Celebration of Partnerships May 2009

You know when a special time really is special. It sticks with you. Like one year my sis and her family got a run down cabin in the snowy cascades for Christmas. We had to keep the whole drafty place warm with this humongous fireplace. So many interesting little things happened that bonded us together that week in a way that had never happened in our usual surrounding. A log fell out of the fireplace in the middle of the night that we had to get back in. A bat needed to be rescued from the chimney. We went for long walks in the snow looking for beaver wood. It turned out to be one of the best Christmas' that we've ever had.

It has always stuck with me, that Christmas.

That's kind of like what the Celebration of Partnerships was for me this year. The kind of time that inspires you in those subtle ways that last.

All of the American GO staff were down for the event. We had a couple pre-conference meetings and it was really great to be together.

For the conference our entire purpose was to encourage the National and American partnerships and I think we accomplished what we set out to do.

The celebration was held at a resort in Puerto Plata. When the nationals arrived they brought a great energy of anticipation with them and it was contagious.

Pastor Gabriel has been the national president of GO ministries since its conception thirteen years ago. At the conference he announced his role change to "international representative". He passed the torch to his eldest son Pastor Eduard Gabriel who is now the National president of GO ministries. It was a very emotional time for everyone.

Above: Pastor Gabriel gives blessings to his daughter in law Kendy

for there new adventures as the National President of GO

Gabriel is still very much in action and an essential part of the ministry. The transition was so emotional because we all reflected on how much Pastor Gabriel and his wife Tata have impacted our lives.

Several people stood up to say how God used Gabriel to save them. Yeni, who pastors with her husband in the Hole talked of how Gabriel helped her mother with all their family needed as she was growing up and she met her husband Felix at Gabriel's church and now they Pastor in one of the most difficult areas in Santiago. Gabriel was an essential part of Yeni meeting Jesus and now Yeni is essential to so many people meeting Jesus.

Fran, who works construction with the work crew talked of how Gabriel helped get Fran's wife and children to the DR so that they could be together and now Fran has steady work and his children are getting an education at the GO sponsored school that Gabriel began. Fran was a Haitian immigrant worker that most people thought of as nothing, but Gabriel saw someone worth investing in.

That sticks with me. All the people that Gabriel invested in so long ago and for many years he didn't see immediate fruit. But he remained faithful and steady and now the fruit is evident.

Yeah.... that's inspiring to me.

A wonderful partnership exists between Discovery church in California and The Cuerpo de Cristo church in Hato del Yaque. I met Pastor Todd Clark from Discovery Church for the first time during the celebration.

My favorite times were meal times. At our table always sat Pastor Todd, Pastor Aristides and his wife Arelis, Adams, Montan and his wife Tina, Pastor Eladio and his wife who also have a church in HdY, and me. We all talked about ministry and family and laughed and broke bread together. There is so much that I enjoyed about that time. I learned more in those few days of eating together about each person there than I had in the last year of ministry.

Below: Aristides, Arelis and Adams sang in the

Dining room and the lobby

Now we are back in Ministry and in our usual schedules and going forward with plans and service.

But this special event that really did turn out to be special will stick with me.

Aristides has been quoting Psalm 133:1 a lot lately.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"

It is easy to forget that even when we are doing life together as we do in ministry here in the DR and with you in the US.

together we are building churches and homes, feeding children, encouraging the body of believers, bringing medicine to the sick, sharing the love of Jesus... and the list goes on.

The last verse in psalm 133 says "...For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

There is a blessing in unity that makes an eternal impact.

Thank you for your partnership.

Febuary 2009

Since the Dominican has a semi tropical climate, there is plenty of rainfall to keep everything green and growing year round. The only problem with that is the flooding that happens frequently. People live in flood plains because it is cheap. Especially in the Hole where people don't pay for electricity or water because its not supposed to be inhabited. But it is home to hundreds of families.

Pastor Felix has been working in the Hole for eight years now and has seen his share of frustrations, especially when one of the children in the Nutrition center falls into drugs or gets pregnant at 13 to 14.

In addition to drugs, prostitution and all that goes along with those issues Felix battles unsanitary conditions. The Hole is an unofficial landfill and all of the runoff water from the surrounding streets runs down into it.

When the waters rise, it carries the trash into people's homes that they generally keep very clean.

Here is Pastor Felix standing where a home was just the day before.

At the end of 2007, Hurricane Olga washed away the bridge that people use to cross the contaminated river.

What was so neat about that is that in the following months the community actually built a new one themselves. Different people pitched in with mixing concrete and welding the scrap iron together to make it so people didn't have to jump on wobbly tires or wade across. I felt proud, as did they of their work

Last month there were some heavy rains which washed away the foundation of the bridge breaking it in two and carrying away a nearby home.

Now the kids walk up and down this steep walk way over the water to come to the nutrition center and to go to school.

Life can be like that can't it. Just when you've pulled together to make things right, a big storm moves in to tear down your accomplishments.

I'm Thankful that life isn't all about accomplishment, but the lives we encounter along the way.

Despite any setbacks or discouragements Felix continues to work in the Hole. More and more people are coming together to glorify God every week, who not only builds a bridge over water, but in their lives for a cleaner life and salvation. God gives the strength to resist drugs and gives the love to care for each other.

Despite the storms, God continues to rebuild lives.

"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."

~Galatians 6:9

The bridge in the Hole will get built again, but more importantly lives of the people who live there will continue to be touched and offered help during the storms that come in the flood plain of life.

Thank you for being part of all this, for your partnership and encouragments.

January 2009

One of the things I love most about the Dominican Republic is all the tropical plants. The greenness reminds me of Oregon, but warmer. So I get the best of both worlds.

One plant that grows here has two names. Its official name is "Christ's Thorns" because of the strong sharp thorns that grow on each branch. But people refer to the plant as "You and Me" because the flowers always grow in pairs.

Go ministry functions through partnerships. In January I was blessed to help host the first team of the year.

Real Life in California is one of the partners for Felix and Yeni Abreu who pastor the church in the Hole. Real life came along side Pastor Felix, his family and his work in a remarkable way.

They took an interest in the community by doing some spontaneous evangelism and playing basketball with the teenagers, Construction on the sanctuary that will be on the second floor, and more.

For the past seven years the 120 children that participate in the Nutrition program have eaten on a few benches and the rest on the floor. Real Life wanted to change that and they bought 12 tables on the spot for the Nutrition Center. I think this blessed Felix more than anything.

They also joined us in taking all of those kids out to ice cream where all of the kids went down the slide for over an hour. There aren't any slides down in the Hole, so this was a real treat.

It was really neat to see this partnership develop. Even Felix's five year old son, Nathanael understood this to be an important friendship. While we were at the beach at the end of the week eating lunch, Nathanael said "Now this is living". He was right. Being in the company of friends, breaking bread together and just fellowshipping. You see it makes us strong for the struggle. It gives fuel to our faith. It puts the passion in our compassion.

I have been spending allot more time in Hato del Yaque lately. I have been trying to get to know Pastor Aristides and his heart and the heart of all the community there.

Pastor Aristides is driven to see change. He longs to have the dreams realized for the people's sake.

Our hearts ache together as we all dream of the nutrition center in action, work for more families, for sports programs and a playground. For people to know Jesus and have their hearts enlightened to all that God has for them.

Psalm 142 was written by David while he was hiding in the cave from his enemies. He cries out in desperation to God to hear him and deliver him. But the last sentence stood out to me when I read it this time."Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me."Because of God's goodness our friends and family in Christ support us and gather around us.

Without each other we can not make it. Christ is our foundation, but we are each other's support.

It reminds me of that plant. The branches with its thorns represent Christ as our foundation supporting the flowers that only bloom in pairs.

Thank you for all of your encouragment and support. It goes a long way.

December 2008

Happy New Year!!

December second I arrived in the Dominican Republic after three months stateside.

I've spent time reacclimating and getting reacquainted with friends.

Christmas is by far the biggest holiday in the Dominican. Overall the country doesn't celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving so people are free to start Christmas festivities months in advance.

People take time off of work to relax and spend time with each other. One of the best ways to spend time together is to eat eat eat. And eat we did. I attended four different Christmas dinners!

One of the dinners was in Hato del Yaque. I have been trying to go out there on the weekends and spend time with the church there. I love just being able to sit with people and talk and get to know them. It helps me remember why I am a missionary.

A young lady with an amazing testimony invited me to her house to chat after church one day.

Her name is Tata. She is 19 and has five children. She got married when she was 13 because her mother didn't want her at home.

As I sat with her in her house she shared with me some of the changes that have taken place in her life. She said that her husband used to drink and they would argue.

She started coming to church and felt God touch her. Her mother noticed a difference in her and so did her husband. He began to come with her and stopped drinking. Soon they were baptized together.

She said that where there used to be contention, now there is tranquility. "Now we sit on the patio together and talk"

Tata and her family have been through allot and continue to struggle economically and spiritually. Her husband continues to look for work to provide something for his family while tata tries to keep her kids healthy. The one she is holding in this photo was two pounds when he was born and was supposed to die. But God has other plans for him.

I am excited because her kids will be part of the nutrition center as soon as it is up and running.

Tata also said something that especially touched my heart. She said that people judge her because she is so young. At the time she had no choice, but now she sees that God has a plan and will only worry about what He thinks.

There are many young girls that are in Tata's position that haven't fared as good as she. As the hub in Hato del Yaque continues to grow, I know that God will use the church members, the teams, and all the programs to change the lives of this wonderful group of people.

May your entry into 2009 be blessed!

Sept-Nov 08

These times have been good.

I was stateside for almost three months. It was a time of reflection and refreshment

I was blessed to visit my home church in Corvallis Oregon, Celebration Church, as well as some valued members of my support team, Abundant Life Center in Jefferson, New Wine Open Fellowship in Corvallis and New Life Fellowship in Philomath.

Thank you friends for your welcome and encouragement.

I also spent valuable time with my family. We celebrated my Mom's 60th with a white water rafting trip. I won't lie, I was terrified.

Also I was present to welcome a new addition. Madeline June is my sister's fifth child. It was very special for me to be near for this great event.

After my time on the west coast I went to Kentucky for G.O. Ministries annual meetings. All of the American G.O. staff missionaries were there along with the board were together.

We had three days of meetings, worship and fellowship.

I will be celebrating Christmas in the Dominican Republic for the first time this year.

My heart is full already from time spent with family and friends in the US. So full that I can only imagine how overflowing it will be after also being with my Dominican brothers and sisters during this special time of the year.

Blessings to all of you as we enter the Christmas month. I pray that God be with you and yours and that Christ reveals himself more to you each day.

This is my favorite time of year because I am constantly reminded of why I am a missionary.

"Praise be to God and Father of out Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade..."

~1 Peter 1:3-4a

June - August 2008

The last three months have been a fantastic whirlwind of activity and ministry.

I can honestly say that every team that I encountered this summer has been a blessing to work with. Each each team has brought thier own talents and hearts to serve in whatever way they can to participate in God's great plan he has for us all.

One of the Highlights for me this year was getting to know Yoandi.

I have mentioned him before in previous blogs. He lives in Hato del Yaque where G.O. has branched out by housing teams. I spent four weeks in Hato del Yaque this summer facilitating these teams.

Yoandi lives in a house that includes four adults and three children. Only one of the adults in the house is working.

Yoandi was born deaf. He doesn't know how to read, speak, or write. He doesn't go to school and has no hope of a better life. His Grandmother does her best to care for him and his two younger cousins.

As I had mentioned in previous blogs, when I met Yoandi I tried to teach his some signs from the alphabet. He seemed very smart and capable.

This summer we had a team come from Pathways Christian Church in Illinois. They hosted our very first Audiology clinic. They tested people and gave out hearing aides if nessecary. Another ingrediant that is worth mentioning is that an Audiologist and four national students came up from the Capital to participate and help. It was a complete success in every way.

I had mentioned to Pastor Aristides about the clinic and that it would be good for Yoandi to come. First thing in the morning Aristides put Yoandi on the back of his motorcycle and drove about fourty five minutes to the clinic.

Yoandi was tested and diagnosed as profoundly deaf. He recieved a high tech hearing aide for each ear.

Now, Yoandi is very shy. Around new people he always keeps his head down. He had entered the clinic just like this, trying to hide his face.

But a transformation accured after he recieved the hearing aides he slowly began too lift his head. It was apparent that he was trying to LISTEN to a conversation.

He will never be able to hear clearly. But these hearing aides will at least give him a leg up, so that he can identify certain sounds and learn a little easier.

About a month later I had recieved some sign language cards that you can post around the house. Vicki, (my fellow missionary whome I have mentioned before as well) had brought them to share with families who have a member with hearing loss. She wants to help the families to communicate.

So I went to Yolandi's house with the Pastor and a team member who also used hearing aides. Yolandi was very shy, but as we posted the signs around thhe house and practiced them together he became more and more animated. His Grandmother, Maria, was more than happy to help Yolandi learn in any way that she could.

The next step...

When the nutrition center in Hato del Yaque is up and running, Yolandi is already entered into the program.

My hope is to get him nourished and healthy and strong in the knowledge of Christ. Then to get him into the school for the deaf in Santiago.

The reality is there are many children who are in a similar situation to Yoandi's. They might not be profoundly deaf, but they are trying to grow up malnourished and uneducated. Many of these same kids don't have a Grandmother as dedicated as Maria. They are fighting against the odds.

With every team that serves, with every National giving thier all, with every partnership... WE are fighting with them.

April - May 2008

April and May have been great times of preparation, but the most memorable was the Kentucky Derby.

I left The DR for Kentucky April 24 and right away began working at Church Hill Downs. Every Year GO Ministries partners up with a company that sells merchandise at events such as the Kentucky Derby. This year we had close to 100 volunteers selling merchandise in order to raise money for GO. Financially it was a huge success for GO and the company appreciates our service enough to want us to continue doing it. It is a huge undertaking for GO trying to organize all those volunteers as well as housing, but it is worth it.

The best part is to see so many people come together from different churches and different states.

I was fortunate enough to stay with my friends the Rogers. Jeff Rogers organized everything on GO's end of things.

My good friend Jolleen flew all the way from Oregon to hang out with me and work the Derby. (I think I should win a prize for having recruited the furthest friend)

Also staying there was Brent Bellinger who was an intern with GO last summer from Michigan.

As well as Lisa and Michelle from Crosspoint Community Church in Nashville who partner with Moise, a Haitian pastor here in the DR.

So we had missionaries, partners, interns and friends all under one roof simply to work the Derby.

Jolleen and I worked in a trailer with some great young men from a Youth group in Illinois. Caleb and Grant are part of Eastview Christian Church who not only bring a team of over 60 mostly youth every summer, but also partner with two different pastors.

Different parts of the Body serving for the same purpose. To bring Glory to God, reach the lost, and encourage believers.

That is what it is all about.

"What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Gather of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven-- and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all -- life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put with every kind of aggravation in thee meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of His victory."

~ 1 Peter 1: 3-7 Message Translation

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR DERBY 2009 PLEASE CLICK ON THE GO DERBY LINK IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN.