Friday, December 14, 2007

Hello friends



Sorry for not updating, it's been pretty crazy here. The first grade teacher, Lindsay Warrens, got Dangay. I don't know if I spelled that right, but it'll do. It's a type of flue I think. You get a really bad fever, and it's hard to break that fever. Anyways, she went home, and your's truly, Mr. Mark, has been the new first grade teacher for the last three weeks. It's been pretty awesome. I realize a little bit better how hard it is to be a full time teacher. On another note, Christmas is fast approaching, and we are very excited to coming home. We leave December 22nd and come back the 5th of January. We look forward to seeing some of you over this break. Until next time,

Much love from the DR,
Mark and Ciara

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

It's raining, It's pouring.














Well, we saved some money, and thanks to some of you readers, we finally have transportation. One beautiful, X-1000, motorcycle. I thought it would be hard to learn how to balance, switch gears, and not kill myself or any other poor soul. My friend, Daniel Ayra, said that I'm a natural.

The fifth graders have started planning on how to build the stage which they are all excited about. It has rained for about a week now. Therefore, classes have been canceled, and today is our first day back since last Friday. The river here has flooded some areas of Jarabacoa. So, please pray for those people who have lost their homes, and possessions.

MUCH LOVE FROM THE DR.,

MARK AND CIARA





P.S.- PIC'S OF OUR NEW RIDE WILL BE UP SOON.

Monday, October 22, 2007






Here is a picture of my babies with Brenda and to the left my babies just hanging out!
Hi,
Life seems to be settling in here. Brenda and Frank came for a visit last week, that was terrific. It did not rain the entire time they were here, but the weather has ended its sabbatical and has started to pour down rain! Here are pictures of my babies. We had earned five smiley faces in one week, so we had a party and watched Surf's Up. Lola, Mark and I's cat, has joined us in the DR. Please pray for two things this week. First, a little boy in my class has Dengue, a pretty serious illness contracted from mosquitoes. Second, next week 4-6th grade are heading out to Manabao for outdoor education week. Teachers and students will teach/live/breath the outdoors. We will even build the structures that each group (one teacher and seven students) will stay under, and will be responsible for cooking meals. Pray for no rain, and that we impress upon our students how important it is to take care of God's creations! Nos Vamos! (Bye!)

Friday, September 14, 2007

I LOVE FRIDAYS

I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR FRIDAYS AS I AM SURE THAT EVERY OTHER TEACHER HERE ARE TOO. IT'S OUR FIRST POST IN SEPTEMBER. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE ARE DOING VERY WELL. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS SUPPORTING US WITH DONATIONS AND IN PRAYER. I DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD MAKE IT HERE WITH JUST ONE OF THOSE. WE HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS WELL IN THE STATES AS WELL. THIS SAT. I AM GOING ON A 2 DAY AND 1 NIGHT CAMPING TRIP WITH THE CHURCH THAT WE ATTEND HERE (LA VID). THIS WEEK HAS ALREADY BEEN PRETTY BUSY. YESTERDAY I WENT TO ONE OF MY STUDENT'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT THE YWAM BASE HERE. WED. I WAS INVITED TO LEARN HOW TO WHITEWATER KAYAKING. IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW THAT I COULDN'T REFUSE. AND CIARA HAS A BASKETBALL CAMP THAT SHE IS IN CHARGE OF THIS SAT.. OH YEAH, HERE BASKETBALL GIRLS ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT TONIGHT TOO. SO TO END THIS POST, WE SAY FAREWELL TO ALL, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

MUCH LOVE FROM THE DR,
MARK AND CIARA



P.S.- THE PICS FROM ISABELA'S PARTY ARE ON OUR PHOTO'S LINK IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THEM. THEIR IN SECOND GRADE.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Sickness

Hey guys,

Ciara is doing well with her classes. Crazy kids, but I think that is in every class right now. Tara, the second grade teacher, has been sick this whole week, so I, Mark, have taken care of them. Ciara and I need all the prayer we can get. I am coming down with a cold, please pray that it gets better fast. We hope all is well back in the states. Gotta go back to class now.

much love from the DR,
Mark and Ciara

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Please comment

Hey guys,
please comment on our posts. Let us know how y'all are doing, what's going on, or comment on our posts, or something. We would really appreciate it if y'all would. And check out our photo's, there's a link that will take you to them.

much love from the DR,
Mark and Ciara O'Neal

Monday, August 20, 2007

School

Hey guys, sorry it's been a while since the last update. We are alive and well. School starts tomorrow, and we are pretty pumped for it to finally be here. Thank you all for your support so far. Please keep us in your prayers, we need them all.

much love from the DR,
Mark and Ciara O'Neal

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Hello!

Hola,
Mark and I have made it to the Dominican Republic! We have moved into an apartment, and have started getting settled.
Classes start on Tuesday, I am really excited but I am also a little nervous. I switched to a larger classroom, but now my room is still in a bit of a disarray.
We have been able to visit a giant waterfall that was incredible. Looking around the city, (at the mountains that surround Jarabacoa) and looking at the waterfall (un salto) makes me remember how great and powerful God is.
We have been here three weeks, done a lot of workshops, and spoken even more Spanish. It has been a very interesting couple of weeks. We have seen answers to prayer, Doulos finally got a fourth grade teacher! Yeah! We have really been praying for one, God is good. We also have quite a few prayer request. One teacher is very sick and needs prayer. She has a kidney infections and possibly Dengue, an illness caught by mosquito bites.
I will try to update this more consistently. Key word being try!
Love always,
Mark and Ciara

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

This is our support letter...

Dear Family and Friends,
It is always exciting to see God’s plan in His peoples’ lives. Mark and I, over the last year of our marriage, have been able to meet many people and see their wonderful ministries. Throughout this time, Mark and I have continually prayed for God’s guidance about a ministry of our own. We are now extremely excited to announce that we feel God has called us to do full time mission work in the Dominican Republic.
Mark and I were able to visit the DR this last March on a mission trip with the First Baptist Church of Tyler. The FBC mission group went to Jarabacoa, a small city on the northern side of the island. We had the privilege of building two new classrooms for Doulos Discovery School. While we were there, Mark and I found that God was guiding us to these wonderful, giving people, and this remarkable school.
Although the DR is a Spanish speaking country, Doulos is an English immersion school. The school has Pre-K through tenth grade, and adds a grade every year until reaching twelfth grade. I will be teaching fifth grade and possibly helping coach different sport teams. Mark will be assisting the Pre-K teacher in acclimating the children to English. He will also be the event coordinator for the entire school. He plans to start an after school program as well as possibly doing some construction.
Mark and I have agreed to teach for the next two years. We are so excited that God has guided us to this very special opportunity, but that also means that we will not be receiving a salary for the next couple of years. We ask that you would carefully consider supporting Mark and I on this new adventure. Please pray about joining our team through monthly support or a lump sum donation. Checks may be sent to:
Doulos Discovery Ministries
P.O. Box #3080
Burnsville, MN, 55337
*Please make checks payable to Doulos Discvery Ministries. On the memo line please put “for Mark and Ciara O’Neal.” (All donated funds are tax deductible.)
We cannot express how much your prayers, love, and support does and will mean as we travel along this new path in life. We would love to send you a newsletter about our journey. If you would like to receive one please send an email to ciara.storm@okbu.edu.
Your Brother and Sister in Christ,

Mark and Ciara

P.S. There will be an online site where you can donate using your credit or debit card. To donate go to the staff page and click on our profiles. If you would like to visit the site to learn more information, or to learn more about the school, please visit: www.doulosdiscovery.org.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Our First Post...

Hello,
Mark and I decided to start our own blog to keep our friends and family updated on our lives.
Well, we have twelve days until we fly out. We leave July 28th at 6am. Neither Mark nor I are morning people, good luck to us! Right now we are trying to get everything organized and decide what else can possibly fit in four suitcases!! I have spent a lot of time in prayer about my class. I will be teaching fifth grade. I am estatic, I cannot wait to get started! Mark is going to be doing a variety of activities at Doulos like planning school activities.
We need heaping amounts of prayer for our journey. Please pray for my class, and for travel. I am deathly afraid of flying!!!