Happy New Year everyone!

I sit relaxing on my couch enjoying my last evening on Christmas break and taking a little vacation from my vacation before Monday morning rolls around. This Christmas season we were generously gifted tickets to fly back to the States for the FIRST time for Xmas since being married. Let me tell you.  Freezing cold weather…not my favorite. Troy and I are very spoiled with our warm sunny weather in the DR. We’ve gone to the US a few times for family events, and support raising. This time around it was a truly restful vacation.  So do I really need a vacation from my vacation? No, not really. It’s just how our time off got planned and I have a few days at home before being Mrs. Gerent to 22 first graders again.

The Gerent clan!

I honestly struggle with what to write on our blog. What do they want to hear? What new story should I tell them? Does that need to be told? Will it bore them? How do I make it sound exciting? Does it have to be exciting?  Life has become normal, so how do I write about the normal? What is important to share?

Then a still quiet voice told me. “Lexie, you and Troy are loving me and loving others just as I’ve instructed. All who love me are called to do the same wherever they are. You just so happen to be in the DR, which is right where I want the two of you.” That became the most important story.

All the pressure of writing a captivating blog post, the best this blog has ever seen and the best you have ever read, went away.  All the details of what Troy and I do are great, whether it be about my little 6 year olds or Troy’s teenage students. They are what make life fun, challenging and ever-changing.  Many of you want to hear just 1 story. Some of you just want to hear that we’re going alright. Some want to know all the details, the ups and downs and really get a taste for what our life is like. Some of you want to hear about our finances and how you can help us. The list goes on. In whichever category you find yourself, the most important thing to know is this.  God is good and He has called us according to His purpose. He gave us the opportunity to love Him and others in the DR. We answered his calling in our life and we will continue to do so until He calls us HOME (heaven of course).

However, I don’t want that to be end of this post. Telling stories, talking about life and meaningful things are life giving to me. So here we go!

In 2015,  I started my 4th year of teaching at Doulos. This year I really have a great bunch of kids!  They are so cuddly, friendly, smart, eager to learn and please. I am also blessed with a new assistant, Elea. She makes life so much easier. I couldn’t imagine teaching without her.  She takes ahold of anything I give her, runs with it and excels beautifully! She has made this year a blessing! In 2015,  Doulos started their reaccreditation process with ACSI (Association of Christian School International) and AdvacED. As a veteran of the school and a grade level leader, I was asked to join the crew of people who are leading this reaccreditation process. Being accredited is really important for the school and I am honored to be apart of the school’s steering crew who helps lead this big task!  Please be in pray with us as we work hard reaccrediting our school!

In 2016, I will have a student teacher in my classroom from January to the beginning of April. Her name is Lydiah and I am very excited to welcome her into my classroom and walk with her and she teaches and learns how to be a teacher! If you are on Facebook, you will most likely see pictures of us adventuring through this coming semester.  I really enjoy being a mentor, so I look forward to this opportunity of helping someone and walk with them through the wonders and challenges of being a teacher!

My wonderful assistant, Elea!

The crew this school year! Cute eh?

In 2015, CMA received a lot of new staff members!  We have been praying for God to bring spiritually mature followers of Christ  who were called by God and willing to serve on CMA’s campus. We were pleased to welcome 3 new families to the CMA family. One of the staff members works in counseling, 2 others as in-house staff working with the boys and the last family is CMA’s new director.  It’s a full house! 🙂  Something exciting that happened in 2015 is that several of the students received Christ and many were baptized.  **goose bumps** Pray for these young teenagers who are discovering what it means to follow Christ for the first time. Pray for the staff at CMA that God would give them wisdom as they lead, disciple and do life with these new Christians and help them mature in their faith.  It has been great to watch Troy mentor and interact with the teenagers at CMA and watch them respond to him. I don’t know how he does it, but I believe a lot of it has to do with the model and example Troy’s dad was to him! His dad was a great picture of discipline and consistency and this has really shaped the way he does a lot of things.  He is really doing a wonderful job in his new position!  Watching CMA grow from the ground up has been a blessing because we have been able to see the ebb and flow or staff members, and challenges of being apart of a new ministry. Watching God work through CMA staff and seeing the fruit that bears is humbling.  Knowing that all this work is not their work but God’s!!

This past year has been a great year for Troy and I!  It has been a lot of hard work, but it’s been a great year! We love the DR and love seeing how God continues to use us!  It’s amazing how loving God and loving others can be done anywhere around the world!! If you are reading this right now, how and where are you loving God and others?

Well there’s a little glimpse of what we’ve been doing and what we will be doing soon.   Let us know what you want to hear about? I’m always up for ideas!!

Thanks for reading and following us over the past 3 years! We are so blessed by your prayers and financial support! God is good!

-Lexie and Troy

This semester, I will be having a student teacher. Her name is Mariah and she’s coming from Cedarville University in Ohio. This will be my first time having a student teacher, since being a student teacher myself!   I’m very excited to have her in my classroom and teach her the ropes of teaching. I’m equally as excited to learn from her and work along side her and I’m sure she will bring lots of new tricks and teaching tips, coming right out of college.  She will be with us from January to mid April.

Check in for more info later. I’m sure I will be posting and writing about this coming semester and all its excitement.

Happy New Year everyone!

Just last week, Doulos had their annual Out Door Education Week, which means that we take our classroom outside and learn about the outdoors.  Our goal is to get our students to explore the outdoors, learn about things and see things that they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to learn about in the classroom.  It’s one of my favorite weeks during the school year! This year, I paired up with the second teacher and her class and we decided to explore plants and animals! We used food to learn about the parts of a plant and we took a trip to the Santo Domingo zoo, in a hundred degree weather, to check out all kinds of animals!

I hope you all enjoy the new look!

We decided to change things up and add more info about Troy. We’ve updated the “About Troy and Lexie” button, “About Caribbean Mountain Academy”.

ENJOY!

Well, I (Lexie) have finished my first week of school and this now marks the beginning of my 3rd year at Doulos.  WOW! I have 21 little kiddos and can already see that it’s going to be another GREAT year! We have so many new things happening this year. We have new teachers, new staff in admissions and a different look to our campus in the layout of our parking lot! It’s all exciting! The biggest aspect for me in all of this is that we are rewriting our teaching curriculum from scratch! For all of you teachers out there, I’m jealous that you have your curriculum.  At the same time, with this new curriculum, I’ve got a lot of freedom in how I teach. It’s a bitter sweet situation 🙂
This year each teacher is adopting Common Core Standards and writing the curriculum for their grade. There’s a lot of work ahead let me tell ya!! It’s gonna be crazy and I’m kinda scared because I’ve never done anything like this before! At the same time however, I am excited about this new development because our students are going to be challenged to the max and I’m thrilled to be apart of it!!! If any of you teachers have Common Core first grade resources, LET ME KNOW! I’m always looking for new cool ways to teach!

Week 1: Working on standing in line…we’ve almost got it. Check back in a couple weeks and it will look much better. But here they are, all 21! Aren’t they cute?

Troy has a lot of exciting things going on! He has a new position at CMA.  He first came to CMA as their paramedic and has really enjoyed this position over the past year and a half. After spending everyday with the students, gaining a good foothold in the ministry and modeling  great leadership abilities, he was offered the role of “Residential Program Manager”  at the beginning of August!! We didn’t write anything about this in our summer newsletter as we weren’t sure of all the details of his new job.  Now however, he has officially received this now position and we are so thrilled! WOOHOO! 🙂
In this new leadership position he is apart of the leadership team, he oversees staff and students, student programing and staff scheduling. He really enjoys this position as he is able to help the staff on campus by empowering them to use their strengths and really dig deeper with the students. This is a new and exciting step for Troy and I as we have seen God use Troy’s gifts and talents as He works in Troy’s life and builds him as a leader!! I am so proud of him and love watching him lead at work!! He does such a great job and the other staff and students have responded so well and are so excited for him! 🙂

Here are a few things we need prayed over:

• Pray for our marriage as we continue to focus on our relationship as our first ministry  and pursue one another in love and are challenged by daily life
• Pray for Lexie as she works to writing the first grade curriculum and teacher her new bunch of munchkins
• Pray for Troy that he would continue to pursue God as he leads in his new position and in our family
• Pray for discernment for both of us as we listen to God’s voice and His calling for our lives

Lots of love,

-Troy and Lexie 🙂

Hey all!

Just in case you missed it, here is our Summer Newsletter 2014. We’ve sent out a hard copy of our letter and emailed it too. INCASE you haven’t received it, CHECK IT OUT here!

We love you all and are so thankful for your support!!

Enjoy the reading!

-Troy and Lexie

In June 2012, I was headed to Colorado Springs to attend Mission’s Training International (MTI) before making my big trip to the DR in July. I was intended to stay at Doulos for two years as their 1st grade teacher. June 2014 should have been the end of my time in the DR.

That was my plan at least…

…but God had other plans for my life and following Him is way better than doing my own thing. What would our life be like if we were leaving the DR and headed back to the US right now?  We’re not quite sure, but Troy would be leaving his position at CMA and I would be leaving my classroom for another teacher to fill. We’re not sure what the future holds, but for now, we know that God has us here and He will keep us here in the DR until our time is over and the Lord calls us to another adventure.  Like I said…God has other plans and I can’t wait to see what they are.

Knowing that June 2014 could have been our last time in the Dominican Republic, I’ve chosen to reflect on our time here (PICTURES), while looking forward to what God has in store. So check it.  Click on the pictures to see them in a slideshow. ENJOY!

Learning all about the food groups, healthy eating and balanced meals 🙂

Hanging out at the river (Year 1)

My first 1st grade class when they were in Kindergarten! They are about to start 3rd grade this coming August! Time flies!!!! (before year 1)

Experimenting in art class with Miss Kerrie (Year 1)

Nelo was reading Chronicles of Narnia in Spanish in 1st grade! What a pro! (Year 1)

Troy and I at the 1st grader’s pancake breakfast fundraiser. They raised over $500 for Children’s Relief International’s food pantry! (Year 2)

Serving pancakes to over 250 people in our community. (Year 2)

Grace helped us from start to finish on pancake day! (Year 2)

Our advertising sign outside of school campus on pancake breakfast day. (Year 2)

Talking about water pollution to 1st – 3rd graders. (Year 1)

On a field trip. (Year 1)

Mr. Troy visiting our classroom before we got married. (Year 1)

Making cookies at the end of the school year (year 1)

Trying so hard NOT to eat the Oreos (Year 1)

Learning about moon phases with Oreos! (Year 1)

My awesome class dressed up on independence day. February 27th! (Year 1)

Imagining what we would look like at 100 years old on our 100th day of school! (year 1)

Building sentences like a pro! (Year 1)

Obviously a very close drawing of Troy! haha (Year)

June 2013 – Our new addition to the family! Bailey! (Year 1)

Getting roses from a students (Year 1)

Initiating “Hammock-Friday” with my friend Morgan! We set up our hammocks every Friday and relax after a long week. (Year 2)

Celebrating birthdays with a cake! (Year 2)

In our exercise close after filming our exercise video. (year 2)

Research healthy foods by going to our local grocery store. (Year 2)

We love nurse Rachel! Thanks for coming in and being such a hit with the kids! (Year 2)

Nurse Rachel came to our classroom to talk about our bodies and listen to our hearts. (Year 2)

Getting rained out on a pick nick and having to make a roof out of palm tree branches. ( Year 2)

Shower her enthusiasm for water! 🙂 (Year 2)

Merry Christmas y’all! (Year 2)

Our first Christmas tree as a married couple! (Year 2)

Celebrating Jesus at our Christmas program. (Year 2)

One of my sweet boys! (year2)

Sweet girl showing her gift. (Year 2)

Opening presents in class! YES! (Year 2)

Christmas party watching “The Polar Express” (Year 2)

Enjoying our new gift with Morgan! (Year 2)

Christmas carolling (Year 2)

Our Christmas breakfast 🙂 (Year 2)

Carolling with candles. (Year 2)

A nice big bonfire to bring in the new year with CMA staff and students (Year 2)

Enjoying a nice sunrise at Doulos (Year 2)

Miss Hannah Foil blessing my classroom and many others with her awesome teaching this year! She’s the best! Thank you Hannah for serving Doulos! (Year 2)

Kiddies celebrating their country! Aren’t they cute!?! (Year 2)

Miss Hannah Foil doing a magic trick in class. (Year 2)

There is it! (Year 2)

Getting my nose pierce for $3. (Year 2)

Jumping a fens of course! (Year 2)

Watching my boys play baseball on a Saturday morning. (Year 2)

They are so cool! (Year 2)

Morgan and I getting all Dominican with our toobies. (Year e)

The kids love playing with visitors! (Year 2)

YUMMY mango! (Year 1)

One of my students with her sponsor who came down for a visit from Texas. (Year 2)

Taking a trip to the north coast to Monti Cristi with CMA (Year 1)

BIRTHDAYS ARE AWESOME! (year 2)

These kids LOVE to read! (Year 2)

Being cool with their water and exercise clothes! (Year 2)

A picture is worth 1000 words! Let’s see how God continues to lead us in the years to come. After year 3 maybe there will be a year 4 and 5 on the island. Who knows! I want to thank you guys for believing on our work here in the DR and following us in this journey called life!

Lots of love!

Troy and Lexie

How does 21+260+400 add up to 500? This might be the answer my first graders would be receive after trying to add three digit numbers. HA!

This might help.

  21 1st graders + 260 people + 400 pancakes = $500 raised

OH!!!!

Yep that’s right. My little munchkins served pancakes  to 260 friends and family in our community and raised over $500. For those of you who do not have Facebook and didn’t see all the pictures, here they are on my blog! A picture is worth 1000 words, so I’ll let them do all the talking. ENJOY! They are precious!

Serving pancakes to over 250 people in our community. (Year 2)

Grace helped us from start to finish on pancake day! (Year 2)

Troy and I at the 1st grader’s pancake breakfast fundraiser. They raised over $500 for Children’s Relief International’s food pantry! (Year 2)

Our advertising sign outside of school campus on pancake breakfast day. (Year 2)

Stay tuned for our “A Day In A Life” picture walk.  Get excited! 🙂

It all started with a video, role-playing a family, eating strange food, trying on clothes that were not ours, doing school work with no supplies and the their minds went flying.

“Mrs. Gerent, can I give poor people my clothes?”

“Mrs. Gerent, can I go to Africa and help them?”

“Mrs. Gerent, can we give food to poor people?”

“But Mrs. Gerent, why don’t they have food? I want to help”.

Their minds were flowing with ideas and desires. Ideas like walking to Africa and giving families food and clothes. Ideas like sending them their own food. They had the desire to help without knowing how, but  their hearts were filled, in the right place and they wanted to do something.

We then had a class discussion on what we could do, since they were so instant on doing SOMETHING. They all decided that they wanted to give food to people who could not buy it for themselves and their families. As the adult, I had the ability to use my resources and knowledge to help my kids fulfill their desire to help families. (It’s amazing how selfless and giving little kids can be when they see someone in need.) I was moved by their hearts and had to do something about it!

My dear friend Alicia told me about “Children’s Relief International” CRI. She has worked with them before and loves their work and mission for the world. It was decided. My students were going to raise money to buy food for CRI families in Mozambique.  CRI is a ministry who’s mission is “to take Christ to the poor” and one way that they do this is through a food pantry in Mozambique, Africa. We organized a pancake breakfast (many of you may have seen it advertised on FB) to raise money to fill CRI’s food pantry in Mozambique. The students invited their friends and family to this event. On Saturday April 26th, the 1st graders served  pancakes to 260 people and raised over $500!!

I can plan for  my units and lessons and have an end goal in mind. But never did I think that we would have 21 servant hearts and $500 at the end of our Expedition. This entire gig was apart of our 9 weeks expedition on families around the world. The 1st graders were discovering what life looks like in different part of the world by studying what families look like in other places. It was really great seeing 6 year olds learn about life outside their own and be selfless enough to want to help people in need.

Looking back on all of this, I am amazed at the work of my student’s little hands and hearts! Their hearts had a desire to give, their hands were willing to serve and they raised more money than I thought possible. Because of their hard work we will be filling a food pantry in Mozambique to help feed hungry mouths of families who cannot afford to do so.

So, can 6 years old change the world? ABSOLUTELY!!! They have changed mine and only God knows how their money raised will help others! We probably won’t even know the impact it will have, but the 1st grades were willing to serve, be used by God and they have moved mountains!

In the same way, I told God that I wanted Him to use me in whatever capacity He desired. He then sent me here to the Dominican Republic to serve and educate young minds for HIS GLORY! Look what He can do!!

Below is the first grader’s video of their Expedition and them talking about fundraising for CRI. Enjoy 🙂

Hi friends,
It’s been so long since my last post…so long in fact that I forgot my username – ooppsss…

I have 2 thought that I would like to share with you. They have been very thought provoking and have opened my eyes a little more into who God is. I do want to preface with the fact that I’m not a talented writer when it comes to thought provoking topics, so I’m just going to write it as it comes to me and be open and honest.

So let’s get to it.
Thought #1:
Last Sunday, Troy and I listened to a sermon preached by David Platt called “The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions”.  (click here to watch). The main idea of the sermon was that, we as Christians, need to grasp God’s sovereignty.  I was utterly convinced and convicted by the words that David Platt shared. I highly encourage all of you who are reading this to take the time to watch his sermon. It is long but unbelievably impactful and full of truth worth listening to.

The overarching idea of his sermon was that a high view of God’s sovereignty fuels death-defying devotion to global missions. To understand God’s sovereignty David Platt read from Revelation 5. Here are a few lines that this chapter.

“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals….
…Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth…

 …Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing…

 …To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever…

Through the understanding of God’s sovereignty we should be fueled to do global missions. Now he also stated that local missions and local ministry is absolutely necessary so not EVERYONE should leave their country to join global missions physically because God also calls people to serve in their home and country, which is JUST as important.

But here is the point that I want to share with you.

Over 2 billion people in the world today are classified as unreached—which means more than “unsaved” but that the gospel is simply not accessible to them. – David Platt

Once the sermon was over, here we my immediate thoughts: These thoughts were deeply embedded in humility, thankfulness and an understanding of God’s grace.

Why wasn’t I born on an island as one of the unreached people groups? Why was I born in Switzerland to a Christian missionary family, brought to church every Sunday and instructed to live a Christian life? Why am I not one of the billions of people headed for destructions without faith in the Lord?
*Because God is sovereignty and He has his plan for my life. He wants to use me to glorify Him and to furthering of His Kingdom. DUH.

Bigger picture:
That is why I am in the DR serving and glorifying the Lord using the gifts He has given me!

Thought #2 / fact
Super short.  

“God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in him”.  – John Piper. 

WOW!

Feel free to leave your thoughts.

Small moments from last month:

Getting my nose pierced for 5 bucks! Thanks to my trusty friend Keren for coming with me!

My cute little girls all dressed up and ready to celebrate Dominican’s Independence Day!

My handsome little guys dressed up for Independence day celebration!!