Unfailing Love and the Power of His Word

Understand, therefore, that your God is indeed God.  He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.  Deuteronomy 7:9

Hi everyone!  Wow, it's been two weeks since I've written on here, probably the longest since I started consistently blogging at the end of last year.  Well, the gap in time is indicative of a few things:  First, I have been adjusting to life here, getting into a routine of things to do and have been busy working.  As I am settling in, I find myself at times not stepping back and taking the large chunks of time to be by myself -- just me and God.  Secondly, I spent about 4 or 5 days without internet, and last, I spent last weekend at a conference.  Needless to say, I am really excited to have been able to spend the last two hours this morning in the Word, listening to music from my home church in Atlanta, and just spending time with the Lord.  It's the perfect Saturday morning in the Dominican Republic!  (And for those who know me well, while I didn't get my Atlanta Bread Company Bagel, I did make banana nut muffins this morning... PERFECT!)

Well, as I stated, last weekend I had the privilege to go a conference in the capital (Santo Domingo) and hear four different pastors preach.  Two of them were from here and two were from the states.  Honestly, as I was sitting and listening, I realized what an honor it was to be able to go for free and learn more about the Word of God.  The pastors from the states who were there were Steven Lawson and John McArthur.  The conference was basically made up of 2 1/2 days of worship, sermons and prayer.  I loved it!  The topic was the Power of His Word and the focus was basically how important it is to constantly be in God's Word and the importance of our truth coming from His truth.  Many points during the conference were convicting.  Some questions that came to mind as I listened to sermons about the importance of being in God's Word and understanding His promises and who God is in general:

• Does my truth come from God?
• Do I know where to find truth in the Bible?
• Am I doing all that I can to memorize scripture?
• Do I believe that all of scripture is true even when it isn't convenient to how the world says I should live?
• Do I truly fear God and do my actions show that I fear Him?
• Do I really commit my whole being to Him each and every day?

One day there was a question / answer session where the pastors answered really hard questions supporting their answers with specific scripture.  It was amazing!  And, I was really convicted.  I feel like I have a great grasp on truth, and sometimes I can quote scripture to support it, but I most of the time cannot tell someone where that passage is. And, I want to be able to not only spat out a verse but understand the context well too.  Anyway, during this question / answer session, questions were asked about Suicide, Homosexuality, Salvation, Sin, Suffering, and more. At some point, the pastors also spoke on false teachers, on the importance of having a good pastor who is grounded in the Word, and the importance of reading the Word for yourself.  For me, it wasn't that I necessarily agreed or disagreed with any of their points made, but that they were so convinced of their answers because of their knowledge of scripture.  I pray that He will fill me with that knowledge in the same way.

Rewind to the last month and 1/2 at Emanuel House.  We are in the process of administering tests to the majority of kids here at Emanuel House and at a nearby school, as a baseline assessment before they receive laptops later this fall.  And, the reality is a sad one.  The vast majority of kids can't read.  We've finished testing 2nd and 3rd graders -- most of whom are not only unable to complete the vocabulary and reading portions of the test, but also the math word problems because of their illiteracy.  There are many who may say that what the kids and their families need is salvation.  Of course, I believe that, but being educated enough to be able to discern what people tell you to be true or not and more importantly, being able to read the Word for yourself is so important.  If the Lord does touch the hearts of these children or their parents, without the ability to read, they miss out on the joy of reading His Word on their own.

Through these two experiences and some others over the last two weeks, it is evident that ministry through education and organizing others in ministry may be where God is leading me. School has started for many kids and will start on Monday for others.  I have been surrounded by preparation for school, shopping for uniforms for kids at the orphanage, collecting school supplies for the poorest of kids, and communicating about funds for registration for some of the orphanage girls who need to go to private school to catch up.  (There is even a 16 year old girl at the orphanage who is unable to go to her previous public school because she is too old to be in the 6th grade -- so they denied her entrance. Please pray that God would open doors for her in another school.)

God has not only affirmed my ministry is in education / administrative things, but I definitely believe that much of my ministry here may focus on reading.  (Crazy enough, reading in Spanish is much easier than reading in English.)  I brought some books that I had collected over the last few years in Spanish and am hopeful to continue to collect books for the kids.  Most kids in a questionnaire had less than 5 (if any) books at home.  Most of their parents did not finish school past elementary school, and many parents cannot read or write either.  The overwhelming need confirms that I am only one person and there are so many who are willing to help.  In the body of Christ, each has his own gifts.  I am praying for people to come alongside me who I can direct to various ministries to help.  I am really excited to see how God works with us to help these kids and their families.  Only He knows His plans, but I know that He is abundant, able, and willing!

Thanks be to God!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• For God to help me have large chunks of time each day to spend with Him in His Word and in prayer
• For God to help me memorize scripture (in both English and in Spanish)
• For the 150 kids at Emanuel House -- their growth in their ability to read
• For the kids' parents and spiritual growth (for those who don't know Him that they would come to know Him)
• For a lady that I met here who recently lost her mother and is having a really hard time with it -- for God's comfort.  She feels hopeless -- that His love would sustain her and that she would come to know the Lord as her personal savior through this experience
• For endurance, perseverance, and creativity for the teachers at Emanuel House 
• For God to help me find friends, community and a church here that is Bible based and will help me grow spiritually
• For God's continual guidance in terms of my ministry here
• For me to continue to become less and Him more
• For Xiomara at the orphanage (she's the one who can no longer attend public school). May God provide a solution for her

Thank you to all who are following my blog!  May He continue to bless you, keep you safe and may He continue to reveal His unfailing love to you... so that you would not just be hearers of His words, but followers of His Word as well!

Cultural Glimpses

Matthew 25:34-45

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison and you visited me... I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sister,s you were doing it to me!...

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, "Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me.  I was thirsty, and you didn't give me drink.  I was a stranger, and you didn't  invite me into your home.  I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing.  I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me... I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me!"

CHILD SPONSORSHIP. This is Enderson.  He is one of the students at Emanuel House who is sponsored.  His sponsor sent him a gift, a letter, and a picture of her and her daughter.  I gave it to him and while he is pretty shy, and isn't expressing his happiness here, he really enjoyed the gift, especially the cars.  I help to deliver letters and gifts to the kids at Emanuel House and Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage.  And, we write back! [www.scoresponsor.org]

HOUSE VISITS. Last weekend, we went on house visits and just got to talk to and visit some people's homes whose children go to Emanuel House.  This is probably one of Mirqueya's favorite things to do.  In addition to checking in to see the conditions that the kids are living in, Mirqueya prays for the families as well, with the ultimate desire for them to come to know Christ. During one of the home visits last week with a team from McClean Bible Church, a woman prayed to receive Christ and I translated for two kids who also came to know Christ.  I haven't gone on a ton of house visits since I've been here, but it is one of my favorite things to do.  I am hopeful that God will continue to guide my footsteps and open people's hearts to hear the Gospel and be prayed for.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS.  Some of these families who have homes in the worst conditions have been blessed!  People have seen their conditions and committed to help pay for new homes so that rain does not come in through the roof and they have a place to use the bathroom. Most families at  Emanuel House share an "outhouse" with many other families or just go outside.  They cook outside and most often multiple people sleep in one bed.

JAIME.  This is little Jaime.  She is 4 years old and has the cutest smile.  She lives similar to many kids at Emanuel House -- with no father, many siblings and her mom struggles to feed them.  We visited her house during the house visits. She followed us throughout the rest of our house visits. In spite of her situation, Jaime is fun-loving, tender, and overall seems happy.  She is in one of the pre-school/kindergarten classes at Emanuel House.

BAREFOOT & BATHED. When we went to one house, there was a little girl sitting on the ledge outside of her house and she was balancing her feet on this can.  It is not unusual to see kids without shoes and small children without clothes.  Having said that, kids do have clothes and shoes, and when they leave their homes, they are always clean and dressed as best as their parents can dress them.  I have been surprised at where some people who I've met live.  They take pride in their appearance and in cleanliness -- even if they do not have but a few outfits.

CARS, MOVE OVER. Here is a beautiful view of a street that we rode down.  You will notice if you look closely, the dog and the motorcycle... Dogs are everywhere here.  Often as malnourished as the people, they walk around everywhere.  And, the most common mode of transportation is on a motorcycle -- or moped.  Of course, they are cheaper than a car.  Many women drive them as well, but it is more like a scooter.  I found out earlier this week that if you leave the smaller towns and go on the highway, the driver must wear a helmet.  I have seen up to five people on one moped, one being a baby... and a few summers ago I saw someone carrying a refrigerator on their moped! I am sure that anyone who has been to the D.R. has some good stories about how many people they've seen and what they've been carrying on their beloved moped.

SPECIAL. About three weeks ago, Mirqueya admitted special needs kids here.  In this picture, if you look carefully, you will see Ashlee, an American teacher from Georgia who came to work with the special needs kids and teachers. An intern for Empowering Action, she truly empowered the teachers, parents and kids.  They still talk about her and she has promised to help with activities and ideas for the teachers when they need it.

ALWAYS A TEACHER. The kids here at Emanuel House will be getting laptops soon from a program called 1 to 1 laptops which empowers kids who are deep in poverty to be better educated.  First, we have to give the kids a standardized test in the next month or so. I've had two meetings with teachers about the testing that will occur.  I am excited to see God work through this, as I imagine most kids haven't taken a test like this before.

May God continue to help us serve the least of these.  May we not forget that whatever we do, we do to our King.  

Broken and yet so Blessed

Well, since the last time I wrote on here, a lot has happened.  I am beginning to get accustomed to the culture here, have ridden the bus many times and have gone grocery shopping enough to start to feel somewhat comfortable in my environment.  I feel very blessed to be here in this place, where there is so much need (both physically and spiritually).  I pray every day that God would give me a non-judging heart, that He would provide me with patience, and that I would constantly be in His will.

Over the last week or two, I have been truly struggling with what God wants to do with me here.  There are so many opportunities to help that I am overwhelmed by which ministry is for me.  As I still adjust, I wonder how I can help these people without hurting them.  I see so much brokenness that is way bigger than me.  I think as Americans, we always see a “problem” and want to “fix” it.  In the last two weeks, my eyes have been opened to a lot of cultural differences, religious differences, brokenness in family situations, lack of jobs and resources, and what comes across as complacency, and I find myself and Americans that come here wanting to “fix” it all.  I question my role in the lives of the people here.  I question how in the world I can help.  I question how to even begin…

My heart breaks every time I go visit a home where the mom has 10 children and cannot feed them because she has to stay home with them and thus doesn’t have a job. 

My heart breaks every time that I find out about another father who abandoned his family to be with another woman and has nothing to do with his children. 

It breaks when I find out about all of the children who are at Emanuel House who have never been to real school and cannot read or write, who have no idea how to put a puzzle together or even how a book works because they aren't read to at home. 

My heart breaks as I match pictures to names of kids who need sponsors and I have two or three different spellings and different birthdates that I know may never be confirmed because the kids don’t have birth certificates and their parents are illiterate.

It truly breaks my heart to know that the deaf kids and the special needs kids that now come to Emanuel House in general aren’t served in this country, are made fun of, and are often thought of as being a consequence of some sin of their parents. 

My heart falls apart when I recognize that the lack of education among the poor is one that has been and will continue to be a vicious cycle not only in this country but in the US and others as well unless someone including those in power begins caring for the least of these. 

My heart aches when I learn that everyday people are turned away from God because of how believers portray what Christianity is about when really, the non-believer should want JESUS because we who love HIM, wear HIM so well.

I see brokenness not only in the needs of the people here, but in the perception that outsiders have of Christians.  My experiences here make me question how people see us in the U.S.  In the US I’ve heard people call Christians hypocrites or people who are just like everyone else.  We should not conform.  We should be different.  We should be bold not only in what we say we believe but in how we show God that we appreciate the grace (free, undeserved forgiveness) that He has poured on us.  Here I hear people see Christians as being rigid and having too many rules.  In both places outsiders miss the point because of us.

In Matthew, Jesus clearly challenges those who said they believed in Him when he constantly scolded the Pharisees and the Sadducees for upholding "the Law" but missing the point.  They thought because they did the right thing that they were worthy, when in reality, none of us are worthy.  They missed the point that we all need a savior and that God’s grace is so undeserved.  We are called to confess with our mouths our sinfulness.  We are called to believe in our hearts that He is Lord.  And, we are called to follow Him.  Serve others. Love others in action and in deed. Stand out. Be different. Show people that we possess God’s light within us.  In fact, we are meant for our lights to shine so bright that the outside world wouldn’t want to flee from us, but instead that they would want what we have.

My heart breaks to think that maybe we are sharing the wrong message through our actions, through our speech and through the things we do not say and do.

And then, my heart is awakened when I go to church and recognize that the people are singing to the same God that I love. 

My heart rejoices when I translate the gospel and two kids come to Christ and then eagerly visit with me for an hour to learn more about the Bible and Jesus’ teachings.

My heart is free when I get to go to the beach for the first time with kids from the orphanage.  I laugh as they splash in the water, find hermit crabs for the first time, and are overwhelmed with the glimpse of Heaven that God gave us in beaches and in little children enjoying it for the first time.  

My heart is grateful that among the grief, rape, abandonment, drugs, prostitution, pain, negativity and meanness that has surrounded the girls before coming to  Pasitos de Jesus Orphanage, they have found a genuine HOPE IN GOD… so much so that they smile, love and play as children should do.

My heart leaps as I recognize that there are believers who want to help those who cannot help themselves or who don’t know how to do so: the Dominican church that donated enough milk for every family at Emanuel House… the Americans who are helping build houses for those whose homes are in incredibly bad conditions… the sponsors who give monthly to children who otherwise would have no food...my supporters who write down my prayer requests and pray for the work that God is doing through me and the ministries here...  the dominicans who work so hard to spread the Gospel to their people and teach them about God's love... the teachers who are so eager to learn how to help their kids and who truly want a better tomorrow for the kids in their country.

My heart is mended when I remember that God has "overcome it is finished it is done,” and I remember that the Lord has already defeated the brokenness of this world.  I remember that God does not call us fix things but instead to concentrate on Him, do His will, work for His kingdom and open our eyes to the glimpses of the kingdom that He gives us.  And then, He calls us to be grateful.

I am so grateful for all of the people who have surrounded me, prayed for me, loved me... especially in my transition down here.  I feel so loved!

Please pray in faith:

• that God would help guide me.  There is much to be done,
• that the problem of not having clean drinking water here in Quisqueya for the average family would be taken care of soon, 
• that people who want to work would have the opportunity to so that they can provide for their families,
• for the men here—the family structure is so broken.  Christian men are needed to lead them to Christ and encourage them to raise the boys up in the right way,
• that over the next week while we do testing at Emanuel House, the parents are able to provide meals for their children,
• that I would continue to know names, feel comfortable sharing the Gospel when God prompts me, and that I would keep building relationships with those around me,
• that God would take care of all of the details of my closing on August 9th, 
• for Mirqueya and her burden to serve the Lord and the kids here in her hometown
• for a water project that is looming over Emanuel House, that God's will be done and the kinks would be worked out.

In His Name!