from my Christmas update

Dear Friends and Family,

I am reminded as I sit here at my aunt's house (covered in blankets), how truly blessed I have been this year. This year has not been without its struggles, but it has also been full of blessings. God continues to be more than faithful in my life. He has given me more than I ever deserved in the gift of His Son, and for that (and for so much else), I am thankful. This year he blessed me with visits from friends, abundant provision for my knee surgery, amazing student, interns, and semester program students, special time with family, and deep friendships. I am blessed!

As I look to next year I am confident in His provision and excited to see some change. I will begin study for a Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education, through Liberty University online. I feel that God has given me a vision to start special education schools in other countries with Students International. In praying and dreaming of what these schools would look like, I realized that I do not know the first thing about working in a classroom. I feel like that knowledge will be vital to creating schools that not only give kids with disabilities a loving, safe environment, but also will make an impact on their learning and independence in life. Please pray with me as I begin my studies that I will be diligent and learn the material that I will need.

Many people have asked me recently "how long will you be staying in the DR?" My answer to that question has always been, "until God moves me elsewhere", but I feel that with this new vision for starting other schools, and school of my own on the horizon, that my time in the DR will be coming to a close. I do NOT have any specifics in mind at this point, but I am praying that God will supply someone who will continue the work of the Developmental Therapy site, so that I will be released to go and start a new school. Please pray with me that God will send the person He has designed to continue this work. Please also understand that I have no immediate plans to leave the DR. I am waiting on God's timing. It is because I covet your prayers that I am sharing this information. This is by no means an announcement of my departure from the DR. I have committed to God and to Students International to stay until God makes His provision clear.

Next year looks to be full of teams and continued opportunity to further the spread of the Gospel through our ministry sites and our work with students. Please pray for myself, and all of our staff, that we would continue to return to the source of our strength, Jesus, for the wisdom, knowledge, discernment, grace, peace, and joy that we will need to be His hands and feet!

I pray that you are enjoying this Christmas season with your family and friends. I will be in the USA until mid January if you would like to get together for coffee or just to chat!

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Amy

New address

We have switched mail carriers. Please change my address to the following:

AMY GREEN

% AGAPE FLIGHTS STI - #25920

100 Airport Avenue

Venice, FL 34285

thanks!!!

Tomas

It wouldn't be fall in the DR without the threat of a hurricane! Nothing is really happening here yet, but it is being projected that we will receive quite a bit of rain this afternoon and on into the evening. I think up in the mountains we will be just fine, but please pray for those on the coast and those closer to and in Haiti. From what I have seen, Haiti will bear the brunt of this storm for the island of Hispaniola.

True to form, whenever severe weather is predicted, no one leaves their houses. This morning I arrived to school to find Fausto, one teacher, and two students. By 915 my semester student, one other teacher, and one more student had arrived. We decided to close school for the day. HAPPY DOMINICAN "SNOW" DAY!!!!

BOWLING!

A week ago, we went bowling in Santiago for a fun staff activity! We went last year and had a great time. This year was no different. My bowling is horrible!!! But, we had such a good time it didn't matter! here are a few photos of the fun!

New Bible study!

Not too long ago I was sitting with Yomaris and I had been praying about what to do with her. She mentioned that some people from the community were coming to her house to teach her and her husband about the Bible. When I asked to see the book they were using, my heart fell. It was from the church of Jesus Christ and the Later Day Saints. The mormons and the Jehova's witnesses have a large influence here and it made my heart sick to know that what she was learning was not the truth about Jesus. Later that day at staff meeting I expressed my concern and my desire to do a Bible study with Yomaris. Immediately following the meeting I had an english manual in my hand of a one on one discipleship program that looks really solid. What is even better is that the following weekend the spanish versions of the book arrived.

So today I was able to present this new study to her (along with a new Bible) and she seemed eager to learn and participate. She shared with me that the others who are coming to her house are often impatient with her and get easily frustrated when she doesn't seem to understand. I am so thankful for this chance to disciple and share with my friend the truth of scripture and who Christ really is!!!!

Revival???

I hope to revive this blog, and if you are still checking in on it, thank you!!!

The biggest news since the last update is that I fell, tore my ACL (a ligament in the knee), went to the states for surgery, and am now back in the DR. That one sentence doesn't come close to covering the last few months, but all the details would take volumes.

The one thing i did see/learn through all of it was another reminder of God's complete faithfulness! He provided above and beyond what i needed financially for the surgery. He gave me grace for the hard days (of which there were very few) and blessed me with unexpected time with family and friends.

More updates to come. We are starting with our last team of the summer today. 2 more weeks of busy schedules, and then i get a little rest! It will be nice to change the pace a little, but with my trip home, this summer has been a short one!

Please continue to pray for my recovery. Most days I feel recovered, but every now and again, my knee and leg get swollen and uncomfortable.

Until the next blog (which hopefully will happen soon)

February newsletter

The February Newsletter has been emailed out!!! I cannot seem to figure out how to format it for blogger, so if you would like to receive it, please email me or leave me a message here on the blog and I will try to get it sent out to you!!!

Back in the DR

I made it back to the DR safe and sound. It was a very long day of travel, including a 6 hour layover in Miami, my least favorite airport!

I have been asking a lot of questions about Haiti and our ministries response...mostly because people have been asking me. the sense I get is that we are not immidiately getting involved in going over to Haiti. We are focused as a ministry on long term community development and ministry to the poor. I think we will have LOTS of opportunity to get involved in the later stages. I know that we will be reaching out and ministering to those displaced by the earthquake who find their way into our communities. As individuals, we are all praying and getting involved personally in what ever way God leads us. I pray that we will be able to be part of the restoration process and that long after the eyes of the world have moved on to the next disaster, that we will be involved in helping Haitians find their true identity in Christ.

I have unpacked today and am getting started on some projects. i will lead Bible study in the morning for the team that is currently here and spend the rest of the week preparing to have kids back in the site again.

I was so blessed by my time at home and enjoyed seeing many of my friends and spending time with my family.