Back in La Vega!

This is a link to a short video about our work.

We are Committed to Serve Him



We are excited to return once again to the Dominican Republic.  We are believing the Lord to help us to accomplish more for His Kingdom.  After traveling around the U.S. (50,000 miles plus) for the last 12 months, we have returned to La Vega to serve another four year term as missionaries.  It has taken us a while to settle down as we've had a busy schedule the past month and a half. We are happy to be with our many friends here in La Vega.  It is especially nice to be with our son Joshua and his wife Karina and also with our two grandsons, Ken and Ethan, who live here in town. 

 

In Santiago to visit Mickey D

We appreciate so much Doug and Chris Wilson who shouldered the load during our year of departure to raise support in the states.  They helped us in soooo....many ways to keep this ministry afloat while we were gone.  Doug took charge of the International Fellowship at the Bridge Church/Coffeehouse.  He made sure designated gifts were properly dispensed. Chris was "volunteered" to become the head of the English department with the departure of Jerry Durr. He needed to return to the states to be close to his parents who were struggling with health issues. We are missing him.  She and Doug both took oversight of the finances that support the different Haitian education centers.  There are 10 of these centers now.  I don't have the space to tell you more, needless to say, Thank You, Doug and Chris.  



This summer we have also been blessed to receive on the field the Palmer family.  They have worked many years in inner-city ministry in the U.S., and have also worked with numerous missions teams overseas. Now their heart is set on helping the Haitian immigrants in this country. 

Katie and Patrick Palmer and their four beautiful children!

Also joining us is Miss Sallie Wham from Greenville, South Carolina, who is bringing her teaching experience and educational background to train some of the rural teachers working at the Haitian school programs and also the teachers at La Vega Christian School.

Summers are a busy time for us with Missions Teams!
We were able to host this summer the South Carolina Youth AIM Team.

Jimmy Sellers w/youth and local workers pouring the foundation in Barrancas for the church's new education wing.

The GT Church Youth Team, from Reading , PA.

GT Church Youth working with children in Summer VBS Programs at Rose of Sharon

The Lighthouse on the Rock team from Key Largo, FL.

The Key largo team with Debbie ministering to children in El Limoncito Haitian church.

And we also were blessed by the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship team from Brunswick, NJ.

LCF Worked hard doing a Kid's Camp and painting the Children's Clinic in Santiago

5 Construction Projects have already been launched!

1. At La Vega Christian School we tore down the old cafeteria eating area. The termites were having a heyday there.  We replaced all the wood trusses and wood columns with metal and raised the roof some.  We also finally put a drop ceiling in the third floor hallway, and sealed off all the eaves from the pigeons. We had the buildings and the b-court (cont.) 

The Fervent Effective Prayers of Haitian Pastors

Two students with their teacher, excited to receive an education!

I entered the classroom and Pastor P. was on his knees in the corner calling out to God in fervent prayer.  He didn't  know I had entered, and didn't stop.  Why do I mention this, because I believe that the help the Haitian pastors are receiving is directly related to the prayers they are making. Pastor P. told me without prayer he could not live.  The truth is, most of these pastors earn less than $200.00 US a month, even if they have some outside support.  Yet Pastor P. pays for a tiny
house that accommodates his family, and also rents a rough building that will accommodate his congregation of 60 people. Needless to say, he and his wife are very thin.

Pastor F is ready to move to a new area where he has seen much fruit.  The majority of his current congregation is already living in this area.  He and his congregation have been praying for a miracle to purchase an abandoned church building.  Within two weeks of learning of this opportunity 60% of the funds needed for the purchase have been provided. These needs seem to have caught the attention of their caring Father in heaven.

Pastor A, almost in tears, told me about how he and his congregation would have to leave the church and the school building they were using.  Their school program had already been moved out, and

Celebrating the Dedication of the Ranchito Church Santuary

What a blessing to participate in the dedication service of the Iglesia Cristiana de la Comunidad de Ranchito.  The children's choir welcomed the 350+ members and guests that afternoon.  It was the culmination of many years of hard work and partnership for this congregation.

It was maybe 9 or ten years ago that Pastor Joselo Toribio had first invited me to minister in his church in Ranchito.  I was blessed by this congregation meeting under the tiny carport.  There were about 25 adults and children crowded under the roof and they were excited about their faith!  It reminded me of the "first love" enthusiasm of new Christians.  These humble folk, mostly rice