July 2007

July has been the busiest month of the summer. The amount of people that have been ministered too and through is astounding.

We started off the month with an incredible team of 62 from Eastview Christian Church in Illinois. Approximately 53 of the members were teenagers. These teenagers did construction on two different church/nutrition centers, took trips to Haiti, and did kid's events in three different locations. The thought of this many teenagers at one time might sound like chaos, but it was just the opposite. They put their energy and Spanish classes to great use. The youth group from Eastview was a complete joy to serve. They made a positive impact on a lot of lives during their week in the Dominican Republic.

Next I had the honor of working with Lincoln Christian church who is also from Illinois. Tracy Thomas and his family partner with Marisol who heads up our housecleaning crew. This woman works hard and is raising two teenagers single handedly. Through Lincoln Christian Church, GO is building a house for Marisol. The house that was purchased is now significantly below water level and needs to be raised, so we started by tearing down the existing house in order to add fill and make the foundation for a new home. Tracy and his family just adore Marisol and do a wonderful job of encouraging her and lifting her up.

The third week of July was a great example of friendship.

Crosspoint Community Church came to encourage and work along side their partner, Moises who is a Haitian Pastor here in the Dominican. Moises and Crosspoint worked hard together constructing the church/nutrition center in Briza del Campo.

Crosspoint also supports some fellow missionaries of mine, so Jeff and Vicki Rogers were here in the DR working along side of Moises and Crosspoint.

The Rogers are good friends with Pete and Brandi, the Pastors of Crosspoint. The Rogers and Pete and Brandi are good friends with Harold, from Morgantown Community Church. So Harold and a team from Morgantown joined the party.

So we had missionaries, Dominicans, a Haitian Pastor, Crosspoint and Morgantown. All come together for the same purpose, the same goal. To touch lives and grow the kingdom of God.

The final week of July, I worked construction with Northeast Christian Church from Rockford Illinois and Children's ministry with Hikes Point Christian Church from Kentucky.

What was so great about these veteran teams is how they really uplifted their Dominican and Haitian partners.

July was crazy busy, but the great teams that were here and the friendships that are continuing to grow made it the best month of the summer so far!

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder ....Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

~1 Corinthians 15:10