Tuesday

8:00 breakfast at HQ of eggs, fruit, pancakes, and oatmeal. Chris led a devotion on the parable of the sower.

The first stop was "our" church or AMI (Azua Mission International). This team-funded compound continues to expand every year. The team split up going various directions to include playing baseball with the boys, face painting and playing games with the girls, running errands, and canvassing the area passing out bible tracts and connecting with the community inviting them to events and worship at AMI. Around noon the team fed the kids sweet rice and then headed back to HQ for lunch of their own. 

The afternoon was for ministering to the minister (and his wife). Pastor Wilfredo and his wife stopped at HQ not knowing why they were asked to come. The girls pampered Miguelina with flowers, candy, hand and foot massages and whatever else girls do to love on each other. This was a complete surprise for "Gina" and she was overcome with gratitude. The men had some honest discussions with Wilfredo about his family and ministry and both came away with a new and profound appreciation for each other and the love the team has for them.

A delicious supper of fried chicken, plantain, salad, peas and rice was served by Pastor Anderson's wife at their house prior to leaving for the Jesus Film.

Las Veredas is a favorite village of the team as they've made many past stops at this very poor village north of the city in the hills. Their pastor is dear to the team as he leads with passion and authority. This short, older gentleman with the machete on his side tells us that "we are not poor, because we are rich in the love of Jesus".

The film hasn't been shown here for 10 years and this night won't soon be forgotten. It rains more frequently in the hills and tonight it started about 20 minutes into the film. The team is used to quick and light showers but the umbrella over the projector wasn't enough as people started to leave and the rain grew heavier. Our projectionist was having some concerns with the mix of expensive equipment, electricity and water.

As the rain continued the team scrambled to move cabling, power cords, speakers and projection equipment into a nearby shelter that animals frequent. The film continued with messages and worship songs after. The shelter was at capacity and no one wanted to leave. Hugs all around finished off a wonderful evening. 

The night ended with debrief and back to the hotel around 11:30.

The author would like to remind the reader that the spiritual nature of our business is our focus. Yes; we fund and help with building projects, pass out food, bibles, gospel tracts and fund countless other items but it's all about Jesus. Tonight we were reminded of our devine appointment. Las Veredas was not our original stop to show the film. Plans not of our own doing were changed and ultimately this led to a situation that may have saved a young boys' life. God is good!

Monday

8:00 breakfast at HQ with Paul leading a devotion titled "What if Jesus didn't rise?". This was followed by a trip to the marketplace. A cultural event every Monday of the trip, the marketplace is the Azua version of a Wisconsin farmer's market  on steroids. It's crowded and noisy with olfactory sense overload but a great way for the team to witness and pass out tracts. 650 gospel tracts were handed out in less than an hour.

Wilfredo's village at Estebania was the next stop to visit a pastor and his community who has been an integral part of the team for years. The children sang and danced for the team and Wilfredo showed us the current state of his construction projects. This man is an incredible servant for the Lord and we feel blessed to be in partnership with him. 

The team ate lunch at Wilfredo's before coming back into town to either run errands or go canvassing. A few team members changed clothes and went back to Wilfredo's to witness a 3-couple Haitian wedding.

After a bit of a "Dominican Detour" the team ended up at Buenos Aeries to show the Jesus Film in a vacant lot to about 75 people. Messages and songs followed. On the way back to HQ for debrief Birthday-Boy Dan bought ice cream.

Sunday

 The team left the hotel Sunday morning at 7:30 to travel to HQ (the house they lived in the past) for breakfast and devotions. Pablo and Ruth travelled from Puerto Rico to live at the house and be our full-time cooks. Their service to the team cannot be exaggerated with healthy and delicious meals that allow us to focus on our mission. Bacon, eggs, and fruit was the fare. Fresh fruit in the DR is like a dessert as it's so ripe: pineapple, mango, banana, avocado, papaya, and melon.

Shawn led a devotion called "First and Last": Jesus' first and last words of His ministry and how we should respond as a believer. 

The men visited the prison in town while the ladies stayed back to mix over 800# of bean, rice, and oil to give out to families throughout the week. Joel helped interpret for the men as they gave testimony and witnessed to a rather large group of very attentive prisoners. About a dozen men came forward to give their lives to Christ; the response from Genesis afterwards: "the Spirit of the Lord was present today".

A visit to the Compassion school was next. Dan, Paul, and Shawn were able to visit with their sponsored children while the team shared the love of Jesus through playing games, face painting, and songs.

The Disabled Center was the afternoon visit where the team visited with about 35 people suffering from a number of conditions. Nearly all had mobility issues and many could not speak or see. Crystal and Sheila used their therapy skills messaging hands (they absolutely loved it) and a message of hope was given from James 1:2-4 and Romans 8:18.

After supper the team showed the Jesus Film near Carmen's church where a message was given to about 100. A debrief was done at HQ after unloading prior to going back to the hotel after 11:00. As best said by Sheila: "I've never done anything like this in my life".

I'm Trying

The author apologizes for the delay in writing this blog but the simple excuse is long days. Awake at 7 and going all day until 10:30 without break (in the heat) followed by a debrief and a return to our hotel means 7 hours of sleep at best; this writer now needs all of that as he's not getting any younger. All he can promise for the future is "he will try".  The only reliable WiFi is at the HQ which also complicates uploads.

The Madison flight was delayed so those 3 didn't get to Azua until after midnight but otherwise the team arrived safely Saturday evening.