Jose Fernandez works as a Pastor in La Union and Montellano in the Dominican Republic. Seeing the overwhelming need of the children to get a good education and having many in his congregations and around him that couldn't attend school, he has built and organized two schools. One is in La Union and one is in Montellano. He also works as a salesman and Lifestyle Holiday Vacation Club and donates all the money he earns there toward paying teachers, buying supplies and feeding the children. He is a man with a big heart, big dreams and a huge vision.

1. We met Jose Fernandez at Lifestyle Holiday resort in
February 2011. He works as a salesman there and
uses the money he earns to provide schooling for
children. He told us about the school he had created
and invited us to accompany him there. He is
pictured here in front of one of the churches where he
is Pastor.

2. The front of this building is a
church, the back a school.

3. February 2011, we went to the school
for the first time.

5. We met his
wife, his
mother-in-
law and
children.

6. We saw some of the homes
where the students live.

8. He showed us the
area where he
wanted to build a
playground.

9. Our president,
Sandra Nelson
met some of
the children on
the street.

10. Jose showed us the library of
the school with all their
school supplies for 100
children.

14. Jose and his wife,
Diosmarie in the
kitchen of their
home.

15. In one of the churches where Jose is Pastor he shared
with us his dream to feed the children a meal each day
as they come to school very hungry.

16. Not long after, the lunch program started in the
school. Members of Dominican Starfish Foundation
send some of the money needed each month to

17. With his own earnings and the help of people in
Canada and the United States, Jose started an
expansion of the school.

19. When we went back in November of 2011,
everything had changed.

20. The new playground was built.

21. Many rooms had been added to the school. Some haven’t
been used to this day because Jose felt in his heart that he
would need them in the future.

25. Many school supplies
were delivered from
our group in Canada.

26. More guests visited and
more people started
helping with the project.

27. The students were wearing little donated uniforms.

28. Others fell in love.

30. A new kitchen had been build and others made donations.

31. Apartments had been built above
Jose’s home for “future
missionaries”. He didn’t know
where they would come from.

33. Sandra Nelson, President and
Louise ZoBell, Executive Director of
Dominican Starfish Foundation

34. We wer
greete
warmly
the fall
2012. Lo
of chang
had
occurre

35. November 2012, a lunch room with tables and chairs had been added.

37. The children were adorable
in their little donated pink
uniforms.

39. Jose and family had a new
kitchen in their home large
enough to host “extra
guests” in the future.

42. The
playground
was
expanded
again

44. February 2013
The starting of a school in
Montellano—Jose’s next dream.

45. Two tiny
rooms and
60 children
waiting to
start class

46. Classes started
in Montellano,
February, 2013

47. They grew out of
that school in a
month.
Donations were
received and new
construction
began.

51. By November 2013, a kitchen had
been started.

56. November 2014

58. Children eat their lunch at
Montellano School.

63. One of many classrooms

65. Parents
waiting
outside
the school
to pick up
their
children

66. Jose is a man with a huge heart, a huge dream and
huge vision. He now has 312 children enrolled in his
two schools. He is so grateful to have International
Language Programs coming to his schools. He has
been preparing for this day for many years.