Saturday, March 3, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Final Day in the DR
Devotions were led by Mike from the book of Hebrews. It was a truly fitting final study as we prepared to leave Azua.
After a quick breakfast, the house was cleaned and bags were packed. Items not needed by the team were loaded on Pablo's truck to be donoted. A number of final errands were done around town, some of the team visited the lady who the team built a house for 3 years ago and the entire team had a final lunch together before visiting the construction project by Carmen's church that Eric had been leading earlier in the week.
On the way to Santo Domingo a detour was made near the coast south of Bani. Pastor wilfredo has a contact with a Haitian village which recently had a fire that displaced 11 families. Upon our arrival we found out that they had been expecting us. The church was packed with children that sang their hearts out for us and the Lord. What incredible faith in such a poor and hurting community. Mike gave a brief message and we prayed for them before blessing them with clothes. They circled us and prayed for us before leaving. What a fitting way to end our trip.
Upon arriving in the Capital, the team did some brief shopping, checked into the hotel and ate a last meal together. Local cuisine was enjoyed by all with a short devotion led by Dan at a small restaurant in the Colonial area by the hotel. A last "God" experience for the trip was had when Chris was able to witness to the Catholic restaurant owner and later deliver a Spanish Bible (one that Paul had with him for no earlier apparent reason).
The team was in bed by 11pm ready for the 4am wakeup to make their morning flight.
Thank you so much for the prayer and financial support. Approximately $24,000 was used to help those in need (more details to come). The team especially wants to thank our families during this time away. This would not be possible without you.
Many lives were changed during our 8 days in the DR: Dominican, Haitian and American. We witnessed the Holy Spirit work in so many ways. The power of the name of Jesus was used for His glory and the team members will be eager to share their experiences.
This will be the final "trip" entry for 2012 but one more posting will be made in the coming days that will look back at how God worked through the team and the things He did.
Dios te bendega (God is Great)
After a quick breakfast, the house was cleaned and bags were packed. Items not needed by the team were loaded on Pablo's truck to be donoted. A number of final errands were done around town, some of the team visited the lady who the team built a house for 3 years ago and the entire team had a final lunch together before visiting the construction project by Carmen's church that Eric had been leading earlier in the week.
On the way to Santo Domingo a detour was made near the coast south of Bani. Pastor wilfredo has a contact with a Haitian village which recently had a fire that displaced 11 families. Upon our arrival we found out that they had been expecting us. The church was packed with children that sang their hearts out for us and the Lord. What incredible faith in such a poor and hurting community. Mike gave a brief message and we prayed for them before blessing them with clothes. They circled us and prayed for us before leaving. What a fitting way to end our trip.
Upon arriving in the Capital, the team did some brief shopping, checked into the hotel and ate a last meal together. Local cuisine was enjoyed by all with a short devotion led by Dan at a small restaurant in the Colonial area by the hotel. A last "God" experience for the trip was had when Chris was able to witness to the Catholic restaurant owner and later deliver a Spanish Bible (one that Paul had with him for no earlier apparent reason).
The team was in bed by 11pm ready for the 4am wakeup to make their morning flight.
Thank you so much for the prayer and financial support. Approximately $24,000 was used to help those in need (more details to come). The team especially wants to thank our families during this time away. This would not be possible without you.
Many lives were changed during our 8 days in the DR: Dominican, Haitian and American. We witnessed the Holy Spirit work in so many ways. The power of the name of Jesus was used for His glory and the team members will be eager to share their experiences.
This will be the final "trip" entry for 2012 but one more posting will be made in the coming days that will look back at how God worked through the team and the things He did.
Dios te bendega (God is Great)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Almost Done
Morning devotions were led by Pat. We went through a number of books/chapters relating to how when God/Jesus emphasizes a point we really need to respond. Breakfast was cereal, toast, yogurt and pineapple.
The morning was spent with the Compassion school in town. Dan, Eric, Duane, Paul and Shawn all sponsor Compassion kids in Azua. It's always a treat to see them grow both physically and spiritually each year. They play with them, bring them gifts and visit the families.
After lunch at Compassion the team headed to a village north of town that they have spent time at before. It's poor even to DR standards. A Veggie Tales video was shown, a brief message given and they were left food.
Later in the afternoon the team made a trip to the blind organization in Azua (which is also Christian). People with disabilities in the DR have an especially hard time as there are no real services available for assistance. Dan blesses them with money from the Wayside Lions Club.
The nighttime activity was pizza at the house for the team and the DR supporters. The team then spent some time debriefing and reflecting from the past week.
The morning was spent with the Compassion school in town. Dan, Eric, Duane, Paul and Shawn all sponsor Compassion kids in Azua. It's always a treat to see them grow both physically and spiritually each year. They play with them, bring them gifts and visit the families.
After lunch at Compassion the team headed to a village north of town that they have spent time at before. It's poor even to DR standards. A Veggie Tales video was shown, a brief message given and they were left food.
Later in the afternoon the team made a trip to the blind organization in Azua (which is also Christian). People with disabilities in the DR have an especially hard time as there are no real services available for assistance. Dan blesses them with money from the Wayside Lions Club.
The nighttime activity was pizza at the house for the team and the DR supporters. The team then spent some time debriefing and reflecting from the past week.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Lord's Work Continues
Morning devotions were led by Eric. The team was able to really get into some deep and "stretching" discussion. Breakfast consisted of bacon, eggs and fruit.
Today the team went in various directions. A work project team of Eric, Pat, Mike and Paul laid block at the construction site. The others travelled into town to go through the marketplace and pass out tracts. About 400 tracts were given out amongst the chaos of people, scooters, and every imaginable item for sale. The sights, sounds and smells are "unique".
Those that went to the marketplace then travelled to Pastor Wilfredo's to listen to a children's service, feed them sweet rice, do face painting and play games. The team has a special relationship with this mix of Haitian and Dominican kids.
Dan and the girls visited a Christian woman's group in the afternoon and Chris gave her testimony. Most of the team then visited a church led by Dorcas' brother and blessed them with bibles.
The night activities were as last night. Some of the team visited and preached at a church service and the others showed the Jesus film in a nearby town. The gospel was definitely spread. The night ended with ice-cream and smoothies for the film team who returned by 11pm (the church team hasn't gotten back as of this writing).
The team is in good health and spirits overall but some have experienced various minor ills. Most were able to catch short siestas at some point in the afternoon which not only helped any ills but also the general fatigue that usually occurs on this trip. The combination of heat, activity, lack of sleep, different food, sanitary conditions and spiritual stress can easily wear a person down.
God's blessings until tomorrow
Today the team went in various directions. A work project team of Eric, Pat, Mike and Paul laid block at the construction site. The others travelled into town to go through the marketplace and pass out tracts. About 400 tracts were given out amongst the chaos of people, scooters, and every imaginable item for sale. The sights, sounds and smells are "unique".
Those that went to the marketplace then travelled to Pastor Wilfredo's to listen to a children's service, feed them sweet rice, do face painting and play games. The team has a special relationship with this mix of Haitian and Dominican kids.
Dan and the girls visited a Christian woman's group in the afternoon and Chris gave her testimony. Most of the team then visited a church led by Dorcas' brother and blessed them with bibles.
The night activities were as last night. Some of the team visited and preached at a church service and the others showed the Jesus film in a nearby town. The gospel was definitely spread. The night ended with ice-cream and smoothies for the film team who returned by 11pm (the church team hasn't gotten back as of this writing).
The team is in good health and spirits overall but some have experienced various minor ills. Most were able to catch short siestas at some point in the afternoon which not only helped any ills but also the general fatigue that usually occurs on this trip. The combination of heat, activity, lack of sleep, different food, sanitary conditions and spiritual stress can easily wear a person down.
God's blessings until tomorrow
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