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


 

Friday, June 28-Flights home

Pray for the safety of both teams as they travel back to the U.S. and home to Arkansas. We will be split up on 3 different flight schedules.
Pray that others will see Jesus in them even in their journey home and may God start preparaing the hearts of those who will go next year. Thank Him for the seeds that were planted and the salvations.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

*Thank you sweet friends in Jesus for faithfully praying for us this week. Hopefully, I can give you a report of all that happened and the Lord's working.

Thursday, June 27

Please pray for safety as we all travel back to Santiago and wrap up our mission trip. Please pray for a special blessing on those who have given up their lives to serve Christ. Also, help us to remember everything that He has done for us and to be humbled not only for the experience, but for the price and dedication that He showed us due to His unfailing love.

Psalms 150 Praise the Lord!

Wednesday, June 26-VBS/ESL, and evening services @ Monte Christi

Please pray for the final day of VBS and worship service. Pray for blessings upon the workers and people of the D.R. as we continue to share with them the good news of Jesus.

2 Samuel 22:50 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name.

Tuesday, June 25-VBS/ESL and evening worship @ Villa Vasquez and Mazanillo

Please continue to pray for the children and workers as we continue to share and build relationships with the children and adults at VBS.
Pray for salvations at the evening services, too.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Monday, June 24-Vacation Bible School/ESL, worship @ 
Las Matas and Los Conucos

Please pray that we have lots of children to share the free love and gift of salvation of God to. Please pray for their families as they may come with them to learn as well. Also, salvation in both evening services.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Sunday, June 23 @ Monte Cristi and Los Conucos


Please pray for all of our mission team as we are teaching Sunday School lessons  and preaching in two churches in the morning.
Pray for salvation of those attending both services.

Ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Saturday, June 22
Please pray for our safe travel to Monte Christi and relax.

Colossians 1:16-17 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Here is our itinerary for mission trip to the Dominican Republic:
June 21-Fly to D.R. and join first team

Please pray for a safe travel to Santiago.(Arrive 8:40pm) and the pastor and family preparing for our ministry in Monti Christi.

Philippians 2:12-13: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

I have listed prayer requests for each day of our trip. You can have a part in our mission work if you will you join us in prayer daily
for our mission team.
Thank you dear ones for helping us share the love of Jesus around the world. We are reaching northwest Dominican Republic for Jesus.