Happy Sabbath!

Its only been three days since we have arrived here and it is already nice to have a day to rest. For the past few days we have already made a lot of progress on the projects that we have started. Block has been laid at Quisqueya. The lot recently purchased to continue the school at Sandero has already been marked to start the foundation. About fifty Bibles have been delivered to houses and more are going to be delivered today. VBS has been a great success having nearly two hundred kids each night (water color craft has already been completed without to much damage done to the church!)

We have all been astounded by the hospitality shown to us by the local people of the church. Every (delicious!) meal we have had has been hand prepared and served to us by these generous ladies. Every day they ask us to open the windows so they can hear what is going on inside of the church but we love because we can smell the great food that they are making for us. Then after every meal the clean all the dishes and help us tidy up the church. It is incredible to see how much the church gives.

Everyone is safe and doing well but now it is time to load up the bus and head over to the church for the service and after church we are all hoping for a trip down to the beach…..!

Sincerely,

Cassandra and Abie

Hey it’s William. So today was the Sabbath and I went to Quisquava. It was an all Spanish sermon spoken by ed. I didn’t understand it but I got about 5% percent of the Spanish words. Before the sermons there were these two men that dedicated a song us and I have never heard a song that sounded so awesome in a foreign language in my life. It was awesome.

For lunch we had potatoes with cheese, spaghetti, and the best fresh squeezed juice. I ate so much it was unbelievable. On the ride back sarah, kelli, kaitlyn, jr, joel, and I all sat in the bed off the truck driving through the town and highway. It was so relaxing just having the wind blow in your face. While leaving Quisquava we saw a lady and two little boys just digging through trash that the locals have thrown out of there vehicles or mopeds. It pretty hard to witness this when I wanted to just jump out and give them money to help so they can get new clothes probably for the first time ever.

Once we got back to the camp ground I was joking around with every one, having a great time, taking pictures with everyone. Everybody ended up at the roof of the building were the boys and girls were playing taps while I sat back resting in a hammock or talking to Ralph. When it got to 4:30 it was time to go to the beach.

When we got to the beach I started to get nervous because two nights ago I had told ed I wanted to do worship. So he said yes. We all were joking around on the beach, wrestling here and there when it came time for worship. Ed had gotten up and started the worship by singing a couple of songs. When he ended with Sanctuary to close the songs and then prayed he just stepped to the side. I had then gotten up from sitting down on the beach and started asking two questions then went right into my worship talk. To be honest all my nervousness about mumbling or not being loud enough was an issue. I felt so good being up there. After my worship talk I couldn’t believe it, the majority of people were hugging each other and some crying. I felt like I had done the best I could ever do. Everyone came up and told me how good of a job I did, it just made me feel so awesome inside.

Well tomorrow is going to be another great day cause I get to work with my bud Ralph laying brick.

Sincerely

William messenger.

Hey hey hey!!

Wow, what a great ending to our first week here! It truly has been a great an awesome blessing and experience for all participants; students and staff. If I had a few chapters I may be able to catch you all up on the work and experiences we have had. From almost not getting on the plane in Baltimore and sitting on a plane on a runway for 3 hours to eating so much food that we sit in a wonderful food coma afterwards! Shhhhh, I think there’s a conspiracy going on down here in the Dominican Republic. They are feeding us such awesome food and they’re making us all gain unwanted weight so that when we all get on the plane it won’t be able to take off and we’ll be stuck here eating more good food and building more schools….ahhhhh!!!......I haven’t quite confirmed it, but I am having my suspicions!!

On a more serious note, we, the staff, are being blessed by seeing the young people at work. It has been a blessing to see these young people working hard and arduously at the work sites and then seeing them at work at VBS with all the kids. If only you all were here to see the talents and love for Jesus these young people have! We’ve been challenging them to reconnect with Jesus during our worships. We have been doing a lot of praying and a lot of sharing. Our hope is that each participant can have a reencounter with Jesus through our mission this week.

Well, I don’t want to make this too long, so I better sign off for now. I hope to update you all later.

Hasta pronto! Desde la Republica Dominicana!

Ed Garcia

PS- Hi Jeannie, Gabriel, Briana and Conrad! Miss you and love you!

Day number five and I’m having a difficult time remembering what play we are doing in two weeks! This trip is such a reminder of what is truly important in life, to share Jesus with each other. Our Sabbath was a good example of that: the “Brown-Man-Group” hit the beach for vespers and William Messenger’s testimonial moved many hearts! It is truly wonderful to see this group work together laying block and directing a daily VBS. The camaraderie is wonderful and everyone is focused on delivering this country a new school and a half. This morning we received word that at the end of the evangelistic series 16,000 had been baptized, 700 yesterday alone. The Holy Spirit is clearly working the hearts of this country and the hearts of this team.

We ask that you continue to pray for us daily, hourly.

Missing you, Jim.

Jane Lanning