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President's Message |
Dear "
. $Name .",
Greetings!
As the season changes from spring to summer, things are really heating-up here in the Dominican Republic (and we don't just mean the temperature)!
The Project Mañana team is preparing for a fun-filled summer of MANY activities. Some things we are looking forward to are:
- Project Mañana will host 2 interns this summer!
- Project Mañana will host a team of 27 Americans for 8 days!
- Project Mañana will host a team of 4 American pastors for a week of discipleship training and prison ministry!
As we continue to develop strategic programs and services, I am excited and honored to be able to serve along side many amazing people. From the day I dreamed of an organization like Project Mañana, my desire was to empower ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things!
Thanks to God's grace, we have successfully built the bridge to connect Americans with Dominicans who need their help. We will humbly continue to grow the infrastructure of Project Mañana, but we need YOUR help!
Now, I would like to personally encourage you to TAKE ACTION to help provide the needed resources to these precious children. As you continue reading below, I would like to ask you to thoughtfully consider partnership with Project Mañana by sponsoring a needy child - TODAY!
I am so encouraged to see how God has allowed Project Mañana to reach (and bless) so many needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic.
On behalf of 225 (and growing!) Project Mañana children, their families, and community, THANK YOU for "Working Together Today For An Eternal Tomorrow!™"
Please visit Project Mañana's website for more information on how you can partner with Project Mañana; including child sponsorship.
Working Together Today For An Eternal Tomorrow™
Sincerely,
Brian Berman, Founder & President
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Meet Brooke Peckinpaugh, Project Mañana Intern |
In Brooke's Own Words...
Hola! My name is Brooke Peckinpaugh. I am 18 years old and recently graduated from high school in Cincinnati, Ohio where I have lived for five years. Before that, I lived in South Carolina and also in different parts of Indiana.
In all of the chaos of moving during my time growing up I found that one thing remained, my relationship with God. This is something that was instilled in me at a very young age and has consistently been my source of strength and peace.
Not only am I in love with my creator, but also all of the beautiful children that He breathes life into. From a very young age, I have always loved working with children and helping those in need. I've truly found that my passion in life is mission work.
I’ve been blessed to travel to Jamaica, along with two trips to Ethiopia and Uganda, to do mission work on short-term teams that were focused on working with orphaned children. In October of last year, I managed my way on to a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Project Mañana.
During that trip, I absolutely fell in love with the people of the Dominican Republic and their culture.
The culture is one of my favorite things about the Dominican Republic, because it’s so relationship based. I’ve grown up in an environment where my family and closest friends are the most important things in my life and whom I spend most of my time with.
When I came to the Dominican Republic, I found myself fitting in very well because their culture is just like my family; very loving and welcoming. Beyond the culture, I had other skills that God had given me that helped me greatly in the Dominican. It was that experience and my skills that ultimately lead me to want to intern with Project Mañana.
I took Spanish classes for three years; which allowed me to better communicate with the Dominicans. I also was in the Teachers Academy, a career prep program for two year. This program gave me a better understanding of how to find each child’s inner potential and teach them how to use it. And that is exactly what I desire to do this summer!
I want to work with children and their families and show them the love and grace that I have found in my Heavenly Father.
Interestingly, I've discovered that when I try to bless others, it feels like I am the one who walks away feeling blessed and loved. So, my desire to intern with Project Mañana feels so natural; as I want to love and serve the Dominicans.
I’m so excited to be working with Project Mañana. The Bermans have so many wonderful ideas and such a strong vision and passion of where they want Project Mañana to go in the future.
I can’t wait for my internship this summer and for the opportunity to partner with Project Mañana.
Please join me in prayer that God will use me this summer to be His hands and feet.
Dios Te Bendiga (God Bless You),
Brooke Peckinpaugh
Brooke's senior picture |
Brooke with her family on graduation day
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Brooke with children from the village of
Korah, Ethiopia |
Brooke with a girl from the
Kiramajong tribe in Uganda |
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Meet Michaela Wandersee, Project Mañana Intern |
In Michaela's Own Words...
About a year ago, my closest and dearest friend, Brooke Peckinpaugh, nagged me about coming with her on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Project Mañana. My first, instinctual response was, "heck no!!"...there's no way that I would leave the comforts of my home to go to another country. In fact,
there seemed to be a million reasons not to go.
Then, as I saw my best friend’s passion for missions and hearing her stories after being in Jamaica and Africa, something started tugging on my heart.
Suddenly, it was so easy to say "yes", and not think about all that could possibly go wrong (something I’m usually very good at) while out of the country.
I ended up buying a plane ticket and heading down to the Dominican with a team from my church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the course of a week, I fell in love with the beauty of the island, the beautiful people, and with Project Mañana -- and their passion to help the impoverished communities of La Yaguita de Pastor and Villa Gonzales.
While we were in the Dominican, Brooke and I spent our evenings dreaming about staying in there forever. On our last night, I sobbed because I didn’t want to leave (this was so unlike me as I am totally a "momma’s girl").
I knew that eventually I would head back to the Dominican, but I had no idea the opportunity would come so quickly! Now, less than a year later, I have another flight booked to the Dominican Republic and am anxiously awaiting my trip so I can get my hands dirty!
Now a little about myself…
I’m an 18 year old girl, with a huge heart for families. Right now, my plan is to intern with Project Mañana for a month this summer. Then, in the fall, I will attend Anderson University, in Anderson, Indiana. There I will study Social Work with the hopes of becoming a family counselor.
My passion is to understand how families function together. I so desperately wish that every child had loving parents to learn from and that every child would feel safe in his/her home.
Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. But, I think God has plans for me to help change the circumstances for a few of His beautiful children that don’t have the safety, stability, and love of a family. I think this passion is one of the things that made me love the Dominican so very much.
I was able to see that family is the basis of stability in the Dominican Republic. I instantly felt that "togetherness" was central to the functioning of Dominican families. On the other end of the spectrum, I saw families hurting and broken. Over the course of my internship at Project Mañana, I am hoping to get involved with the broken families. I pray that God uses me to start piecing those broken families back together, whether through ministry or simply just building relationships.
No matter how God chooses to use me in the Dominican Republic, I am so excited to be a part of Project Mañana, serving and loving others!
~1 John 4:19~
We love because He has first loved us.
Michaela Wandersee
Michaela serving children at the
nutrition center in Villa Gonzales |
Michael teaching and doing crafts with
children in La Yaguita de Pastor
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Brooke (L) and Michaela (R) at
Sosua Beach in the Dominican Republic |
Michaela (L) and Brooke (R) - Best Friends! |
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Raise Money Just By Clicking "Like" on Facebook® |
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Project Mañana Growth Update |
From September 30, 2010 (when Project Mañana officially open its doors) through today, Project Mañana has seen an amazing 562% growth in its core programs.
Project Mañana, through the generous partnership of many sponsors across the United States, is now providing education,
nutritious meals 5-days per week, and guidance to 225 children in the Dominican Republic! That's an astounding 562% growth in the first two years of service!
The growth is a true
ñana team and the many sponsors who have made it their mission to help provide a Better Tomorrow for the children of the Dominican Republic!
Click Here To See More Photo On Your Facebook Page.
There are MANY more children in the community (we estimate another 200-300 conservatively) who desperately need education and nutrition. As more and more sponsors partner with Project
Mañana team, we will expand the programs and services to as many children as we can!
Please Help. Sponsor A Child TODAY! |
Connect With Project Mañana's Social Networks |
Did you know that 95% of Project Mañana's supporters stay connected with our efforts online and through electronic communication?
Knowing that, Project Mañana is working hard to deliver information, updates, and news in several areas of social media, including: Facebook, Twitter, and now YouTube!
Please take a minute to visit each of these social sites and "join" or "subscribe" to ensure you receive the latest information and updates on how your partnership is helping to change the lives of children in the Dominican Republic.
Do you have a social media idea? Please share it with us! |
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Project Mañana Needs Your Help! |
Project Mañana is a non-profit 501(c)3 humanitarian organization dedicated to bettering the lives of impoverished children, their families and communities through nutrition, education, and guidance.
We achieve our goals through charitable donations and child sponsorship, which unites children in need with individual sponsors who wish to address the children's immediate and basic needs. Sponsorship gives poor children the tools and opportunities necessary for success by providing benefits and supporting programs for each child - primarily in the areas of education and nutrition.
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www.ProjectManana.org |
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