English Class... Hato Mayor

Tim and I met a remarkable man named Ovidio Torres. Ovidio is from Ecuador but he lived in the United States for a number of years. Ovidio now finds himself in the Dominican Republic and his heart is to share all he has learned to help the people of the Dominican Republic. He even wrote a grant, which he was awarded, to start a recycling program in the DR. This will help not only clean up the environment but to bring awareness to the people of the community of each of their obligation to do their part to help the community as a whole. Ovidio is also involved in the communities in other ways, for instance three times a week he teaches an English class to anyone in Hato Mayor that is interested in learning. Tim and I were invited to participate and help the students in hearing English being spoken by someone who speaks it as a first language. It was great interacting and talking with the students. All the students had varying reasons for learning English but the main theme was to have more opportunities. One guy, Victor, was trying to get a job at a vacation resort so he was learning not only English but also French, German, and Russian as well. I have a great respect for those working at the resorts. They learn the travel/hotel vocabulary in each of the languages so they can communicate with all of the different resort guests. Take it from someone that is struggling to learn a second language, it is not easy. I cannot image trying to learn 3 or 4, let alone all at the same time. You would think that the resort jobs would pay well but in fact they are just a basic wage. So our hearts go out to all those in Ovidio's English class and we pray many blessings and opportunities come there way! Thanks also to Olvidio for sharing with us and letting us take part in the work he is doing in Hato Mayor and for the people of the Dominican Republic.