DR team update Thur-Fri-Sat (via Irv + Naomi)

Hola-

Wow, we have much to update you on. Lot's has happened since the last email. Thursday the team visited Ebony's school. We were able to perform Samson for them. They were so cute and adorable especially when they sang us a couple of their songs. Many Breezes was the next stop. It is a really beautiful view of this country. Dorinda and I made pie crusts from scratch and the pumpkin to go in them. This was for the Thanksgiving dinner for Friday. The men went to the school to finish the plumbing project. Jenny and Helen were so wonderful to do laundry. We had plenty of it as it is very hot here. Then it was time to prepare for church. Pastor Ignacio was to preach on families. So we took the children down stairs and had fun. We had them play the skit of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Lloyd was so great in getting the children involved. then we had a coloring project for Joseph. The kids really love to show you what they've done. They are so pleased and care what we think. At the end of the adult service, pastor Ignacio handed out the photo's that were taken on Tuesday night. We were happy to have dinner afterwards with Santos and his family at the church.

Friday was a different kind of day. We went to Dejabon first thing in the morning. I think we all experienced what it was supposed to be. I think we all agreed that it was a difficult experience. Next we got to experience the Mangroves. That made up for it. It was a great time to enjoy some fun with each other. We could really see God's beauty on this trip form the bends in the river along the Mangroves. Then when we got back we prepared the Turkeys and side dishes for the Appreciation Dinner for the leaders of the church. The women cooked and the men decorated. It was a very touching, emotional, spiritual evening. From appreciation that we would celebrate our Thanksgiving with them because they know what a special celebration it is for Americans. Pastor Ignacio and Paula really conveyed this to us and were much appreciative. It was really cool to watch the slideshow that was put together to show them all of the work that God has done here. It was an amazing evening.

Saturday-

The men completed putting the rainspout back onto the church and burying it underground. The ladies went shopping for groceries for the day. Then we did some more home visits. That is to me one of the most special things we do. To get out there and be a presence in the lives of the people here. It is a blessing to us that we can pray for these people and especially to pray for their immediate needs. God is amazing. Then it was beach time with the youth of the church. That was so much fun. We really connected and had fun with the kids jumping the waves. I had 4 or 5 holding onto me at one time. The kids wanted to be around us and watch what we do. Fun time. Then the ladies of the church met tonight. We didn't really have a lesson for them, we were more just observing and participating in their study. Since we didn't have any power and since there was a lot on the minds of the women we just really sang a couple of songs but really just prayed for different things that were really weighing on their hearts. This was very emotional for all of the ladies here. We will continue to pray for them and the direction of the church everyday. These are some strong beautiful , spiritual women. May God keep them strong and help them grow.

Well, that is about it for now. We don't have much time left here and pray that God will still reveal more to us before we go.

God Bless everyone back home. See you soon. - Irv and Naomi

(Dear Friends and Family of our DR Team~

The following team update was written by Irv and Naomi Johnson this evening. Enjoy catching up on what the team has been doing the past few days and reading about the many wonderful opportunities they have had to be a blessing and to be blessed. Please lift them in prayer during their last full day in the DR on Sunday and as they travel on Monday. It will be a joy for all of us to welcome them home and hear many more stories in the coming weeks.

In Christ, Jill Shuck)

more news from the DR team (via Lloyd)

Yesterday was a very productive day. We were able to get a fence installed for a senior who was having problems with goats coming into her property and eating her fruits. In addition, we also planted an avocado tree for her. This was all in Madre where we have a church; we did the fence first and after that we had a church service. We also finished up work in the school; fixing toilets and sinks. The girls were able to get the laundry done "Dominican style".
In the evening, we went on a prayer walk and stopped in different places ending up in the town square.
We also want to say say thanks to Karl and Erismendi for all the help they have provided.
We're all doing well and we can't wait to see our friends and family in Maryland. In Christ, Lloyd

DR team (late Tue PM 13 Oct via Irv & Naomi)

Hi Jill-

Feliz compleanos from el equipo. I think I just said Happy Birthday to you from the team. Today, you will hear from Naomi and Irv on behalf of el equipo de Republica Dominicana. :) It is so funny, sometimes it's hard to remember English when you are getting use to Spanish. The team is doing really well. No injuries and sickness is limited to couple of headaches but nothing advil wouldn't cure. I think today was the hottest day we've had so far. Much was accomplished today. Today was project day. Sandy, Carl and Irv put a drop ceiling in the pastors office. Dorinda and Helen finished painting the boards for the ceiling and put a final coat of paint on some of the furniture. Naomi and Jenny slaved hard digging a trench 8 inches deep so we could put a pipe in. Marty and Lloyd worked on a plumbing project at a local public school. The ladies of the trip got their lesson today in Dominican laundry courtesy of Valerie and Nathy. We used a Dominican washer and hung our clothes out to dry. Didn't take to long to dry as it is so hot here. The ladies also got to go shopping in a couple of local stores and got to shop at a local supermarket to pick up what we needed for dinner.We also got to visit some of the ladies in the community and were able to hand out the gifts/cards/pics/letters that Helen's small group did. It was very touching to see just how a little gesture brought such joy to these ladies. Tonight event included family photo night. We had a nice turn out and were so happy to see the people dress up to have their pictures taken. So we had Lloyd as our photographer, Marty coordinated smiles and organization and Jenny and Helen greeted and checked in families as they arrived. And Irv and Dorinda handled the printing and putting of the pictures in frames as they will be given out to the families on Thursday when they come to church and pastor Ignacio will be preaching on families. Tonight we had the wonderful opportunity to put on a new skit for the children in Monti Cristi. We did the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. The activity was a cut out of Joseph and stickers that the kids could dress him up. I think we all really had a great time interacting with the kids. It was a great activity Jenny found. Please let our families know that everything is great and that lives are being changed in so many ways that we don't even know yet. Thank everyone for their prayers and let Marni know that we miss her and wish she was here. The photo night was a huge success thanks to her help with doing the picture frames. Muchas gracias to everyone for their part in us being here. God is great.

Dios te bendigo.

El equipo

Hola from the Dominican Rep. team (Jenny K)

Greetings from the DR!

We began our day with huevos y bacon. We began our first work project which involved painting the pastor's office and furniture. We also set up the photo lab for tomorrow's special family portrait night. Everything went smoothly and our goals were accomplished.

It has been very very warm (one team member said that is an under statement!) However, we are all adapting well to our 100 climate.

The ladies received a cooking lesson from Francisca today. Everyone can look forward to tasting carmelized plantains at our team celebration.

Naomi had a wonderful opportunity to minister to a dear woman named Leocadia whose father recently passed away. It was a beautiful time of visitation and ministering for Naomi and our team.

We spent the afternoon making visits to homes to spread the word about the family portrait night at the church tomorrow. We were warmly received, welcomed into every home and prayed for the people we met. We look forward to welcoming them into the church tomorrow evening and pray that they will become future family members in Christ.

Lloyd is very impressed with the male leadership within the church. He has had occasion to speak with several leaders, all of whom give God the glory for all things. He has been very touched by their continual recognition of God at work in their lives and in the ministry here in Monte Cristi.

Team time together has been a special time for all of us. It has given us the opportunity to see how God has worked in each one of our lives.

Tomorrow we will continue with our work projects, home visits and family portrait night. We will also lead a children's ministry program in the evening.

Thank you to all for the support and prayers you have been sending our way. Please continue! They are sustaining us.

Dios te Bendiga,

The DR TEAM (via Jenny K)

DR team short update (Jill S)

Hello, all
The DR team will send a formal greeting within the next couple of days with a full update, which I will pass along to you as soon as I hear from them. I did learn from Jenny today [Sunday 11 Oct] that the team members are all doing well and are of "good spirit," which she asked me to share with you. They went to Madre this morning to lead a children's service, which went very well. She mentioned the men on the team did an especially great job leading the story of Samson and the women on the team were particularly touched by the children they met. They are looking forward to sharing the program tonight with the children of Monte Cristi. I look forward to sharing more news with you this week.

Jill Shuck - Dominican Republic Team Administrator

Dominican Republic team arrives safely (Jill S)

Dear Friends and Family of the Dominican Republic Missions Team,

I received a text message this afternoon from Jenny Krichton letting me know that the team has arrived safely in the Dominican Republic. They will be making the two hour journey to Monte Cristi and getting ready to host a Ladies Night tonight at the church there. I look forward to sharing updates with you when I receive them. Please continue to pray for the team and for the hearts of those they will encounter.
- Jill Shuck (stateside team admin)
Pic from Fri 9 Oct prayer send-off (not pictured team members Marty Schreiber, Lloyd Ramirez) More pics here.

India Team Celebration @ MCC

Via email from team administrator Helen B:

Good Morning Family & Friends,

The India Mission Team will be having their post team celebration on October 25th, 2009 from 1pm - 3pm. The celebration will be held at Mountain Christian Church in Timothy Hall.
Hope you can join us. The team members will be sharing stories of their experience along with photos and some Indian food.

Blessings,
Helen B

Domincan Republic team departs 10 Oct

Hola mis hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,

We will be heading to the DR on 10/10. We are grateful for your prayers in the coming days as we prepare to leave and also for your prayers while we are away.

Our team will be serving several churches, including the church in Monte Cristi, Madre, and Buenos Aires. We will have the opportunity to lead a women's ministry night, 5 children's ministry programs, a pastor/church leader appreciation dinner, and a family photo night for the church. We also have several projects our team will be working on throughout the week, home evangelism visits and hospital visits. These are our plans on paper, but we are ready for all the surprise plans our God has waiting for us to do. . . .

I have attached a team photo with the names of those folk who are "dropping their nets" to come and follow Jesus.

Gloria a Dios,

Jenny K