homes and do not have money to attend college. Thankfully, we were able to find sponsors for all of the girls to attend a great college about 25 minutes away. We hope to find more sponsors to help cover transportation and books, but we are so thankful to have come this far. In return for their scholarships, the girls will volunteer 15 hours a week as assistant coaches for VC Revolution or help at other ministry sites. So not only will they be attending college, but they will continue to pour back to girls from their community. For most of these girls, they were the first in their family to even graduate high school! Now, they are really going above and beyond to attend college.
 | | Our VC Revolution Graduates |
Ready to Fly
One neat story of how God has already started using these girls is through our community health site. Rachel Snider, who is in charge of that site, asked if I had anyone charismatic and organized who could be an assistant at her site. Immediately, Caroly popped into my mind since she is great with people, and because of our training for our states trip last summer, is pretty fluent in English. So for the past two months, she has been going out into communities, ministering to the Dominicans, translating for the Americans, and being a great help to Rachel and her site. I am so proud to see these girls, who have been a part of our ministry for so long, start to really give back and serve alongside Students International. Even though we have had some girls leave our nest, God continues to bless us with tons of new girls. I am so thankful to be a part of this ministry which allows us to disciple girls and then equip them with the tools they need so that they can go out and FLY!
-Jess Gates, SI staff
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Getting to Know... Michael Hernandez | | One of our newest staff members: Michael Hernandez |
Where are you from?
I�m from Jarabacoa (DR).
Where do you work/Describe your ministry site:
I work at Los Higos, an education site. The name of the preschool is "Mis Primeros Pasos" (My First Steps). We have around 17 kids from ages three to nine years old. They come and learn about school but also about Jesus and his love. They come at 9 in the morning and they go home at 12 in the afternoon. In this preschool building we have some English classes in the afternoon. The English classes are divided in two groups and they receive classes twice a week.
How long have you been working with SI? I have been working at the preschool in Los Higos with SI Dominican Republic for almost 3 months. I think it's a cool place to work. I enjoy this job at Los Higos and I like to do God�s will. What is your favorite part of your work? What goals do you have? My favorite part is to be with the kids and teach them about all the good things I know, especially Jesus. A cool fact that I want to share is that there is a little girl of my students, at the preschool that makes me feel like a father. I love that feeling. Her name is Jimena, and she is three years old. I want to get to know Jesus more through this and do his will in this ministry, I just want to please the lord. Do you have a favorite verse? Yes, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." It�s my favorite because I really want to see that day, I want to see Jesus coming and taking me with him... |
Sign Up Now! | We are filling up! We're grateful, and excited, that our outreaches in 2014 are already two-thirds full! We still have some prime summer dates available, though. Call the Students International Service Center at 559-627-8923
or email to reserve your space now.
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