All Glory is Yours

See You Later Sierra Prieta!

I have been so impressed upon today by how many people are doing so much extra to make it possible for us to be here.  From our families at home taking up our slack, to those who worked hard and earned money that they gave, to the FH staff who work to tirelessly to provide us with safety, comfort and food, to our interpreters who leave behind life and family and home to serve alongside us, to the ladies from Sierra Prieta who work through the day in a hot kitchen rise early and stay late to feed us, those who pray for us, those who encourage us, the folks who sponsor kids to provide for the staff and community, we are really such a small part of this trip and beyond that our trip is such a small part of what God is doing here. 

Lori and the Kitchen Faithful

This week we had the privilege of speaking with Food for the Hungry’s Country Director for the Dominican Republican Haiti, Tom Magnham.  Tom thanked Cornerstone for coming so faithfully and encouraged us to continue.  He told me that the trips we take to Sierra Prieta are always spoken of highly by both the community, and the staff.  The motivation we are able to provide is invaluable to the process of community transformation.  I complimented him on the staff both new and old as having a great heart for the work and the Lord.  He shared that they all see the work as a calling and that their selection process doesn’t complete unless they are convinced that the new person is not only gifted and skilled but also called.  We have been greatly blessed as a team by that reality.

Taina Presenting Julia with her certificate of Appreciation from FH.

The FH staff who have taken great care of this week include Taina, who traveled over a half hour by motorcycle to our location, leaving before her child gets up and returning after she is asleep for most of the week.  She has been like a team mom for us always overseeing the kitchen and looking after us, taking care of Lisa as she fought her cold and spending hours braiding Julia’s hair.  Her normal responsibilities with FH are to interact with the children and make sure they are getting the care, motivation and education they need.

Jorge (or George) is another FH staffer who spent a great deal of time with us this week.  He works in transformative relationships with the church and community leaders.  He has a great heart for the lord and the Bible.  He’s also great with kids and we worked together well, already talking about strategy for our next trip. 

Dan Saying Good Bye Prayers with his Sierra Prieta Family

The community center building project is now well underway.  On Wednesday, while we were at the school there was a large turnout of men from the community.  They got a great deal of work completed and we were told to expect to sleep there next year when we come. The promise of regular medical care and even advice will greatly increase quality of life in the community.

Lots of progress on the Community Center.

In the morning today, we packed up and said many good-bye’s to the community members and FH staffers.  We were sad to leave our friends and they all told us “see you later”.  On the way to the hotel where we were to stay for a night before heading to the airport we got news that all flights to the East Coast were cancelled.  We have been rescheduled but please pray that the new flights are not interrupted by the severe weather.

Thank you all for your support, prayers, and interest.  We are looking forward to seeing our families again soon.

We began the morning with a baseball game against the local Dominican kids who train with a coach regularly.  The FH staff and a few of the older kids rounded out our team.  It was a fun time to connect on the field for the guys and off for the ladies.  We lost the first game 2-4 but won the 2^nd 7-4.  After the game the Dan shared a short testimony and we prayed with them.

Go Team!

Baseball teams posing together

Today the Country director came by to visit the team.  Tom shared with me the value that the local communities and the staff place on church visits.  He said that every time he has spoken with a staff or community leader about how they feel about teams being in their communities they have responded positively.  The team visits are an important part of inspiring the communities and encouraging the staff who work there all the time.  It was a great encouragement to me to hear that despite the tireless work it takes to bring us here and take care of us, that it is worth it to all on this end. 

After lunch Greg and Holden headed out to complete their sponsored child visits. Once again the ability to watch a child grow up over the years and to interact was a great blessing.  We can see the improving nutrition and health as well as some stabilization of family life compared to earlier years.  Being so warmly welcomed by parents and encouraged to return as soon as possible.  Today was the first day we’ve seen any sign of rain and we saw it a couple times.  While on home visits the Greg and Holden had to take cover in the home of an old man named Gregorio.  He and his son Wilson were the first people we met in Sierra Prieta and welcomed us in out of the rain on that first trip too.

Simultaneous with home visits, Bob and Lori met with some more church leaders to encourage them and share some ideas.  Bob’s theme of church unity was timely and well received and the entire event prompted some great discussion.  The discussions toady seemed to be of great help.

Bob speaking to church leaders.

Speaking at the farewell

Speaking at the farewell

The late afternoon was filled with the Farewell Ceremony.  Numerous members of the community came forward to thank us for coming, praise God for our presence and pray for our safe and happy return to our families.  A few different young girls sang songs for us and each team member was thanked personally and directly for their part in the trip.  There were many tears and lots of See you later’s.  We were told to thank our church and our families and that they hope to see us again soon. The relationships that were built anew, or renewed this week have had a great impact on all involved. I want to thank each person who has had a part in sending us be it by praying, encouraging, giving funds and our families.  It has been a worthwhile investment.

After the farewell ceremony Lori and Lisa met with the Mothers Group.  It is an organized group of women within the community who make community development and care their priority.  Each of the 16 volunteers work with up to 25 other mothers and households to provide training in essential skills including, health, cleanliness, nutrition, disaster preparedness and more.  Lori has been working for years to develop close relationships with these women for the purpose of evangelism and encouragement.  We hope to get more opportunities like this in the future.

Lori and her some of her close friends.

April was Julia's constant companion today.

This evening we planned to show a movie as kind of a celebration with the community , but it was rained out.  The FH staff have promised to return and show 2 movies on another night. 

We will miss our friends here greatly when we depart the community tomorrow to begin the long trip back home, but we already look forward to seeing our families again.

Great Hump Day

This morning was a meaningful experience for the whole team.  We arrived at the school being invited to speak to some of the students.  We were led up to a 2^nd floor classroom filled with 30 to 40 7^th and 8^th grade students and their teachers.  Greg introduced the group and spoke with the students to motivate them to develop a vision for their lives and future.  Then Julia spoke to the group about dealing with peer pressure and insecurities. Then Austin shared about having vision for more than grades in school, working to learn for their future and to do their best.  Holden closed out the trio with some heartfelt words about the struggle to be respectful and obedient to your parents and the importance of learning to live this way now.  Each of them held attention and shared personal examples that drew the kids in and also shared scripture verses that were meaningful to each of them.  Greg closed the speaking time with a challenge to find real fulfillment in Christ.  Then the students and teachers were invited to ask questions about Wyoming and our life there.  Julia, Austin and Holden did a great job answering questions and giving insight into a far away life.  Everyone there was impressed with the way our young people handled themselves and shared from the heart.

Our outstanding young people answering questions with Heidy our translator. 

This was followed by lunch and then some more sponsored kid visits.  Lisa and Julia were able to visit Ronnivel, their sponsored child, for the first time. It was a fun time for all.  Ronnivel was a little timid and shy but the excitement in her was palpable.  Julia and Lisa were very pleased with the opportunity.  Dan also visited some of his & Jacque’s sponsored kids.

Lisa, Ronivel and her mom and sister and Julia

The highlight of Dan’s home visits was the time spent at the home of Edwin and his mom Jahaira and brother Scarlin.  Jahaira, has been serving in the kitchen to take care of us since the first time we visited Sierra Prieta. Their sad story starts just before we arrived here for the first time.  The father and husband of this beloved family died in an electrical accident.  We did not learn of this sad news until our 2^nd trip here when Dan made his first visit to their home.  Jahiara’s joy in the Lord and constant smile had kept us from knowing her sure and deep grief on our first meeting.  Since that time she has been a special friend to all of us and the relationship between Dan and the boys and her as well has been a source of great mutual encouragement.  One fun time on this trip was when she came for the first time to help in the kitchen and did not know Dan had come with us this time.  The exclamation of joy on seeing him was fun for all to hear. 

Edwin, Jahaira, Scarlin and Dan

Also in the afternoon, we held a church leaders training. Greg used his notes from the last few months of sermons out of Philippians 2. Jeff, your sermons had great impact in the Dominican Republic. There were leaders from 4 different churches to a total of 15 or so different church leaders.  The interaction was productive and the questions were significant.  It was no surprise after all the interactions we’ve had here, that they face many of the same challenges in their churches as we do in the states. The time closed with some great questions and interaction.

Lisa has caught a cold, so we sent her to bed for the afternoon.  Fortunately she was able to sleep and regain some of her strength.  We’re praying that she sleeps well for the night and feels better in the morning.

VBS was a little delayed but ended up being a really great time.  Holden invited Jose, the special needs boy in the wheelchair, to join us at VBS.  He doesn’t get out the home or yard very often. So he was all eyes and smiles. After a recap of the weeks lesson, we shared the gospel. It was encouraging to quiz them on previous lessons and find that the information was still there.  The games were a true joy especially when Jose joined the game of tag with Nathan pushing him.  It truly warmed our hearts to find the kids continuing to play with him even after VBS.

Jose having fun at VBS

As I sit here writing, across the table from me is Rochell working on her homework.  Rochell grew up here and has been a very bright spot for the last few years  She works with Food for the Hungry, teaching in the Amo program for students in a number of communities, as well as helping with teams and sponsored kids.  She also attends University on the weekend, studying to be a teacher.  Rochell is here using the WIFI that FH has provided me to blog with.  She’s working had on her homework. An will probably be working into the night.  Pray for her as she serves, grows and studies.

Rochelle Studying hard.

Only 2 days of Ministry, really?

What a wonderfully full day! Today was filled with many great opportunities and blessings.  The morning found us split up again, half to construction and half making home visits. 

Earth Movers at Work.

At the construction site Bob, Lori, Julia, Greg and Heidy got the opportunity to work very hard. Leveling the floor and back-filling the foundation around the building.  The plan had been to build forms for the beams to be poured to support the 2^nd floor, but the wood was not delivered.  We did get the opportunity to share with 2 men from a church in the Seattle area who came through with FH staff on a vision trip as they prepare to begin a C2C relationship with a community not too far away.  It was fun to share with them how far the community has come and how much of a blessing it has been to us and to our church.

Francisca and her 2 month old.

The other group, Dan, Lisa, Holden, Austin and Nathan went out to visit some local houses and pray for and encourage them.  The report that it was a really great opportunity for them to build even more relationships. They met a really wonderful couple Franisca and Francisco, who have 4 kids from ages 12 to 2 months. It was very encouraging to see a solid family unit, loving parents, working father, involved the local church and their community.  Also they visited the home of Jose and Fanny, who had attended the Special Needs Forum.  They had a really special time connecting with that family and sharing some common ground. Both of the young men took the opportunity to interact with members of the community and even stretched their Spanish muscles and spoke some in Spanish.  Home visits this year have been a really blessed time to encourage and connect.

The Health and Wellness Seminar

After lunch we split up again.  Bob and Lori lead a Health and Wellness training. They began with some basic training reiteration lessons that are beginning to take root here, washing hands, using only clean purified water for cooking and drinking, and some basic nutrition.  The meeting became especially impact-full when they opened it up to a question and answer time. Many of the mothers there asked Bob a number of different questions about health conditions, being very happy to have to opportunity to seek the knowledge of a Physician. 

Dan and his seminar attendees.

The rest of the team went to the school.  The children were released early so that the teachers could gather for a brief time of training and encouragement led by Dan. One of the most striking things was the difference from the last time Dan was able to speak to the teachers at the school here.  At that time there were 4 teachers, we had 14 teachers and 3 of them were males. It was so encouraging to see the incredible transformation in the educational system of this community.  He was able to share some great encouragement with them and motivate them to care for their students.  It was also a great time to hear from them and gain insights into how the education system works here.

Fearless VBS Game Leader

VBS appeared again this afternoon.  Lisa once again did a great job teaching the kids about the promise of a coming savior.  Austin led games and our great interpreters helped lead the songs.  It was really fun to see the kids pay such close attention to the lesson. 

After VBS we gathered outside the home we are staying in.  The kids migrated from VBS games down towards our place and were playing in the yard here.  It was a fun time for a number of kids to interact with our team.  Bob and Dan really connected with some of the kids.

We look forward to continuing to build relationships and meet new people.  Thank you again for your prayers and support!

Julia Getting Some Special Hair Treatment

Let’s Get It On!

 Up until now we’ve been at the travel and recovery game.  It was time to really get with the business of what we came for.  Getting to build relationships, encouraging the community, and serving in what small ways we can.  It became a full and busy day in which each of our team members shone in service and their particular abilities and gifting.  God blessed us so greatly.

We began the morning with a devotion out of Philippians 2:13 being encouraged to work hard today satisfied in the knowledge that the results belong to the Lord. Everyone had great opportunities to work hard in different ways and we were blessed by so much today.

After breakfast we split into 2 groups 5 of us to construction and 5 to home visits.  8 of us came from Cornerstone but our translators and facilitators Nathan and Heidy are full members of our team. So Dan, Lori, Holden, Austin and Nathan went to the construction site.  While Bob, Lisa, Julia, Greg and Heidy headed out to visit some different households in the community.

Julito and Matilda and their son Diego, on a home visit.

The first home we stopped at is the home of Goyjita, she was caring for her 12 year old grandson Ramelfy. Ramelfy has special needs and it was a great opportunity for Lisa to share with her about some of the Reib’s experience with their son Moses, and to invite her to what we are calling the Special Needs Forum. In the afternoon (more on that very exciting time later).  After praying with her we visited a number of other homes where we visited for a time with mothers and fathers and prayed for them and their families.  It was such a blessing to be warmly welcomed by each place and treated like honored guests.

In one home in particular we spoke with Jo-Annie she was there with her adorable three year old twin son and daughter. When we asked what we could pray for her for, she started to cry. She asked if we would pray for her older daughters in 4^th and 5^th grade. Her husband had left when the twins were 2 months old, and the older girls are feeling like they were the reason their father left, because he didn’t love them anymore.  Please keep this family in your prayers.

Work on the top of the wall.

The crew ready to help

The team at construction joined a group of men from the community, some on vacation time from work and others who had the day off. The work projects on our visits here the first years were mostly our team with FH staff directing us.  Now we have transitioned to the situations that local folks are taking the lead on the projects and we are just kind of helpers.  So the skilled labor was limited to the local guys and our group became the grunt labor carrying blocks from one location to another and occasionally helping haul some buckets of cement.  But the team was able to focus on building relationships with the other men there and some folks nearby.  One of the gentlemen helping is, buy profession, a chef in Santo Domingo, but is on a week of vacation.  Our presence and financial gift for materials has gotten the project moving again. 

Enjoying Lunch

Lunch was an incredible meal prepared for us by the local women led by FH staff member Taina. We feasted on rice and habituelas (red beans) with chicken and fresh avocado and fresh fruit.

Packed house at the Forum

Things really got going after lunch.  Bob, Lori, and Austin headed out to visit their sponsored kids.  While Lisa and Dan led a forum for Parents of Kids with Special Needs.  Their experiences from their own children really translated across to those who joined us.  There were mothers and/or grandmothers from 5 different families with special needs kids and all together 20 adults gathered to hear about special needs children.  Dan and Lisa shared their individual stories and the impact and heartache and joys that they have faced in being blessed with children that are not like others.  There were many tears of compassion and joy shared among those there. We prayed for them and dreamed about the new community center possibly providing some services to these families who get no support or programs from the schools or government. This was such a connecting and impacting event to all involved and really showed how similar our cultures are in struggles and challenges.

Parents and Special needs kids with our presenters.

Lori and Sponsored Child Enerfries and his dad

Bob and Austin with Sponsored Child Paquita and her family

The sponsored children visits were an excellent time of connecting with lots of excitement and energy.  Austin broke out his Spanish and communicated directly with kids he has been praying for since he was 7, there was a real spark in his eye as he spoke of how real these relationships have become now that he has met them in person.  Another exciting thing seen on these visits was that 2 of the fathers who we haven’t met in 7 years were at home caring for kids and one of them was helping at the construction project.  These relationships are real indicators of the community development over our time here.  So many of these kids were in single digits and have blossomed into mature young men and women.

Leading VBS Games

VBS followed all of this. We had a ton of kids show up and hear a lesson about creation, which was presented with lots of energy by Lisa.  We sang some kids songs and then Holden led the kids in games.

After dinner tonight we enjoyed some time sharing about our day and then worshiped together in song.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day as well. Thank you for your continual prayers and encouragement.

Special Needs Family Pictures

Wilmer and his mom

Romelfi and his mom

Jose and His mom Fannie

Anna Luisa her Daughter Karin didn't come with her.

Naori and his mom Nemesis

On to Sierra Prieta

Loading up at the FH offive

We woke up this morning thankful for things that daily we take for granted.  Comfortable bed, interrupted sleep and a shower. It was a great blessing to be refreshed after travels but we all looked forward with anticipation to returning to Sierra Prieta.

We headed to the FH national office for some planning and to pick-up our translators.  Johnathan was headed to pick up another team so we said farewell to him and headed out with Nathan and Heidy.  Nathan is a missionary in the Dominican Republic. His wife is expecting their first child in the next 4 weeks.  Heidy is between medical school and her residency and often translates for FH teams. 

The home We are staying in.

We arrived in the community to find that we were staying in new accommodations.  Jacoba has moved all of her furniture out of her house to allow us to stay there.  We have 2 bedrooms with 4 each and another couple guys in the main room.  All the cooking is happening in her kitchen where they have moved in a large gas range and lots of ice and coolers.  We are so grateful for her generosity. Electricity is sparse here this week we’ll hope we can keep the computer charged for the blog.  Internet is consistent so we expect the blog to be able. 

Touring the community

Once we got here unpacked a bit and had lunch we took a short walk to visit some friends in the community.  The lunch was a great meal of pork chops, yellow rice with corn and salad.  We were joined by lots of kids, many of them familiar faces as we walked stopped by a few places to say hello.  It was a blessing to see old friends.

In the late afternoon we had a welcome ceremony with the community where local leader, and pastors welcomed us and the kids from FH’s Amo Program sang a song for us.  They all continue to tell us they want us to feel like this is our home and we are part of their family.  It is encouraging to be so welcomed. 

Community members at the Welcome Ceremony

Tomorrow we are looking forward to lots of activities.  We’ll split up in the morning and some will do impromptu home visits and the rest will be working on the construction of the community center.  In the afternoon Dan and Lisa will be hosting a Forum for parents and caregivers of Special Needs Children.  Others will visit their sponsored children.  Then we’ll have VBS after the kids are out of school.

Thank you for your prayers.

The Amo Program Kids singing at the Welcome Ceremony

Good Morning…?

As I begin to write at what amounts to 5:30 Mountain Standard Time my body clock is so off only know That Sleep is a looming priority once this brief update is posted.

Friday marked the beginning of Cornerstone Community Fellowship’s 8^th time in the community of Sierra Prieta and our 7^th mission’s trip, all in partnership with Food for the Hungry.  We have been blessed by the partnership and each year we see God working more and more in the community.  This year our team of 8 traveled for over 24 hours leaving Powell at 1:30pm Friday and finally getting through immigration and customs at almost 7 o’clock Saturday evening.  We thank God for the relative ease of travel but are all very tired as we prepare to sleep.  I don’t think anyone has had more than 2 or 3 hours sleep since we left home.  In spite of the sleep deprivation, the team has been upbeat and we are all excited to arrive in the community tomorrow.

Arriving at a hotel near the airport for needed rest, we were blessed to be greeted by Kelvin, the first FH staffer to work in Sierra Prieta along with Carlos and his fiancé Jennifer.  It was good to see and catchup with old friends as well as make new ones.  Jonathan, who has replaced Carlos as teams coordinator picked us up from the airport in a new FH 12 passenger panel van, with their driver Robinson.  Carlos is now teams liason, doing advance work for teams and recruiting new churches to join the C2C relationship.

This team is a great mix of wisdom, enthusiasm, curiosity and familiarity.  We are all looking forward to picking up our translators tomorrow and getting to Sierra Prieta.  It will be great to see old friends and to see how God has been working since we last had a team here over Thanksgiving of 2014.

Thanks for your prayers.  We look forward to seeing God work in, through and around us.  It's so clear that this is a partnership with many player including Cornerstone Church, Food for the Hungry, the community & leadership of Sierra Prieta, those who sponsor children and those of us who get to visit.  Thank you for your part in the work God is doing here.