My Last Update

My Last Update: Saying Goodbye to the DR View this email in your browser It’s been 3 months since I’ve returned to the US. Time has flown!  Rewind 3 Months: My last month in the DR was filled with see you laters, spending intentional time with friends that have become like family, the Makarios staff covering me with prayer, time with the Lord, spending time with my former students, laughter, and lots of tears. During this time God brought me to a place of amazing gratitude. I am so thankful God chose to write Makarios into my story. So thankful for the people I was blessed to do life with over these last 4 years. And so very thankful for the way I’ve seen his hand work. He is changing the lives of the Makarios students and their families through the power of the gospel. I am blessed to have both witnessed and been a part of that. "Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him."- Psalm 98:1 Photos from my last month in the DR. Clockwise from Top Left: My discipleship girls & I at the movies/ My goodbye party with my Makarios family/ Baking with 6th Grade Manuela/ Some of my former students after go-karting! What's Next? As you may remember, I taught Dual Language Pre K-4 and discipled five 6th grade girls during my last year with Makarios. Towards the end of my time in the DR, I was able to “pass the baton” on to two amazing Makarios teachers! Jenna (an American missionary/) will continue teaching the preschoolers, and continue to reinforce all of the English they’ve learned. And Vierka (a Dominican teacher) will continue to disciple the sixth grade girls. I’m so thankful that God has called these two amazing teachers to continue advancing his Kingdom!  As for what’s next for me personally, I’m applying for jobs and praying about where God would have me next! In Christ,  Imani  Thank You!  I want to thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and financial support. Thank you for partnering with me over the last 4 years. Thank you for journeying this journey with me. Words cannot fully describe how grateful I am.  Stay Connected With Makarios: • Sponsor a student or teacher at Makarios! Help change a child’s life by providing opportunities for them to learn about God as well as receive a quality education, food and medical care.    • Continue to keep up with all that Makarios is doing via their website.    • Continue to lift up the work of the Lord in the DR! If there is a particular child whose story touched your heart, I ask that you pray specifically for him or her.  For the greatest tool you have to affect change in another's life, even if you have never met them, is to pray for them Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Feeling Nostalgic..

Feeling particularly nostalgic on this Friday afternoon. It could have a little bit to do with how I've just now unpacked my last bag from the DR (it's been a month since I've been back in the States...it's fine). The sifting through of DR photos/cards/letters/memories has led me to miss my Dominican life/family a whole lot today. But through the tears/sadness, I find myself experiencing an immense feeling of gratitude. I am beyond thankful that God wrote Makarios into my story. Beyond thankful that He allowed me to be a part of Makarios' story. Words cannot beyond to describe my gratefulness

He's a good author, y'all. So although this transition is pretty dang hard/bittersweet, I will do my hardest to trust Him throughout all of it. Trust in the One that drew me to himself...the One that has written a beautiful life for me. Trust that He has a plan, for both the future and the "right now". Trust that he is my God and my shepherd. 

[Picture from my goodbye party, July 2015]

My Third Home

A few weeks ago I told my former students that I would be moving back to the states mid-July. These were students I taught 2013-2014, then 2nd graders, now rising 4th graders.The next day several of them handed me letters they had written after receiving the news. They were all very sweet, but I want to highlight two in particular: 

Letter #1, from Sweet Emely.

Dear Profe Imani,

I’m going to say goodbye to you with this letter. I will miss you alot. You and Dena* are like my second mothers. You both have always treated me like my mom treats me. Makarios is my 3rd home. I think its also yours. The first home: Heaven. The second home: your house. The third home: Makarios. Give your family & Dena a beautiful greeting for me. And tell Dena that you both are the best teachers and my best friends. I love you. God loves you. Makarios loves you. 

This girl has wisdom beyond her years. That bit about my “Third home”… I couldn’t have put it better myself. 

Letter #2, has a bit of a back story:

I’ve woken up a couple mornings with feelings of anxiety/fear about moving back to the states. One morning in particular I prayed that God would remind me of specific promises to cling to when I move back to the States. Promises/verses that I will be able to remind myself of in times of grief/reverse culture shock (a cliched but true term)/not knowing what is next. After my time of prayer, I decided to read the letters that my former students wrote me. Wouldn't you know it, the very first letter I read said, “God will always be with you.” Sure, this may seem like a “simple sentence”, but reading it RIGHT after I pray that God would remind me of which promises to cling to?! Let the tears flow. How sweet is our God to have me read these exact words after I prayed that he would let me know which specific promises to hold on to? Thank you Lord for using Rebecca to remind me of this simple yet sure promise of Yours. 

I have just under 1 1/2 weeks left on the island. It is incredibly surreal. The daily cry sessions have begun. Feeling all the feels. Pray for me, y’all.

*Dena, former Makarios teacher/close friend of mine!

Moving back to 'Merica. Feeling all the feels.

After 4 years of serving in this beautiful country &  being part of the Makarios family, God has called me to move back to the States. Through prayer He’s let me know that my time in the DR is coming to a close, and the next chapter of my life awaits me in the States. What that chapter is exactly? I have not one idea. But I do know that he is calling me to leave and trust Him with what's next.

I am feeling ALL of the feels, you guys. I'm sad, nervous, anxious, at peace, excited, freaking out, trustful, slightly afraid… the list goes on & on and varies from day to day. As of late, my biggest "feel" has been sadness. This country has been my home for the last 4 years. FOUR years. How do I say goodbye to 4 years of life lived? Not to mention goodbyes are incredibly hard and inevitably induce my "ugly cry”. We got a preview of said cry last Thursday as I had to say goodbye to The Youngs, a family that I've had the incredible privilege of serving with the last 2 1/2 years. They're headed back to the states for furlough, and won't return until I've already left the island. We cried and cried... and cried some more. We'll of course keep in touch, but it'll be different/strange/sad to not be able to live life with them in the same manner we've been able to over the last couple years.

Darren, Becky, Audrey and Jenna Young with Miranda, Kelly & I, before the goodbyes/tears began.

After this goodbye, I was reminded that sad/emotional goodbyes mean that you have loved & lived deeply. So let the tears flow. Let them remind me of all the memories I’ve had during these past 4 years. Let them show that I’ve created friendships that will last for years & years to come. Let them be seen by God and let me wait prayerfully & expectantly that He will comfort me.

 I have a little over a month & a half left on the island, during which I will intentionally spend time with friends/students that have become family, and cherish my last* moments with them. My prayer is that I would minute by minute lean on the Lord to help me through this time period. That my goodbyes would be healthy and meaningful.  That he would "teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). That I would end my time in the DR well. That I would truly believe/trust that He has something planned for me once I arrive back in the States and that I would be patient as He reveals that plan to me. Would you pray with me?

Besides prayer, another way you can bless me is through financial support. I have about $1,300 left to raise. This money will help cover transitional costs such as a missionary re-entry & debrief program and plane tickets. If you feel led to give, click HERE & specify your gift for 'Imani Folkes'.

Thank you all for your prayers. I am incredibly grateful.

*last moments- meaning my last moments as a Makarios staff member. Not TRULY my "last moments"- as I plan on visiting! 

March 2015 Update Letter

A ton of great things have been happening here in the DR, but I want to share 2 specific stories:  (Be sure to read the sidebar to find out how you can partner  with me in ministry.) A Note from Scarlett As I mentioned in my last update, I recently began discipling 5   of our sixth grade girls. My prayer since October has been to form such a relationship with these girls that they would genuinely trust me..so that when I speak truth into their life they know that it is coming from someone who cares for their well being and for their faith in the Lord. Last week, Scarlett wrote me a note that was a such great answer to this specific prayer. The note read, “Ms. Imani, You're a very good teacher. You are like a mom to me and you are very special to me. I am thankful for all that you have done for me and my friends. I want you to know that I love you a lot.” Praising God that my relationship with these girls has deepened in such a great way, and that this was shown to me through Scarlett’s sweet note.  Learning about Jacob & Esau  In my preschool class we focus on one bible story a week. One particular week the students learned about Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing from his father. To help bring the story to life I asked Francis, (our school chaplain) to play the role of Jacob with "goatskins" taped to his arms. Each child pretended to be Isaac, felt Jacob's arms and gave Jacob his blessing. The kids loved it! I thank Jesus for the opportunity to teach his word in such an interactive and fun way. Thank you so much for the many ways you all support, encourage, and pray for me. Let me know if I can be praying for you in any specific way. To the Praise of His Glory, Imani My discipleship girls right after I gave them their "Jesus Calling: For Kids" devotional books. Praying that they would form the habit of  spending time with their  Savior on a daily basis and that they would come to know more of "the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." In Need of Support  I’m in need of $4,000 in support. To be honest, this number is a bit daunting. But our God is able! He has provided through the generosity of many people thus far and I know he is able continue doing the same thing! Practically, my goal can be reached a number of ways: •If 40 people gave a one time donation of $100 OR • If 20 people gave a one time donation of $200 • If 14 people gave a one time donation of $300 OR My goal of $4,000 would be reached!  (Of course any amount God lays on your heart is the right amount)   Would you prayerfully consider donating to my ministry in the Dominican Republic? To donate, click the following link and use the scroll down menu to designate your gift to "Imani Folkes" DONATE HERE If you are interested in donating via check, make it payable Makarios, with my name (Imani Folkes) in the memo line and send it to the following address:  Makarios 3267 Bee Caves Rd. Suite 107-71 Austin, TX 78746 Prayer Requests •• I’m going on a 4 day mission trip to Haiti, March 29-April 1st!  •• I want to spend time talking to my discipleship girls about purity, boys, relationships… and what God teaches us about those topics. Pray that the Lord would continue to give me wisdom pertaining this topic! •• Pray for the funds I’m lacking to come in Praises:  •• My preschool students have improved greatly in their English skills!  •• One of my students has a pretty hard home life, but recently circumstances have changed in such a way that his father is playing a much more active role in caring for him & his brothers!  unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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