Country Road Faith

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Hello Friends,
We made it back home safely and exhausted Friday evening after a wonderful and wild week in the Dominican Republic. I say wonderful because our mission team experienced the hand of God working through and for us. It was wild because we had 250-300 unchurched children to teach.I thought I'd report today while it was fresh on my mind and then we can get back to our study in Genesis on Monday.

Friday-Our flights went well and on time. We were picked up at the airport by the first half of our team who had spent last week in another town in the D.R. doing ESL classes and traveling the area preaching in small rural churches.
We rented 2 vans in which all 16 of us traveled. We spent the night in Santiago, where the airport is located, at the same nice hotel as last year, and rested up from the day of airports and customs. (The younger ones of the team went to a movie. I didn't ask if it was in Spanish.)

Saturday-We loaded up and traveled 2 hours to the northwest part of the country, by vans, reaching our destination of Monte Christi, a town of approximately 12,000. After settling into our home for the week, we visited and discussed the itinerary for the week. (Did I mention the spiders and 2 inch cock roaches, as well as dirty sheets?) We enjoyed daily getting together in the hotel's outdoors cafe, drinking the local coffee and colas. Zooming motorcycles and Jamaican music were always our entertainment. When we were in town, we would have our relaxing yet festive meals at the pastor's home. (We bought the food and local ladies cooked for us. Fresh local juices and fruits of all sorts were available. Did I mention rice at almost every meal?) All in all, the food was delicious and edible, of which we were grateful.

Sunday-We taught all the Sunday School lessons(various ages) at Monte Christi while others in our team went to Los Conucos for worship. At L.C. 4 children came to Christ. The rest of us joined them and taught Sunday School at L.C. What a way to start the week! I told them the story of Jesus.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday-We held Vacation Bible School in the local church at Monte Christi. I taught the younger elementary children, with 65-70 in my class alone. We met in the old church building next door to the new, larger one. Our curriculum was the same, Zacheus, Noah, Saul/Paul.
We had a preschool and a youth class, plus an adult and youth ESL class. We averaged 250 each morning. Every day I would include the plan of salvation for the unchurched children to hear. Each of us had an interpreter, which was challenging. I saw how the refreshments, puppets, and craft added to the excitement of the children. We broke ground and planted the seed of the gospel in this community. That was why God had sent each of us-showing and telling about the love of Jesus.

On Wednesday night, the concrete block, hot, not air conditioned church was packed with children and parents for the VBS commencement. It was an exciting time as the children quoted verses and sang new songs. The ESL class sang Jesus Loves Me in English, not Spanish, as well. Although we saw no numbers saved in M.C., the Lord was moving upon the people.
Each evening, various ones of our team would travel to rural churches, preaching the Word, as well as there in the local church.
Before leaving, we distributed bracelets and candy to the children. I know we stirred up the community for Christ. Next year, we expect more children and some fruit of this year's labors.

Wednesday afternoon, we drove 45 minutes through the brush on a dirt road in order to swim in the ocean and gather sea shells. It was a quiet, relaxing time that was well needed after such a busy 4 days.

Thursday-We said our good byes to the pastor and ladies then headed back to Santiago for a few hours of shopping, a good night's sleep, and a hot shower before flying back to the states. How blessed we are to have friends around the world and believers in Jesus, too.

Friday-We left 3 of our team behind in Santiago to conduct a youth camp next week and a newly wed young couple which were extending their honeymoon to a resort on the island. Please remember them in your prayers this week. The team split up again as our flight connections sent us to different cities of Dallas, Chicago, and even an overnight stay in Miami. Everyone made it safely back home, the last word I received.

We appreciate all the prayers sent up for us. God was so good in protecting us and meeting our needs.
So far, no one got sick.

I trust there is another adventure awaiting as I walk this country road of faith. Only God knows
where it will lead next. How blessed I am to be able to go teach His Word to those who have not heard it before. How blessed I am to be able to be a missionary in another way, writing Bible
lessons that go throughout the world viva internet.

So here I am. I finished a glass of tea on my quiet, cool, front porch swing contemplating what to write this morning. Now I'm ready for another glass. Won't you join me Monday as we dig into Genesis? I'm sure this isn't the last you have heard about my trip. Oh, I didn't mention all the gorgeous flowers of all colors, palm trees, banana trees, coconut trees, rice fields, people, dark skinned children and brown-eyed babies, blue and green oceans, swamps, mountains, huts, white fluffy clouds, armed guard stops, the van accident, etc.......

Love ya'll,
Linda