Sept 5, 2026

Do you remember those first few days of school? Or the days leading up to them?

I remember walking downtown to the five and dime and buying a blue notebook, the kind with the threads, and a big pack of notebook paper, dividers, pens and pencils. I love buying and giving away school supplies! Oh, the excitement of a brand new pencil and eraser, the possibilities! A clean notebook, ready for action. New shoes that hurt the first few days, made to last a whole year. In the Dominican and Haiti, all students wear uniforms. But in my memory, I can recall my mom telling me to get a navy skirt and some blouses to mix and match. What are your favorite childhood memories of getting ready for the new school year?

In La Vega, things have been hectic this past month. On August 3 we had our first meeting with the teachers at La Vega Christian School. We introduced our theme of the year – Created with Purpose, from Ephesians 2:10. All month we trained teachers and prepared classrooms. I got the idea to move the library across the campus to the second floor of the music building. That was a 2-week feat! During the summer we pulled everything from 4 classrooms to install a new ceramic floor. A new roof was placed over the stairs to the elementary building. One of our Haitian school directors was hired to paint the school, plus the outside wall. We pulled out books we felt we could give away. Our guys were busy building new bookcases, new white boards, moving desks to the proper classrooms and finally, school opened for students on August 25.

New decorations, new teachers, new students. We have some students from the US who speak little Spanish. The first day photos, introducing the teachers, the first chapel service. Last night we had the primary open house. It has been a lot of work, but so rewarding.

We welcomed our new missionary associate, Haylie Kuenzi last Saturday. She will be helping the Haitian school ministry as well as teaching the afternoon advanced English class at LVCS. Lord, send us more helpers!

Last Saturday we met with our Haitian school directors, and this week we visited several schools delivering food so that they will be ready for their first day of school, Monday September 7. We enjoyed seeing their welcome to school decorations and know they are working hard to get ready. Other directors came to LVCS to pick up their food and supplies.

At the meeting we prayed for you, our sponsors. Without your faithful support, we couldn’t offer a Christian education to over 1,000 children in 18 schools. This month we received two miracle offerings that helped us reach our budget. Thank you! Every sponsor is important. Please know that your student also prays for you. Please keep all the directors, teachers, students and their families in prayer. One of our teachers almost died two months following childbirth. Please keep Asline in your prayers. Last week’s operation cost them a lot of money. If you feel led to help pay the bill ($3,500) that would be a huge blessing to her family.

You can make your tax-deductible offering recurring easily at this link here. If you prefer to send a check, make it out to TeachFeedLove and send to TMCI, PO BOX 1761, Columbia, SC 29202. Thank you very much. We appreciate you very much.

May God bless you as you, and your children or grandchildren start school this year. May this be a year when we all find our purpose in God’s Kingdom. Psalm 138:⁸ The Lord will finish the work He started for me. O Lord, Your loving-kindness lasts forever. Do not turn away from the works of Your hands.

Your missionaries, 

Debbie and Mitch Martinez