This week was the first week of classes at the English Institute! The English Institute is a school that Orphanage Outreach opened and supports. Our long term goal is to have every student in Monte Cristi speaking English by graduation, so that they are able to get better jobs, and can further provide for their family. A Dominican who speaks even a little English has a better chance at getting a job than a Dominican who does not speak English at all.

My main position here is working in a local school in Monte Cristi, called John F. Kennedy, where I go around to each kindergarten to sixth grade class, working with another teacher to teach music. However, on Thursdays, I am teaching at the English Institute in the library. The students are able to take out a book, and we have games, songs, and activities that are centered around the English words they are currently learning in their English classes at the Institute.

Pictured here is my classroom, the library of the English Institute. I had so much fun decorating it while listening to music a few weeks ago! The teachers pictured are Kelly, Shauna, Karen and I.

We had an activity day with the kids who live at the orphanage, and my group did dress up and a photo shoot for our activity. Pictured here is Luz Maria, one of the youngest girls who lives here at the orphanage.

Here is Shauna and I. Shauna came two weeks after I got here, and will be here until May with me! What a blessing it is to have someone consistent to be my roommate, friend, and someone to walk through life with during my entire time here! : )

During free time, I am working with Yessica, one of the older girls who lives here, and teaching her guitar. She's been learning very quickly, and I love getting to know her more and more, and sharing a common love of music with her.

Thank you for reading, and please let me know how you all are doing and how I can be praying for you!