An Unshakable Friendship
// Heather Williams Katz
Madoche Codio and Christian Smil Cruz have been best friends since third grade.
They began their education in Redemption Village and later transferred to Colegio Nueva Vida–graduating just last month. Watching their bond deepen over the years has been heartwarming. Both are gifted musicians. Madoche plays guitar and drums, while Christian shines on the piano. Together, they serve faithfully on the worship team at our church in Los Castillos and now teach younger students by generously sharing their talents.
Christian and Madoche, new high school graduates, enjoy using their talents to worship God and teach others to do the same.
Their friendly rivalry pushes them to grow…whether in academics, music, or personal goals. But, more powerful than their competitive spirit is their shared conviction: racism has no place in our world. Madoche is Haitian; Christian is Dominican. On an island often divided by racial tension, their friendship is a compelling testimony. As they put it: “If instead of seeing ‘races,’ we simply see ‘people,’ we give ourselves the opportunity to meet incredible people.” We are very proud of Madoche and Christian for their integrity, their impact, and the example they set. We can’t wait to see how God continues to work through their lives. ~Heather Williams Katz
