Here are some common questions and answers that I've gotten:
When did you get back?
I arrived here on Thursday night late and have been resting and really starting to wrap my head around the last few months…
How long are you here?
So, I will be Stateside through October 20. Here is my general schedule while I am here:
Aug 27: left for the US
Aug 27 - Sept 6 : Atlanta
Sept 6 - Sept 12: Florida
Sept 12 - Sept 21: Atlanta
Sept 21 - Oct 17: Colorado
Oct 17 - Oct 19: Atlanta
Oct 20 - headed back to the Dominican
Why are you here?
A little over a month ago, my support team should have received a letter in the mail explaining a change that is happening in ministry -- one that I am very excited about, but that has been hard emotionally as you can imagine, as change is not always easy. Starting in October, I will be serving in a new ministry. So, I am here in the States to rejuvenate, spend time sharing with my support team (in hopes that they will continue to support me) and attend a missionary training institute.
No, I am just here through October 20. Then, I'll be back in the Dominican. I still believe that God has called me full time to work and serve in the Dominican.
Why haven't you blogged yet?
The truth is, I tried so many times to wrap my head around what has been going on over the last few months… how to write it all down and put it in a blog post. And, really it was just too overwhelming to get done in the midst of saying goodbye, moving, and traveling to the States. So, now that I am out of the D.R. and have had a little bit of time to rest my mind and my body a bit, I can finally sit and write.
And here is just what has been going on since my last blog post:
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| About a week after my last blog, I dropped Mirqueya off in Africa . She was invited by McLean Bible Church and was able to visit some orphanages in Uganda and Kenya and meet ministry leaders from Costa Rica and Mexico. During this time, I was babysitting the twins. (They are still at Emanuel House so please continue to pray!) |
1. collected stories for Child Sponsorship
2. last Bible Study with my ladies -- it is now being led by some Emanuel House staff
3. spent special time at the beach with the bible study and their smallest kids.
4. said good bye to many fellow missionaries
5. listened to my first grade students share, sang and received lots of hugs
6. participated in a goodbye from the Emanuel House staff… ate fried plantains, pasta and chicken -- some of my favorites
Here's a little bit from the letter that I sent out…
Why change ministries and why move?
Since moving to the island, God has confirmed in me His call on my life while at the same time sharpening my desire to know His Word better. He has heightened my desire to help children read so that one day they can read His Word and pass that on to their families. And He has reminded me of the need for young girls to have strong Christian role models in their lives. Likewise, God has etched in me the importance of helping carefully without hurting long term. And in trying to help without hurting, God has taught me that I have a lot to learn! He has shown me areas where I need to be equipped in a strong community with other believers who have the same vision.
Why change ministries and why move?
Since moving to the island, God has confirmed in me His call on my life while at the same time sharpening my desire to know His Word better. He has heightened my desire to help children read so that one day they can read His Word and pass that on to their families. And He has reminded me of the need for young girls to have strong Christian role models in their lives. Likewise, God has etched in me the importance of helping carefully without hurting long term. And in trying to help without hurting, God has taught me that I have a lot to learn! He has shown me areas where I need to be equipped in a strong community with other believers who have the same vision.
Obedience even when I cannot see...
I hear God’s call and while I cannot see completely ahead of
me, I must go. I can say that I do not
know why God is calling me away from Emanuel House right now. It is a ministry that I love with people that
I have worked so hard to build relationships with and kids that I have gotten
to watch grow and change over the past two years. But, I know that God is calling. And so, I will be obedient! If you have
supported Emanuel House in prayer or financially by buying books for the new
library, providing for the future land purchase or the new classrooms which
should be done this fall, or if you sponsor a child, thank you! You are
making a difference in Quisqueya! I hope
that you will come alongside me in continuing to support Emanuel House efforts
and by praying for how I can best do that long-term.
A little over a week ago, I moved to a little town called Montellano. It's about 4 1/2 hours from Quisqueya and is located on the northern side of the island. The closest towns are Puerto Plata (about 15 minutes away) and Sosua (about 20 minutes away in the other direction).
And, as of about a week ago, I am officially a missionary with a ministry called Makarios. Makarios means "blessed" in Greek. It is a ministry very similar to Emanuel House that seeks to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and
intellectual needs of impoverished people in the developing world through
Christ-centered, sustainable
education and outreach programs.At Makarios, I am so excited to have the opportunity to equip kids who are behind in reading as a resource teacher and to connect girls and women to the local church through community outreach. My vision has stemmed from things that I have seen and experienced working at Emanuel House….
- Kids who cannot read or read very poorly for their age or grade...
- Moms who have accepted Christ who can't read the Word of God for themselves because they have less than a 3rd grade education…
- Kids teaching other kids to read just a year after they learned…
- Kids who have received books as gifts and now read at night in their homes…
- Girls who were gifted children's' Bibles and read through them in the first few days of having them in their homes…
- Women who have been in abusive relationships since their teenage years…
- Girls who do not know their worth in the Lord as creations of the King…
Just can't wait?
Check out more information by going to my blog: www.adriennechristiandr.blogspot.com or visiting the Makarios website at: www.makdr.org. Have questions? I hope to see you while I'm here. Shoot me an email if you have questions at acorinnechristian@gmail.com and stay tuned for when I will have a group get together very soon.
