A Walk in Bonis' White Shoes

Bonis has some nice white shoes. Seriously, I have always admired how white he keeps those shoes walking around here in the Dominican Republic. Bonis is a missionary intern from Castillo del Rey (King's Castle) in Nicaragua. And as a missionary, Bonis is walking the walk of faith in those white shoes. He has come here on a very tight budget and there are days when he doesn’t have a peso to his name. Today was one of those days.

Today he was supposed to come the office and share devotions in our staff meeting. The title of his message was to be “The benefits of obedience”. He walked out the door not sure how he would get to office and praying for God to provide transportation some how, some way. He has been serving in a small town 45 minutes away from our offices, so it was going to be a long walk in those white shoes.

As he walked Bonis contemplated what he would share in devotions. He had hardly walked just a few blocks when a car pulled over. It was someone Bonis had never seen before. Bonis explained to us that it turned out to be a brother who had seen him at an evangelistic event. The brother offered him a ride to the capital.

This morning we were all encouraged; there was not a dry eye in our devotions. We all understood. Every one of us is walking this walk of faith, in one way or another --just without the white shoes.

Day 1 continued-- Beautiful Feet

It wasn't long before the men of the village pulled together some corn from the crop that was growing on the mountain. They made a fire with the old husks, and cooked us some corn. Some of it even popped up like popcorn! It was dry and not very sweet, most likely due to the scarcity of water in the region. The sweetness of this corn was really found in the act of sharing. We had brought goodies for them, but they also gave of what they had to us. On this side of the island, we have erroneously believed that Haiti is full of people that always take, and never give.


We then gathered together in the church, and Pastor Samuel told the story of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16. He must have been an amazing storyteller because the people were mesmerized, and the children were completely quiet. We did a program, and a prayer tunnel. We prayed for everyone on that mountain. It took awhile; I think we counted over 200 people squeezed in the little church.

Among those 200 people I saw a woman who was wearing a familiar shirt. I took a second look, and realized it was the same shirt that was given to my boys when we visited Life Church in Roanoke, VA. Now, this was amazing to me because we were really in a remote place. How did that shirt get to somebody way up on this mountain? I asked Pastor Samuel. He was not nearly as amazed, and I loved his answer:

“Sister Rennae, you say that shirt was from an Assemblies of God church. Well this church is an Assemblies of God church, and we are all one family. Pastor Bill (Bill Smith, our AGWM missionary) is always giving us donations to take up the mountain. We load up our back packs and mules, and bring whatever he gives us.”

Each of the kids received cookies, a pair of flip-flops, and the Book of Hope. They were thrilled! Then we began our walk down the mountain. As we walked, some of the children followed, holding our hands to keep us from falling. It was steep going down! I noticed that my little traveling companion had no shoes. Flip-flops would be useless for going down this mountain. I had been regretting the whole day that I was doing this hike in converse tennis shoes knowing that I had a perfect pair of hiking shoes in my closet. My regret quickly turned to gratefulness for my undeserved abundance.



Coming down the mountain we took time to stop and eat our lunch. Granted, it was about 4:00 pm, but there was no way that we could have eaten while at the church with people who had such need. We had brought a few extra sandwiches, but our traveling friends were more than we expected. So we prayed for the multiplication of bread, and God supplied the need. The funny thing was, that just like there were leftovers in the story of the Gospels, we also ended up with leftover sandwiches!!!

Coming down the mountain, I looked around at my tired, smelly, and filthy team. Our shoes were dirty from the hard climb. But one thing is for sure, our feet were BEAUTIFUL!

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Isaiah 52:7

Day 1 Walking and Singing Together...

"If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together." African Proverb

During our training days I shared this African proverb with the warriors. We talked about how missions requires partnership. In order for us to go to the ends of the earth we would have to be committed to the long walk TOGETHER. Little did I know that we would LITERALLY be walking far together during our trip to Haiti.

Pastor Miguel told us that we would have to be up early the next day (4:00 AM) because we would be traveling far into the mountains. He was taking us to a place called Pino that no foreign team, American or any other country for that matter, had ever been. He said that even the UN had not visited this place because it was so remote. For places like Pino, humanitarian supplies are dropped from helicopters. We drove up in a tap-tap (a converted pick-up truck that holds passengers in the truck bed on small benches) and met Pastor Samuel and his wife along the way. Pastor Samuel pastors an A/G church in Port –a- Prince that planted this church in Pino. It is the only evangelical church for these mountain people. Pastor Samuel’s church also sponsors the children to go to school right there in the church. It was a two-hour drive up through the mountains to get to the bottom of the Pino Mountain.

Our wonderful missionary host, Miguel Ovalle, kind of left out a detail when he told us that we would be walking three hours to this remote community. He neglected to mention that we would be climbing a mountain. As we climbed this mountain it became very clear as to why we were the first foreigners to visit Pino. It was a STEEP desert mountain filled with cactus. We had one mule that carried our water and our puppet stage and then each of us had a backpack full of ministry supplies like cookies and candy, copies of the Book of Hope, our lunch and a big bottle of water.

As we gathered ourselves together at the bottom of Pino we saw a group of women and children washing clothes and filling buckets with water. This was the river that served the mountain people. This was the only water that they had access to. From this river we walked three hours to get to the community where the Pino Assemblies of God church was located. I snapped a picture of the children with buckets of water on their head; amazed at their ability, and also struck by the harsh reality of their daily lives.

We walked together Dominican missionaries with American missionaries, Haitian pastors, Dominican Castle warriors and Haitian castle warriors and as we walked we shared. We learned Creole along the way. We laughed together. We learned together. Pastor Samuel showed us the Voo-Doo witchdoctor houses. He showed us trees with Voo-doo symbols and he reminded us that this was the ONLY church in these mountains while Voo-doo places ofworship are scattered throughout the mountains.

Voo-Doo temple that we saw as we climbed the mountain

Pino Assemblies of God Church

When we finally made it to the top of the mountain we were greeted by the community of believers that was waiting for us at the church. The humble church was made with wooden poles and palm leaves for the siding. The roof was made of tin; the floor was a dirt floor with small wooden benches. (My friend Shirley, who used to be a missionary to Haiti, calls them "cut-your-butt" benches, which is a much better description)

Upon our arrival Pastor Samuel gathered us all together on that mountaintop standing outside of the church with the mountain views all around us. He said “Let us give thanks to the Lord for bringing us safely”. We expected him to begin with a prayer but instead he began to sing. The words were strange to us in Creole but the tune was well-known by all who were gathered on that mountain. He sang “How Great Thou Art” and as he sang I heard my beloved Dominicans join in “Mi Corazon entona la cancion, cuan grande es El…” It was overwhelming. Tears filled my eyes because I knew that I was in the middle of the most beautiful moment. It was as though the complicated political, cultural border that divided these two countries was magnificently erased by the beauty and greatness of the God who had brought us together.

Check back again for more of Day 1.

Getting rid of my shades…

Ninoska, a Castle Warrior and I at the border about to cross into Haiti

For sixteen years I have lived, worked, and loved this island that is known as Quisqueya. Our work has been on the Dominican side and it was only this past week that I finally was able to cross to the Haitian side. Going to the other side was an amazing experience that has enriched my life tremendously and changed everything that I ever believed about Haiti.

The Dominican Republic and Haiti share the same piece of land in the Caribbean and they also share a difficult history. The history between these two countries is a road stained with conflict, racial prejudice and hatred. The result is a border that separates the languages, the culture, the sport, religious tradition but most tragically, the people. Everything that I ever understood about Haiti until this past week I understood with a Dominican understanding. It was like I was looking across the border with a pair of tinted glasses. I was close enough to see Haiti but my view was darkened by those Dominican shades.

I could see Haiti because so much of Haiti is here. There are Haitian Beteyes (Haitian communities usually for the purpose of farming) where we have been active in ministry for years. There is the history of independence from Haiti. Dominicans celebrate independence from Haiti. Independence was won in this city, Santo Domingo and my children have studied in a Dominican school. I have visited the monuments and sang the songs of liberty. My neighbors across the street are Haitian and I have missionary colleagues that plant churches among the Haitian community. Haiti has always been here, but I have never been to Haiti.

Last week, we took a team of Dominicans (Kings Castle warriors) to work with our missionary Miguel and Mairelys Ovalle in Port-a-Prince. Miguel has been a part of Castle practically from the beginning of Castle here in the DR. He and his wife are THE ONLY Dominican missionaries the LIVE FULL TIME in Haiti. They are giving their lives to reach the children of Haiti and that speaks volumes to the Haitian church.

If you could hear each story you would find that each of the Dominican Castle warriors would tell you about someone in their lives who did not understand why they wanted to go to Haiti. Someone who did not think it was worth the money to be spent on one week in a place of so much hopelessness. But this is a group of warriors they have heard the call to go to the other side and together we took off the shades of our understanding and got to see Haiti in a whole new light.

What the note DIDN'T say...

She ran to me with a little note covered in butterfly stickers and placed it in my hands. "Take this to Julie*. I don’t want her to forget me."

I opened the note knowing that I would have to translate it for Julie. Julie didn’t speak Spanish. Yet even without the benefit of the language she had made a special connection with this little girl. A child who once lived as a slave in a miserable shack before she came to Bethesda Home.

The note read:
To: Julie
From: Alejandra
Julie I love you so much. Thank you for coming to share with us at Bethesda Home. Thank you for the shoes. Julie, I will always remember you. Thank you for coming to share with us. I love you Julie.

Julie
&
Alejandra
Friends Forever

What the note didn't say, but what I know is in her thoughts everyday was this question, “Will Julie remember me?”

Julie came with a team of women from her church and they spent just one week with the Bethesda Home children. That week was a special time for the children as they tremendously enjoy all the attention and mother love. Now, they ask about the ladies all the time and they cherish the photos that we put on the wall to remember our time together. And every time I visit, they ask me if the ladies remember them.

Bethesda Home is a home for abandoned and at-risk children. Some have mothers who are prostitutes and drug addicts; some have been rescued from domestic abuse and slavery. Sister Ketty began this beautiful rescue in 2004 and along with the partnership of her local church and other ministries; she has been able to rent a house for these children. The house that they currently live in is up for sale.

Last Thursday I sat down with Sister Ketty after she called to tell me to pray about a meeting that she was to have with the lawyers representing the house. The owners are now giving us two months to purchase the house or they will be forced to take it back.

So today we find ourselves in anticipation of a REALLY BIG MIRACLE. The owners are asking $250,000. This is a very large home and the PERFECT location for the home. We really do not want to lose this house.

Please pray for Bethesda home and Sister Ketty as we walk this journey toward our miracle. Ask the Holy Spirit how you can be a part and then ACT in FAITH & OBEDIENCE. You will never regret it.

I feel a lot like Alejandra. We were blessed to meet some amazing women on the teams that came to visit but there is that nagging question in the back of my mind. It's what the note didn't say. After the ladies left, “Will they remember Bethesda Home?”

PLEASE consider helping us. You can make a secure online contribution by clicking this link http://tiny.cc/BethesdaHome Please note Project #14261 Class #62 in the comment field.

Or you can send your contribution to:
Assemblies of God World Missions
1445 Boonville Ave
Springfield, MO 65802
Mark your check or money order for project #14261 Bethesda Home Dom. Rep.

*some names have been changed to protect the identity of those involved

World Water Day

In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. The Dominican Republic, like the majority of developing world countries, has serious problems with water supply.

Many people live without running water and for those who do, they must deal with the reality of constant water shortages. Also, like other majority world countries the running water is not potable which results in sickness and disease.

Dealing with this water issues in the country is a part of daily life and our ministry as we work to serve the needs of this country. Yet the issue that is of greatest concern to me is solving the problem of spiritual thirst. Jesus is the real answer to the world’s water problems not digging a well (not to minimize well-digging BRING IT ON!!!) Yet even with contaminated water I have seen God’s people live joyful abundant lives! You see it everywhere in this country. So my passionate quest is to get to the ones in this country who have the least access to living water. And my compassionate actions i.e. well digging and grocery giving, are the tangible demonstration of the eternal, rescuing and thirst quenching message that I am compelled to PROCLAIM.

Friday night I stood in the rain on a street corner with a group of shivering, scantily dressed girls huddled under cardboard boxes. They were there to sell their bodies. We were there to offer them water.

I put my arm around my new friend Luzmely*, three months pregnant holding a saturated piece of cardboard over her head. I asked her if she would trade her piece of cardboard for my umbrella. She smiled at my absurdity, but gladly made the trade.

My friend Rita told the story of the Samaritan woman and her encounter with Jesus. I was amazed at how these girls were totally captivated by the story. As Rita shared, cars stopped at the corner waiting for a girl to come to the car in order to be whisked away into the night. Yet the girls would not move; they wanted to hear the story. Meanwhile, I noticed that one car circled around three times!

It was like Jesus was there with us Friday night just like he was with the Samaritan woman—offering water! As the rain fell on us, we did what Jesus would do, we offered them water, but not contaminated water, not water that is always in short supply. We offered living water. And with all the rain, we all went home drenched, both literally and spiritually!

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” --Jesus Christ

My journey with Maireda*

Maireda’s story begins in the fall of 2006 when I first began this post…

It has been a hard road to walk but I am grateful for the opportunity to follow Jesus wherever he may be leading me. Fourteen years ago, when I first responded to the call, I could not have expected that it would take me to abandoned buildings in far off fields to find a prostitute and her baby. Yet, it is whenever I am walking those kinds of roads I feel the closest to my Savior. I feel his compelling motion in my feet looking for that girl and his abundant love swelling in my chest in those awful brothels. As dark as the brothel is, and I’ll never understand this, but I feel so close to Jesus there. I feel so near to his heart. It is the weirdest thing. I never imagined that it could be like that in those dark, dismal places.

Every time I go to Boca Chica I am amazed at the absolute misery and darkness that abounds there. Just when I thought that I had heard or seen the worst there is to hear or see, something else hits us. This past Saturday was no exception. We went first to find Soraidy* a fifteen year-old prostitute with a one-month old baby. She lives with her prostitute mother in an abandoned building with no running water or electricity. We arrived kind of late, just in time actually, because we caught them just before they were going out to find a trick. They were all dressed up with all the make-up and skimpy clothes. Even the baby was dressed up in the clothes that I had brought to her on my last visit. I found that odd, but I was so glad that she didn’t just leave the baby as she did on one other occasion according to our sources. Soraidy was not so happy to see us. You could tell that she felt caught. We prayed for her and we told her that we would not give up on her or her baby. The baby (just two months old) still had sores all over her body from the STD. We left and on our way out of the building we heard a baby crying in another room. It was a baby boy, obviously mal-nourished and lying naked on two rotting, dirty sponge mattresses with a gun lying beside him. When we looked in on him a man came out of the shadows and asked what we wanted. We asked about the mother. He told us that the mother was working and he was looking after the baby. He said that he was one of the guards of the building. We recognized that we were in a dangerous position. So we left quickly. It was so freaky and absolutely heartbreaking; I wanted to pick up the baby and run, yet I was completely impotent in the situation. Anyway, one of the ladies is following up on that one.

Next we made a stop at an orphanage to pick up a little girl. Sister Ketty, my ministry partner, has a little children’s home in Santo Domingo, our capital city where we both live. Anyway, Ketty was told that this particular orphanage desperately needed help with a little girl that was having a hard time there. When we got there, we found out that the girl is too old for Ketty’s home. She is 11 and Ketty’s home will only take in girls under the age of 8. Well, this little girl senses that something has happened and I see her standing chewing her fingernails, her face nervous with fear. We try to reassure her best that we can. I began to distract her asking her about her little back pack. She showed me a brand new little bear that she was given because she was going to be leaving the home. The director of the home pulls me aside and shows me her case history. The girl’s mother was going to sell her to a trafficker that was using kids’ eyes for transplants! It was a horrible situation. I will never forget that little girls eyes. They were beautiful chocolate brown, but full of fear. She did not need words to communicate because her eyes said it all. I pulled Ketty aside, and I implored Ketty to ask the Holy Spirit about what to do. Ketty looked at me and said, “We need to take her, don’t we?” So in that split second we made a decision that I am convinced transported that girl from darkness to light. Her name was Maireda. Ketty gave Maireda a big hug and said, “Let’s go because it is time for you to go to your new family.” THOSE EYES! They danced with delight in response. When we got in the car she wanted to give me her bear to thank me for taking her to her new family. Here was a little girl with absolutely everything that she owned it a little backpack and she wanted GIVE AWAY her teddy bear. I was incredibly humbled by such extravagant generosity.

Maireda arrived at the home and for the next several weeks she struggled to adapt. She was angry and was abusive to the other children. In the meantime, one of Maireda’s family members asked for her to be returned. Ketty sent her back to live with her family. I was crushed. I felt like we had rescued her from darkness to light only to send her back to the misery and darkness of poverty. So I never finished this post. There was no real happy ending.

Two years later…

Meanwhile Ketty never really gave up on Maireda. She kept tabs on her and paid for her to attend school and get her books and materials. Maireda was passed around to different family members but mostly ended up with an aunt. Unfortunately, we came to find out that Maireda was basically a slave at her aunt’s house. She cooked, cleaned and did all the laundry. She was never paid and often was unable to attend school because of all of her responsibilities. During the Christmas holidays Maireda came to stay at Bethesda Home but Ketty promised that aunt that Maireda would return after Christmas.

During Christmas Ketty called me and explained the situation. Maireda had asked about me often during my time in the states and now that I was back they asked if I could come by to see her. I was thrilled! Seeing those beautiful eyes made my heart smile. She was so glad to be back at the home and she asked me if she could please stay. She begged me for my phone numbers and I gave them to her and the next day she was returned to her aunt.

Two days later Maireda called me and asked me to call her right back. The cell phone was out of minutes. I called her but I could not get a hold of her. I wondered what was going on. Maireida was able to get in touch with Ketty. She now felt brave enough to tell Ketty that her uncle was beating her and her uncle’s 17 year old son was abusing her. She wanted out. She wanted to go to school. “I promise to be good. Please take me back. Please.”

Ketty could not refuse. She went to find Maireda. Evidently she had been moved again and Ketty had to search throughout the barrio looking for Maireda. People even warned Ketty, “This is a dangerous area of town; you shouldn’t be down in these neighborhoods.” Ketty was not concerned. She was committed to finding this little lamb.

Today Maireda is back at Bethesda Home. She desperately wants to stay and we are committed to keeping her. Yet I know that there may be family issues and custody issues that will need to be worked out.

Yesterday at the home we were talking about how wonderful it is to have Maireda back home. Auntie Trina told how mama Ketty went to find her. As I listened it reminded me of the parable of the shepherd who went searching for the lost lamb. I told Maireda that she was our lost lamb. She smiled a great big smile and tucked her head under in embarrassment. I lifted her little chin to see her smile but what I really saw were those chocolate brown eyes –dancing with delight!

So is this our happy ending? For now it is, but I have learned that in this walk with Jesus there is no ending— just a journey and our destiny is not temporal happiness but joy everlasting.


"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." Matthew 18:10-14


*names and identities have been changed to protect the privacy of persons involved.

Impossible Tasks

Here in Dominican Republic it is not uncommon to see all kinds of things being transported in unusual ways.

I have seen a family of six riding on a small motorcycle.

I have seen seven children going to school on a motorcycle.

I have seen a washing machine strapped to a motorcycle.

I have seen 20ft bundles of rebar being dragged by the passenger on the motorcycle.

I have seen tricycles, bikes, that served as the local garbage collectors piled so high that the driver could not see what was in front of him.

But in my humble missionary opinion this photo wins the prize. I love it!For me it is the perfect metaphor for our lives and ministry at this moment. Here we are given a task that just seems impossible to accomplish given the resources that we possess.

On our island slavery is a HUGE issue. Over 300,000 children are enslaved through forced labor or prostitution. I am just trying to save 27.

Drug abuse and drug trafficking are out of control. Just a few days ago, Yudi, one of our missions students, got a call saying that her brother was murdered by drug traffickers. Now she has two brothers that are dead because of drugs. Yudi is the ONLY Christian in her whole family. We are committed to see this one young, spirit filled women be the transformational generation in her family.

There are still 6,620 unreached people groups in the world. In India alone there are 2,190 unreached people groups. Misael and Deborah, newly appointed missionaries from Dominican Republic have a passion to reach just one of these groups. They are presently raising support from our Dominican churches to go. Our job is to train them to go and train our churches to send these missionaries.

So given such a sizable task, we can sit and look at this big job and complain about the economy and how few resources we have, or we can put the car on the bike and make it happen. We choose to make it happen.

What is your impossible task? Are you waiting for the economy to improve before you make it happen? Are you waiting for the perfect timing and better circumstances when all the while if you just took a chance on what you you had right in front of you, your mustard seed could actually MOVE A MOUNTAIN.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." --Jesus in Luke 17:20

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.”