Oklahoma Disciples Women

Oklahoma Disciples Women
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Texoma DW Fall Retreat | September 24-25, 2010 Registration Form
NW Area DW Fall Retreat | September 25-26, 2010 Registration Form
NE Area DW Fall Retreat | October 1-3, 2010 Registration Form
Online links | Powerpoint Learn more about our International
DW Project of becoming more aware of and involved in the
fight against "Human Trafficking."

Caminante update for 2010-11
Read more about Caminante Mission work at our Mission Intern Erin McKinney's blog, http://erindomincanrepublic.blogspot.com/

Caminante is the Oklahoma Regional Church mission partner in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. It was begun by Sister Denisse Pichardo, a catholic nun, 16 yrs ago as a ministry to the young boys (ages 6-15) of Boca Chica who were dropping out of school in order to earn money to help support their families by shining shoes of tourists who were coming to Boca Chica’s beach resort area. Boca Chica used to have a vibrant sugar cane industry that provided income for most of their families, but, some 15-20 yrs ago the sugar cane industry began to crumble when demand for cane sugar declined sharply. Now there are no more sugar cane factories operating in Boca Chica and the area has been trying to build up its tourism industry to improve the economy. Along with tourism has come the problems of human trafficking, prostitution and drug trafficking. Especially hard hit were children because when they drop out of school to help support the family they are at risk of being lured into these situations. Sister Denisse was charged (by the Catholic Church) with trying to provide options for these families and especially the children. She had worked with adults previously and had no experience with children but saw the need and began her labors. Caminante now has the support of the first lady of Dominican Republic, the government of D.R. and local businesses in Boca Chica as well as our own Global Missions ministries.

Oklahoma Disciples have been in partnership with Caminante now for three years. In that time we have sent nearly 50 Oklahoma Disciples to Boca Chica to see the Caminante ministry and we have raised about $30,000 or more to help support their work. We began by supporting one “homework room” (a classroom of 1st-6th graders who were at risk of, or had already dropped out of public school and were behind in education. These children are brought up to grade level in a homework room and then returned to the public school. Their families are assisted in various ways to earn the income previously earned by those children – this may be done in vocational training or assistance in finding jobs for parents. And, assistance/ encouragement is given to keep these children in school and performing at grade level until they complete the 10 grades of required free public education. Caminante provides help in going to college or furthering education by the vocational training classes offered through Caminante.

In 2011 we will have at least 3 or more mission trips going to Boca Chica. Participants will see Caminante staff in operation and meet staff and members of the board of directors of Caminante many of whom are former children/participants of Caminante’s programs. Mission trip participants will also have opportunities to see the schools we now support (now 5 in session) and, with the help of Oklahoma Disciples, Caminante has just purchased land to build another school which we will be helping to build.

All of the money we send to Caminante is sent via Global Ministries. Oklahoma Disciples have committed to about 10 yrs of support at about $8,000 per year. This past year Okla. Disciples have helped start a new ministry at Caminante in a Micro-loan program which allows vo-tech grads to get a loan ($250-$350) to start a business of their own. They must pay back the loan so that others may have the same opportunities.

Contact Rev. Loma Sullivan, Associate Regional Pastor, 405-528-3577 for more information or a program.