April 2007

April has been a very interesting month,

It started off with the team from Simi Vally California working with their partner church in Hato del Yaque. I loved the way they served and enjoyed the community despite the many road blocks that came up during the work week. Road blocks such as having to wait two hours for a load of rebar before being able to continue, and so on. There are often unexpected happenings but it seems like the week with Discovery Church from CA had more than usual, but it didn't deter them from the goal of encouraging and supporting the nationals they worked along side.

Something unexpected that I don't consider a road block is when several of the team members were able to meet the kids that they support through the GO kids program. It was alot of fun watching people be united in person to a child that they have committed to support financially, through prayer and encouragement. One little girl that was there that day is Lisette. She is supported by children in a sunday school class at Discovery Church. Earlier this year her mom stopped me in the street with some seemingly important news to tell me. She happily told me that both of her small children were supported through GO kids. She was almost in tears so I hugged her and simply said "Felicidades!" I didn't know that it was Discovery Church who is supporting her, so it was a lovely surprise to get to translate for that reunion.

There is a link on this page to our GO kids blog. I encourage you to take a look and see what you can do.

The following week we had a staff retreat where we were joined by the GO board of directors, John Kohlor who is our missionary to Mongolia, and Pastor Ernest Tate who we will be working with in Belize.

John Kohlor lives in Mongolia, ministering to alcoholics and prostitutes. He was our guest speaker for our retreat and encouraged us greatly.

Pastor Ernest and Barbara Tate are Belizians who have been ministering there for over thirty years through Belize Faith Missions. They run an orphanage for abused and neglected children. Belize is a fascinating place. It is considered part of the Caribbean and the main language is English. There are alot of refugees from Guatemala in Belize leaving a large population of people without homes and provisions. GO Ministries is planning to start sending teams to Belize next year.

After our staff retreat we held a national conference with special guests Pastor Ruben Ramirez and Jhon Dario. The great part is that most of the Dominican Pastors and their wives were able to come and be encouraged through Pastor Ramirez. Jhon Dario (yes that's how his name is spelled) taught a wonderful worship training session that I attended myself. It was incredibly inspiring and I learned alot. We are excited about continuing to share in ministry with our friends in Columbia. What I especially like about this friendship is that they give and share so much with the Dominican Republic.

The sad part is that all of the Haitian Pastors were stopped at the border and unable to attend. Please pray that in 2008 they will be able to attend our celebration of partnerships. I know they would be greatly encouraged. But I also know that God has a good plan and will take care of every situation

Needless to say, GO Ministries is growing at an alarming rate.
I am honored to be a part of it.

March 2007

We started in March with a soccer clinic. The men's soccer team from Indiana Wesleyan University, did a camp for the kids in Los Perez. They also played in a tournament with local teams including the Dominican national soccer team. This group of young men were a joy to have around. Their energy and camaraderie reached the kids in a unique way. One young man formed a little, unofficial team with the kids that were either to young or weren't signed up. He played games and goofed around with then all day sometimes ending up at the bottom of the dog pile. But he helped the little ones know that he cared.

There were two teams that came this month that are always a pleasure when they come. The first was Crosspoint Community Church from Nashville and the second was Northeast Christian Church from Illinois. Both Churches have developed a strong partnership with a national pastor that they support financially, but they also genuinely care for their partner and the community in which they work.


Northeast partners with Rafelito, the pastor in Los Guandules. For those of you who know about "the Hole" los Guandules is like the Hole but without the landfill. But the same basic idea of shacks by a dirty river along with drugs, flooding, stealing, disease, poverty...you get the idea. Well Northeast came along side of Rafelito. They didn't just support him, but they have believed in him and in a God that can change the lives of the people who live in Los Guandules. With their support we were able to buy some property and tear down the bar that was on the property. But this wasn't just a bar. This was a gambling bar, with a mysterious room. Several wives have said that their husband would gamble his entire paycheck there. So this was a place of many vices for the community.

So we tore it down and in time built a church with a feeding center. It is a beautiful building. Rafelito will always say that God isn't in a building, but it sure makes it easier to do his work with one. The kitchen is big and industrial so that the cooks can cook for the 100+ kids who are fed lunch Monday through Saturday. The kids sit in chairs at little tables. There are different colored plates depending on how much the kids eat. I myself have noticed a marked difference in the Health of the kids since the program has been up and running.
So the team came and encouraged Rafelito and his family in ministry.

The week before Northeast, Crosspoint had come. They partner with Moises who is the pastor of a Haitian church here in Santiago. Moises faces a lot of challenges because of his nationality and the political and racial tension between the two countries. He is a quiet stoic sort of person when you first meet him. But you soon realize the depth of his relationship with God and desire to help the Haitians who are struggling to make it in the Dominican Republic. Crosspoint are a jovial group and like to have a good time as well as work hard. So they make a funny partner for Moises. But beyond, cultures, races, and everything else, is the Love of God that doesn't fit within our boundaries of cultures, races, and everything else. See what I mean?
While Crosspoint was here last year they poured the foundation of the church/feeding center in Briza del Campo. This year they poured the floor. Moises worked hard along side the team to get his church under way.

On the lot behind the church a Haitian family lives. They have a little girl who is about the size of a 15 month old, but in fact she is two. As the family cooked peanut brittle to sell, I lamented in my heart about the little girl's future. I had seen it before, and I knew that because of her size and living conditions she would probably be sick most of her childhood.

Then suddenly I remembered what the kids in the Guandules looked like before the feeding center. They had runnier noses and more skin issues etc...
Soon there would be a feeding center here and she will be able to go to it. She will get the nutrition she needs as well as other things the program provides, such as uniforms for school and clothing.

I am excited for what God is going to do through Moises and Rafelito and their partners.