Rafael Mendez and his uncle Marino Mendez began a school in Los Guaricanos in a small wooden church building with 60 students. Many of the students were recruited from a reclaimed garbage dump and few could afford the small tuition, so Rafael and Marino personally funded the needs of the school. ASON has partnered to assist them with construction teams, computer training teams, event planning teams, financial and relational support. ASON started the Child Sponsorship Program in 1999 to provide financial support for the school and for students who could not attend otherwise. Los Guaricanos school currently has more than 300 students in a large three story structure. Children who had no hope for the future are now dreaming of becoming doctors, teachers, pilots and engineers.

After serving as the School Administrator for more than 20 years, Rafael Mendez followed God’s call to work in another field and retired as Administrator of Adonai School.

Leida Tomasina Rodriguez Santiago began her tenure as the new School Administrator in 2008. Leida is married with three adult children. She comes from a family of 13 children who are all adults and have professional jobs in the Dominican Republic. Her parents stressed the importance of a good education and made sacrifices to send the children to private schools. Leida taught at Adonai for 10 years before becoming the School Administrator. She is passionate about the children receiving a quality, Christian education and envisions many improvements that will benefit the students. She prays for additional funding and resources to carry out her vision.