July 26, 2007
Dear Friends in Christ,
Hello again from the Dominican Republic. It is a pleasure for us to be able to communicate the victories and the trials of the mission work here. Franklin, Ilonka and their children moved to Punta Cana on July 1st as planned. The Wednesday before, we made the final arrangements to rent an apartment and got the electricity hooked up. All done in one afternoon and with a minimum of hassle. Praise the Lord!
They had a couple for weeks to settle in while we hosted a work team from New Hope Christian Church in Roanoke, VA, in La Romana. The youth minister at New Hope was a student at Johnson Bible College while we were there and renewing and deepening our friendship has been a blessing. The young people from the U.S. together with the Dominican youth did a three day progressive camp. Since our church camp in Salcedo is about 6 hours away and transportation costs are so high due to fuel prices, they stayed close to La Romana, but were still able to do camp-like activities. One day they were at the beach and the Bible lessons, worship songs, activities and life applications all pertained to the ocean. Another day was at a river and the third day was supposed to be at a cave with a tour and everything, but a national strike made traveling out of La Romana a little risky, so they did a scavenger hunt competition in the neighborhood around the church after the Bible lessons.
The work team also came prepared to hold two, two-day Vacation Bible Schools. They did one at a school that is owned by some church members and the other at the public school near the church. They also brought activities for the adult women who always accompany their young children. They made picture frames and sachet bags after listening to the Bible story with their children. There was a challenging moment at the public school when a fight broke out among some teenagers and young adults who were playing basketball and all of a sudden one of them showed up with a knife. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it is a reminder of how much God’s Word needs to be taught in the area nearby to the church.
Each Sunday Victor and Yudermy are taking a different family out to eat after church in order to get to know them, their needs and their talents and interests better. The co-treasurers gave the Jan.-June financial report last Sunday. They faithfully count, record, deposit and monitor the cash flow. The church has been blessed to have honest and faithful people as treasurer for the past 4 years. The congregation is slowly moving towards self-sufficiency. Victor frequently reminds them that their tithes and offerings are of greatest importance. The 29th of July is Dominican Father’s Day. The Ladies’ Association and the youth group are preparing a program and meal for the fathers of the church and are using it as an outreach to the husbands and fathers who are friends of the church, but not members. Gilberto Guerién Batiste, one of the church members, just published his first Christian book, La Ruta del Exito, (The Road to Success). He used the church building to premier the book and also did a book signing there. In honor of him, the same theme was used as the preaching and teaching theme during the month of July. The leadership and the congregation are depending more and more on the Lord and on each other and less and less on us. That is what mission work is about! We are so pleased to have so many positive things to report about Victor, Yudermy and the leadership of the church in La Romana.
Franklin and Ilonka, the Dominican missionary family in Punta Cana, have made their first contact and have begun giving the Network Bible Study. Please pray for them and the receptivity of the people that they contact. God bless each of you and thank you once again for your prayers and support.
In Christ,
Rick and Suzanne York
Missionaries with Eastern Dominican Christian Mission
|
