The Heartfelt Story of the Braisteds in the Dominican Republic

Sometimes we sit in the bleachers and watch gifted soccer players run for 90 minutes, and we’re all lost in the thrill of competition. Years later and far from the fields, we marvel at their careers and contributions. Both Michael and Amanda Braisted were two such athletes. Today they’re leading a vibrant ministry to orphans in the Dominican Republic.

I knew Michael’s parents, both extremely gifted IWU classmates. Debbie’s voice and presence angelic, and Joe’s personality and energy magnetic. Joe, now in heaven, was sui generis. He reminded me of my delightful editor at Tyndale House, Jon Farrar—laughing mid-sentence while still talking. It’s an endearing quality, an inner joy manifest in their son.

It’s of little surprise their son and daughter-in-law are bringing once-evasive smiles to a throng of childre—including ten in their new Hope House. With land purchased and plans for several new cottages, the horizon has rays of hope.

Amanda entered college to play soccer, and found Christ her first year. The next year, an internship to Swaziland “was the single-most impactful trip of my life. Holding infants that had been found buried alive, thrown into latrines, and left for dead, impacted me and was the trajectory for a passion I didn’t know existed—orphan care. Those four hours we spent holding babies became the starting point of something that came to fruition almost 15 years later.” Michael had lived in Costa Rica and Peru, and was also attuned to these needs.

Other “standout” college moments were of a different ilk. Michael recalls an honest appraisal from his literature professor, and ultimately failing her class his senior year. Her words “really helped to form me and my perspective towards future opportunities, hopefully to take full advantage of them all.”

Amanda’s heartfelt praise for Professor Ron Mazellan made me wish I had taken the same class with “such an amazing professor.” She adds, “He dedicated his time to ALL of his students. Found ways to bring out the best in us. Helped me discover my passion (and apparent hidden talent) for photography. He spent countless hours encouraging me . . . and finding ways to help me grow spiritually through our common love of art. . . . Even being graduated for 16 years, I can still hear his words of encouragement.”

Their kids’ growth is their reward. “Our oldest is 13 and she came when she was 8. She had never attended school, begged in the streets for money and food and was the primary care-giver of her two younger sisters. She is now in sixth grade at a private school, speaking fluent English and is the lead-scorer of her soccer team.

Apart from the drastic physical changes it is completely rewarding to watch them grow into the young women God designed them to be. Free of trauma and abuse, hunger and fear. They are free to be kids now, and the security of having a safe family environment changes everything about them over time.”

Written by Jerry Pattengale ‘79