Dominican Independence and Culture: Part 1

Hello and Happy Dominican Independence Day!

Today is the 27th of February and the day that Dominicans celebrate their independence from Haitian rule. Our preschool and kindergarten classes put on a fair this week in celebration of the holiday. Check out the Founding Fathers:

Our Duarte, Sánchez and Mella

Do they look like the originals?

Juan Pablo Duarte (top)
Francisco del Rosario Sánchez (bottom left)
and Matías Ramón Mella (bottom Right)

Some little girls dressed up in traditional costumes and other kids played popular instruments.

Gr. 6 student playing the drum

Gr. 3 student helping on the güira

Drums are fun!

I can play a maraca!

Other classes came to tour the displays, hear the music, and watch a short video.  My little JK said it was the best day of school ever!

Watching a cultural video

Playing with Dominican Pesos

There was much more to see but I'll save it for next time. Stop by later or sign up on the right to receive future posts by e-mail.

Enjoy your day!

Marcie

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas!

It hasn't been the most typical Christmas day for us but was relaxing and fun. One little boy was in tears last week when he realized that we wouldn't get snow here but didn't mention it today. He was probably distracted by the presents…and waffles, new movies to watch, a couple of visitors for dinner, and family on Skype from Canada.

The view from our new apartment

Happy birthday Jesus!

We're so glad you came!

We hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did! Goodnight!

Marcie Cooper

University Graduation

Hi! This afternoon we had the opportunity to attend the University Graduation of a number of our teachers. We have been to First Grade Graduations, Eighth Grade Graduations, and High School Graduations, but this was our first time for a University Graduation. It was a lot like any other graduation except that it rained through the entire ceremony. The tent we were under sprung a leak and left a big wet circle on Paul's shoulder! I wasn't in a good spot to take pictures but here are a couple that turned out:

Doris was our daughter's teacher in Grade 2

Melina (left) taught her in Kindergarten
Jessica (right) taught her this year

Many of our teachers start out as assistants then move into teaching roles while still working on their degrees. The percentage of people who actually attend university here in the Dominican Republic is extremely small and most that we have known have taken classes while working. Only 10-12% graduate from high school, let alone university. We are so proud of our graduates!

Marcie Cooper

Baby Shower

Hello!

I have not been on top of things since I've had sick kids, a sick husband, and a cut finger.  Fortunately, most of us have now recovered. I have often thought about blogging about different experiences we have had over the past few weeks but haven't had enough energy to sit down and type. Tonight, we hosted a baby shower at our house and it was too fun too pass up writing about.

First, the house had to be decorated with balloons and baby clothes.

Then, guest arrived and the games began (around an hour late, I might add, but that's to be expected.)

ANIJA staff and volunteers

You cannot have a baby shower without the bottle-drinking competition!

And the winner is...

There was food, more games and, of course, cake and gifts.

Less than two weeks to go!

Men aren't really allowed but the Dad usually comes too :)

It always amazes me how much more the games are emphasized than the gifts here. Gifts are almost an afterthought and many times I've seen people leave before they are opened. Once cake is served, it is time to go.

Although I hardly sat down, we all had fun and enjoyed celebrating the new life soon to be born.

I'll have to share pictures of him once he arrives for those of you out there who are baby lovers (or Chucho and Alida fans.)

Goodnight!

Marcie Cooper

P.S. One other interesting thought about baby showers...they have them no matter what baby it is, not just the first. They don't save things from one child to the next but give what they don't need to friends and family. Their generosity often amazes me!

High School Graduation

Hello!

After the First Grade Graduation and Eighth Grade Graduation it was finally time for the High School Graduation!

Her diploma and certificate for being the top of her class!

Our school does not have a high school but students can continue being sponsored and attend a private high school if they have good grades, attend church regularly, and are part of a Monday night youth club on our campus.  This year, we saw six of our sponsored students graduate. It is quite an accomplishment considering that only 12% of Dominicans complete high school.

The six graduates

(Don't the tassels look like they're on fire?)

It was encouraging to listen to their testimonies and hear their aspirations for the future. They will continue to study with the help of our Advanced Education Initiative and they may even become part of the 1% of the population that graduates from university. Above all, we hope that they will continue to serve God as they go on to a new stage of life.

Doesn't he look ready?

Marcie Cooper

Grade 1 Graduation

Hello!

Last week I promised that I would write about first grade graduations. I had heard of preschool graduations and kindergarten graduations in Canada but never first grade graduations. Then, after spending nearly a year in the Dominican Republic, we witnessed this:

Aren't they cute? They are actually from the same class that just graduated from Grade 8 in June. Their sashes say, "Ya sé leer" which means "Now I know how to read." They have come a long way since then and more classes have followed in their footsteps. Most of the pictures below are from this year's ceremony.

Under the gowns, the little girls always wear white dresses.

They take pictures with parents

then parade into the church (yes, my little girl can read in Spanish!)

They take turns demonstrating their reading skills

and then receive their diplomas.

What a fun way to celebrate the accomplishment of learning to read! What do you think? How would it go over where you live?

Have a great day!

Marcie Cooper

Father's Day and Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Hello and Happy Father's Day!

I have been trying to write a message about faithfulness for a few weeks but the ideas were just not coming to me. Then I started to think about Father's Day and I knew that the two had to go together. My Dad is a faithful man in so many ways. Here are a few:
- He is faithful to his Detroit sports teams no matter if they win or lose.
- He is faithful in his work at which he has excelled for over thirty-five years.
- He is faithful to his church where he has been a member since I was a baby.
- He is a faithful son and visits my Grandma and cuts her grass regularly.
- He is a faithful husband and, in July, will celebrate forty years of marriage to my Mom.
- He is a faithful father and loves and supports me and my brothers no matter what.
- He is also a faithful, loving, and giving grandfather.

Thank you, Dad, for being such a faithful father. You demonstrate God's faithfulness in so many tangible ways and I appreciate you very much. I love you, Dad!

Love, Marcie

Mother's Day Again

Happy Mother's Day again!

Today is "Día de la Madre" here in the Dominican Republic. Our school had a Mother's Day concert this week where the children sang songs and recited poems for their Moms. They also made cards and gifts although I think the teachers did most of the work.

At church today the kids did a presentation for the Moms too and made notes and foam flowers. It was not too much different than Mother's Day in Canada or the United States, just a couple weeks later.

I love being a Mom to these three kids!

(Ok, so it's hard to get all three smiling in one picture.)

Next we look forward to two Father's Days!

Have a great day!

Marcie Cooper

Happy Easter!

Hello and Happy Easter!

Our family has had a wonderful Easter with some old traditions like colouring Easter eggs,

eating Paska (Grandma's Mennonite Easter Bread),

hunting for chocolate and Resurrection Eggs,

and retelling the Easter story.

We also enjoyed some Easter firsts like our first Sunrise Service and a Pot-luck dinner with lots of missionaries and friends. The kids especially enjoyed the outdoor Easter Egg Hunt!

(Grass is more fun than eggs!)

(A favourite little friend!)

We hope you've enjoyed your Easter too!

Marcie Cooper

GOOD Friday

Good morning this Good Friday morning!

"Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?" was a common question that I was asked as an elementary teacher in Toronto. For most of my students, Easter was just about chocolate, eggs, and the Easter Bunny. There were also some from Muslim families who believed that Jesus was a prophet and did not die on the cross. They didn't celebrate Easter at all. Others were Jehovah's Witnesses who believed that Jesus died but not that He was God. I just met some Jehovah's witnesses yesterday who wanted to invite me to a service celebrating Jesus' death.

Good Friday IS about remembering Jesus' death on the cross. But He IS God, He lived a truly good, perfect life as a man on earth, and He died in our place. Not only that, but he rose again, as we'll celebrate on Sunday. He is good and He is Lord!

Happy Good Friday!

Marcie Cooper

Palm Sunday

Dear Friends,

Palm Sunday holds new meaning for me now that I live in a country filled with palm trees. When I was a little girl in Canada, I often made my own palm branches out paper for Palm Sunday. I remember having real ones in church a few times but I'm not sure where they would have come from. Maybe a local greenhouse called Colosanti's. Now I have a great view of palm trees in my own front yard! My kids like to pick up branches that have fallen off the trees and shout, "Hosanna! Hosanna!" I can picture the children waving them in front and behind Jesus on the donkey saying, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Unfortunately, many of the people who laid palm branches at Jesus' feet that day did not continue to praise Him as He went to the cross. Hosanna means, "save us now" but they did not wait for the true salvation that Jesus provided. It is my prayer that you and I will praise Him today and continue to follow Him in the days to come.

In Christ,
Marcie Cooper

P.S. Here's my little girl with her "Hosanna" palm branch this afternoon.

St. Patrick

Hello!

I hope you had a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I never really celebrated St. Patrick's Day until after I was married. My husband's Grandma is Irish and sent us a St. Patrick's Day card. It was the first one I'd ever received! Since then we've done little things to make the day special. Yesterday we wore green, read St. Patrick's day books and ate shamrock pancakes and potato soup.

What I really love about St. Patrick's Day is that Patrick was a missionary. Did you know that he wasn't Irish? In the 5th century, he was taken first as a slave to Ireland where he worked as a shepherd. After six years, he returned to his home in the British Isles but then he felt called to go back to Ireland to share God's love with the people there. It is told that he used shamrocks and their three leaves to help explain the Trinity and how God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. He died on March 17th, the day we now celebrate as St. Patrick's Day.

Have a great day and remember that God loves you!

Marcie Cooper

February 27 - Independence Day

Hello!

We are celebrating Independence Day here in the Dominican Republic. On February 27, 1844 the Dominican Republic gained it's independence from Haiti. (It had previously gained independence twice from Spain and was also ruled later by the United States and became independent from them in 1924.) We are thankful for the opportunity to live in this wonderful country!

There is no school today and many businesses are closed. We have been invited to have pizza with some Dominican friends although I don't think that's the typical way to celebrate the day. I wouldn't be surprise if we see some fireworks!

Have a great day!

Marcie Cooper

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello!

!Feliz dia del amor y la amistad! Translated from Spanish that means, "Happy day of love and friendship!" Isn't that a good way to explain Valentine's Day?

Kids at our school were allowed to wear different coloured clothes instead of their uniforms. A lot of them chose red. Some classes made hearts to pin on their shirts with words about love and friendship. My daughter's class read a story about a family who chose love over money and happiness and, in the end, got all three.

The flower stands on the sides of the streets in town were much bigger than usual. They were also selling strawberries which are in season right now. They are my favourite! I didn't see any Valentine cards but we don't usually see cards here for any occasion. I've heard that we have some coming in the mail from family in Canada but, since we only get mail once very two weeks, they have not arrived yet.

Valentine cards or not, I hope that you've enjoyed celebrating love and friendship today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Marcie Cooper

Joy

Hello!

I love the picture from ministry-to-children.com that my kids are going to colour today for advent.

The illustrator, Mandy Groce, explains that the kids in the back have lots of presents but don't have joy. The little girl in the front doesn't have as much but you can see the joy in her face.

True joy comes from Jesus. As you look forward to Christmas, focus on Him and celebrate His birthday with joy!

EnJOY your day and the rest of the Christmas season!

Marcie Cooper

Advent

Hello!

Do you have an advent calendar or candles in your house? We can't buy advent calendars here and I didn't want to make anything fancy because we'll be traveling a lot over the holidays. So I printed these Happy Birthday Jesus pages for the kids to colour:

Each day we are colouring a circle to count down to Christmas.
Each Sunday we are colouring a candle for advent. We are also doing advent colouring pages from ministry-to-children.com.

Today we talked about how God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to make a way for us to go to heaven. That's what Christmas is all about!

There are only three more weeks before Christmas. Enjoy them!

Marcie Cooper

American Thanksgiving

Happy American Thanksgiving!

It is not a holiday in the Dominican Republic but we had a group here from the United States that did a special program with the kids in our school.

They did lessons and crafts about being thankful and had a special dinner. Later, they made a turkey dinner for the staff and teachers and their families. It was yummy!

It's late. I hope you've had a great day!

Marcie Cooper

Hallowe'en

Hello!

Here in the Dominican Republic people do not celebrate Hallowe'en. Kids do not dress up.  People do not give out candy. It is a normal day for us.

Whether you are celebrating Hallowe'en or not, I hope you have a good day!

Marcie Cooper

Canadian Thanksgiving

Hi Kids,


Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada.  We will miss eating turkey with our families but will have a chicken dinner instead.  We have one Canadian friend here who will come over with her husband.  I made pumpkin pie too because it is my favourite.


I am thankful for my family, friends, and good food to eat.


Can you list three things that you are thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving if you are from Canada!

Have a great day!

Marcie Cooper