After years of praying, planning, waiting, and trusting, the moment we’ve been hoping for is finally here.We are FINALLY breaking ground on Genesis 2.0, the future home of the first ever school in Jarabacoa dedicated to serving children with disabilities.
This journey began back in 2019, when we first sensed God inviting us into something bold and deeply needed. What followed over the next 6–7 years was anything but simple. We walked through COVID-19, waited on key partnerships to develop, experienced a complete 180 when our initial land plans fell through, and most recently endured a long and discouraging process to obtain an environmental permit.
There were moments, honest ones, when I wondered if we had heard God correctly. Moments when the delays felt endless and the fundraising amounts overwhelming.
But every single time doubt crept in, God responded, clearly and faithfully, reminding me and our team that His heart is to give families of children with disabilities a permanent home, a place that students, parents, and teachers can be proud of. How grateful I am that our God is bigger even than my own faith in this journey.
A HOLY MOMENT OF BLESSING
This past Friday, our entire SI team stood together on the land that will soon be home to this school. In the rain, we shared stories of God’s faithfulness to Students International and the Genesis school over the past 20+ years, remembering the many people who have shaped this journey, from founders and donors to former staff members and short-term participants.
Together, we read Psalm 121:
“I lift my eyes up, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
Standing there, we were reminded not only of God’s provision for this project, but of the countless families of special needs students whose pr
ayers this new school will answer. We remembered those who have faithfully served along the way, and we prayed for the land, the building, for the future students, and for the staff who will continue serving here for years to come. It was a special and unforgettable time.
AND NOW….THE WORK BEGINS!
This past week we FINALLY got the permit in our hands and the first trees are being cut down. And next week, we plan to begin the initial stages of excavation and securing the property with a perimeter fence. Please pray for us as we begin to work through each phase of the construction process.
We are deeply grateful to the many people who have walked with us to reach this milestone. Thanks to your generosity, over $50,000 came in during the year-end giving, bringing our total donations for the building to $390,000.
We are now in the final stretch, needing just a little over $100,000 to reach our final $500,000 goal for the Genesis school.
As we break ground, we do so with full hearts, confident that the same God who carried us through every delay and challenge will also bring this work to completion. We look forward to continue sharing updates and pictures throughout the course of the year as the construction and final fundraising progresses. Thank you again for believing, praying, and giving. A hug from our team here in the DR and looking forward to an exciting 2026 ahead of us!
