This is an article from the Dominican Republic newspaper on February 13, 2012:The rector of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD), Ramon Alonso Beato, described the low educational quality of high school graduates as "humiliating" yesterday. He said that out of every 100 students trying to enter the UCSD barely 40% manage to pass the entrance examination. Father Alonso answered questions about the problems associated with the low quality of education in the country and the challenges that these students face in the universities. He said: "At my university there is an entrance examination and statistically speaking, barely 40%[…]

I've read over and re-wrote this post several times. Nothing I wrote ever seemed right. I've searched and prayed and contemplated why this could be and have come up empty handed. The fact is, explaining what you see does this place no justice. All of the most eloquent words in the world could not accurately describe the feelings you feel as you walk through Phaeton. I've felt pain, hopelessness, adoration, gratefulness, confusion, hope...and the list goes on.Within my first hour in Phaeton, I had this uneasy feeling. Praying, I asked, "God, how can I accurately depict what you are doing[…]

Phaeton (pronounced F-eye-ay-tone) is a small community literally in the midst of nowhere. You drive and drive through miles of dirt road and cactus wall until you enter through the red, white, and blue posts welcoming you to the village, and as we began to enter I began to imagine it all over again.My first trip to Haiti was in 2005. It had just become safe to travel there again after Aristide had been removed from power. How strange and different this dusty place was, I thought. Haitian men and women passed along both sides of us wheeling wheel barrows[…]

This post is going to prove just how behind I am on blogging. Sheesh.Week 3 was also Christmas week. Which for me, means party. Really, I look for any reason to party. But I wanted to make sure they knew why we celebrate Christmas. And honestly, here, getting presents and going crazy decorating and getting all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle aren't distractions. So what better time to make sure they understood the Reason for Christmas.I had Yolibeth (from the first girls group) read the Birth of Jesus to the younger girls. Surprisingly, they were pretty attentive and[…]

Just a quick continued update on the older group.Week 2 is a great week to chat and have fun. We cut out cute outfits from a magazine (some completely inappropriate, others super fashionable) to discuss what we should wear and why. It sparked some good conversation considering all of these girls are 15 and under and sometimes wear clothes that are a bit too provocative. We talked a lot about the difference between being "classy, sexy" and being "trashy/sexy." I finally got some laughs out of them. (And on a side note: the word "sexy" in Spanish is completely different[…]

".....of greater worth than gold"A while ago I heard a guy speaking about how tempting it is for us, as normal human beings, to want to protect our life from any sort of difficulties or trials. He went on to say that it's even more magnified as a person starts a family as our natural instinct is to protect family members and do our best to shield them from anything that could be uncomfortable or hurtful. The guy speaking went on to say, after making multiple attempts to prevent his sons from falling down, getting hurt or shedding a tear,[…]

Thank you. Gracias. Merci.This thank you is long overdue, and for that we apologize. Please know that we are forever grateful to all of you who support our ministry through prayer and financial giving. This Spring will mark 7 years that we have been working with G.O Ministries, and God has provided our needs through each of you. Thank you for your generous hearts, your sacrificial giving and for believing in us and what God is doing in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Thank you for helping us stay on the field and serve in a way we feel God[…]

Please Join Us on the Rogers' Friend & Family Trip!! Come serve with us in the Dominican Republic July 17-24th as we work alongside local leaders to redeem people, renew communities and restore Creation!   We will be celebrating Vicki's 11th year with the ministry and Jeff's 10th with any of you that care to join us. For those of you who have never been, experience our ministry first hand and serve alongside of us. For those that haven't been in a while, please come back with us!The focus of the trip will be helping to construct the G.O. Medical Center, serve[…]

Scars cover his body from unsuccessfulsurgeries.  But two scars in particulartake this mom to my knees.  He showed meduring his last hospital stay.  One onhis hand and one on his shoulder.  Withhis timid smile he told me it was from biting. His mom further explained that his pain is so intense that he biteshimself to endure it until it passes.  Today, about 20 people gathered around this littleboy with the courage of a lion.   Evenfacing the biggest surgery of his life, his smile brightened the room and thespirits of everyone around him.  He has away of doing that.  Of capturing yourheart[…]

We were blessed to host Tatiana and Wilson at our home for a day duringChristmas break.  The girls got to playwith Wilson while we treated them to a Roger’s style red beans an coconutrice.  Wilson was not a fan of the coconutrice but enjoyed the beans well enough.  Afterdinner they settled in around the table and constructed gingerbreadhouses.  A good time was had by all.  We’re so grateful for the opportunity toshare with them as they await what we all pray will be life enhancing treatmentfrom Kosair Children’s Hospital. portunityis to sign up for a 15 minute period during the[…]