December 2011 Newsletter

¡Llegó tu diciembre! (Your December has arrived!) This is currently my (Bob’s) favorite phrase, taken from a popular Dominican folktale and merengue song. In the tale, the turkey has been mocking the burro all year long for working so hard carrying firewood and food, while the turkey has fattened himself on that same food. However, in December the burro has brought all the supplies needed for the Christmas feast except the meat. When the turkey asks, “Where’s the meat?”, the burro gets the last laugh as he tells the turkey, “¡Llegó tu diciembre!”

Unlike the turkey, we welcome December. Cooler days replace the heat of the long tropical summer. Shoppers buy roasted pork—a favorite this time of year (makes the turkey happy)—and other provisions for endless parties and family gatherings. Our church family gathers into groups for special year-end dinners. Judy volunteered to make dessert for the women’s ministry dinner—160 lemon squares and brownies for almost 100 people. She says to remind her not to volunteer next year!

The Tuesday night Bible school just completed Old Testament Survey. Many of the students read through the Old Testament for the first time. Others said it was the first time they read it with understanding. We learned from Job and Jeremiah how to respond to suffering. Moses and Nehemiah taught us how to lead with integrity. After studying about Moses, the women’s ministry president spoke to the leadership team about the need to delegate.

The 65 students represent six different churches in Santiago. One church is using the course to groom two younger leaders as lay pastors. Some of the students have started Bible studies to teach the material to others. Pray for Bob as he teaches New Testament Survey, the third of 10 courses, beginning in January 2012.

At a recent dinner for the church leaders, we rejoiced as the elders shared their vision for the coming year—a church that moves “outside the walls”, making Christ’s love visible in the community and city. Taking that to heart, we gave Christmas gifts to all of our neighbors at our new apartment. Since some are hard to catch at home, one morning I knocked on a neighbor’s door while I was still in my sweaty jogging clothes. Imagine my surprise when they invited me in for coffee! (I accepted and prayed that I would spread the aroma of Christ, and not my own.) As we live out life here—building relationships and developing local church leadership—our purpose is to motivate people to live and love like Jesus.

We thank you for partnering with us as we serve the Dominican church. Our prayer for you this Christmas is that you will experience even more deeply God’s love and the abundant life that comes through Christ.

La Yaguita and Bible school

Hi everyone, Judy and I just took two days off at the beach to r&r. We feel refreshed.

A week earlier, the Freedom Fellowship Church of Montpelier VA, including PM, DonDon, Sheryl and her two daughters, came and did two children's clubs in the streets of La Yaguita. Their second club was excellent and many (50 or more) children and about 20 adults heard the good news of Christ.

They also built an audio visual room out of plywood and painted the church wall. Now, that doesn't sound like much until one realizes that they also built the nicest, heaviest and most sturdy 10-foot ladder in Santiago out of 2x4's. Slanting the steps in sideways allows plenty of safety climbing up. The ladder cannot be easily stolen because it's so heavy, two men are required to lift it.

Pray for us--I have two Bible school lectures to prepare, a sermon in Habakkuk, and two more Bible school lessons to leave with the pastors, all in a 10 day period before we go to Virginia to attend my nephew's wedding October 8.

May God bless you richly!

Ok, This Post Is Real

Ok, guys, sorry to be away for so long. I couldn't figure out how to make the shift, but we're cool now--it was pretty hot at 3 PM today, but rain here in Santiago has cooled things off.

We have 80 students in our church-based Bible school in Spanish which is at Central church. Students come from six churches, and we are praying the school will help train the next generation of pastors/leaders for the Dominican Bible churches here in Santiago.

We pray that the school motivates the students to plant a church.

We just finished teaching Bible study methods; I feel that God used the course to change the thinking of people, encouraging them to study and mediate on the Word through observation, interpretation, and application.

One lady shared that she now understands Ephesians 1. Another student said, “I now read the Bible with different eyes. Now when I read a verse, I apply these methods and feel that my spiritual life is enriched.” Another wrote of how that he’s able to avoid being fooled by false doctrine resulting from faulty interpretation.

Pray for me as we start Old Testament Survey July 19. Meeting once a week on Tuesdays, that course will take us to Dec 13—just in time for Christmas.

I preached this Sunday at Central for the first time. That went well, as I preached on “How to live a holy life”. The quick response is “I love you more!”

We're counseling a couple in a custody battle. God dissuaded them from going to court. It took us three hours to get to that point. We were exhausted, but it was worth it.

We have a team coming July 30, 7 adults plus a one-year old for the La Yaguita children’s center. The one year old will be a challenge, but we have small children as neighbors, so I know they’ll spend a lot of time together. Also I’m sure that little Jay will be a hit at La Yaguita! Pray for us that we will have strength to reach up to 150 children with the gospel the first day—the first of four days of kids’ clubs in the streets.

We started a Extension Bible school at the Haitian church this past Sunday afternoon. We had a good talk on how God gave us His Word and had six students. Switching between Spanish and Creole doesn’t bother me like it used to, although I do use a French/Creole word when I don’t know a particular word in Spanish.

Finally!

After a three month absence, I finally figured out how to reset this blog to add new posts. My late grandmother complained of how life was going too fast. Amen, Granny!

I'll be back in a few minutes...more complications with the computer. Remember the Bee Gees song, "Somebody help me"? I feel that way with these computers! Ugh. Bob

April 2011 newsletter

In her 90’s, mostly-blind, and living alone (her choice), Granny used to say, “Life is moving too fast.” She just couldn’t seem to accomplish what she wanted in a day’s time. Granny died in March at the age of 96, having impacted five generations.

We agree with Granny. Life seems to be moving too fast for us, too. God keeps kicking us out of our comfort zone and putting new challenges in front of us. Doesn’t He know we are getting old?!

Living 20 years in Haiti in mission-owned housing, and then renting in the Dominican Republic meant that we never had to buy a house. However, leaders of the Dominican church encouraged us to buy here to facilitate long-term ministry. I have always been uncomfortable spending large sums of money; so this was a stretch for me.

We set a price that we thought we could pay, and prayerfully began a two-month search throughout Santiago. One day a realtor showed us a new apartment with a wonderful view of the mountains. It “happened” to be located across the street from one of the pastors of the Central church. Judy loved the view, and I liked the idea of living close to the pastor. But the price was too high.

Nervously, we went to Cristina to ask for her lowest price. It was still too high. We presented our dream to live and minister in Santiago long-term. We shared that our church, Central, is our family here in Santiago. She responded that she knew of the church. In fact, her former mother-in-law, Mercedes, the grandmother of her 10-year-old son, “happened” to attend our church. Now it just “happens” that we had had a Bible study in Mercedes’ house for a year, plus we were witnesses to Mercedes’ other son’s wedding. After we shared that, Cristina excused herself. Returning a moment later, she asked us, “How much can you pay?” We made an offer considerably lower than her asking price.

As Cristina began talking to the realtor, we realized that they were talking as if this were a done deal. We cautiously asked, “Ok, so what is the price?” And she responded, “Your offer.” We could not believe it. The realtor later said, “This is amazing. They NEVER lower their price that much!” We responded, “You just saw God at work!” We moved in February 5.

The next day, our first full day in the apartment, we received an email. Can we host a team of four for a week? A friend’s daughter wants to serve the LORD instead of partying during her spring break. She is discipling a fellow classmate. The two daughters want to know if they can work at the La Yaguita children’s center for a few days. They have invited their dads along for the adventure. I’m not sure, I’m tired, the apartment’s a mess, etc…
…and then my friend says that the other daughter’s dad is someone very well known. Now I think, “You have got to be kidding me, no way we can do this.” I’ve never related well to well-known people. I’m too self-conscious around them. So I try to think why we should not invite them.

But my mind goes blank. And then God nudges me, “Don’t be afraid. Invite them.” And we did. And they came. The two daughters and two dads played basketball, painted the church, distributed shoes, shared Bible stories and crafts, and best of all, loved the kids. Pastor Ramón Jorge commented as he watched one of the daughters, “She has something in her heart that attracts kids to her.” And God worked in my life—I had a great time.

Just before the team came, we received the phone call from my sister letting us know that Granny would not make it through the night. We flew to Virginia. And despite my anxiety over giving one of the two eulogies, God comforted the family as I quoted Granny’s life verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Philippians 4:13.

In late March—still readjusting after the move, the trip to the states, and the work team—we pushed ourselves to prepare for Central’s new adventure—a church-based center for leadership training. As I prepared to teach formal Bible courses in Spanish for the first time, I thought, “We’ll have 20 students, similar to what we had on LaTortue, Haiti.” Wrong. The Dominican pastor graciously invited all six Bible churches in Santiago to attend, and we mushroomed to 74 students. No panic. After learning my lessons from Granny, the team, and the apartment purchase—I relied on the promise of Philippians 4:13. I knew if I prepared well, I could teach the course.

We began April 5. The electricity and enthusiasm matched my preparation. Several students commented on how much they enjoyed the class. We divided them into small groups, led by the local pastors, to facilitate discipleship and learning. Judy led the Central women’s group.

As I sat in on one small group, I was impressed with the young pastor’s introductory explanation of how to study the Bible using observation, interpretation, and application. I can see that I will need to prepare well for the course each week. No doubt life will continue to move too fast. But “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Bob & Judy Kay