Working With Teens !!

Rap music is a very effective outreach to the teens in the Dominican. There are many Christian rappers who often hold street concerts or local gatherings. I have certainly stretched myself and learned to experience a new style of music. Another effective outreach for teens is retreats at the church camp. It is amazing to be a part of the teen camps. Generally 500 or more campers pile into the dorms that only hold 350. Great team bonding takes effect and teens are presented the gospel without the distractions of every day use of technology, etc. Sports camps are very effective for the teens as well as the children. We conduct several sports clinics with teens and then expose them to the gospel. 

I also had the opportunity to minister to teenage girls at a sister mission, New Hope for Girls. These girls are unrecognized by the country because they don’t have birth certificates. Most are illegitimate children who have been victims of rape, prostitution, and AIDS. It is so sad, but there are people trying to work with them and give them hope in Christ.

The teenage population is ripe and ready for the gospel. It has been encouraging to witness nearly 50 baptisms in the year and a half that I have lived here and most of them were teenagers. I pray that God will equip this Dominican teen generation for Him!

Baby Girl !!

I was sitting on the bus one day and a dad tried to hand me his baby girl because he thought that I could take better care of her than he could. It about broke my heart, but I realized that it was his love that caused him to offer her to someone he thought could give her a better life. Wow!

Working With Children !!

I have had multiple opportunities to work with young children. One very effective outreach to children in the Dominican is to go into the local communities and conduct Vacation Bible Schools. Usually upwards of 100 children come out to learn Bible stories, do crafts, and fellowship together. This is a good way to show God's love to the community and expose them to the church.

Another outreach to children is through sports camps. I help conduct several basketball, volleyball and baseball camps. The children come out to learn the skills of the game and we do devotions, concerts or movies so they can hear the gospel.
 
I also had the experience of teaching English in a local Christian school. It is amazing how much they value speaking in English.

One of my biggest accomplishments while living in Navarette was to establish a children's class during church at my home church there. This was such a need as the kids would just run wild during the church service. It was a challenge for me because I did not have any other adult help, so I had to totally rely on my own Spanish. The kids were wonderful though and helped me when I faltered. I pray someone will keep this going because not only do the children benefit, but the adults are able to worship and be taught without interruption.

 

Blessed !!

Wow! What a whirlwind 18 months it has been for me working with with G.O. Ministries and Centro Cristiano Mission in the Dominican Republic! I have totally learned that I have to rely on Him and not on my own power. I have never felt weaker than when I was trying to learn another language and build relationships in a country that was completely new to me. I also have never seen God’s power at work more than in those times of my weakness; He has shown Himself faithful!

As a part of my Intercultural Studies degree from Hope International University, I was required to spend 8 months in a different culture to culminate the experience of all I learned in my classes. I am so thankful for this opportunity. It has changed my life forever. God has shaped me and grown me in so many ways. I, like most Americans, have grown up with all the luxuries of life. I have been so humbled to see how content the Dominican people are with so little. I have come to realize that perhaps the less we have around us, the easier it is to be close to God himself. I have felt unworthy to have been loved so much by the Dominicans. They are such a caring, giving, expressive people. One of my fervent prayers has been, “Father, as I serve you in the Dominican Republic, help me to love people the way that you want them to be loved; help me to show them your love through my actions. Help me not to seek the notice of other people in the things that I do. Help me be willing to do the tasks that seem small and unimportant. I want to serve the Dominicans not in my name, but in your name. Give me a deeper love and compassion for those who do not know you.”

Without a doubt I feel I have been blessed way more than I have blessed others, but if I have made an impact in some small way,  I am forever grateful to have been used by God to bless these wonderful people.
 

Me Encanta La República Dominicana !!

Have you ever been frustrated because your computer froze, power is out, or you don’t have any good snacks in the cupboard?

Did you know that….

~1.6 billion people live without electricity,
~640 million children don’t have roofs over their heads,
~about 3 billion people live on less than $2 per day,
~ up to a billion people worldwide live in slums,
~approximately 30,000 children die every day from hunger;
~ and sadly, Americans spend over a hundred billion dollars annually on fast food.

Two thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean is comprised by the Dominican Republic; the other third is the country of Haiti. This third world country is home to almost 10 million wonderful Spanish speaking Latin American people who need to know the truth about Jesus Christ. I have fallen in love with the culture and the people and feel called to live here and minister to them.