I finished the video for 2011 and hope you enjoy. The link is to the right. The song became our unofficial theme song while on the bus so it has a special meaning for the team members. It is currently posted on youtube but that may need to change due to copyright issues with the music.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Epilogue
This is the planned final blog entry for the 2011 DR mission trip. While the daily blogs detailed our travels this entry is meant to recap the trip and detail to our financial backers where our/their (God's) money was spent.
That being said, we want to be careful as not to appear to the reader that these accomplishments are an end-all and self-congratulatory. When we do that we are relegating what we have done to a "work". This team is very aware of that pitfall and is constantly on the watch. What we do is because of our love for these people and that love comes from Jesus. These "works" are a result of our faith.
Donated and member money for this year's trip helped to purchase these items:
Adult Bibles - 220
Children's Bibles - 2200
Food - 1.1 tons of rice & beans plus oil (400 family sized bags)
Gospel Tracts - 1100
Plastic Church chairs - 60
Materials for church bathroom
Concrete floor in house (labor & materials)
Foundation and concrete slab for pavilion (labor & materials)
Soap for prisoners
Money for eye surgery to restore sight in Christian girl
Money for leg prostesis (Haitian rehab boy from earthquake)
Continue and expand Haitian orphan feeding program for another year
Truck for Pastor Wilfredo
Love offerings to Nataniel, Pablito, Pablo, Genesis and Cesar.
In addition to those direct purchases the team distributed these donated items:
12 suitcases of donated clothes
Various toys and candy
900 wooden cross necklaces
I know I have said it before but it cannot be emphasized enough. THANK YOU! Your generosity in prayers and donations allowed us to be very productive in reaching those who do not know Christ and encouraging those who do.
While we had a large group in 2011 the Lord was very wise in selecting members. The various God-given gifts and personalities of the individual members formed a complete body working for His good. There was no conflict or strife; only positive attitudes working for His purpose (with a lot of fun in between).
This was truly a Christ-centered trip. So often we witnessed God at work through us and between us. It was a combination of feelings of humility and awe.
To God we give the glory. We thank Him for our (and our families) health and safety while away. We thank Him for His guidance. We thank Him for allowing us to be his hands, feet and voice. We thank Him for Grace and we thank Him for sending His son and our savior Jesus Christ to Earth to free us from sin and eternal punishment.
Amen
That being said, we want to be careful as not to appear to the reader that these accomplishments are an end-all and self-congratulatory. When we do that we are relegating what we have done to a "work". This team is very aware of that pitfall and is constantly on the watch. What we do is because of our love for these people and that love comes from Jesus. These "works" are a result of our faith.
Donated and member money for this year's trip helped to purchase these items:
Adult Bibles - 220
Children's Bibles - 2200
Food - 1.1 tons of rice & beans plus oil (400 family sized bags)
Gospel Tracts - 1100
Plastic Church chairs - 60
Materials for church bathroom
Concrete floor in house (labor & materials)
Foundation and concrete slab for pavilion (labor & materials)
Soap for prisoners
Money for eye surgery to restore sight in Christian girl
Money for leg prostesis (Haitian rehab boy from earthquake)
Continue and expand Haitian orphan feeding program for another year
Truck for Pastor Wilfredo
Love offerings to Nataniel, Pablito, Pablo, Genesis and Cesar.
In addition to those direct purchases the team distributed these donated items:
12 suitcases of donated clothes
Various toys and candy
900 wooden cross necklaces
I know I have said it before but it cannot be emphasized enough. THANK YOU! Your generosity in prayers and donations allowed us to be very productive in reaching those who do not know Christ and encouraging those who do.
While we had a large group in 2011 the Lord was very wise in selecting members. The various God-given gifts and personalities of the individual members formed a complete body working for His good. There was no conflict or strife; only positive attitudes working for His purpose (with a lot of fun in between).
This was truly a Christ-centered trip. So often we witnessed God at work through us and between us. It was a combination of feelings of humility and awe.
To God we give the glory. We thank Him for our (and our families) health and safety while away. We thank Him for His guidance. We thank Him for allowing us to be his hands, feet and voice. We thank Him for Grace and we thank Him for sending His son and our savior Jesus Christ to Earth to free us from sin and eternal punishment.
Amen
Friday, March 4, 2011
Back Home
Day 8 - Thursday
Today was a travel day. After a 3:30am wake-up the team travelled to the airport in Santo Domingo and then connecting flights in Miami and Chicago before finally arriving in Green Bay to waiting family members at 4:30pm.
Keep checking back to this blog and within the next few days/weeks I will have more video, pictures and a wrap up of this year's trip.
Thanks to everyone for their positive comments, prayers and financial support. You are all a supporting member of the team.
Today was a travel day. After a 3:30am wake-up the team travelled to the airport in Santo Domingo and then connecting flights in Miami and Chicago before finally arriving in Green Bay to waiting family members at 4:30pm.
Keep checking back to this blog and within the next few days/weeks I will have more video, pictures and a wrap up of this year's trip.
Thanks to everyone for their positive comments, prayers and financial support. You are all a supporting member of the team.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wrapping Up
Day 7 – Wednesday
Today was the start of the journey home. Devotions were led by Jim and covered a wide selection of verses. After a quick breakfast the team went in separate groups to tie up a number of loose ends.
Pablito has not been able to take Dorcas back to his home of Puerto Rico. This is because of her Haitian nationality and the U.S. Homeland Defense. A few of the team met with a lawyer to better their chances with signed avidavits as to their marriage.
Meanwhile the rest of the team was back at the house and had time to hear Nataniels story of how he came to Christ. This is a powerful story of God's ability to regenerate any human being to include violence, ship wreck, selling drugs and being on the run from the law.
The rest of the morning consisted of packing up and cleaning the house, delivering some last purchases, setting up accounts with our contact at the bank, last goodbyes at the rehab center and meeting with Pastor Wilfredo about a huge blessing the team decided to bestow upon him (thanks be to God).
After saying our goodbyes to Carmen and the Puerto Rican families the team loaded the bus shortly before 1pm for the 2 hour ride to the capitol.
After arriving in Santo Domingo we found a nice place to eat along the ocean. The setting sun, warm tropical air and blue water made for a wonderful time. This was probably the first moment the team was able to relax and start to unwind since leaving Green Bay over a week ago.
We had a couple of hours to spend shopping in the tourist plaza and supermarket before checking into our hotel. While clean, it was a far cry from the place we stayed last year. We shared beds and a very tight space but they were beds (not mattresses on the floor) and the showers were hot.
A team meeting outside of the old (c.1525) cathedral ended the evening. Dan and Paul went over the mission fund expenditures. Dan talked about how the mission trip came to be and how important each one of the team was to the success of this trip. Others gave heartfelt speeches of praise and thanks and the meeting ended with prayer and the first verse of Amazing Grace. A beautiful scene it was.
As the team had a 3:30am wake-up time for their 6:45am flight the night couldn't go on forever so everyone walked back to the hotel for about 5 hours of sleep.
Good night and God's Blessings
Today was the start of the journey home. Devotions were led by Jim and covered a wide selection of verses. After a quick breakfast the team went in separate groups to tie up a number of loose ends.
Pablito has not been able to take Dorcas back to his home of Puerto Rico. This is because of her Haitian nationality and the U.S. Homeland Defense. A few of the team met with a lawyer to better their chances with signed avidavits as to their marriage.
Meanwhile the rest of the team was back at the house and had time to hear Nataniels story of how he came to Christ. This is a powerful story of God's ability to regenerate any human being to include violence, ship wreck, selling drugs and being on the run from the law.
The rest of the morning consisted of packing up and cleaning the house, delivering some last purchases, setting up accounts with our contact at the bank, last goodbyes at the rehab center and meeting with Pastor Wilfredo about a huge blessing the team decided to bestow upon him (thanks be to God).
After saying our goodbyes to Carmen and the Puerto Rican families the team loaded the bus shortly before 1pm for the 2 hour ride to the capitol.
After arriving in Santo Domingo we found a nice place to eat along the ocean. The setting sun, warm tropical air and blue water made for a wonderful time. This was probably the first moment the team was able to relax and start to unwind since leaving Green Bay over a week ago.
We had a couple of hours to spend shopping in the tourist plaza and supermarket before checking into our hotel. While clean, it was a far cry from the place we stayed last year. We shared beds and a very tight space but they were beds (not mattresses on the floor) and the showers were hot.
A team meeting outside of the old (c.1525) cathedral ended the evening. Dan and Paul went over the mission fund expenditures. Dan talked about how the mission trip came to be and how important each one of the team was to the success of this trip. Others gave heartfelt speeches of praise and thanks and the meeting ended with prayer and the first verse of Amazing Grace. A beautiful scene it was.
As the team had a 3:30am wake-up time for their 6:45am flight the night couldn't go on forever so everyone walked back to the hotel for about 5 hours of sleep.
Good night and God's Blessings
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Nearly Done
Day 6 – Tuesday
It's hard to believe that soon we will be back home. The team is now relying heavily on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep them going physically. Spirits are high but the physical and mental strain of the past week is starting to show in fatigue and some sickness. As we will start the journey back tomorrow afternoon, most are now looking forward to reuniting with their families.
With that in mind we should caution the families of the first time team members. Those that you sent will return changed. In the past week they have seen the hand of God many times. This has changed them emotionally and spiritually. Please be patient with them as they adjust to home life. This change is for the glory of God so you will benefit, rest assured.
This morning's devotions were led by Paul. He asked us to tell about a favorite bible verse and/or story. This led to many interesting discussions.
Breakfast of ham and cheese empinadas was brought to the house. Today was Compassion day. The day where those members who sponsor children through Compassion International in the Azua area see their children and spend a little time walking them home, giving them gifts, meeting their families and praying over them. Dan, Eric, Shawn, Paul and Duane each sponsor children. The kids were waiting for them with a poster. Of the 1 million children in Compassion schools worldwide less than 1% get visits from their sponsors. It's a joy to see first-hand how God's blessings to us can be leveraged for His kingdom.
Lunch (chicken and rice) was served at the El Bambu before the bus was loaded for a village near Carmen's church. Some of the team poured concrete for a floor in a house while the others walked the streets witnessing.
At 4pm the team met with the center for the blind which they do each year. This is a Christian organization that does not consider the lack of sight a disability. They inspire us through their perseverance and faith. Another “God thing” occurred as through a series of special events the team will hopefully be able to restore the sight to a 23 year old college student who is going blind.
The last night is always special and tonight was no different. We went into the hills to the house that we stayed in 2 years ago. It is a gorgeous and secluded setting under a large pavilion. Pizza and soda followed by Dominican coffee was the fare. Of course, as 2 years ago, the Lord allowed the lights to fail just after eating. Candles added a serene effect to the many speeches given by the team members.
Everyone was present to include all those support people who make this trip possible: the american team, Nataniel and Iris, Pablito and Dorcas, Pablo and Ruth, Carmen, Wilfredo and his wife, Genesis, Wilson and his wife, Cesar and his wife, Pedro and the rehab boys and others I'm forgetting. Rejoicing, prayers, thank-you's, singing and tears filled the half-lit pavilion. It's hard for this not to happen with so many like-minded and spirit-filled people involved. Another “God thing” night to cap the final day.
Good Night
It's hard to believe that soon we will be back home. The team is now relying heavily on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep them going physically. Spirits are high but the physical and mental strain of the past week is starting to show in fatigue and some sickness. As we will start the journey back tomorrow afternoon, most are now looking forward to reuniting with their families.
With that in mind we should caution the families of the first time team members. Those that you sent will return changed. In the past week they have seen the hand of God many times. This has changed them emotionally and spiritually. Please be patient with them as they adjust to home life. This change is for the glory of God so you will benefit, rest assured.
This morning's devotions were led by Paul. He asked us to tell about a favorite bible verse and/or story. This led to many interesting discussions.
Breakfast of ham and cheese empinadas was brought to the house. Today was Compassion day. The day where those members who sponsor children through Compassion International in the Azua area see their children and spend a little time walking them home, giving them gifts, meeting their families and praying over them. Dan, Eric, Shawn, Paul and Duane each sponsor children. The kids were waiting for them with a poster. Of the 1 million children in Compassion schools worldwide less than 1% get visits from their sponsors. It's a joy to see first-hand how God's blessings to us can be leveraged for His kingdom.
Lunch (chicken and rice) was served at the El Bambu before the bus was loaded for a village near Carmen's church. Some of the team poured concrete for a floor in a house while the others walked the streets witnessing.
At 4pm the team met with the center for the blind which they do each year. This is a Christian organization that does not consider the lack of sight a disability. They inspire us through their perseverance and faith. Another “God thing” occurred as through a series of special events the team will hopefully be able to restore the sight to a 23 year old college student who is going blind.
The last night is always special and tonight was no different. We went into the hills to the house that we stayed in 2 years ago. It is a gorgeous and secluded setting under a large pavilion. Pizza and soda followed by Dominican coffee was the fare. Of course, as 2 years ago, the Lord allowed the lights to fail just after eating. Candles added a serene effect to the many speeches given by the team members.
Everyone was present to include all those support people who make this trip possible: the american team, Nataniel and Iris, Pablito and Dorcas, Pablo and Ruth, Carmen, Wilfredo and his wife, Genesis, Wilson and his wife, Cesar and his wife, Pedro and the rehab boys and others I'm forgetting. Rejoicing, prayers, thank-you's, singing and tears filled the half-lit pavilion. It's hard for this not to happen with so many like-minded and spirit-filled people involved. Another “God thing” night to cap the final day.
Good Night
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Labor of Love
Day 5 – Monday
A note to the reader. This writer some times finds it difficult to put into words things that happen while doing mission work. We call it “God things”. Things that can't be explained any other way except to know that the Holy Spirit was at work. Things that may not be miracles but are far from coincidences. Things that are beyond chance and happen for a reason. These “God things” have been happening on a regular basis during this trip and it is incredibly humbling to realize that He is using us for His purpose. I ask that you talk to us upon our return and we will be happy to tell our stories.
Morning devotions were led by Shawn and included Proverbs 29 and Romans 12. Romans 12 was one of those “God things”; ask Lance.
Breakfast was then served at the El Bambu and consisted of fried cheese, eggs, ham and plantain. As today was a construction day, Eric and Paul went to the site to get the project going. The rest of the team took a trip through the marketplace as Monday is the busiest day. It's always quite an experience to walk through the Azua marketplace. Solid people for blocks with vendors selling everything imaginable. Piles of clothes, meat (not always so fresh), vegetables, grains, electronics, housewares, etc. It's a great place to hand out tracts and about 250 were delivered. Pictures never due justice to the chaos, sounds and smells.
The team then travelled to the construction site in El Quatto. We visited this village last year and were impressed with the pastor and his wife. A section of a thatched pavilion had collapsed so a concrete footing and slab were poured for a base to replace/improve it. Eric was in his prime and Paul, Duane, Betsy and Hank helped him all day. It was difficult work in the hot sun but much was accomplished. The rest of the team spent the day with the children and/or witnessing through the streets. Many miles were walked, many bibles were handed out and many lives were impacted. So many stories with all of those visits.
Around 5pm the job was done and most of the team headed back to the house to clean off the concrete and rest from a strenuous day. Dan and Betsy attended a local church service and each gave a message. The congregation was literally dancing in the aisles worshipping (including Dan & Betsy).
Paul, Mark, Shawn, Jim, Lance and Pablito stayed in El Quatto to show the Jesus film for the last time on this trip. After a few songs the crowd was only 4 older ladies and a small handful of kids. They started the film and within 15 minutes the crowd had grown to about 100 with many young adults. After the film Jim and Shawn gave a message followed by the pastor and his wife. The Holy Spirit was at work again as these people received the message with enthusiasm.
The men also held another men's meeting during the film and about 25 attended to hear raw testimony and hard-hitting truth about their role as men and what God expects. About half decided to give their lives to Christ tonight! God is great and faithful to those who heed his Word.
Another late night was finished off with ice-cream back at the house.
Jesus te ama (Jesus loves you)
A note to the reader. This writer some times finds it difficult to put into words things that happen while doing mission work. We call it “God things”. Things that can't be explained any other way except to know that the Holy Spirit was at work. Things that may not be miracles but are far from coincidences. Things that are beyond chance and happen for a reason. These “God things” have been happening on a regular basis during this trip and it is incredibly humbling to realize that He is using us for His purpose. I ask that you talk to us upon our return and we will be happy to tell our stories.
Morning devotions were led by Shawn and included Proverbs 29 and Romans 12. Romans 12 was one of those “God things”; ask Lance.
Breakfast was then served at the El Bambu and consisted of fried cheese, eggs, ham and plantain. As today was a construction day, Eric and Paul went to the site to get the project going. The rest of the team took a trip through the marketplace as Monday is the busiest day. It's always quite an experience to walk through the Azua marketplace. Solid people for blocks with vendors selling everything imaginable. Piles of clothes, meat (not always so fresh), vegetables, grains, electronics, housewares, etc. It's a great place to hand out tracts and about 250 were delivered. Pictures never due justice to the chaos, sounds and smells.
The team then travelled to the construction site in El Quatto. We visited this village last year and were impressed with the pastor and his wife. A section of a thatched pavilion had collapsed so a concrete footing and slab were poured for a base to replace/improve it. Eric was in his prime and Paul, Duane, Betsy and Hank helped him all day. It was difficult work in the hot sun but much was accomplished. The rest of the team spent the day with the children and/or witnessing through the streets. Many miles were walked, many bibles were handed out and many lives were impacted. So many stories with all of those visits.
Around 5pm the job was done and most of the team headed back to the house to clean off the concrete and rest from a strenuous day. Dan and Betsy attended a local church service and each gave a message. The congregation was literally dancing in the aisles worshipping (including Dan & Betsy).
Paul, Mark, Shawn, Jim, Lance and Pablito stayed in El Quatto to show the Jesus film for the last time on this trip. After a few songs the crowd was only 4 older ladies and a small handful of kids. They started the film and within 15 minutes the crowd had grown to about 100 with many young adults. After the film Jim and Shawn gave a message followed by the pastor and his wife. The Holy Spirit was at work again as these people received the message with enthusiasm.
The men also held another men's meeting during the film and about 25 attended to hear raw testimony and hard-hitting truth about their role as men and what God expects. About half decided to give their lives to Christ tonight! God is great and faithful to those who heed his Word.
Another late night was finished off with ice-cream back at the house.
Jesus te ama (Jesus loves you)
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