As we look back at the months since the end of summer, our hearts are full of gratitude. We have been blessed to see God opening doors, providing in unexpected ways, and allowing us to witness the fruit of many prayers.

There is so much to share, so we wanted to give you a glimpse of what has been happening across our ministry sites.

A New Partnership at the Preschool

We are especially excited to announce that Convoy of Hope has partnered with us to support construction projects at the preschool!

The first project is already underway: replacing the barbed-wire fence around the entire preschool perimeter with chain-link fencing. This will make the space significantly safer and more secure for the children.

The partnership will also help make possible several much-needed additions to the preschool, including:

• An additional bathroom
• A kitchen
• An office
• A storage room
• A dining area for the children

And there is even more reason to celebrate: Convoy of Hope has donated the food for the children’s lunches for the entire school year that has just begun!

We are incredibly grateful—not only for this partnership, but for every person who has helped make these projects possible through financial contributions, hard work, prayer, and their time. What may look like construction projects on the outside represents something much bigger to us: people coming together to care for children and families in the bateyes.

Appropriate Technology: More Than Just Filters

We have also been blessed to watch our Appropriate Technology site continue to grow.

The bio-sand water filters are making their way into more homes throughout Vasca and surrounding bateyes. As our team enters these homes and gets to know the families, we are often able to identify other structural needs that affect their daily lives.

This has opened the door for us to come alongside families through small construction projects and practical improvements in their homes.

We are also exploring the possibility of developing a water-well project in Batey Molinito. There is still much to learn and many details to work through, but we are excited to see where God may lead this opportunity.

New Opportunities at the Baseball Site

We have more good news from our Baseball site!

The community of Margarita, near Vasca, has joined the communities where our Baseball site is able to serve, build relationships, and grow.

From the very first day, we have seen God confirming this step and opening doors in ways that have encouraged us deeply. We are excited to see what He will continue to do through baseball, relationships, and the people He has placed in this community.

A Place to Call Our Base

Another answered prayer has been finding a house to rent long-term that can become our ministry base.

We have been praying not only for the financial means to have a base, but also for a place that would actually meet our needs—a home with enough space and capacity to host visiting groups while also allowing our staff to grow.

The real estate market in San Pedro can be challenging, especially when looking for a property that fits both our budget and our ministry needs. So finding this house has been a huge encouragement to us.

It feels like another reminder that God is not only calling us forward—He is providing what we need as we go.

Sharing the Story in Indiana

In September, our base in the bateyes was the main focus of the banquet in Indiana.

It was such a blessing to travel there, spend time with friends and ministry partners, and share more about what God is doing in the bateyes.

Being able to tell the story, introduce people to the communities we serve, and share how God has been moving was a special reminder that this ministry is much bigger than the people who are physically here in the Dominican Republic.

So many of you are part of this story through your prayers, generosity, encouragement, and willingness to come alongside us.

We Have Seen His Faithfulness

As we look at everything that has happened over these past months, we feel incredibly privileged to be witnesses to God’s promises and faithfulness.

We have seen His hand guiding us, opening doors, providing resources, and confirming the decision to follow His call in obedience.

We are deeply grateful.

And we know that none of this happens because of one person or one team. You are part of it.

Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving. Thank you for coming. Thank you for believing with us in what God is doing here.

Remembering Our Sweet Mery

For this edition, we want to share something very close to our hearts.

Our sweet Mery has gone home to be with the Lord.

Mery was one of our beloved kitchen staff members. Alongside Noelia and Reina, she served and cared for so many of us through the simple but deeply meaningful act of preparing meals and feeding others with an immeasurable amount of love. Her presence, kindness, and faithful service became a special part of our ministry family.

Mery had been fighting cancer for a long time. After a brief period of remission, the cancer returned, this time much more aggressively. After this long and difficult battle, Mery passed away.

While our hearts are heavy with the loss of someone so dear to us, we have the assurance that Mery is now resting in the presence of her Lord and Savior. We are grateful that her suffering has ended and that she is now with Him.

We would like to ask you to continue praying—not for Mery, but for her two young adult children, her family, and all the friends and loved ones who are grieving her loss.

Please pray that God would surround them with His comfort and peace in the days ahead. Pray especially for her children as they navigate life without their mother, and that they would experience God’s presence and faithfulness in a very tangible way.

Mery spent so much of her life caring for others and serving those around her. Now we have the privilege of honoring her memory by continuing to love and pray for the people she leaves behind.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” — Psalm 116:15

Please join us in thanking God for Mery’s life, for the love she gave so freely, and for the hope we have in Christ that death is not the end.

We are grateful to have you walking alongside us as we continue to see God at work in the bateyes.

With love and gratitude,

The Students International Bateyes Team