Epilogue 2019

Monday, March 4

The team is home and back to their families, work, and school. Hopefully they were able to rest on Sunday to make up for the lack of sleep the past week. This is the time, while things are still relatively fresh in the mind, to take stock of the week and make one last report.

There were many firsts with this team; largest team (14), first mother/daughter pairing (2), largest number of 1st time members (7), most women (8), and the first family. While not necessarily a first (we have to check the archives), we did something unusual this year in that we did not personally help with any construction. The planned construction of the AMI basketball court was put off as not being ready and the team was plenty busy with other ministry so they left it to the Dominicans to complete after they went home.

This group has never been about a single church or denomination. We adhere to the tenants of scripture alone. This year's group was widely diverse in that the 14 members call 10 separate churches home.

While the team was diverse in age, gender and gifts they blended extremely well. This team functioned very well together with a lot of laughs and encouragement even though some had met for the first time when arriving in Santo Domingo. The first devotion about many members, one body held true. One purpose: serving Christ. That focus wasn't diminished.

We ask that you inquire with the team member(s) you know about the trip. Everyone would have had a slightly different experience as not everyone was always in the same place at the same time and met different people or was in involved in a different part of the ministry. They will gladly share their stories.

We thank you for your prayers and financial contributions. Everything we collect is given directly to those we minister to in the DR. We ask for your continued prayers to those who we partner with in the DR and all those who we came in contact with that our work was not in vain and served Jesus in a way that gave Him the glory.

The list of major expenditures for 2019 included:
4 Church building projects (not complete churches but floors, walls, or roofs)
Basketball court at AMI
1500 Children's Bible Story Books
200 Adult Bibles
1500 Gospel Tracks
250# Beans
625# Rice
275 bottles Cooking Oil
Soap to the prison
$9000 to fund 3 feeding programs throughout the year
5 used wheelchairs
50 plastic chairs
25 audio Bibles to the blind
Writing slates to the blind
Refrigerator for a pastor

Various love offerings to our DR helpers and miscellaneous items purchased through the week are not included as are the many suitcases of clothes and shoes that our individual members collected and took down.

US Team:
Paul Flunker: Appleton, WI - 15 yrs.
Dan Natzke: Greenleaf, WI - 14 yrs.
Shawn Eckstein: Reedsville, WI - 12 yrs.
Christina Robokoff: Green Bay, WI - 8 yrs.
Duane Popp: Green Bay, WI - 6 yrs.
Crystal Schenian: Reedsville, WI - 2 yrs.
Sheila Olson: Reno, NV - 2 yrs.
Mallory Schenian: Kellnersville, WI - 1 yr.
Eleni Hein: Student; Reedsville, WI - 1 yr.
John Christian; Freedom, WI - 1 yr.
Jane Woosencraft: Green Bay, WI - 1 yr.
John Fickau:  Neenah, WI - 1yr.
Ann Fickau: Neenah, WI - 1 yr.
Grace Fickau: Neenah, WI - 1 yr.

DR Team:
Pablo (Ruth): Cooks from Puerto Rico, missionaries to Haiti
Natanael (Iris): Clothing shop owner; interpreter, main DR liaison, preacher
Genesis: Bus driver; driver, preacher
Wilfrido (Miguelina): Dentist; pastor, community leader at Haitian village in Estebania
Anderson: (Julian Joaquin) Pastor
Daniel: English teacher; translator
Nelson's: Husband and Wife (Nelson and Areceli Concepcion) Pastors at Project Four
Daimler: helper
Willi: helper
Benni: Pastor at AMI
Joel: School Superintendent; translator, preacher

God's blessings until 2020.

Saturday

Saturday, March 2

The team was packed and left the hotel for their last Pablo/Ruth breakfast at 7:30 at the Casa. After last-minute packing, good-bye's, and the obligatory team photo the team headed for the Capital. In Santo Domingo they made a quick stop at the International Market to barter for gifts and then 30 minutes in an area of the Colonial District marveling at the history (1511) and architecture.

Always a bit chaotic, but traveling home was otherwise thankfully uneventful where the team had a final prayer and hugs prior to meeting family in the Appleton airport.

A final report will be upcoming in the next few days. This epilogue will give an overview of the entire week's activity to include a review of our expenditures and donations.

Until then, a few notes regarding this blog. Due primarily to limited time availability, the writer has scaled down the daily blogs. I have also left out many details that while they may give a more expanded view of our day, would possibly appear to sensationalize. We see and do things that are difficult to detail in perspective and I suggest asking a team member for their individual experiences.

Individual actions have also been limited in the blog this year. We did have some illness (to include a 1 day hospitalization) and spiritual attacks so we asked for general prayer instead for privacy reasons. Not mentioning names involved with our daily endeavors was reduced from years past as every member of the team is of equal value and so as not to appear to elevate anyone above another; all have spiritual gifts and all used them for God's glory.

Visit our Facebook page (Azua Mission Team) for pictures

Friday

Friday, March 1

Breakfast started at 7:15 and the team was on the road by 7:45 to get to YWAM by 8:00. This has been the usual last morning location for our devotions. It's a large home overlooking the ocean with the most incredible views. The team is able to relax in the shade of the veranda praising Him in song and scripture verse led by the Haitian/Dominican staff. 

The girls were given scooter rides back to the Casa where preparations were made to go to the Nelson's at Project Four. A predominantly Haitian area, Project Four is one of the feeding programs the team sponsors throughout the year. The Nelson's are very close with the team and do a wonderful job ministering to their community. The kids just love the team members as it's an annual stop and they don't always get the attention they need at home. Crafts, games, feeding, and just loving on the kids for a couple of hours was a blessing for all involved.

Back to town the team stopped at the center for the blind. They blessed them with audio Bibles, food and tablets for creating Braille paper. Messages and blessings were given along with hand/arm massages from the girls.  Some of the blind sang praises and the team was very moved.

Preparations for the pizza party and for leaving took up the next hour or so. Around 7:30 people started showing up for the pizza/going away party at the Casa. About 60-70 of the team's DR friends and their families enjoyed pizza, soda, cheese puffs and cake (yes, cheese puffs). Introductions were made, messages were given, and prayers were said.  It's always a special night; everyone is dressed in their best, the Dominicans are sad to see the team leave, and the team is both sad to leave but ready to get back home. After the guests left and a final debrief the team was back to the hotel by 12:30.

Thursday

Thursday, February 28

After breakfast the team enjoyed a devotion of using our individual talents for God's purpose followed by songs of praise. 

La Veredas is a common stop for this team and the morning was spent at this especially poor community about 45 minutes north of town. After dropping off clothes, shoes, Bibles, children's story books, and food in the village the team walked with the kids down the road to the school. While poor in terms of possessions this community is very strong in spirit. The team enjoys a close relationship with the village as a whole and many individuals personally. Games, crafts, and the Noah skit were included during their visit. 

In the afternoon the ladies visited the women's prison in Bani to share messages. It's a different experience than at the men's prison but the situation is the same; image-bearers who have sinned and need the forgiving grace of Christ. Before leaving Bani they stopped at the second-hand store where they found some great deals on used equipment for the disabled (wheelchairs, walkers).

While the girls were gone the men went shopping in Azua. They had a fairly long list of needs and had a great time collecting them going store to store as they did not have a translator. Much fun, many laughs.

The film was shown in an area not previously touched by the team. Messages were give by the team and local Pastor. The main message from the team began with what the audience felt when the Roman soldiers pounded the spikes into the hands of Jesus. It concluded with the best response of the week; very emotional hugs, praise, and worship. Some of the team also went to a church service in Paster Anderson's where more messages were given.

With more debriefing needed than typical, the team made it back to the hotel just prior to midnight.

Wednesday

Wednesday, February 27

After breakfast a devotion based on "God Moments" was given. Many personal stories were shared and more than a few tears were shed.

At 9am the team were at AMI to play softball with the older boys and play games, perform a skit, and feed the hundred or so younger kids. The team has been impressed with Pastor Benni who has only been in charge a couple of months.

Lunch at the Casa of ham and cheese sandwiches was followed by an afternoon break. Some stayed at the hotel while others went to the beach to mingle with the locals celebrating their Independence Day off.

Later in the afternoon the team travelled to Project 2C where the Nelson's have started a program. 200-300 kids were fed and enjoyed songs (to include Baby Shark). Like most stops, food packages and Bibles were left. The Jesus Film was shown here in the evening. An opportunity to share a message is never declined so a sermon on "Biblical Manhood" was given at the request of Genesis in his church which is also the home church of Daniel and Joel.

Somehow 13 Americanos, 3 Dominicans, 2 loud speakers with stands, the screen, cabling suitcase, and generator squeezed into a van meant to hold 8 for the trip back to debrief (gas fumes from the generator may have helped?) It was an "early" evening when the team got to the hotel at 10:30.

Tuesday

Tuesday, February 26

It was an early morning with breakfast served at 7am so the team could get to 7:45 flag raisings at 2 schools. The team split with one group going classroom to classroom in the primary school (elementary), and the other half to a high school where they talked to the entire assembly of secondary students (high school) for about an hour. 

To complete the morning the next stop was the school for the disabled where the team performed a skit, gave messages and left cross necklaces.

The entire afternoon was spent at a church to minister to the disabled (adults). Sheila and Crystal used their talents in therapy to massage hands and limbs with warm water and oils. Not only is this an essential medical need but something these individuals would never otherwise get; loving human contact from a complete stranger. Their own spa day, so to speak. Sandwiches and juice were served, the Jesus Film was shown, a message about prayer given along with personal prayer journals, and packaged food and Bibles were left to take home. This is always a rewarding stop as the handicapped are doubly (triply) in need as common medical issues are easily taken care of in the U.S. but not so much here. It's heart-wrenching to hold a child living in this place who has only one limb.

We enjoyed Pablo's meatballs and eggplant for supper prior to leaving to show the Jesus Film and attend a church service by Pastor Anderson's where the team gave the sermon titled "Walking in the Spirit - in Light of American Culture".

An earlier start to the evening allowed time for ice-cream to celebrate Dan's birthday and a tired bunch of missionaries found their way back to the hotel by 11pm.

The team is in good spirits but tired and not without some health hiccups. Please continue to pray for us so we may finish the week strong! 

Monday

Monday, February 25

After breakfast and devotions the team made a perennial favorite stop to pass out tracts; the marketplace. It's packed streets of vendors selling produce, meat, housewares and clothing. Scooters trying to drive through, noise, various odors (pleasant and not-so-pleasant), heat, but beautiful produce and beautiful image bearers of our Creator. 

Another perennial stop is Pastor Wilfrido's. The children performed a well-rehearsed performance of skits and singing which was preceded by a parade. We are always impressed. More time spent with holding babies and playing with kids before serving them food (this is one of the feeding programs we sponsor throughout the year. Wilfrido took us to his new home (still under construction) where the team enjoyed lunch served by Miguelina, Wilfrido's wife.

In the afternoon the team were invited to talk to one of the local schools. They split into two groups and went room to room sharing age-appropriate messages, taking questions, and enjoying songs. Another great way for the Azua children to get to know Americanos who want to share Jesus.

Supper was hosted by Pastor Anderson and his wife at their house. We can't get enough of authentic DR cooking. The movie was shown just down the street where messages were shared and music danced to.

The team was back to the hotel by 11:30.

Sunday

Sunday, February 24

We can't say how blessed we are having Ruth and Pablo cook for us. They are true servants of the team and our Lord. They stay at the Casa and have breakfast prepared every morning with lunches and suppers as required (about half the time). They also prepare the food needed for many of our visits throughout the week. 

Breakfast is basically a DR buffet. Coffee, orange juice, oatmeal, eggs, bacon, yucca, bananas, mango, pineapple, and pancakes is standard. Of course the fruit is the best imaginable as it's local and ripe (much different than what we can buy at home).

A morning devotion was led titled "One Spirit, One Body, Many Members. The ladies stayed at the Casa to bag food for the week. This was 625# of rice, 200# of beans and 250 bottles of cooking oil packaged into family sized bags to be distributed throughout the week. The men went to the prison where they were warmly received and gave messages of encouragement of the fact that all sins can be forgiven with repentance and faith in Jesus. They left gospel tracts, Bibles, and soap. One of our first time members exclaimed: "I have toured Alcatraz and it's a hotel compared to this place".

The next stop was the Compassion School where Dan, Paul, Shawn, and Duane are able to connect with their sponsored children. It's a yearly stop filled with face painting, playing games, serving lunch, ice cream treats and most importantly showing the love of Christ by Americans interacting with the Azua children.

The afternoon was spent at AMI (our mission compound Azua Mission International). Beside playing with the hundreds of children, the main focus of the stop was medical checkups and treatments as 4 local doctors were a part. It was both satisfying but sad how the local doctors needed the medical supplies we brought with us as they had very limited resources.

Pablo served supper back at the house of beans, rice, fish, vegetables, and fruit. The team split for the night showing the Jesus Film in a local community and attending a church service. Messages were shared, music was played, relationships made, and hugs given. 

After debrief at the Casa the team was back to the hotel by 11pm.

Saturday

Saturday, February 23

The rest of the team joined Dan, Paul, and the Fickau's in Santo Domingo. Flights were on time and thankfully uneventful the second round. The Tuesday flight out of Appleton had mechanical issues so those 5 would have missed their connecting flight in Atlanta so instead piled into a minivan to drive to Chicago to catch a flight to New York and then Santo Domingo. They arrived about 9 hours later than originally planned but I'm sure God had a reason. 

They stopped for sandwiches and jugos (fruit milk shakes) in the Capitol before the hour and a half drive west to Azua. They reunited with Pablo and Ruth and unloaded at the Casa before heading to the hotel. They found out they were a couple of rooms short but this was a temporary problem as Duane and Shawn didn't mind staying at the house. This is the largest group to date at 14; 8 ladies and 6 men.