Breakfast was hard boiled eggs (served hot), fruit and pancakes. Chloe led the devotion titled "Being Christian in an Un-Christian World".
After a stop to overload Pablo's truck with wheelchairs, today's first stop was to the Nelson's village at El Quattro. It was also Shawn's first opportunity to do some real DR driving versus just the occasional short trip. Always an adventure in defensive driving tactics. In addition to providing bibles, food, and wheelchairs, the team showed the Jesus film to the kids in their church and spent time playing with the kids. Nelson's church is one of the churches we fund throughout the year for a feeding program. Lunch was the feeding program fare: chicken, beans, and rice, the staple diet in the DR.
The team and the remaining wheelchairs were then taken to Alberto's church where he and his wife were waiting with a group to receive them. The people included a young lady with muscular dystrophy, an elderly woman with a foot amputation from diabetes, a middle-aged man who was badly hurt and unable to walk from an accident, a young man with birth defects, and various others who either had no or limited use of their limbs. In addition to the wheelchairs, the team also is blessing the people of the DR with canes, walkers, and crutches. Smiles and praises to God were in abundance.
Dinner back at the house was steamed vegetables and Pablo's famous meatballs with pasta. Not very Dominican but seriously good.
The Jesus film was shown in another small village outside of town that we haven't been to before. Tonight we set up in the main street with maybe 150 in attendance. Dan gave a message to the young men and the local pastor talked before worship and praise. Like every night, food and bibles were left with the pastor and a needy woman blessed with a wheelchair. The team was back for the debrief by 10:30. A lot of kids today between the Nelson's church and the movie. This is the future. These are the ones we need to reach for Christ before it's too late.
Good night
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Day 2 - Behind the doors
Breakfast was served at 7:30 with fresh fruit, eggs, and oatmeal followed by the devotion led by Dan on challenging us to "leave nothing on the court" during our time in Azua.
The first stop was Pastor Wilfredo's village where the team has a long and deep relationship. Wilfredo is a terrific servant of the Lord and had the children waiting for us with prepared songs. Many of the team members gave a short message. We participated in serving the kids lunch (part of the feeding program we fund) and then spent time with the kids playing ball and painting faces. Wilfredo's village is very poor and, like himself, are mostly Haitian. They had a need for food, bibles, and wheelchairs; therefore, the team blessed them with those items. Realizing how Jesus has blessed him, Wilfredo was in tears upon our leaving.
We returned back to the house for a quick lunch and a 30-45 minute siesta for those that needed it. The days are long, the sun is warm (not complaining, just saying), and the emotional toll is noticed.
Mid afternoon the team headed to El Hefe's (Cesar) with wheelchairs as he knew people in need. He took us to places in Azua we haven't been in a while and we weren't totally prepared when going behind closed doors. Since one of our main projects is the blessing of wheelchairs we get to see much more of the behind-the-door suffering than we would in our normal travels.
This team is relatively seasoned with experiences of witnessing suffering and poverty. We were here and went into Haiti for a brief visit just 5 weeks after the earthquake of 2010. It's always hard to put into words many of our experiences. No words or photos can put you into the dark and filthy bedroom of an elderly man huddled in the fetal position on an old bed frame and blanket (not even a mattress). Having no ability to move or take care of himself without the constant care of his elderly sister he has laid here for nearly all of the past 4 years. There is no nursing homes in the DR. Either families take care of the disabled or they die. That simple.
That's just one story of one image-bearer of our Creator we have visited. Faithful to Jesus even under the worst of circumstances. Praising his name for the blessing of a wheelchair so he can at least enjoy the sun and become a little more "human". Suffering isn't unique to the DR but in countries like this it takes on a whole different meaning when you are disabled. Families even consider themselves cursed if a member is in this condition. We feel blessed we can be a small part is shining the light of Christ through prayer, encouragement and what to us is the simple blessing of a wheelchair.
Supper was boiled potatoes, fish, steamed vegetables and plantain slices. Pablo spoils us.
The Jesus film was shown in a small village in the hills north of Thursday night’s showing. Because we support the local churches, it was shown in their church under the stars. That means walls but no floor or ceiling. After the Jesus film, a message was given about the power of the cross which was followed by praise and worship. Getting back to the house at around 10:15, we had a debrief, then went to bed, anxious and eager for the next day to arrive.
The first stop was Pastor Wilfredo's village where the team has a long and deep relationship. Wilfredo is a terrific servant of the Lord and had the children waiting for us with prepared songs. Many of the team members gave a short message. We participated in serving the kids lunch (part of the feeding program we fund) and then spent time with the kids playing ball and painting faces. Wilfredo's village is very poor and, like himself, are mostly Haitian. They had a need for food, bibles, and wheelchairs; therefore, the team blessed them with those items. Realizing how Jesus has blessed him, Wilfredo was in tears upon our leaving.
We returned back to the house for a quick lunch and a 30-45 minute siesta for those that needed it. The days are long, the sun is warm (not complaining, just saying), and the emotional toll is noticed.
Mid afternoon the team headed to El Hefe's (Cesar) with wheelchairs as he knew people in need. He took us to places in Azua we haven't been in a while and we weren't totally prepared when going behind closed doors. Since one of our main projects is the blessing of wheelchairs we get to see much more of the behind-the-door suffering than we would in our normal travels.
This team is relatively seasoned with experiences of witnessing suffering and poverty. We were here and went into Haiti for a brief visit just 5 weeks after the earthquake of 2010. It's always hard to put into words many of our experiences. No words or photos can put you into the dark and filthy bedroom of an elderly man huddled in the fetal position on an old bed frame and blanket (not even a mattress). Having no ability to move or take care of himself without the constant care of his elderly sister he has laid here for nearly all of the past 4 years. There is no nursing homes in the DR. Either families take care of the disabled or they die. That simple.
That's just one story of one image-bearer of our Creator we have visited. Faithful to Jesus even under the worst of circumstances. Praising his name for the blessing of a wheelchair so he can at least enjoy the sun and become a little more "human". Suffering isn't unique to the DR but in countries like this it takes on a whole different meaning when you are disabled. Families even consider themselves cursed if a member is in this condition. We feel blessed we can be a small part is shining the light of Christ through prayer, encouragement and what to us is the simple blessing of a wheelchair.
Supper was boiled potatoes, fish, steamed vegetables and plantain slices. Pablo spoils us.
The Jesus film was shown in a small village in the hills north of Thursday night’s showing. Because we support the local churches, it was shown in their church under the stars. That means walls but no floor or ceiling. After the Jesus film, a message was given about the power of the cross which was followed by praise and worship. Getting back to the house at around 10:15, we had a debrief, then went to bed, anxious and eager for the next day to arrive.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Day 1 - A Good Start
The first morning Dan let us sleep in until 8am. Shawn then led a devotion about focusing on Christ while here in the DR and back home. Breakfast was fresh fruit (best pineapple ever) and pancakes.
As is the case every year, day 1 begins with the packaging of food. About a half ton of beans and rice is measured into individual bags and then bagged again with a container of oil that will provide a family with a decent sized meal. About 275 packages were made which will be delivered to those in need throughout the week. This is always a good activity for team bonding and a low stress, low sun activity to get us acclimated to the climate after a day of travel.
Pastor Nelson stopped by to brief us on the feeding program that we fund and he oversees. The numbers continue to increase with between 300 and 400 children being fed both physically and spiritually. It moved the team when he told how his 4 year-old daughter prays for us.
Lunch was chicken and rice with a short visit from Pastor Wilfredo. The Familia brothers stopped by for a briefing and an invite to supper later in the week that ended in an emotional response when they were blessed with a case of adult bibles (24) and a case of children's bibles (180). It moves us when we see the appreciation of those who truly cherish the Word of God and don't take it for granted. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit transcends countries and language.
After a quick visit to well 1, we traveled to the disabled center and the warehouse to pick up some wheelchairs. The team headed back to the house for a quick supper of ham and cheese sandwiches (DR style). Loading up Genesis' van and Pablo's truck with our movie equipment, we went to the village of Carrisel about 30 minutes outside of town. While the guys set up the sound and video system, the girls went canvassing the town passing out tracks, witnessing, and inviting to the movie. The Jesus film was well attended and well received with about 200 in attendance. Shawn gave a message focusing on children and parenting, and the local Pastor and Genesis also spoke (not sure what they said).
The night wrapped up around 10:30 with ice cream celebrating Dan's birthday and a debriefing about the day.
God Bless until mañana
As is the case every year, day 1 begins with the packaging of food. About a half ton of beans and rice is measured into individual bags and then bagged again with a container of oil that will provide a family with a decent sized meal. About 275 packages were made which will be delivered to those in need throughout the week. This is always a good activity for team bonding and a low stress, low sun activity to get us acclimated to the climate after a day of travel.
Pastor Nelson stopped by to brief us on the feeding program that we fund and he oversees. The numbers continue to increase with between 300 and 400 children being fed both physically and spiritually. It moved the team when he told how his 4 year-old daughter prays for us.
Lunch was chicken and rice with a short visit from Pastor Wilfredo. The Familia brothers stopped by for a briefing and an invite to supper later in the week that ended in an emotional response when they were blessed with a case of adult bibles (24) and a case of children's bibles (180). It moves us when we see the appreciation of those who truly cherish the Word of God and don't take it for granted. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit transcends countries and language.
After a quick visit to well 1, we traveled to the disabled center and the warehouse to pick up some wheelchairs. The team headed back to the house for a quick supper of ham and cheese sandwiches (DR style). Loading up Genesis' van and Pablo's truck with our movie equipment, we went to the village of Carrisel about 30 minutes outside of town. While the guys set up the sound and video system, the girls went canvassing the town passing out tracks, witnessing, and inviting to the movie. The Jesus film was well attended and well received with about 200 in attendance. Shawn gave a message focusing on children and parenting, and the local Pastor and Genesis also spoke (not sure what they said).
The night wrapped up around 10:30 with ice cream celebrating Dan's birthday and a debriefing about the day.
God Bless until mañana
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