Hello people!
I wanted to write this blog to give you an update and look into what exactly we’ve been doing here in The Dominican Republic:
Our main ministry has been in partnership with the local churches/pastors in what we call SMT (Strategic Ministry Time).
For a week of ministry we walked alongside Pastor Edwin in home/church visitation.
Through Mission of Hope, we make daily visits to surrounding Dominican/Haitian communities, learning more about the cultures and people’s stories. Sometimes we are invited in and have the chance to sit for however long, where we can pray for people and share an encouragement.
This has been such a change since ministry in Costa Rica, where we served out of one community center every day. Now we find ourselves in different parts of the area daily, and never know who we might be meeting. Even amidst the change, we are LOVING it and have already felt the impact.
During one day of ministry the squad was visiting a church. Some of the girls broke off to speak with a woman named Maria. She ended up taking us to her house, showing us the garden, and picking roses for each person.
With the reality of COVID-19, we are always masked up around people who don’t live on base with us, and only enter homes upon invitation. Otherwise, you’ll find us on porches or sitting outside with families. It’s such a beautiful redemption story that community and fellowship can still be taking place even in a world of separation.
A handful of my squadmates have also participated in manual labor with one of the men who lives at Mission of Hope with us. We are now able to serve Monday and Wednesday, moving soil/dirt and other material in order to help build a home suitable for his family.
Max while working on a new home.
(Photo credits to Brent Long)
Ministry has brought SO many stories and life changes already. We’ve seen people come to know Christ for the first time, enter new depths in their relationship with the Lord (and others!), and even simply be encouraged as they continue walking through this journey of life.
During one ministry day the team was visiting a home and felt compelled to wash the feet of a woman, whose story they had just heard. John 13 in action!
(Photo Credits to Angelina Torres)
This has also meant hearing some pretty heavy things. The people here are hurting, carrying burdens, and enduring some intense situations. Please pray for the squad as we continue to be vessels that are ready to hear and push people to the Lord.
Even in the pain and hurt, the people here are eager to learn and grow. There is a steady endurance as we watch men, women, and children press on towards Jesus. Thank you Jesus for the restoration you are playing out here!
That’s ministry! There is always something new, and more people to see. Feel free to reach out by email to talk about more of these in depth stories – I would love to share!
More pictures from our stay here in Santiago:
Every Sunday the squad splits into two groups for church!
Sometimes ministry looks like working in the base coffee shop, Lespwa. Learning how to make epsresso and lattes!
Since living here we have started cooking our own meals – we didn’t have a whisk and used whatever we could find to make pancakes for the squad!
How you can be praying for our remaining time:
-Open hearts in the families and individuals we meet
-Energy and rest of the squad as we push through each week
-Sickness and injury in the squad
-Urgency within our hearts as we close out our time!
I really enjoyed reading this blog. Sounds like you have been really busy and learning lots of things. I pray that God will continue to bless you and stay by your side. Just remember that you are loved very much. ????
thanks for sharing and inviting others to get a glimpse of what we’re up to!!! so incredibly thankful to do this thing with you. love you!