How could I forget?

Ashley shared her testimony today at the orphanage! It was so great-she did an awesome job and the girls were glued to her the entire time. :)

Now I can rest easy. :)

Our Last Day :(

Day 8
Today was our last day of ministry in the Dominican Republic. As we sat around tonight during devotions remembering the week and sharing what had the most impact it was obvious that this week and the experiences that we each had will leave a mark on each of our lives.

This morning we went to the girls' orphanage. The moment we arrived the girls and boys claimed us as their own. We played with them for the next couple hours, laughing and running with them. We tried our best to communicate. Our smiles were more effective than our few Spanish words. Jeremy Lux was able to connect with the girl that their family sponsors...what a beautiful picture of love.

This afternoon our group split up.

One group went to Los Montones where we watched them play baseball. Caleb was able to join in...here in the DR beisbol is INTENSE. :) The only injury from the game came from a stray ball hitting our Pastor in the ankle. :( He has the threads to prove it embedded in his skin.

The other group went to the Aids Orphanage. They played games, did a skit and were there for a short amount of time. The kids ranged from 1-12 years old.

At devo's tonight we all shared a word that described the trip and a short blurp about the experience. Here are some of the words that were shared....

Challenging...Eye Opening...Awe....Powerful...Humbling...
Challenge...Memorable...Assuring...Appreciate...Thankful...
Everlasting...Unconditional...Love...His..Rolling...

I'm sure I can speak for everyone and say we wouldn't trade this week for anything. It has been a great ride...one that we hope to hang on to and be changed by for the rest of our lives.

Thank you for your prayers...We Love You and will see you soon.

xoxo

YOUR TEAM

Johanna & Pastor Mike

Jeremy and his sponsor child

Day 7!!

Day 7

Today we had a great long day. One group of us went back to the village where we started building the roof and finished it! It looks great! The guys did an awesome job of putting it up down to the last detail. There was even metal left over that the village will use to trade for cement for their church. Some of us were able to play with the kids while the guys were working. It is so amazing to build relationships with these people even after only three days of spending time together. When we came back the kids who we knew by name called us “Amiga” “Friend”. What a blessing. There are certainly relationships that were started there that will last throughout this lifetime and into eternity. Praise God.

The rest of our group got to experience a little bit of culture. First stop-Straw Market. After the straw market, they went to a beautiful catholic church in the city and went underground to experience the caves. It is awesome to see God’s handiwork in nature.

After lunch, we all met up at the Sports Complex where we swam, played basketball, relaxed and play soccer. It was awesome to talk to the members of our team and get to know each other even more. If nothing else (and there is so much “else”) it is so awesome to be around Christians 24-7. What an awesome prelude to heaven. J

Tonight at devotions (we met with everyone at the Score Complex) we were encouraged by John Zeller (Executive Director of Score Intl.) to make a commitment. A commitment to missions, to Christ, to living sold out for Christ. What a life-changing service. Many from our group prayed about missions with a Score rep. It was obvious, I take that back, It IS obvious that God is speaking and moving in many hearts this week. J

Tomorrow is our last full day here, we are headed to two different orphanages…it will be a heart wrenching day for sure as we serve our last day here in the Dominican Republic. As one team member told me 10 minutes ago “I don’t want to leave yet”…

Love, In Christ

Our Team

Day 6!

Day 6

This morning was a test of PATIENCE. The guys headed back to the village where they were working on the roof. They thought that the supplies had been delivered for them to finish but when they got to the village the supplies hadn’t been delivered. They waited until lunch time and came back to SCORE when the supplies didn’t come…(they are hoping they were delivered today)

Back at SCORE us girls and a few guys were put on some work project. Many got right to painting the new church at Juan Dolio (right down the street from SCORE). Another group of us waited for building supplies to make benches…we also learned patience as we waited 2 hours for the supplies to show up. J However when they showed up we were ready to work! -And sweat!

This afternoon we headed out to our beloved, Los Montones. As we approached the village and the people came into view many of our hearts leapt into our throats. We sang in Spanish and English and listened to an amazing man of God preach from the word (Tim translated, thank goodness). He had an awesome message that he shared with us from James about how the things of this world should mean nothing to us, and a relationship with God should mean everything. After the church services we headed out into the lawn and hung out with our friends. We talked with Ridel, Greg, Kati and many others who we’ve grown to love over the years. The kids laughed and played goofing around with the Americanos. Many of us wished we could skip dinner and stay for a few more hours…what an awesome night.

Tomorrow we are headed into the City to visit the “straw market” and see the caves. A group of people are also hopefully going back to finish the roof. In the afternoon we are going to the Rawlings Sports Complex to enjoy the pool, basketball courts, volleyball, baseball and soccer. We’re hoping to play some Dominicans (a guaranteed butt whooping). J

Please keep praying! J AND thank you! We can feel your prayers!

Love you all,

Your Team in the HOT Dominican Republic. J

Day 5 :)

Day 5

First thing this morning we went to Jumbo to purchase food for 90 families. Then we went to a church in a neighborhood rather than in a village where we handed out the food and prayed for the people. We also sang songs, did a drama and Jeremy Lux gave his testimony. What an awesome time of worshipping God. We have never sweated so much (especially the girls!) as we have in these last day that we’ve been in the Dominican Republic. Keep praying for safety and against heat exhaustion/dehydration. God has truly been protecting us and restoring us when we have been sick.

After coming back to Score for lunch and a little down time, we climbed back on the busses and headed out to one of our favorite villages.

As we drove on the dirt “road” past many “lakes” in the road many of us were reminded of last year’s adventure as we pushed the bus out of the mud. Thankfully, we did not experience that this year although we did have moments where we thought it would be a reality. As we approached the village, we were brought to a quick reality of how little people have. I say this very carefully because although to us it seems they live a very poor, impoverished life, with Christ they are rich and have more than many in the U.S.  We played with the people in the village there and tried to speak to them in Spanish (many of them speak Creole.) It was such a blessing to see our big American guys playing and horsing around with kids and teenagers and to watch the smile that seemed to be contagious among our group and the natives. When it was time for ministry, we sang in Spanish and one of our favorites in English (Days of Elijah). After singing, Leah gave her testimony and Sadrach translated in Creole.  We were able to give away shoes, flip flops and candy along with a bag of food to each family.  How humbling to pray and give a week’s supply of food to an elderly woman whose shoes are wearing off of her feet and whose clothes meet no standard that we would have…and it doesn’t matter. Her love for Jesus can be as real as the strongest.

I don’t want to give all the stories away…I’m sure you will hear them when we return home. We are excited for the time we have left..the trip has been flying by faster than most of us would like.

Tomorrow a group is headed back to the village from yesterday to finish the roof while the rest of us make benches for a church plant. In the afternoon we will visit Los Montones…a village very close to our hearts.

Keep praying for us please. Your prayers are being answered as we continue to be kept safe and healthy. Please pray for the Dominicans that they would see the love of Christ in us.

Love in Christ,

YOUR TEAM <3

P.S. We miss you Mark! You are continually in our prayers!

From the Girls...

Carley and Klaire say "Hi!!!" "We miss you and love you"

Hi Grandma! We don't want to come home - Carley ;)

Hi mom! - Klaire :)

Day 4

Day 4 – Work Project & Ministry

Today we went to a new village. When we got there we split into two groups, one group for building (mostly guys & Bea!) and another group to play and do ministry with the kids and adults. The building team had the task of ripping off the metal roof on the church, putting new braces in and putting new metal on the roof. They quickly got to work. As they started working the rest of us headed into the village to find and play with some of the people. We quickly found the spot, a small shaded slab of concrete. The kids came quickly to see what the “Americanos” had to offer. We played with beads, Frisbee, puzzles, a soccer ball and volleyball. The kids were very friendly and loved on us without words. We played and talked with them all morning (as much as Americans with 2 or less years or basic Spanish can talk) J. At 11:30 we were wiped out. The heat has quite an effect on us here. We stopped for lunch and took a quick break in the shade. After lunch the roof team still needed more time for the roof so we headed back to play. Even as sweaty as we were, we were welcome back the kids grabbing out hands and looking for attention. We had such a great time with the adults, teenagers and kids. In the afternoon we sang songs, did a drama, craft and testimony (ALL WITHOUT AN INTERPRETOR!) Thanks to Kayla, Kelsey and the other girls who fearlessly got up in front of the Dominicans and spoke the Spanish they knew…(and the people understood them!) ;). When we were all loaded up on the buses we were ready to be out of the sun…however the day was one we will not soon forget. It was well worth the sweat, sun and dirt.

We are so excited to share our stories with you on Sunday for Church (10:00 – ACC) and when we get back.

Many of us are excited for tomorrow-We are going to the Haitian village where we have gone the last two years. This is the village that we put in a garden for last year and got our bus stuck in the mud. We have become attached to them and have fed them each year that we’ve come. We get the privilege to bring them food again tomorrow. We can’t wait. J

Talk to you soon!

YOUR TEAM