We are very blessed to have a great mission staff here at the church. Francesca is the cook of the group and has been feeding us well. None of the kitchen mission staff speak English, but they smile and laugh so much, you can’t help but feel all the love from all of them. Maribell is a helper who is deaf and mute, and she works very hard to make us feel welcomed. She is so funny and loves to imitate us. Chava and Rita have shown us new ways to vegetables and make some dishes. We have eaten together, shared stories, and prayed together. One definite thing that is seen, is that God gives us no real barriers when it comes to love.
We have experienced very hot days above 90 degrees, as well as evenings with down pours of chop rain. The electricity and water seem to go out the same time every day here, so we are appreciating the trash can filled with water and bucket to dump over ourselves to cool off. The most amazing thing about awakening in the morning is that the roosters truly wake you up. I have never heard so many roosters crow for so long! There is also very loud music heard from the streets that can go on all night long.
I personally have had multiple feelings of being overwhelmed since arriving. It is so unbelievable to see people who live in shacks as their homes, most without any electricity, and children wandering outside for hours. People ride more mopeds than travel by car, and with 3 or 4 people on them (it is common to see small children and babies being held on them too). What is interesting is that they seem quite content with their lives, mostly I believe because they know no different. It makes me wonder if we really do appreciate all that we do have, and if we need all that we do have.
Thanks for your prayers—continue them for a productive week ahead!
Melissa Cummins, for the DR Team
From the men’s ministry perspective we had a great day Saturday. There were 47 men who travelled with their families, some coming from as far away as two hours by bus. If you have been to the DR you understand that that might be a life threatening experience. If you haven’t you would not believe it any way.
We had some great worship, and a talk by Tom Moen to set the tone for the day. Early in the day, Tom had a translator but after going thru a few small group discussions during the day He was comfortable speaking with and praying with the men in Portuguese. As with the women, smiles and a willing heart somehow allow people to communicate. During he day we discussed the role of Fathers in the family. In context, Dominican men for the most part are not involved in the upbringing of their children and there are not Rec Council Baseball and soccer leagues that the kids participate in and parents run around to. The mend went thru some scriptures and then had small group discussions and we pray for the conviction of God’s Word in their hearts to change ingrained cultural and generational practices which are dysfunctional and harmful to the sanctity and unity of the family structure and parental responsibilities. IT IS A BIG DEAL, BUT WE SERVE A B IG GOD. We heard some heartfelt discussions and reports from the small groups. We hope to have stirred up some feelings that will lead to a thirsting for God’s guidance in these and other matters in their lives.
Having 47 men present was huge as men are for the most part absent in the Dominican church. Sunday in two services in two churches there were less than 10 men total at worship. Damien, one of the local pastors , has 11 men in Mens Frater nity on Saturday evenings, but says they all come up with excuses for not being in church on Sunday. We are praying for God to show the local pastors new an creative ways to engage the men here in Monte Cristi.
Existence and the reality here in the DR are really eye opening. It is opening our eyes to a poverty that we can’t even imaging from our US experience. Interestingly, there is tremendous joy in the small things of life, and our being here and meeting with people, our trying to speak their language and spending time with people in church or on the streets seems to bring them joy and maybe (hopefully) a better sense that “because God loved us first, we love one another”. We are trying to live this verse and message this week and pray they we will be a blessing to both the local church and God’s church during our visit here in the Dominican Republic.
Reporting from Monte Cristi, DR THE BOYS
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