Work Projects !!

I have gotten to experience several work projects throughout my time in the Dominican. We have worked on building houses, pouring concrete, running pipes, and stacking cinder block. We have also spent time in several of the area churches painting and doing miscellaneous repair jobs for the buildings.

We had a team of engineering students from Lipscomb University come and install solar panels and lights and analyze the septic system at Camp Canaan. It was great to see so much accomplished at the camp in such a short time. As we were there, I began to realize the significance of the work that we did at the camp. It will not only allow more people to use the Christian camp and experience God’s kingdom on earth, but it will also increase the income for the local churches. The offerings at the churches just aren’t enough to pay the preachers, so renting out the camp to various groups brings income that helps in so many ways for Christ’s church to have a presence in the Dominican.

 

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.

Children Of The King !!

Wow, it’s hard to believe that I've been in the Dominican Republic for a year and a half now. And I am still confident that it is where God wants me to be! I love seeing the faces of the children during the feeding projects and knowing that I have helped them. I love sharing the gospel in the streets to kids after I have played basketball with them. I love having teenage girls in my home and talking with them about purity in their lives. But I need to be completely honest with you. Although God has provided for me, I still have critical financial needs that must be met in order for me to continue to serve in this field to which I believe I am called. I went straight from my internship into full time mission work and it is very difficult to raise support while I am on the field. I am asking you to prayerfully consider joining me by supporting this mission.

I've seen firsthand the poverty that is in the world. Traditionally missions has been thought of as solely evangelism,  but we are realizing that when we meet physical needs of people by serving, caring, and giving, they are more receptive to evangelism. At G.O. Ministries our mission is to redeem, renew, and restore. And that encompasses meeting physical needs so we can redeem by meeting spiritual needs.

More than five hundred million people in the world are starving to death; they lack food, water, and basic medical care. Children are dying of diseases like diarrhea; many who live will suffer lifelong brain damage from early protein deficiency. Others will be sold into forced labor or trafficked for sexual exploitation. Nearly one hundred and fifty million children are orphans. More than a billion have never even heard of Jesus.

These are pressing issues that the people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti are faced with everyday. When you partner with G.O. Ministries to support this mission work, you are helping to make a difference in the lives of hurting people. Statistics show that on the average for every one hundred dollars an American Christian earns, he will give five cents through the church to a world with urgent spiritual and physical needs. Even in harder economic times, we are so blessed in America.  Any donation you can give will be appreciated and will go directly to affecting the lives of the people in the Dominican and Haiti, but I desperately need churches or individuals who will commit to a monthly pledge. Will you partner with me in this missionary journey to change lives?  You can send donations to G.O. Ministries - 11501 Plantside Dr. Suite 14 Louisville, KY 40299 (Please be sure to make your check out to G.O. Ministries and write “Lenae Hardman” in the memo line) or you can make donations online by going to the partner with Lenae page, then click here to partner. Under program choose missionary support and put my name as the recipient. 

In addition, there are other ways you can support the ministry. Please let me know if you are interested in a Kroger/Ralph’s card. (Kroger will donate 4% of each dollar you put on the gift card to G.O. Ministries in my name, helping support our work. This adds a small step to your grocery run, but helps the cash you’re spending go further to help our ministry expand and change lives in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.) Another way is by joining my running team, Racing for the Righteous One. (If you would like to run a race to help me raise funds for my mission work in the Dominican and Haiti, all you would do is ask for pledges from your family, friends, or co-workers to go towards your run, which in turn, will support our work.)

Again, I thank you so much for your love, encouragement, support, and prayers. It is an honor to share this ministry with you all. I can be reached at lenae.hardman@go-ministries.org or (540) 313-7774.