The Beck's Journey: What a FUN Way to Start the Year 2015...with 42 College Students!

While college students all over the US spent their Christmas break sleeping in, watching Neflix for hours, staying in their PJ’s all day, hanging out with friends into the wee hours of the morning…42 college students from Austin, Tx landed in the Dominican Republic and no one could have predicted the impact they would have on this place over the next 7 days.

We were blessed with 42 energetic college students from 2 different churches- Round Rock Fellowship and the Austin Stone. This year, we decided to try something that we have wanted to do for a long time- a Bible Camp- knowing that if anyone could pull this off, it would be college students! With the help of a new staff member, Richie, who is involved with community outreach, we spent 3 consecutive mornings in each of the villages that Makarios serves: Pancho Mateo, Chichigua, and Tamarindo. During this time, the college students led a camp that consisted of a craft, games, and a Bible lesson. The students were so creative in teaching the Bible Story and incorporating a craft and game. These mornings were a huge success. In fact, we had over 200 children come out to participate in this Bible Camp. It was so fun to spread out each morning into the different villages and then to come back to the Mak House at the end of a long day and hear about all the different stories from the different camps. We will never fully know the impact these students had on the lives of the children, but one thing we know for sure- they were loved by others and were encouraged to know God more by teaching them truths from the Bible.

At the end of the week, we even heard that a few kids in the villages placed their faith in Christ!

One of these kids, who expressed an interest in knowing God more, walked over an hour the next day from Chichigua to the Mak House just to spend one last day with the college students! I would say that their time in the village was a success!

Not only did they work hard in the villages, but they also diligently worked at the school preparing it for the kids to return after the Christmas break. They cleaned desks & window blinds, painted, and used their brute strength to help us dig a trench so we can build a wall around our new property! This team worked endlessly- literally. On several days, we had to INSIST that they stop working/serving so they could rest.

We can't thank this team enough. They were a joy to have in our home and selflessly served, even at the Mak House, after a long day of being in the villages. They did so much around the house that it was hard to believe that we had 42 people living here. There was always someone in the kitchen doing the dishes, filling up the water jug, or taking out the trash. So, if you happen to see any of these students on the street, give them a hug and tell them "Thank You" for setting an example in their speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

As Always, THANK YOU for joining us on the journey...