Semana Santa 2006

Semana Santa 2006 has just come to a close and we thought it would be a great time to finally update our blogs and post some recent photos of Ryan.

We had a very busy week, starting with a quick visit from our friends at GRPC church in Delaware. We enjoyed having them here and meeting about the future opportunities at JCS.

We then took a trip to Constanza, a beautiful mountain and agricultural town about 2 hours from Jarabacoa, to visit some friends in ministry there. We were able to join in with a mission team from KS and helped with painting a new house in their orphanage, as well as making footprints for Jesus on the wall at the team mission house there. We also aided in the taken down and rebuilding of a dilapidated shack that is owned by a member of their church. It was amazing to see God's hand in these people's lives, and to see the absolute dependence and trust they have in Him. I was moved beyond words many times, and that was difficult as I was translating and often did not know what to say or how to respond to these desperate, yet happy people. The amazing part was they knew the Lord and were so thankful for life and sharing the joy that they have. We had a wonderful time with our friends in Constanza.

We had a few days to rest before enjoying a Good Friday BBQ with friends, followed by the Maraton de la Montana...the annual race that Steve participates in. He entered the older category this year, which is a "faster" category, so he didn't win a place, but he ran really well. I was able to drive a passola (motor scooter) around the course to give him water and see him run. He shaved off 3 minutes from his practice time and ran a 6:30 mile pace over almost 8 miles! Yeah Steve!

Easter Sunday was a wonderful day for the Chase family! We went to Escuela Caribe for a 5:30 am sunrise service, followed by choir presentation, Ryan's first easter egg hunt and last but not least, the all you can eat French toast breakfast! It was so wonderful to celebrate Christ's resurrection with our close friends. Later that afternoon we dined with our "Dominican family" having the traditional Easter dinner and egg dying! Overall it was a wonderful day!

Ryan had a great week being home and spending time with his daddy! He is all over the house and loves to play and explore on his own! So far he has not gotten into too much trouble...just a few falls as he is trying to walk and stand on his own! He loves to grunt and make fun noises, as well as squel in delight as he crawls around the houe! He is a very happy baby and seems to love life and people! I call him my "coquete" or flirt because he loves smiling at new friends, then hiding his face in my neck or shoulder! Adorable!

Steve continues to enjoy his 5th grade class and can't believe that there is only 1 grading period left! He has really bonded with his kids! He gets to excited about adverbs! What a great teacher he is!

I (Erin) continue to work form JCS, mostly from home, and love being home with Ryan. I also have been teaching Spanish at Escuela Caribe. I love the balance of being home, teaching and doing administrative work!

From our family to yours! Blessings!

Baby Ryan Arrives!

Ryan Douglas Chase was born July 14, 2005 at Union Medica in Santiago, Dominican Republic weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 20 and 3/4 inches long. Steve drove Erin to the hospital at 6pm in a non-rushed manner when her contractions were every 6 minutes. Our Doctor, Omar Gonzalez, was waiting for us in the parking lot when we arrived at 7pm. At 11pm Erin was administered an Epidural. Ryan must of wanted a July 14th not 13th birthday because he waited 22 minutes past midnight to be born! After Ryan spent time with new Mom and Dad in the delivery room he was escorted by Steve along side our Pediatrician, Doctor Canhuate,to the nursery. Ryan was released from the nursery at 2:15am and brought to his new parents room for the night. Ryan was a sweet little boy that first night. His first sneeze came at 9:35am. After check-ups by our Doctor and Pediatrian we were released from the hospital. We drove back to our Jarabacoa home and arrived at 6pm, exactly 24 hours later.

San Antonio trip

We are having a great time visiting our family in San Antonio. We have done some baby shopping and have taken in the maternity clothing. We had a great visit with the Palmer's who are expecting their second baby soon.

I am going golfing today with my father-in-law. I'm very excited for Friday because we get to go to the Spurs game.

So far we have played one game of Settler's of Catan and more will be played this weekend with the sibblings.

Steve

It's a boy!

Erin and I found out that we are going to be having a boy! We are excited. This really doesn't come as a surprise because so many people guessed it was going to be a boy. Both Erin and I really thought it was going to be a boy. I have started to feel the baby kick on the outside of Erin's stomach. It is wonderful to be able to see our boy on a sonogram. Really inspirational.

Noche de Amor Night

JCS hosted its first annual Night of Love in celebration of Valentine's Day. The evening was fun though it started out late (sorry Charisa). The Haitian men hit a home run. The Columbians were great. I got to kiss the girl. It was a fun night. Thanks to all who made it possible.

Trusting in God

Trusting in God

The Bible compares and contrasts people who have God as the Lord and those who do not. Psalm 1 clearly shows us this division. On one side we have people who are called blessed. They are those who get out of the way of sin and take delight in God. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (v3) Contrarily, those the Bible calls as wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away and their ways perish.

As Christians we should feel secure in of our position on God’s side, but sometimes our growth is staggered. What if God wanted me to do more than I was willing to give up? What if what I think God wants me to work on in my life will be too miserable for me to do so. Or, how can I really tell the difference if God is speaking to me of not? These are some tough questions we as Christians face.

How can we trust God for His will in our Life?

(Some versus to consider)

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in eager expectation. Psalm 5:3

Relationship- To trust God go hand in hand with our relationship with Him.

Jesus says I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
(God promises us this pasture where it is good for us to be in; we are safe to run and roam as long as we stay within the boundaries of the 10 commandments).

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

Permision- To trust God we have to give Him our permission. We do this by asking God to guide us.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5










The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want Psalm 23:1

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness


Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths . Psalm 25:4
Guide me in your truth and teach me. Psalm 25:5

Our church at Escuela Caribe 

Life in the Dominican Republic

Life in the Dominican Republic

By: Steve Chase

The first time I learned of an opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic I was seated behind a computer searching the internet for employment in Christian boarding schools for troubled youth. After opening the New Horizon Youth Ministries web page, I hustled to my globe in eager anticipation to see for myself just where exactly the Dominican Republic was located. Two months later, in January 2000, I began my first year living in the Dominican Republic.
I was assigned to live in a student house which had 8 teenage boys. My first impressions of the campus were very favorable to me. It was located near the mountainous town of Jarabacoa where pine and palm trees covered the landscape. My responsibilities were to foster a big brother role as I supervised the boys in daily consistent work and family life schedule. The students learned many responsibilities which included developing a work ethic and gaining interpersonal leadership and teamwork skills.
Because the staff and students spoke English, the language barrier was not a primary factor in culture shock for me. Missing family, friends and American traditions were among the things I felt the most awkward and uncomfortable about in my transition to the DR. I did experience many strange sights, smells and customs of the people and land my first year. My family visits, mail and care packages helped me the most with my culture shock.
I took my vacation in Washington after completing my first year of service and had a wonderful time with my family and friends. I returned to the DR eager to start my second year and in my first morning back to work I met a lovely young lady named Erin Summers who was a new staff member. As you know we formed a relationship and began courting after six months. Needles to say, we spent much of our free time together enjoying each other and exploring the Caribbean island. Meanwhile we worked together with the same students because she was the boy’s homeroom teacher.
Erin and I finished our first and second year respectively, and took our vacation together to introduce ourselves to our families. I was able to ask Erin’s father Jim for his hand in his daughter’s marriage to me. About two weeks later I proposed to Erin at Snoqualmie waterfalls near Seattle and thus began the wedding preparations.
We returned to the D.R. for 4 months and continued to work in our roles while our school director, Dr. Phil Redwine, gave us pre-marital counseling. We had a lovely wedding ceremony in San Antonio which was ministered by Dr. Redwine. After a two week honeymoon to northern New Mexico, we returned to the D.R. to serve as houseparents for one year in a boy’s house. Our responsibilities seemed over bearing at times as we were learning to adjust to the changes brought forth in our first year of marriage and parenting of eight teenagers! We made it through with the help of God, our great provider.
After an extended summer vacation, Erin and I returned to work at Jarabacoa Christian School, an elementary and middle school which was started three years ago as a gift to the community by members of New Horizons Youth Ministries. Erin and I are adjusting to living in a house by ourselves which is a refreshing and a new bonding experience for us. Living in town also opens up our connection with our Dominican friends and improving our Spanish. I am thankful for my experiences I have had in the Dominican Republic and the relationships I have made, and most of all for the opportunity to meet my wife and begin our married life together.

Life in the Dominican Republic

Hola mis amigos!
Hi to you all!
We are doing well and surviving all the rains from Hurricane Jeanne. There have been some deaths and injuries and evacuations. Yesterday, there were some women kidnapped at a local bank. Don't worry we are safe!!!
Love-
Erin and Steve