The REAL Christmas Photo

It was THAT time of year again. The annual holiday photo for the Christmas card. For me, it is almost as fun as getting a root canal. After making the boys actually comb their hair, we headed out the door. On the way to the photo shoot, we pray. This ordeal will require the help of the Holy Spirit.

Meanwhile, I am dreaming of the perfect family photo. Our four boys smiling beautifully and looking in the direction of the camera. Nelson and I... looking younger than ever... then reality hits! After dozens of shots, changing positions, and begging Marcus to LOOK at the camera, all of a sudden we smell this horrible odor. Troy looks down embarrassed and slightly amused. Alex and Nicolas discuss who did it, which then results in an all out argument. Meanwhile, Marcus just holds his nose. The outcome of this precious family moment is the beautiful photo that accompanies this note. Notice that Nelson and I are still commited to the perfect family photo despite the horrible smell and the argument in the background.

And then I got to thinking, isn't that just the way it is at Christmas? We usually come into the season with these beautiful illusions of the perfect holiday celebration, or the picture perfect family and then somebody makes a stink in one way or another and reality hits.

Can you just imagine that Mary felt the same way during the very first Christmas season? Surely she had illusions of having her baby in a decent setting rather than a stable for animals. Then the innkeeper made a stink about "no room" and well...reality hit. Yet God chose to give the most precious gift of all in the midst of the reality of our imperfect and fallen world.

For a lot of us; reality hits this Christmas season. Perhaps your Christmas illusion is tainted by the economy, or by a broken relationship, or by the fact that a loved one is gone from your holiday celebration. Yet let me assure you that in the midst of our cruel reality the most amazing gift of all is given. The hope of the world is with us-- EMMANUEL. And that hope has nothing to do with whether or not we have somehow managed to roast chestnuts on an open fire and dress our children in matching pajamas.

So today me and my boys will be celebrating that HOPE and Joy that has come into the reality of our crazy world. And with all the food and fun, you can be sure that someone will probably make a stink.

Nelson and I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and may you experience Emmanuel ("God with us") during this festive season and all through the coming year.

Rennae, Nelson, Troy, Alexander, Nicolas and Marcus

Assemblies of God missionaries serving in Dominican Republic

Muddy Shoes, 6,000 Souls, Giving Groceries and a Toilet Story

Muddy shoes and beautiful feet - Yudi is a second year Master's Commission student who was out in a rural town doing children's ministry when she found herself in the middle of some deep mud. She was out inviting children to an afternoon evangelistic activity. As she walked she saw three kids playing in a basketball court that was just beyond some really deep mud. It was so deep that her shoe got stuck in the mud and she had to dig it out. As she was digging it out the young girl that from the church that was with her told her, "It's ok Yudi, we really don't have to go so far in this mud." Yudi was determined. She was gonna make sure that those three little boys were invited to the actvity. Sure enough that the first children to arrive at church were the three boys from the muddy barrio. The left their muddy shoes by the door of the church and sat on the front row. It turns out the Yudi's muddy feet were the most beautiful of all. As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"(Rom. 10:15)

6000 souls- Elias and Merary spent last weekend putting together a Kings Castle soul-a-thon event. Their faces were lit up with joy as they were able to reach 6000 children at the event!

Giving groceries- Keila was so excited as she told about how her young people were able to give out groceries in the neediest barrios of her town of Villa Altagracia. Keila shared "I had been hoping to recieve bags of aid from an American organization for feeding the poor. We waited and then I decided to challenge the young people of my Kings Castle team not to wait. We can each bring and donate a bag of groceries from our own families resources to give out in the communtiy. We called them 'bags of love' and distributed the bags door to door."

A Toilet Story- Pastor Reynoso called me the other day to tell us about how his church has been ministering to 337 children every week . Now he pastors a church of only 75 members but they are serious about reaching out to the children in their impoverished barrio. They have carefully kept records of each one of these children. They know their families and their stories. The make it a point to learn about their needs. One little boy in particular was a regular attender to the children's ministry and came to church every time the doors were open. They noticed that every time he came he would use the church bathroom as soon as he arrived. Then someone went to visit the little boy's home. They learned that the family was so porr that they did not have a bathroom. Pastor Reynoso and his wife decided that they would personally do something to help. The gave took out their own toilet and gave it to the family and helped them build a bathroom. Pastor Reynoso's wife was happy to help. She said, "I wanted a new toilet for our house anyway."

Angelo is going to PERU!!!!

I must admit that I was surprised that Angelo was even interested in Master’s Commission, our missions training school. Angelo is quiet and from the small town of Azua. Yet he was determined. This past summer Angelo was one of the first class of students in Dominican Republic that was the first to graduate with a major in missions and theology.

Since entering Master’s Commission Angelo has felt called to missions and he made it his goal to do his missions internship in Peru. Financially, this was an extremely lofty goal for a guy from Azua. Yet the biggest challenge was the fact that his family was in the middle of a crisis. His father had been unemployed for six months. As a young adult in Dominican culture, Angelo was expected to contribute to the family finances and all the more so in the situation of financial crisis.

So Angelo had a decision to make the day that he bought tickets to Lima, Peru. The tickets were found at a significant discount if he could leave on the 31st of October. Would he stay and find work? Or would he move forward with his ministry plans in Peru? Angelo took an enormous step of faith and purchased the airline ticket. The flight would leave the day that his father was to complete six months of unemployment.

Yet the God who calls is also the one who provides. Just a few days before Angelo’s flight was to depart, his father was was hired at a new job! This was just the confirmation that Angelo needed. His family was taken care of, his missionary budget was supplied and his Friday, Angelo will get on a plane headed for Peru to serve and love the children there.

Nicolas and the Tooth Rat

Nicolas is eight years old has been losing his teeth. Right after we first returned back from the states Nicolas lost a tooth and asked if the tooth fairy would be making any trips to the Dominican Republic. Troy and Alex, the big brothers who were experienced in these things quickly informed him that the tooth fairy did not work in the DR. Instead here in the DR they have a Rat named Perez.

The story goes that this rat lived in a dentist office and learned dentistry and would help his fellow rats with their tooth problems. When the older mice would lose their teeth Perez found that the best replacement was a child’s baby teeth. So he would go looking for these teeth under the children’s pillow at night and left a gift in exchange for the child’s tooth.

Nicolas listened to the story intently with great interest, so I thought for sure that he would leave his tooth in his bed. But I found that his tooth was nowhere near his bed. He left the tooth in my bathroom. The next day I asked Nicolas why he left his tooth in my bathroom. After all, the Ratoncito Perez would never think to look there.

To which Nicolas replied, “C”mon mom, would YOU want a rat climbing in your bed at night? I don’t think so.”

We laughed and he said “Don’t laugh, For real, mom. I don’t want any rats in my bed.”

He has every reason in the world to worry about rats in the bed. We’ve killed a few rats at our house. Holly, our miniature dachshund, even killed one. So its not like its all that far fetched. Yet, at the same time I marvel at the faith of childhood.

Children don’t question, they just believe. They believe that tooth rats could come in your bed, easter bunnies hide eggs, Santa brings presents with or without a chimney and Jesus really does hear our prayers and He really is coming soon. The difference is that tooth rats and Santa are fun but not real. Yet that kind of faith placed in the person of Jesus, God’s Son can really make a difference in this world!

I just keep thinking that we must tap into this kind of faith! I want Nicolas to pray and believe God to work supernaturally in our everyday lives. So I have been asking Nicolas to pray more often as we live in a country that needs to see a faith that really does move mountains.

As for the tooth, we’re keeping it to remind us that childlike faith is real and I should be ready for some mountain moving when my children pray.

Going in the Right Direction

I have been looking for those ruby red slippers. Somebody said that they sold them at Wal-mart and I actually looked for them on several occasions. I never could find them in my size. I wanted them because I found myself dreaming about just clicking those bright red shoes together as I recited “ There’s no place like home”. Moving is an enormous amount of work and the idea of tapping red shoes together seemed easier--easier yes, reality no.

Reality was that we would end up having just under three weeks to pack and prepare a shipment. Reality was that because there was not time to plan we didn’t have enough space in the shipment. Reality was that when all was said and done and we had our bags packed and tropical storm blew through Florida. Flights were delayed. The bags had to be semi unpacked and repacked. Lord, I am TIRED of packing!!!

In the midst of it all we were so blessed to have the family of God rally around us and help us get through it all. Just before we packed our container, our good friends and pastors Walt and Tina Nelson came by with a donation for our shipment. They saw all our stress and helped us pack a few things. As I chatted with Tina, I asked her the common small talk question. “ How are things going at your church? To which she replied. “ Going... long pause... smile... in the right direction.” That simple little response really hit me. In the middle of so much work, stress, and problem. It was this wonderful assurance that no matter what; we were going in the right direction. I was running toward my purpose.

The day finally came! On August 20, 2008 we boarded a plane headed in the right direction. Boarding that plane was not simple matter. We arrived at Tampa International airport with 17 suitcases, 1 guitar, 5 roller carry on luggage pieces and 1 saxophone, all required to weigh less than 50 lbs. My teenagers we mortified as we had to open suitcases and rearrange a few shoes, books or whatever to keep every suitcase at exactly 49.99 lbs. I don’t blame them, even I was concerned about flying underwear as everyone at the ticket counter watched us like we were free entertainment.

The plane left late from Tampa which put us in Miami a little late. So we booked down the concourse to make the next flight. WE WERE NOT GOING TO MISS OUR FLIGHT! One problem--we hadn’t really eaten anything but granola bars. It was around 2 p.m. and we were starved! So picture it in your mind--me, Nelson and our four boys--all of us with rolling luggage and one with a sax--running to our gate with little guys whining, “I can’t run mommy, I’m so hungry” So we stopped quickly to get some pizza and chinese food to go (all at the same place) and hurried on to our gate. When we got to our gate, everyone is sitting around with that, bored, irritated face that indicated to us immediately that the flight was delayed. So we sat down in a little corner and stuffed our faces until the announcement came over the intercom.

“American Airlines Flight 364 has been moved to gate F-82. Please gather your things and move to gate F-82 as we will be boarding shortly.” We were sitting in F-2.

I had just got settled eating my chicken and fried rice scooped out of the plastic bag that I held as I ran across the concourse! Oh how I wished for ruby red slippers in that moment. Not so much to transport me home but just to transport me, the boys, the five bags, one saxophone and my fried rice to F-82.

We moved. We waited--more delay, It turns out that Tropical Storm Fay was taking up residence in North Florida and consequently flights were delayed in Miami. We ate (not without one of the pizzas spilling along the way which resulted in a great big, noisy, and dramatic melt-down by my very tired 8 year old--more entertainment for American Airlines personnel and our traveling companions.) and finally the words I had been longing to hear rang out as if sung with choir music in the background, “American Airlines flight 842 is now boarding for Santo Domingo”

Finally! We were finally headed home! The flight went smoothly, as tired as we were nobody even slept. The boys next with the window seats kept their eyes gazing out the windows, waiting for the moment when our island came into view. We landed just as the sun was setting. We crowded up next to the window to watch the beauty of the Caribbean coast with palm trees, little shack houses, and motorcycles zipping along the highway from high in the sky. As the plane landed, I felt like an Olympic runner that was finally coming to the finish line. Victory was in view!

Then after so much difficulty and obstacles an amazing, unexpected thing happened. We gathered our 17 bags, 1 guitar, 5 roller bags and the saxophone quickly and easily. We got up to the customs guys, ready to beg for mercy and they just waved us on through. It turns out that they did this because we were missionaries. (makes me grateful when I think of all my colleague who enter sensitive countries secretly and dangerously) We walked down the hall filled with beautiful photos of Dominican children and beaches, and tears came to my eyes. We made it!

Then I heard music coming from outside the door. It was merengue music. We heard cheering and singing. I wondered if there was a Dominican celebrity on our flight. Then I saw their faces. It was our family. Our missionary colleagues. Our staff. Young people all wearing their Kings Castle shirts singing and cheering. Then twenty little girls came running to me with hugs and kisses. It was the girls and boys from Bethesda children’s home. They had a bouquet of flowers and a bright yellow beautiful sign, with words written in gold glitter, “Welcome home to our Missionaries, Nelson, Rennae and family”

I became a blubbering, crying, happy, hugging, kissing mess! As we made our our way outside,( it took awhile, we had to hug and kiss them all!!!) all of a sudden we heard barking and then my boys went crazy! Joel brought our little miniature dachshund, named Holly, running to us on a leash. The boys had missed that dog so much during our 14 months of itineration in the US. They talked about her all the time and couldn’t wait to see her. Having her to there to greet us at the airport was a special gift.

Ketty, my ministry partner and director of the girls home brought us an enormous basket of fruit with papaya, mango, bananas, passion fruit along with a pizza, chicken, soda pop, and a cake. Now the beautiful cake with “Bienvenido familia de Freitas” had unfortunately been dropped at the airport and was not so beautiful but we ate it nonetheless.

We arrived home and our staff helped us get settled in, served us the food, washed the dishes, took 17 suitcases up the stairs and enjoyed the "dropped-on-the airport-floor "cake with us. Our missionary colleagues the Anonbys and the Bellos had stocked the cupboards with food. Elena Anonby made us a batch of homemade cookies and my favorite bran muffins that she makes (mmmmm!!) Sugeily had and arrangement of bird of paradise flowers (commonly found here in the DR) on the table.

Our friends left and we layed our tired bodies down to rest. What a day! We made it! We arrived safe and sound and it turned out that I didn’t need those ruby red slippers after all. But I am still quoting Dorothy, “There’s no place like home.”

Finding Significance in Insignificant Places

Last night was our last itineration service. We thought that we would only have a 10 min window to share and at the last minute the pastor asked us to preach. It was a great opportunity and we felt like our last service was one of our best.

This blog post was written a couple of months ago, here and there along the way. I wanted to post it before we arrived back to the DR. Just a couple more miracles to add to this digital miracle web log!

A few months ago, Nelson and I attended West Florida District Council. They gave each of the credentialed ministers a book, “Finding significance in insignificant places” by Randy Valimont. I could relate to that title. My mission field is little island in the Caribbean, my hometown is called Niceville, Florida. My home district is one of the smallest in our nation. All of this adds up to a pretty significant measure of insignificance!

Yet in all of our travels to places both significant and insignificant, we are blessed and inspired to hear the stories of miracles in the midst of obscurity. At the West Florida District Council, we found ourselves in the company of two these choice servants of God. Two pastors pastoring in what would seem to be the prize winner for the insignificant places award. They both have these amazing stories. It won’t be published in Newsweek or even the Pentecostal Evangel, (not exactly the most significant of magazines anyway!) But I wanted to make sure that their stories are told. Even if that means that only my boys will be the ones to read it!

I first met Ricky Teddar while he pastored in Appalachacola, FL. He faithfully pastored in this tiny church for several years. We were invited to preach at his church but a hurricane came through the Sunday that we scheduled our visit. HIs tiny church supported us $100 a month. I later found out that one of the members cleaned the church and the church paid her $100 a month. After seeing our video, she told the Pastor that she would clean the church for free if he would give the $100 that she usually received to our ministry. When Pastor Teddar told me I was so humbled that someone was sacrificing in such a big way for Jesus.

Recently Pastor Teddar took a new church that was struggling financially in our district. He said that the first thing he did in the midst of such economic difficulties was to have missions convention and recommit to their missionaries. Right away they saw God come through and stabilize the finances of the church. So the people began to plan to purchase a 23 passenger people mover bus. This was a big purchase, it would cost $57,000. Pastor Teddar decided that the first thing that they would do was give $5700 to Speed the Light. The young people got busy with fund raisers and in two weeks the Lord helped them to raise all of the $5700!! Everyone was excited!

But the next step was to raise the $20,000 down payment. The people sacrificed and gave and in just a matter of months they had the $20,000 down payment and were able to finance the rest of the $37,000. Just shortly after the bus was purchased a man in the community came by the church during a local outreach and he saw the bus. He found Pastor Teddar and began to ask him a lot of questions about the bus. Pastor Teddar thought his questioning was odd but other than that he didn’t give it much attention. Then just a couple days later he got a call from this man. The man asked him to come by his house. Pastor Teddar said it was a Wednesday night and extremely inconvenient for him but he made the time to visit this man anyway. That night the man wrote a check for $37,000. The bus was purchased free and clear! What a miracle. Now that’s significant!

Pastor Bo Sentirfitt is meek and mild mannered. He is so passionate about the Lord and his Global cause but you would never know it because of what he says, you know it because of what he does. I love his church because they are always serving their community. They bus kids in for Wednesday services, they feed the kids both supper and the Word of God. When the kids go back to school; the church does a huge outreach and gives out school supplies and backpacks. I believe that this is what a powerfully pentecostal church looks like.

His church is a very small church in the sticks of West Florida. But this year it was the number one missions giving church in the district. How did he surpass churches that are three times and more the size of his church? He got creative! The church bought a home and the people of the church donated time and supplies to renovate the home and then they sold it and made a SIGNIFICANT profit. So much for insignificance!

I don’t know if these guys have read the book, they wouldn’t need to. Obviously, they have found significance in insignificant places.

Becoming a Fan

If you are into Facebook then you know about Fan pages. Basically you can join an internet page that makes you a fan of almost anything or anyone. Starbucks has a fan page that is really popular, and there is Hannah Montana, Switchfoot, and Elvis. Of course, all of your sports teams have a fan page. I joined the Tampa Bay Rays. You can be a fan of a church or an organization. Joel Osteen has a fan page and so does the Batman movie. My sixteen year old son just joined the C.S. Lewis fan page. (My kid is so cool!)

As we come to the end of our itineration, (itineration: a missionaries one year in their home country to visit people and places, raise money and say thank you) I have been thinking about all the places and people that we’ve met. We have met so many unknown amazing people. Their stories may never be told in any magazine and they may never have a fan page on Facebook but if they did; I would want to join.

Mark and Jan Hall-- They began their missionary career in Mozambique. They both speak three languages and now as they reach retirement age you would think that they would be slowing down, but instead they have begun a whole new ministry here in the states. They work in San Antonio with the foreign military that have come to the united states to study language. They are reaching the whole WORLD right there in San Antonio. Muslims and Arabs have come to faith through their ministry and the ministry of local church that they partner with. I was especially blessed to meet a Dominican marine officer that they have been bringing to church. He absolutely loves the church and God is doing a work in his life. Mark and Jan say all that they really do is love these men and women into the Kingdom. That is why I am a fan of Mark and Jan Hall.

Judy Clark -- Judy is a Pastors wife and has been serving Jesus alongside her husband for years but just a couple of years ago she felt the spirit of God tugging at her heart and preparing her for a new phase of ministry. She wasn’t sure and she wrestled with it trying to find direction for awhile. Then the Lord opened up a door for her to work as a chaplain. She works in the area of Family services and has the privilege to pray and counsel with women involved in domestic violence, children victimized by abuse and couples going through divorce. She told me that in a years time she had met with over 200 individuals and had led 138 of those people to the Lord. I admire her so much, I would join her fan page as well.

The Hodums-- This is a pastoral family that have been our friends for years, but this time I was able to see how God uses this family in a small rural community in such a significant way. Their kids go to public school and they take being a campus missionary very seriously. Their teenage son, Andrew made friends with a guy that was kind of an outsider at school without any friends. Andrew invited him to church and got him involved with music at church and band at school. It turns out that he was from a broken home, a very sad situation. This boy gave his life to Jesus and is a totally different kid. The Hodums love him as if he were one of their own. He practically lives at their house. This is just one story, there are other kids as well but it would take too long to tell every story. Because of all these stories, I am a fan of the Hodums.

Woody Woodruff-- Woody is a great friend & partner in ministry. He has been helping us with MAPS building teams that are doing work on our project. But before he became a missionary associate, he was a successful businessman with his own welding business. He’s a hard worker and his business kept him away from his family and away from God. All that changed one day when his little girl sat on his lap and asked him to spend just three hours a week with her. He knew that he needed to spend time with his kids so he agreed and then she asked that those three hours be spent with her at church on Wednesdays and Sundays. Well, God got a hold of his heart, and as a result, his business and money and worldly success didn’t seem so important anymore. He sold his business, his custom built home and downsized so that he could do full time missions work. Now he travels the world using his welding skills to build a children’s home in Jamaica, churches in Africa and a children’s ministry center in the Dominican Republic. We are BIG TIME fans of Woody Woodruff.

Mary Jane Neville-- If you know us you have heard Nelson talk about Mary Jane. Mary Jane was the lady who led Nelson to the Lord at the age of nine. She did this through a Good News Club in his neighborhood. A Good News club is basically a Sunday school lesson held in someone’s home once a week after school. Mary Jane prepared memory verse games, stories and songs and the God used her to sow the seeds of God’s worn on my husbands heart. One day she gave Nelson a Bible and she wrote a date inside the cover; November 9th, 1974. That was the day that Nelson gave his heart to Jesus. Today Mary Jane lives in an assisted care facility and she still sends us offerings for our ministry. If Mary Jane had Facebook fan page, Nelson would be the first to join. I would be second.


These are just a few of my fan pages. I could write so many more stories. Just like me, you could probably write stories about unknown amazing people. So here’s my challenge to my blogging buddies. Tell their stories!! Don’t you think that Hannah Montana and Starbucks have enough fans? Let’s be fans of the unknown amazing people in this world.

Modern Day Slave Trade

The First Lady of Dominican Republic recently spoke out on the atrocity of trafficking and its implications on our island. Check out this article and then view my comments below.

“The Dominican Republic holds the dubious honor of occupying one of the top three slots in the Americas for its modern day slave trade. An estimated 50,000 Dominican women are estimated to be victims of human trafficking, and this figure does not include either men or children. According to Diario Libre, in her address to a seminar ‘Protection of persons affected by the slave trade’, First Lady Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez said that this exploitation of migrant women is a crime against the state and its victims are mostly the result of poverty, sexual or racial discrimination, marginalization and unequal development. The First Lady emphasized that the elimination of the people trafficking in all its manifestations is an urgent necessity and a high priority. The keynote speaker listed the factors that promote this treatment of human beings, mentioning economic difficulties, social violence, crime, the hope of a better life in developed countries ! and trickery by people in these countries. In order to eliminate the slave trade, it is necessary to eliminate these causes.
The First Lady pointed out the need to create a well-thought out, well-conceived strategic national plan of action in order to fight this most lucrative of crimes. She said that the Dominican Republic has been trying to combat the slave trade since 1999, starting with the creation of the Inter-Institutional Committee for the Protection of Immigrant Women (CIPROM) which was set up under Decree 97-99 and regulated by law 137-03 which outlaws such dealings.
US ambassador Robert Fannin said that the United States has urged the Dominican government to intensify its efforts to investigate and punish anyone who traffics in human beings, especially government officials of any rank.”


Dona Cedeno believes that “in order to eliminate the slave trade, it is necessary to eliminate the causes”. (i.e. poverty, violence, crime, deceptions, and the hope of a better life in developed nations) While I agree that these are issues that must be addressed, I know with all my heart that the real cause of the slave trade is a sin issue that can only be eliminated by a SAVIOR. With all my heart I am convinced that the only REAL hope for a girl caught up in the bondage of human trafficking is through the SUPERNATURAL authority of God Almighty, His risen and redeeming Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. So while I support every effort by the government to do what needs to be done, my heart longs to see a Spirit-filled, empowered CHURCH rise up in this issue. and bring the power of the Holy Spirit into the brothel, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus redeeming a red light district.

I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name Isaiah 45:3

The Source is the Same...

As we near the end of our year of itineration ministry, we are in our last big push to raise funds. Fund raising is not may favorite part of this ministry gig. But it is a necessary part. And God has always been faithful.
Last year I was so nervous and worried about the whole process of setting up our missions services. One day as I was praying the Lord reminded me that He was my source. Not the churches. Not the pastor. Not my communication ability. Not even the current US economy. He alone was my source so it didn't matter if I scheduled a service in a big church or a small home missions church. He has always been our provider and he remains to be Jehovah Jireh. Our source is always the same.
This past January our family had the privilege of going to Philadelphia, PA and learn about the history of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We came back from that trip inspired to write our own Declaration. Ours is a Declaration of Dependence.
I thought that I should share it on my blog, especially since we still lack the necessary funds to return in August. Our target date is the 18th of August. I find that I need to remind myself about that word from the Lord. (everytime we fill up the gas tank.) You, my dear reader, may need to hear it as well. Your Source is still the same.

de Freitas Family Declaration of DEpendence
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia!
Oh, yes!
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)

We believe
That the same God who provided a financial miracle for the provision for the purchase of Cima del Rey will provide it again.
We believe
That the current state of the economy in the USA bears no influence on the economy of heaven.
We believe
That the provision for us to return to the Dominican Republic does not depend upon our talents, abilities, or our opportunities.
We believe
That every offering and ministry opportunity is a testimony to the working of the Spirit within us and the Glory goes to God alone.
We believe
And stand upon the truth of Ephesians 3:20 that we serve a God who can do anything and can do far more than we could ever imagine, or guess, or request in our wildest dreams.
We believe
That no matter WHERE we go—bigchurch /little church, big crowd/ small crowd, no matter who the pastor is, or what the circumstances or the situation
Our Source is the same.
Signed and respectfully declared, this 24th day of the year of our Lord two thousand and eight,
Nelson, Rennae, Troy, Alexander, Marcus and Nicolas de Freitas

Peninsular Florida Girls Retreat (formerly Missionette retreat)-- My experience as special speaker

Girls retreat is over and I finally have a moment sitting with my coffee, my new MacBook named Maxi (name inspired by my new friend Sara who names everything) to reflect on a week of sharing the Word and the powerful Presence of Jesus with my sisterchics. 

Deborah Chapin, who happens to be one of my favorite people in this world, asked me to speak back in December. Looking back on it now, I don’t know what she was thinking!!! I have spent the last 15 years of my life in a small third-world country speaking spanish. On top of that, I am the mother of four BOYS, hello?  I honestly had NO CLUE as to how to minister to girls in the USA in ENGLISH!!! 

So as it got time to prepare I started to despair, I WAS TERRIFIED! And anytime that I get terrified -- you probably do this too-- I get down on my knees. I asked Jesus about it and he reminded me that I had been a missionary 15 years and that after 15 years I am pretty much an expert at studying culture and adapting. He reminded me that we have spent a lot of time working out the practical ways God’s Word must impact our lives within the good and the bad of culture. So.... it was time to study the culture of american girls and young women.

(lauging out loud here--while I type Nelson is doing the hula hoop on Wii Fit!!!! hahaha!! Composure.. ok...sorry... back to the story) 

So my first step was cable television, I watched Hannah Montana, iCarly, Zoey101 and the only thing I really learned from them was that my teenage wardrobe from the 80’s is actually in fashion again!!! I can truthfully say that I can live the rest of my life without watching Hannah Montana. So we had the wardrobe down...

Then I began to observe the girls at church and that’s when I God spoke to me. I got to know a girl whose family has been having a rough time financially, she’s a little socially awkward but she has become my friend. I noticed that the other girls at church ignore her. Then one day I heard a girl who loves Jesus and really is a great girl say to my socially awkward, financially struggling friend, “Didn’t you wear that shirt to church yesterday?” I watched my friend’s countenance change. Her face turned red, she fidgeted, she nervously tried to explain that it was a clean shirt... My soul was grieved. I began to look into this. I could see that there was something going on with girls that needed to be addressed by the WORD of GOD. 

Then God worked it out with my very own BFF, Rhonda Gray,  to help me. Boy did she help...She has a daughter, age 11 and she knows all about this stuff. We wrote a story together with the Holy Spirit. I love ministering with story -- just like Jesus did with the Parables. We felt led to hit the topics of friendship, bullying, cyberbullying, gossip and revenge. 

Rhonda and I became teenagers, Lexi and Chloe. Please, I know its weird to see two women in their thirties try to be teenagers. I hope that there is no you tube video that will come back to haunt me!! We had a blast and God moved in EVERY retreat. 

The small girls were so fun! We adapted the story a little bit but they actually were very engaged and they really loved the characters. I believe that even some of the little girls received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was beautiful to see them flood the altars when we gave an altar call. Nobody held back. I love that!!!

Then we ministered to 12-18 year old girls. Big Jump, but God showed up in a big way! One girl asked me, “Please pray that God will give me a friend, I am always left out.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks. 

The morning of this retreat, I was reading about Zaccheus and the Word jumped out at me of how Jesus looked up at Zaccheus and he called him by name. I felt impressed that the Lord would look at these girls, even the ones who were outcasts like Zaccheus. During altar call as we prayed, I looked over and my eyes met with this teenage girl and I got goosebumps, it was electrifying!!! I felt like a vessel and Jesus was looking at this girl. We prayed together and IT WAS POWERFUL! 

The Holy Spirit was poured out, several girls received and one girl stayed and stayed and stayed all by herself with just her leader. I mean she practically missed lunch. She was NOT gonna go home without the baptism. She didn’t!!! She was so excited. 

We also had a message in tongues. I had been really praying for the gifts to be in operation. THIS WAS AN ANSWER TO MY PRAYERs! Yay! An adult gave the message and I explained to the girls what it was all about. In my spirit I KNEW that the interpretation would come from one of the girls. I actually started to tell the girls, “the interpretation could be in one of you, it does not have to be an adult” but I didn’t say it thinking that I did not want to influence the work of the Spirit. It turns out that He does not need my help!!!! And sure enough a young girl came forward with a message! The Lord spoke through her saying to the girls, “You are not too young to influence your church, your school or your community”   Wow...so cool! 

Stars retreat was the last and in this one we ministered to the upper elementary girls. This is probably my favorite age. They were really in to it. They listened intently and really connected with the message. In all the retreats I felt passionate about communicating to the girls that God’s Word really APPLIES to our everyday walking around lives, even our friendships! (especially our friendships!) It is better than a teen magazine!!! 

They really went after God and it was awesome. LOTS of girls were filled with the Spirit and there was a beautiful healing presence. God did a lot of work healing emotions and heart hurts in all the retreats and it wasn’t just the girls. There were several leaders who told me that had to get free of past hurts. 

One last testimony. It was wonderful feel the gifts in operation. Gifts of knowledge and prophecy. But I especially asked the Lord to let his Word speak into the lives of the girls. Often as I ministered in the altars the Scriptures would flood my prayers. As I prayed over girls in the stars retreat I kept reminding the girls that the Lord God never would forget them. I prayed Isaiah 49:15-16

Can a mother forget her nursing child?

      Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

   But even if that were possible,

      I would not forget you!

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

In the altars as I ministered this scripture a little girl fell out under the power of God and she just wailed. It was almost gut-wrenching, yet I knew at the same time Jesus was doing a beautiful work. It turns out that this child has been in and out of foster care and most recently her Stars leaders had to turn in her step father for child abuse. Big time stuff that ONLY JESUS can really heal. And in that moment the Holy Spirit hovered over her and it was as though He was holding her in that altar and healing her.

Well that is my story. Jesus did his thing and I got to be a part of it!!! Except for the few times that I forgot to pray in English with the girls (crazy--I am so used to ministering in Spanish in the altars) and for the demons in the sound system, (but I’m used that) it was a week of victories for everyone myself included. 

Oh and one last thing-- Pray for me, I am working hard to remove  “like” “totally” “awesome” and “cool” from my every-other-word vocabulary. You should have heard me in church yesterday!!! lol!!!

Human Trafficking in Dominican Republic

The Persons in Trafficking report was just recently released and it doesn’t show much improvement on the part of the government of our beloved island of Dominican Republic. The fact of the matter is that I know that the hope for children of our country will never be found in any government solutions. The real hope for a little girl in the bondage of prostitution in the tourist zones of our island can only be found through the power of Jesus Christ. That power is most often presented to those girls through a walking and talking and loving and “being with” relationships with Spirit-filled believers. It is my passion to see the church, the Pentecostal church, in particular become a powerful force for transformation in the lives of boys and girls who live in the filth of bars and brothels. 

Today I am thinking about my friends in Boca Chica. Angela, Natalie, Jaquelin. Their journey towards transformation was just beginning when I left. I am wondering about the three girls in a little town where the traffickers are very active. Their aunt had been taken to Argentina and was dying of AIDS. She would never return to her homeland because of the disgrace that it would cause her family. I’ll never forget 16 year old Miseidy asking me “When will we see you again? When can you come back to visit us?” 

We have just a few months left to raise the remaining part of our budget to be able return in August. Please pray for God to provide and pray for the boys and girls in Dominican Republic that are victimized EVERY DAY, yes even TODAY.

Below I have posted a summary about the report from the Dominican Republic’s English news website www.DR1.com

Persons Trafficking report


The 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report from the US State Department highlights the DR as a Tier 2 country and urges the country to increase efforts to bring human traffickers to justice. The report also urged the DR to emphasize pursuing "complicit high-ranking government officials" who partake in this illegal activity." The Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. A large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti, and other Caribbean destinations. A significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude." The report indicates that the Dominican government has made some attempt to curb the illegal trafficking of people. "The Government of the Dominican Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so." 
For more information see: www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2008/

The Source

This morning I woke up with a headache and I went directly to my medicine cabinet and picked up the Tylenol. I didn't even take a moment to ask my healing Savior for help. I didn't really need his help I guess because I had Tylenol. Kinda sad, huh?

Yesterday I was talking with a woman and her daughter after our church service and her daughter was excited about a missions trip that she was going to be taking in the summer. The mother commented that she thought that it would be good for her daughter to see places and people that have to rely completely on the Lord because they live in meager circumstances.

Living in the Dominican Republic I often find myself in those places and with those people. Our conversation reminded me of a time when I learned the importance of faith in the healing Savior and not on medicine or some gringo missionary. I shared it with this mother and daughter and I thought that I should post it today...
The Source
The baby’s fever was high. His little body was lethargic and limp. The mother’s face was familiar to me. I know it. I have lived it. If you are a mother, you have lived it too. It is that appearance that comes with worry for your baby; the expression of having your child’s well-being totally out of your control and so you look for a source of healing.She went to the doctor. It took all of her resources, she spent her last peso, but this is what you do when your baby is sick. The doctor wrote the prescription and sent her on to the pharmacy to get the medicine that would cure the fever. It was easy. She just needed medicine. But she spent her last peso… And so she returned home with the source of her babies healing written on a piece of paper.

When I heard the mother’s story I was ready to get that piece of paper and buy that medicine because this is what a mother does when her baby is sick. Yet the Spirit of God spoke so clearly to me, “I am the Source, you are not.” We prayed. When my hand touched that baby’s forehead that lay upon his mother’s shoulder I felt the burn of the fever. We said Amen. The baby was still hot. Doubt arose within me and the still small voice that I know so well repeated in its still, small way “I am the Source, you are not”.

I began to talk to the mother she told me that she fell away from God and her soul was really not at peace with Him. We prayed. We asked God to be the Source of forgiveness, salvation and healing. We said Amen. The baby lifted his head from his mommy’s shoulder. I touched his forehead once again; the fever was gone! He smiled and so did we because in that we moment we all had experienced a personal encounter with The Source.

I am so glad that when Tylenol doesn't work or the money runs out, if the doctor is not in the village or the diagnosis is inoperable... there is a Supernatural Source for anyone, anywhere.

Sam's Three Dollars

After our service at Treasure Coast Assembly of God, a little boy named Sam handed me three dollars. He looked at me with big blues eyes welling up with tears and said, “It’s not much but its all I have…” The Holy Spirit had clearly spoken to his heart as we shared about our work with the children of Dominican Republic in his children’s church. No one passed an offering plate and nobody told him to go give the missionaries his money but his heart was touched and he had to do something to help a place with so much need.

When Sam pulled those three dollars out of his pocket, it was like I was standing with the little boy with five loaves and two fish. (You know the story found in John chapter 9) The Bible doesn’t say how old he was but I can just imagine him like a ten year old boy. He could have thought that his lunch was nothing compared to so much need, so much hunger. Yet he decided that he could give it to Jesus. I wonder why. Could he see the possibility of the miracle? Or was he simply obedient when given the opportunity to participate in meeting a need? Who knows but I like to think that maybe it was the latter. He simply obeyed. When Andrew found him, he was willing to do his part.

I love this story. I love the miracle. I love that I serve a God with the power of multiplication. That is why my meager gift is meaningful. He didn’t need the lunch to do the miracle yet he gave that little boy an opportunity to participate. And that opportunity had nothing to do with his credentials, he was just a little boy, or the quantity of his offering, obviously he barely had anything to offer. It was all about participation.

Over this past year we have received a lot of offerings. Every offering is a blessing and gift from God. But this one was extra special. Maybe because it the gift was from a ten year old, but mostly because it was all he had. Sam could thought “why give such small gift when there is so much need?” He could have thought that his three dollars would be better spent on something for himself, yet instead he decided to participate. I believe that Sam is doing his part in a miracle of multiplication.

At the end of children’s church, we gave all the kids a peso coin and a prayer card. We asked the children to pray for us. Sam told me that he would make sure and pray for us. I got a letter from Sam just this past week. Let me share a portion…

Dear Mr. and Mrs. deFreitas,

When you came to Treasure Coast Assembly, it was great. I learned

a lot about your missionary service. I liked it very much. You were very

kind to me, too.

Your sermon was very nice and I liked the message that you gave to us.

I liked your talk so much that I decided to change the subject of my research

paper to the Dominican Republic. I thought it would be good to know

more about your area of the world.

It is really important that you keep on preaching and helping others turn to Christ.

I am taping the peso that you gave me in the notebook. I would tape your prayer card in also but my Mom washed it in my pants pocket. We're hoping that Miss Peggy can find someone who isn't using theirs every day so we can copy it at Staples.

Your friend from Treasure Coast Assembly,

Sam

The Witch in the Bathroom

My last week in the Dominican Republic was probably one of the most special weeks of my life. For the past couple of years I have been working with a wonderful woman Ketty Figueroa. Ketty is an educator, pastor’s wife, and minister who began a small school in a barrio slum of the capital city of Santo Domingo many years ago. Since 2004, Ketty has been a part of the outreach we have been doing to reach girls involved in prostitution. It was through this outreach that Ketty felt the need to begin a children’s home to receive children of prostitutes and abandoned kids that we were finding through our contacts in the red light districts. Ketty had no funding except from her local church where she and her husband were pastors. The church found a home to rent they relied on donations of clothing and food for the children.

The home that she was renting was really falling apart and not an adequate place for the children. The bathrooms had plumbing problems and they always smelled like urine. Yet at least in this home the children were loved, fed, educated and taken to church. I began to dream with Ketty about a new home for the kids. It was my sincere desire to help her purchase a home so that the church’s money could provide for the needs of the girls. In response to our prayers God sent the Women’s Ministries of Colorado and Utah to help us. The women raised enough money to pay for one year’s rent on a better and bigger home. They also came to paint and fix it up.

After one week of renovation work on the new house, we would bring the kids in to see their new home and celebrate with a party for all the children of the home. The women had brought new clothes and shoes for all the children. They also brought a brown baby doll for each one of the 17 girls and trucks for the 2 boys. Needless to say the children were elated and thrilled with all the blessings. Each girl found their bed full of gifts and began to play with the baby dolls and try on their new cloths.

For me it was one of the BEST days of my life. It was as though the combined joy of each one of the children was heaped inside my heart. I laughed and played with the girls as they looked over their gifts. One of the girls, Daysi, caught my eye as she admired the beautiful new purple butterfly dress that was given to her.

Daysi is eleven years old and the oldest of three sisters that came to Ketty through contacts in the brothels of Boca Chica. She is one of the quieter girls in our home. She LOVES to get attention and longs for it, but she would never demand it. It is as though she feels unworthy of any special attention. So I wanted to make sure that I shared with her this special moment.

“Daysi, would you like to try on your new dress?” I asked.

She smiled and nodded.

“Let’s go change in the bathroom.” I responded.

A worried look replaced the excitement in her face. “Will you come with me?” she asked.

“Of course.” I found it somewhat strange that she wanted my help to change in the bathroom but I was delighted to share with her this special moment. As we entered the bathroom she almost froze with fear and explained with a quivering voice, “I’m scared to go into the bathroom alone.”

“Why Daysi? What’s wrong?”

She then began to explain that before Sister Ketty had taken her in she lived in a horrible place that had a witch in the bathroom. All of the sudden our giddy happiness was replaced with the haunting past. I had so many questions about this “witch in the bathroom”. Yet I sensed that these answers and explanations could never erase the fear that I saw in those beautiful chocolate brown eyes---only the powerful work of Jesus could erase that fear.

“Daysi,” I responded, “I want you know that this place is nothing like the place where you used to live. The place where you used to live may have been filled with many awful things and awful experiences but this new home if filled with love. There is love in the kitchen and love in the bedrooms and even the bathrooms are filled with love. I want to pray right now and ask Jesus to erase your memory of the witch in the bathroom.

“Jesus,” I began, “by the power and authority of your mighty name I ask you to remove every awful memory in the mind of my precious Daysi. Come in this moment Holy Spirit and may your presence erase the haunting image of the witch so that it could never enter her thoughts again. I come against the enemy and his wickedness and I remind him that this home is dedicated to the glory of God alone and that these children are precious treasures that belong to Almighty Father God. I pray that every day Daysiwill grow in the knowledge of her Heavenly Father’s love and may that perfect love take away every fear. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.”

Tears were glistening on both of our cheeks when I finished praying. The fear in Daysi’s face was replaced with a big smile. “How about trying on your dress?” I asked. She nodded with excitement and quickly changed her clothes.

Looking at her with that pretty butterfly dress, I reminded Daysi that the butterfly was once an ugly caterpillar. His past was ugly but his new life is beautiful. I told her that she is very much like that butterfly. The past may have been ugly but now everything is new. She has new home and a new life and her future is certain to be beautiful.