John 15:5

 The interns at the resort in Santo Domingo

Wow, God did some amazing things this summer! It is a challenge to summarize in words all that I learned and all that happened. Saying goodbye to my wonderful DR family was a challenge as well. We had a special dinner with everyone Monday night before we left. Then, the other interns, missionaries and I left the TIME center on Tuesday morning to go to a resort for our summer debriefing. We spent time discussing how to transition back to the life in the states. Also, we had time to relax and reflect back on all the things that God did this summer. One of my favorite moments at the resort was when we gathered as a team and prayed for each other. Below I included a picture of a lady named Carmín and her six children. She worked in the kitchen this summer at the TIME center and her kids helped out a ton. She was a role model to me this summer because she exemplifies Christ’s love all the time. I hope to go back and visit her and all the other lovely people that I worked with this summer.

Carmin and her six kids with Elizabeth and I. 

Honestly, the last week of groups I was feeling discouraged. A group from a church in Wisconsin came, and it was there first time in the DR. I prayed that God would renew my sense of joy so that I could serve with the WI team wholeheartedly. Then, on Thursday night we went to a church service at San Felipe and God answered my prayer. The whole service was a time of thanksgiving to God. The pastor Domingo talked about the verse John 15:5 “ I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” This verse brought tears to my eyes and reminded me to be thankful for all the things that God had done this summer. He is the true vine and only in him can we bear any fruit at all.  The next day we built a chapel with the Wisconsin team. It was the last chapel of the summer! God gave me strength that day and a sense of peace that I was serving Him and through Him bearing fruit.

Angela, Mary, me, Laura, and Jennifer at San Felipe

One of my favorite moments from the last week was getting to do a roof project with our team. We went to a Haitian church in Santo Domingo that had already been built out of cement blocks, but it needed a roof. This church was probably the size of 2 chapels we normally build put together. So, it was a huge project. A group from a church in Pennsylvania had come up to work build it. Even though they were discouraged at first, God brought men from the church congregation to help them. On Sunday I also got to help them finish the project. We put all the roof panels up and nailed them together. Nailing on the roof was definitely one of my favorite jobs this summer even though it was a challenge for me. By God’s provision the roof was completed!

Standing on top of the completed roof.

I want to say thank you so much to everyone that supported me! Without you all I would not have gone to the DR. Knowing that people were praying for me was so encouraging. Because of your support, 9 new chapels were built, over 60 benches were made, and many people were blessed, including myself. Thank you again!

That is all for now, although as I always like to say, “to be continued.” 

La ultima semana

Some praises from the past two weeks:

1. We helped my friend Rafelina at her Bible club and had a great time with the kids there!

2. During our days off our team had time to relax and catch up on the work that needed to be done.

3. We had a great week with the groups from Florida and Iowa.

4. God kept us all healthy and gave us strength to complete the chapel and an additional roof project. 

5. God blessed our ministry throughout the week. We did ministry in various places like San Felipe, Hatillo, and a church in Boca Chica.

At Rafelina's Bible club with my friend Yarisa.

One of my favorite memories last week was going to a chapel in Boca Chica with the group from Lake Baldwin church in Florida. Some members of that group had built the chapel a few years ago. It was dedicated to a friend of theirs who had cancer. They found out the night before they built the chapel that he passed away. He was just 13. What was so incredible was to see how many young boys were there worshipping in that chapel. It was a sweet moment for the group to remember their friend that had died and to joyfully sings songs to God.

Outside the chapel at Boca Chica. Playing with a parachute.

Prayer requests:

1. This is our last week of groups. We have one from Wisconsin and one from Pennsylvania. Pray that God would work in their hearts and that He would be glorified this week.

2. Pray for the tropical storm that is supposed to hit here soon. That God would protect those that do not have sufficient shelter here in the DR.

3. Pray for this last week as we say goodbye to the lovely people here. That God would give us all perseverance to the end. That we would trust in Him for the future.

With old interns and new interns. Having a coke break between work.