One Year & Counting...

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus -- the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.  Acts 20:24

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your 

heavenly Father.  Matthew 5:16

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.  John 3:30

It's crazy to think that it's been almost a month since I've last written.  I struggle to think of where to even start...   

The truth is that I have seen God move in various ways over the last few weeks.  I recognize over and over again just how big He is, just how powerful He is, and just how much He loves us and wants nothing more than for us to give Him attention, love Him back, and depend on Him fully.  My hope for those reading this would be that you are encouraged to live for Him, loving the One true God with all of who you are, always recognizing the infinite power of prayer.

Below are some pictures, stories and anecdotes of the last few weeks.  God is good!

A NEW BODY. Yumercy, the special needs girl from Emanuel House with leukemia passed away shortly after I wrote my last blog.  She died days after saying her last words, "God, I love you."  The day of her death, we went to her house where in Dominican tradition we sat, talked to, and comforted the family.  Then, early the next morning, family, friends, and many of the Emanuel House kids and teachers, including the special needs kids, got together and walked about 2 miles from Yumercy's house to the grave sight.  Please continue to pray for her mother, grandmother and 3 brothers during this time of mourning.  Pray for peace as we know that Yumercy understood about and loved Jesus.  Pray that her family will continue to find confort in knowing that Yumercy is in a new body, laughing and singing to the Lord.

 

 READING.  The reading competition continues and kids are still enjoying the library.  We have discovered a few avid readers.  The older girls are actually starting to read more difficult books -- including the chapter books that are on the shelves.  Who knew what access to resources, coupled with a challenge and encouragement could do?  Please pray for continued interest, especially among the boys.

  TEACHING. I have been teaching Tuesdays and Wednesdays with the first graders in the mornings and the pre-schoolers in the afternoons.  I am seeing small changes in their behavior,  in their desire to please the teacher and have a good day learning, and in their enthusiasm as they are learning to read simple words that begin with S, M, B and vowels.  I praise the Lord for their increased knowledge of the sounds that all letters make in the alphabet.  I am also grateful for help from teachers who have given me ideas for helping the kids develop writing, reading and math skills.  I praise Him also for an extra boost of energy that the teacher with whom I am working has had over the past few weeks.  Praise Him!

ATL TO DOM.  Kaitlin, a former student and mock trialer from Wesleyan visited for one week.  Her presence and energy were a blessing to me, to Mirqueya, and to the Emanuel family as a whole.  

SATURDAYS.  Kids Club is still going, although we will be taking a break for the next month.  Last week, we had a fun "movie morning" with popcorn, cookies and Kool-Aid to start the day off right.  We learned about serving others while watching how Jesus did the same when He was on earth.  Some kids even remembered when we did that lesson months ago. 

SAYING GOOD-BYE.  Jessinia, who has been my helper for the last two months, is about to go.  As much as I don't want to think about it, she's leaving.  God answered so many prayers in bringing her down here.  There is so much that I wouldn't have gotten done this summer alone.  I praise Him for her administrative skills, desire to help out wherever needed, and just for her love for the Lord.  I am praying against culture shock and for God's continued hand in her life as she heads to school in Seattle.  Click Here to see a video about Emanuel House that she just finished.  Interested in supporting Emanuel House's efforts or sponsoring a child?  Go to www.scoresponsor.org.

JESUS LOVES MOMS.  My Bible study of the book of John continues to go well with the women, although this past week, I wasn't able to participate.  But on Wednesday instead of teaching, I traveled with the moms to the Highlands, a multi-million dollar facility used to host dominicans in camps, sports activities and short retreats.  The moms heard testimonies from a woman's group from McLean Bible Church, participated in a craft, watched a short Jesus movie, and had fun "bathing" in the pool.  (Since most don't know how to swim, they use the verb 'bañarse" or to bathe.) They also learned about managing money and relating the Bible practically to their lives, and they enjoyed a nutritious lunch.  I translated for the moms and just enjoyed spending time with them. Please pray for those moms who still do not know the Lord nor follow His path.  I am convinced that their lives and the lives of their children can be radically changed with the Lord as its center.

 

BATTLING CANCER. I continue to visit Elpidia and her 5 girls as much as I can.  For those who pray for her regularly, her health is worsening.  She is said to have under a month left to live unless God decides to perform a miracle.  Last night she started her first dose of medicine with codene, and she is said to now have pneumonia along with worsening bed sores.  Her daughters are doing well considering their situation.  They will most likely be coming to live with Mirqueya and me in the foundation soon.  Please pray for their health, safety and that they would know the love that their mom has for them.  Please pray for their softened hearts and growing relationship with the Lord.  

MINISTRY CHANGES. I visited Pasitos de Jesús Girls Home for the last time in my "regular Thursday visits" this past Thursday, as I will be concentrating mainly on ministering here in Quisqueya.  While I will return to spend time with the girls, it will not be weekly.  I have grown to really love them.  They are in camp this summer and are learning about self-esteem, how to do various crafts, and they are enjoying being organized and active.  Please pray for their continued growth in the Lord.  Pray that people who love the Lord would continue to be a part of Pasitos and that they would pour into the girls' spiritual lives.  I praise God for His clarity in ministry and for those who prayed alongside me for discernment.

PLANTED SEEDS & STRENGHTHENED FAITH. I have become closer and closer to one of the moms who lives close by and is a part of the Bible Study.  Her name is Cyntia.  She is a single mom of 8 children and she is more or less my age.  I have had the opportunity to be with her at the mom's retreat, while driving her to Juan Dolio, in her home, and at the grocery store.  Cyntia and I have had many conversations about the Lord, about what it means to follow Christ, and about accepting Him as our saviour.  We have talked about so much.  Each time that I am around her, I see her love for her children grow, I see her desire grow to please the Lord, and I see her dependence on Him to provide grow as well.  

I praise God for Cyntia because she encouraged me so much through her words just last week. She told me that me being here and my words of encouragement to her, along with my faith in the Lord have encouraged her in her relationship with the Lord.  She told me that just last week, she hadn't eaten anything but plain rice for 3 days.  And after that third day, I showed up with a father that wanted to sponsor one of her children.  We prayed for her family while tears rolled down her face.  When I asked her why she was crying, she told me that God is just so good.  Then, the father asked if she had food.  Being that she didn't, we later collected money that would provide for her family for about a week.  That's when she told me that she hadn't eaten.  She had been praying to the Lord to please provide and if it wasn't His will to provide, that He would let her be able to stand it.  Wow! 

You see, before, she was getting food dishonestly.  More recently, Cyntia was making sure that her kids were fed in some way, but she wasn't eating.  But, she's been reaching for God.  Her faith is growing.  She told me that if God could provide just a little bit of food in the time that she needs, He can provide her with the skills to read.  (She currently reads at less than a 3rd grade level which makes it embarrasing to read in front of people, difficult to read her Bible, impossible to get a job, and hard to even help her kids with school.)  But, the Lord is good.  Cyntia is determined to teach her kids the importance of education.  And, she has been given the opportunity to start reading classes.  Likewise, she is beginning to understand what it is like to follow Christ and to depend on Him.  Continued prayers for Cyntia's spiritual growth and for Him to give me the right words when I talk with her would be greatly appreciated.

TIME FLIES.  I have been here for one year as of July 8.  I praise the Lord for every work that He has done in me over the last year.  He has humbled me.  He has worked in me.  He has taught me.  He has loved me.  I praise Him for the relationships that I have built and for the ministry that He is doing through me here.  I am praising Him today for a great start and praying for perseverance, strength, and increased relationships.  May I continue to learn from others and from His Word, believing ultimately that... 

He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

Being Christ Followers

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  - Ephesians 4:15-16

There is no one thing that happened this past week to make me feel so passionate about the following subject, but God has been giving me various scripture, blogs, and even sermons lately having to do with the Body of Christ.  I think about my time before leaving to move here -- how for the first time in my life I began to understand what the Body of Christ was -- a body of believers coming together to complete God's work.  I remember how overwhelmed I was because of everything I had to do before moving.  I remember meeting and the group of 8 who prayed for me and God's will on my life.  I remember that God  touched each and every one of those people to have a different part in helping me be able to leave my native country to share Jesus with the people here.

It's interesting being in another country, where some beliefs are different, worship is different, and denominations are different.  And somehow all of those "differences" seem to separate the Body.  We judge, offend, tear down or forget the main goal.  And those who are not yet believers, they are watching.  They notice how much "like" the world we are... even though our claims are that we are One Church.  One Body.  One Spirit.

Speaking these words are easy of course.  Sharing that we are One is easy.  But living as One, that is different.   Jesus himself said that His followers are the light of the world.  We are to shine Jesus' compassion, patience, love, humility, service, and gentleness to those who look like us and those who are nothing like us.  We are to extend His grace and mercy to those whose eyes are still closed to His love and to those who are new in their faith.  We must build each other up and love unconditionally.

Philippians 2:1-5 talks about us as a body.  We should be encouraged by being united in Christ.  We should be comforted by His love for us.  We should have fellowship with the Spirit.  We should have tenderness and compassion.  Our joy should be complete.  We should have the same love.  We should be one in spirit and in purpose by

Being humble

Considering others better than ourselves

Having an attitude like that of Christ.

I am struck over and over again while I live here by the separation based on tradition, rules or rituals.  It does not matter what we call ourselves.  What matters is that we recognize that we have a need for Him, that we cannot do this life alone, that we are sinners, that we need Him to forgive our sins, and that without Him, we are separated from the one true God

What matters is that in the midst of everything in this world, we follow Christ.  It does not matter where we work, what we are doing, where we live or who we are talking to. No matter what we remain Christ-followers first.  We are not a denomination nor a tradition.  We are His body.

During last Tuesday's Bible Study we read about the clearing of the temple.  Jesus was mad because of the way that people were treating the Holy temple, which was meant to be a place of worship and praise to the Lord.  Instead, it was turned into a place to cheat people and to sell things.  And then, He  talked about His body, the Temple that would be destroyed and in 3 days raised up.  And somehow during our talk, the likeness was made to our temple.  Our bodies.  His Body.  We are His Body.  His followers.  And, I think we make a mess of it many times.  I imagine God's righteous anger to be similar to that of Jesus' that day.

As His body, we should:

encourage.
love.
be patient.
show compassion.
speak truth in love.

And yet, we are separated.

We get distracted.

I know how these traditions, rules or rituals have defined me in the past.  But the truth is that in the States, I am a part of an Anglican Mission congregation. Here I attend a Baptist church. Every day, I work and live with a pentecostals.  And, whereas I know that Jesus is the center, I fear that many (both Christ followers and not) see more differences than likenesses.  I come from, work with, worship alongside, and am supported by people who love the Lord, Jesus Christ.  None of us have doctrine completely right, I'm sure.  But, what matters is that Jesus is at the center and being in relationship with Him, reading His Word, and communing with Him through prayer makes our relationship with Him continue to grow.

I want people to see our United Body.

I want people to know us as Lovers of Christ.

I want people to want to be a part of the Body of Christ.

No matter where we are, what we do, or what traditions we believe in.  Not because it's what saves us, but because we have believed, we strive to shine His light.  We are a part of something greater than ourselves because at some point we began to understand His love for us.  We understand it so much, in fact, that we want nothing more than others to hear about it, see it, and experience it.

Prayer Requests:

• Three moms who are a part of the Bible study.  They see being Christians not as following Christ but rather as following the traditions and cultural norms.  They see Christians as people who judge their current life style instead of correcting it in a loving way. One believes that she must change first and then God will except her.  May they all three come to understand the Gospel, that while we were still sinners, He died for us.  May they understand the great love He has for us and may they recognize the freedom, peace and hope that comes into the lives of those who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

• Toni, a grandmother of an Emanuel House Child.  Please pray for the Body to come together to provide for her in her everyday needs.  She is 86 and begs each day to have food.  Praying that the Body of Christ would recognize her need and come together as a community to serve this woman in need.  Praying for safety as she is seen walking the streets most days.

• Elpidia, the mother of 5 little girls who has terminal cancer.  Please pray for her health.  She is in lots of pain and her body is still deteriorating.  Please pray for us to find someone to take care of her, bathe her, give her medicine and feed her as she is fighting and living in really bad conditions.  Please pray for her girls as they are witnessing her mom die.  Pray for patience, kind words to each other, and a loving environment.  Pray for comfort and the provision of strong enough medicine for her pain.

• Yumercy, the little girl with Leukemia.  Please pray for her and for her family.  She has had a turn for the worse and was recently put into intensive care.  Please pray for her mother and grandmother and brothers during this time.  

Lastly, please pray for the Body of Christ to come together all over the world... 

United in Prayer.  

United in Spirit.  

United in Christ. 

United in Purpose...  

Following Christ and Sharing Him with others.

Mirqueya and I have enjoyed spending time with these girls, EH interns.  Praying for Ellie as she heads home tomorrow early.  So appreciative of all of the laughter!

Woman's Bible Study with their kids who often join in as well.  They threw a going away party and made a coconut sweet, a treat with salami and cheese, and tamarind juice.

The ladies sang and bid a wonderful farewell for Ellie's return.

This past Saturday, there were 40 kids at Kids Club.  We learned about  Philip and the Ethiopian and his boldness in following the Holy Spirit to share with him about Jesus.  Here we are playing a game of "musical chairs."  The kids want to get as close to the Ethiopian as possible.

  

Thanks to sponsors who donated a birthday gift, these two EH kids participated in their first trip to the zoo.  They saw lions, and tigers and bears for the first time.  Burger King was fun too.

Pregnant (Because of Him)

“It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.”  — John Piper

In March, I had 3 people within one week, people who did not know each other, tell me that they dreamed that I was pregnant.  And just the other week another friend told me that she dreamed the same thing.  Of course it is possible that God is about to bless me with the love of my life to share in His calling for my life and that I will be pregnant at some point, but I imagine that actually those dreams about pregnancy reflect more about God's hand on my life and ministry right now.

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:12-13

The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, really fruitful, and just a blessing overall.  I see that God's hand is working and that it has been working over the last 11 months that I have lived here.  I notice my relationships getting deeper with the families and people in the community.  I notice that I am more comfortable getting around in the D.R. and in the community of Quisqueya as well.  The lady that I live with, Mirqueya, says that all of these pregnancy dreams are about ministry and the growth of it.  And, I must say that I tend to agree.  When the first 3 people had that dream, I was shocked.  Me? Pregnant?  One lady even said, "Adrienne, do you have a boyfriend?"  Knowing that I don't, I was a bit confused too... but during that time, my Saturday ministry was thriving.  It jumped over 6 months from having on average 10 kids to 40 and sometimes up to 70 when Wesleyan visited.  Likewise, lately, I have really felt in God's groove.  My Tuesday evening Bible Study with moms seems to be going well.  We are studying John.  Two weeks ago, we even got to speak candidly about some of our struggles and how just because we have weaknesses doesn't mean that we are no longer Christian.  We are all memorizing scripture.  And last Tuesday, they blessed me with a Dominican meal -- spaghetti and fried plantains.  God is moving!  I'm excited to see what God will do in these women.  Please pray for their continued participation and eagerness.  Please pray especially for one woman who is a non-believer and does not participate fully in discussions.  Pray for her continued interest and presence at Bible Study.  Pray that she begins to feel comfortable and that God would lead me in my relationship with her.

And, it seems that the Lord is opening opportunities for me to teach. In addition to teaching a few weeks ago in the Special Needs classroom, Mirqueya has asked me to help a teacher here at Emanuel House.  I will be working with her all day 2 days a week, and I could not be more elated!  The Lord knows the desires of my heart... and if He takes care of the lilies in the field, why then would he not take care of me?  Please pray for continued gentleness, humility and patience.  Pray for softened hearts of the other teachers as change is not always easy.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.  Then, you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Last week I had the opportunity to teach for the first time with her.  In the mornings, I am helping with 1st graders and in the afternoons, with the youngest kids at Emanuel House -- 5 year olds -- who haven't been to school yet.  I must say that teaching such young kids is very different than teaching seniors in high school.  On Tuesday afternoon, I was given the opportunity to teach those youngest kids  by myself, and the respect that I have for the teachers grew, and I was wishing that the head teacher was there.  If you close your eyes and imagine 20 kids... crazy, running around, crawling under the tables, jumping up and down, in their little heads screaming "Party!" that is almost how zoo-like it was.  I finally understand how hard it must be to be a substitute teacher, work in a class that has little established discipline, and work with the little ones.  I praise God that beginning the next morning, I was able to laugh about the hour and a 1/2 of craziness.  Wow!  I praise Him for a new week and a new opportunity to pour into these young kids' lives.  Please pray that God would provide me with more ideas to help in the classroom with these little ones.  (I seem to do better with planning for the 1st graders than the littlest ones.)  

Know a lot about planning / activities for 3 - 5 year olds (pre-kindgerten)? Please feel free to email me.  I would love any ideas, websites, pictures of activities or explanations!  We concentrate on teaching them Bible, pre-writing, pre-reading, and math...  Thanks! acorinnechristian@gmail.com.

Additionally, even though I missed 3 Saturdays of Kids' club, and the number of kids in attendance since has been scarce -- they are back.  Last week we had a great time learning about Peter and John as they were thrown into prison for curing a lame man in the name of Jesus.  And, just two days ago, we had almost 40 kids at Kids' Club.  They learned about Stephen, his power because of the Lord, and his forgiveness even to those who were stoning him.  Please pray for those who used to come regularly and haven't returned.  Especially pray for a 14 year old who came to church with me last night.  She comes from a voodoo background.  I know that God's power can surpass any other.  Please pray that I love her well.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to go out with another missionary and a principal from a high school to deliver water filtration systems.  What a task.  As you can imagine, clean water is a huge problem here.  While some have trouble finding it, those who can find it cannot drink the water that they find.  So, providing them with water filtration has been wonderful and is a way to share with them the Gospel and pray for them.  Please pray for the families of Isaias, María, Raquel, Ana Cristina and Alexander who received filters last week.  Pray for them to use them so they don't have to buy bottled water.  Please pray for them to get used to the taste as it is different from bottled water, depending on where the water comes from.

That same day, I visited Yumercy in the hospital again.  She was not well.  Truly, Thursday was a sad day, as we visited a less than 60 pound 15 year old who was on a breathing machine and who hadn't eaten in over 12 days.  Praying for her, listening to and singing hymns, and just being there with her saddened mother and grandmother was incredibly draining.  When I left, I thought, "This child is going to die any time now."  But, somehow, just a few days later, she is off the machines, eating,  digesting, and breathing normal.  Truly it's a miracle.  God just isn't done with her yet.  Please pray for her mother who has had an incredible journey with her daughter.  Pray for her little brothers who are at home, being taken care of by other family members whenever possible.  Pray for continued dependence on Him for peace and comfort.  Pray for Yumercy as she begins her 3rd round of chemotherapy this week.

Overall, the life that God has given me -- even though I in no way deserve it -- the people who He has placed in my life, and the opportunities that He has given me to serve in His name, are overwhelming.  I am amazed at the eagerness of so many to learn about Christ, even if some are not ready to accept Him as their personal Savior.  I pray that the Lord would continue to help me plant seeds and love the people here well.  I pray that those whose eyes are closed would some day be able to recognize the unfailing love that He has for us.  I pray that they would recognize the freedom and hope that comes along with believing in Christ , a freedom that surpasses everything from this world.  Mostly, I pray that God would continue grow His ministry here.  Please pray for continued rest for me and opportunities to be filled with His Word.