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I am back home in Santiago!
After 52 days, 9 states, 7896 miles by both land and air, and 42 official and personal supporter visits, I am back in the Dominican Republic.
Today Thanksgiving is being celebrated in the US, and I wanted to share my own thanksgiving for the hospitality, love, and encouragement shown by all the people I had the opportunity to meet with during my time in the US. As I have transitioned back to life here over the last two weeks (read more below), I’ve been identifying with these sentiments that Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to those in Philippi, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:3-7)
Each of you are playing an important role in the sharing of the Gospel, in your own homes and communities, as well as throughout the world. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial support of LCMS missionaries throughout the world make it possible for those individuals and families to keep their feet on the ground where they have been sent!
Thanks be to God! ¡Gracias a Dios!
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First week back…
For the third time in the last 18 months, our regional staff welcomed the Venezuelan pastors to the Dominican Republic for a week of rest, food, study, fellowship, project planning, and encouragement. Our logistics and volunteer coordinator, Erin, was out on assignment with a short term team, so I took over the reigns of this event with our new missionary, Courtney.
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Once again, I took charge of a medicine project, funded by a special mercy grant through the LCMS. A lack of access to medicines is one of the biggest struggles our Venezuelan brothers and sisters are experiencing. We have partnered with Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO) and the Lutheran Church of Chile to regularly send medicines into the country, however there are some meds that just can’t be mailed or will never make it past customs. That’s where I come in. Special medicines that are needed (ie. insulins, inhalers) are among the requests I fill and work with the pastors to carry back home. Along with specialized medicine requests, we also send basic medicines to each congregation so they can be a hand of mercy in their community (ie, vitamins, pain pills, cold and flu treatment, parasite treatment, basic antibiotics).
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It was a blessing to be in the company of these pastors again, to serve them, and to watch my team serve them! Thanks be to God for their safe arrival back to their homes, families and churches. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in Venezuela in your prayers!
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Disaster Response
Respuesta de Desastre
Pastor Arturo Maita visited from Puerto Rico this past week to attend the Venezuela FORO and train local Dominicans from the churches and communities in Disaster Response. Thanks be to God!
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The mission in Licey began hosting a ladies’ meeting once a month. Last week’s devo was led by Pastor Yban Navarro, and his wife Marta helped lead a Christmas craft. The meetings are a great opportunity for laughter, sharing, and learning a bit more about the women of the Bible. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this community! Thanks be to God!
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Have you caught a theme?
Thanks be to God! Gracias a Dios!
What are you thankful for today?
Don’t forget to send up a prayer of thanksgiving for our Savior, His death and resurrection on our behalf, and the new life you have through Him! Pray also for your missionaries who are sharing that message around the world!
I’m getting back into work and ministry here, catching up with updates on things when I was gone, and looking forward to beginning new projects. I am looking forward to keeping you updated on how the Lord is working through His laborers here in Latin America.
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Did you know?
Missionaries got their own website!! Interact with the website to learn more about God’s work around there world. Just click here!
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