September 09 Newsletter

Five years ago we traded our rural Haitian lifestyle for the big city of Santiago, Dominican Republic (DR). Now we have the best of both worlds—discipling Haitian university students, while working with a fast-growing Dominican church at a time when the Dominicans are receptive to the good news of Christ.

After four months of home ministry—14 different states (not counting emotional ones), two summer camps, one Vacation Bible School, countless visits and ministry presentations—we return to the DR October 3, Lord willing. Bob thrives on marathon visiting. I tend to wilt after awhile. However, it’s a paradox. Those same visits that drain my energy have refreshed me, so that I’m eager to return to the DR. What energizes me is seeing you—God’s family—honoring Him, faithfully serving Him, and inviting Him into the difficult messes of life to do His gracious handiwork. These are some of the God-things that we’ve witnessed these past four months:

--Parents who let you move in, fill their closets, upset their routine, and double the mileage on their vehicles.
--Teenagers who actually hang around to talk to graying and wrinkling missionaries when they could be out with their friends.
--A mother’s testimony of her faith in a loving God, as we tearfully watch a video of her youngest daughter who recently died in a tragic accident.
--An entire family using their vacation time to run a Bible camp for junior highers.
--Two women voluntarily working in the camp kitchen for two weeks—cooking three meals a day for 30-100 campers.
--Teenage boys arriving at church before 9 a.m. on their summer vacation to help corral high-energy kids during Vacation Bible School.
--A 10-year-old girl running excitedly to get her journal so she can show me what she wrote that morning about her love for Jesus.
--Three good friends living with cancer (make that four—the list is growing) whose hope is in the Lord, even when it hurts and He’s not telling what’s around the next corner.
--Pastors who teach God’s Word and shepherd his people season after season.
--Emails from young campers asking, What can I do to grow as a Christian?

This list is incomplete. Every conversation where you’ve honestly shared with us what God is doing in your life—every example of practical, Christ-like living—has encouraged and challenged us.

Please pray as we return to a people-intensive discipleship ministry in the DR. Bob looks forward to helping young leaders of two Haitian congregations become solid, Christ-like leaders. We also go back eager to mentor new believers in the Dominican church, and teach others to do so, so that each one can be complete in Christ. Thank you for enabling us to have this privilege. Pray that we, and those with whom we work, will learn to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col 1:10).