Dear friends,

I write this and ask yo to please pray for the Island of Hispaniola, who last night was pounded by Hurricane Olga. Still recovering from TS Noel which hit the Island Oct. 28-Nov. 2, they were hit yet again December 10th.

In the latest reports from DR1 News, Santiago (where our main ministry hub is located and where I live) has been hit the hardest by TS Olga, and the President was supposed to be visiting this afternoon.

As you go about your evening and next few days, please pray for our brothers and sisters, and for those who have lost loved ones. An estimated 10 have already died.

Here are a few pictures of what Santiago looks like and a video as well. (to watch the video, you may have to let it all download and then play)

We spoke to a friend in the Dominican and his words were "people are on top of their houses and in trees trying to survive."

We will keep you updated as we are updated. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Merry Christmas!!!

This is a picture taken in November of our G.O. Staff and Board Members

As we close 2007 and move full speed ahead into 2008, I wanted to extend a great big thank you to everyone who supported me and G.O. Ministries this year prayerfully and financially. It has been an incredible journey watching the LORD bless every step of the way.

I am currently in Las Vegas continuing my fundraising and recruiting short-term teams for 2008. I had a great privledge of sharing with the 2008 team from South Hills church on Sunday December 2nd.

After sharing about the ministry in all three Sunday services I was able to share with 16 people, interested in the 2008 trip about the Bateys, the history of G.O., what my role is, and how they can make a difference on their trip next year.

I am thankful for South Hills in so many ways... They have been instrumental in me not only becoming a Christian, but a misisonary too!

Here are some reasons why I am thankful for them during this Christmas season:

• I had never attended church before South Hills. In 2002 I attended South Hills for the first time and gave my life to Christ after just 6 months.
  
• South Hills offered me a job working in Student Ministries and Children Ministry and both Rob and Missy took an active role in discipling me (and they also lead me to Christ)
  
• I participated in my first mission trip ever in 2004 (to the Dominican Republic with G.O. Ministries)


• When they planted their first church, Soulstice, they commissioned me and the Lead Pastor of Soulstice and his family to plant the church, where I served as the Financial Admin. and the Children's Ministry Director.


• South Hills quickly agreed to begin supporting me when I made the decision to join G.O. Ministries.


• They have consistently sent a team down to the Dominican Republic since 2004, making this next trip their 5th trip down.


• Their a church passionate about reaching not just Las Vegas, but the world too

So, this holiday, I want to extend a special thanks to Bret Johnson, Lead Pastor of South Hills, and all of their staff for the ways they seek to bring people closer to Jesus, disciple and train them in the ways of the LORD, and send us out into the world, sharing Christ with others.

I would ask that as you pray for G.O. and myself, that you would remember the team South Hills is sending and pray for them as well.

Thank you again for your generous partnership!

FELIZ NAVIDAD

JWAYE NWEL

-Jackie Douglas

Well friends I am in the final hours of my time in the Dominican Republic. I have had the opportunity to see God heal and change and move about the lives of his people in a land he has NOT forgotten. I wanted to introduce you to Eva.

Eva lives in Batey Nueve. The Bateys are communities setup around the sugarcane fields, inhabitied by Haitians. Many years ago, Haitians were brought to the Dominican Republic to work these fields and were promised a better life, better pay- what they received paled in comparison. The work is tedious and dangerous. They field owners could pay companies to harvest the cane, but it is much cheaper to hire slaves...

Eva lives in this community called Batey Nueve. She has two sisters a mother and a father. I have spent four different weeks in the Bateys over the course of the last 5 months and I remembered her from each visit. Quiet, reserved Eva. She didn't talk much and what I remembered most was that she never smiled. Her eyes almost haunting.

This last particular visit I was sitting in church, our final night with our brothers and sisters in the Bateys. Eva sat in front of me. I had seen her all week- she had a 2 inch bruise across her face. Upon leaving church, guided only by the moonlight, as there was no electricity, I saw Eva standing in the middle of the dirt road. Tears streaming down her face. No one else was around. I picked her up and held her in my arms and and throughout the course of our conversation I learned that she was afraid to go home. Her dad was violent with her, her sisters, and her mom.

She knew Jesus, but felt he was powerless in stopping her dad's abuse. Her father is a victim of alcohol abuse and the harsh conditions of a harvester. This story is not uncommon in the Bateys. Alcohol consumption is rampant here with the primary drink of choice being rum, which is made from the sugar cane.

I had nothing to give Eva. There was nothing I could do for her. She had to go home. How I had wished I could take her away... but that is not realistic. We sang a song together and prayed and I sent her on her way home with a promise that we would pray for her and her family.

So I ask you as you are reading this, please stop and take a minute to pray for Eva and her family, pray for the many others struggling in the batey's with these same issues. Pray for healing and for Christ's power to reign here amongst the community of Batey Nueve. Pray for William and Alexandra, our national partners, who minister to these people everyday trying to meet both the spiritual and physical needs.

It is not about WHAT we do... It is about WHO we ARE in CHRIST. We connect to him through our prayer life and abiding in him. I am reminded all the more that prayer is the most important thing we as Christians can do. God is not as concerned with your sacrifices as he is with your obedience. Abide in him and he will abide in you!

I dream one day of the people of Batey Nueve being known for their love of Jesus... And I know the only person capable of making this happen is the LORD. Please join me in prayer...

"Every work of God can be traced back to some kneeling form" D.L. Moody

This is Eva

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

He will quiet you with his love... He will take great delight in you... He will rejoice over you with singing... The LORD will rejoice over you with singing...

What strikes me is what it follows: The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save...

I want to tell you a story of a woman with incredible strength. Her name is Patricia. For 11 years Patricia has been married to Puro. They have three kids: Patrick who is 8, Brian who is 6, and Ashley who I believe is 4 years old.

For 6 years Puro has been sick with Diabetes. I met Patricia when I first arrived to the Dominican Republic. She helps our ladies who cook in the kitchen prepare the meals for the teams. Patricia also does other odds and ends jobs to make ends meet as well.

Upon hearing of Puro's illness, I went to visit and meet the family. Carmen, Patricia's mom, also works with the ministry and lives in the house in front of Patricia, and helps take care of the three kids.

As I walked to their house, with the ladies from the kitchen (las chicas de la cocina, as we call them!), they pointed to a man sitting on the street corner- a frail looking man, hunched over on crutches, his pale skin hung from his body, pain and humility in his eyes... this was Puro. This was his "corner". he spent most of his days sitting on this corner. As I walked down the alley to Patricia and Carmen's houses, we were greeted by the kids- Patrick, sweet and humble, then Brian and Ashley- both shy and quiet. We sat talking, and Puro, very slowly, walked with the help of his crutches to where we sat: we prayed for him, and I was on my way.

That began a series of visits to Patricia's house, but with the busyness of teams I was not able to visit as much as I would have liked to. As the months of the summer progressed, I noticed Patricia worked less and less in the kitchen, and then not at all. I asked Carmen where she had been after not seeing her in a few weeks, and I was told Puro's condition had worsened. Patricia was now spending most of her time taking care of her sick husband and kids.

The ladies in the kitchen told me Puro was going to die... they had been saying this all summer... I started getting pedicures from Patricia every two weeks as a way to support her a little bit- 150 pesos, the equivalent of about $6. Patrick became my buddy, but Ashley and Brian remained shy.

The second week of September I learned that Puro had been hospitalized. I saw very little of Patricia or Carmen. Carmen was busy taking care of the kids, while everyday Patricia would go to the hospital to visit Puro. Visiting hours are Mon- Fri., 1pm-5pm and Sunday from 8am-8pm. I arranged to go with Patricia to the public hospital to see Puro. It was explained to me that Puro was hospitalized because his blood sugar levels had spiked to about 400! Normal range was 90-120. He was not aloud to eat anything. He had an IV in him and that was all.

No machines in his room

no TV

no bed that adjusted

no food

no water

no sheets

no curtain to give you privacy

no flowers

Everything must be purchased by the sick. Patricia brought in a backpack, and inside were clean sheets, a clean shirt, and drinking water. She then went downstairs to the "pharmacy," where she had to purchase blood glucose strips for monitoring his levels, and diapers.

When we returned to the room, Puro's sister had arrived as well. It was time for his shower. When Patricia lifted him out of his bed, I was not prepared for what I saw. They lifted him out of a pool of blood and urine. I almost lost my cool, but knew I could not because I was there to support and encourage them. We represent hope and life in Christ. Soon after it was 5pm and visiting hours were over. We prayed for Puro and the others hospitalized in the room as well.

I left the hospital that day a changed person.

The following day we sent our G.O. Ministries doctor to the hospital to find out what was going on. He had a severe case of diabetes and he developed another strain due to the first. He was anemic, which was causing abnormal swelling in his feet, amidts a host of other problems. The good news was his blood sugar levels were dropping, which meant once they were under control then he could go home and we could get him proper medical attention.

Two days later, Puro was released from the hospital. A blood vessel in his brain burst and he was in a semi coma. As I walked down the street I knew so well, I was not prepared for what I was about to see. Puro was laying in a bed, cold compresses draped on his body. The occasional moan. As I sat at their house for 5 hours, many people came in and out, family, people from church, friends. They would walk in the house, kneel by Puro's side and pray, sing songs, comfort Patricia, who at one point crawled in a ball with her head on my lap. I was unsure of what I was to do, but I knew just being there was enough. That day was hard. Watching Puro suffer. Watching Patricia suffer. The kids would sporadically break into tears.

The following day I visited Patricia. I looked in on Puro's lifeless body. Patricia sat outside their house. No smile. No tears. Nothing. I stayed for 1 hour and then returned to my house to finish some work. 45 minutes had passed and I heard the familiar sound of my gate clicking, which meant someone was outside. It was David, the son of one of our cooks. He looked at me and in a quiet voice he said "el, se murio"... Puro was dead.

The funeral was held in the evening of the following day... Tuesday September 25. What followed can only be God's grace and power. I visited the family on Wednesday, and for the first time I saw Ashley, their daughter, playing, laughing, and dancing. For an hour, Patricia, Carmen, Patrick, Brian, Ashley, and myself sat on the floor in Carmen's kitchen, singing and playing games. The cloud had been lifted. The despair of the sickness that had held Puro captive for six years had been freed.

There are hard times to come for this family, raising children with no father. Will Ashley remember her father lying in bed, moaning and crying out? How will Patrick handle his new role as the man of the house? He is only 8. And Brian, he is oblivious to what has happened. Brian and Ashley ask for their papa everyday. They know he went to sleep and did not wake up and is now in heaven with God... but do they understand?

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Please pray for Patricia, Carmen, Patrick, Brian, Ashley, and Puro's family.

The day following their father's death, was their first day at the G.O. Ministries school. The first day of the rest of their lives. Please pray that the LORD would be magnified in their lives. Pray for healing, grace, and comfort.

I want to say thank you to each and everyone of you who pray for the ministry here, pray for me, pray for the Dominicans and Haitians we work with. Thank you to each one of you who sacrifice financially so that I can answer God's call to work here on this Island. Thank you to each one of you who have taken time away from your families, friends, jobs to come here and empower those we work with, and encourage our brothers and sisters with your work here. Once you have been here- it is easy to see why the LORD has captured my heart for these people... His people. Everyday I am ministered to by the strength of those around me.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has annointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide those who grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Ashley posing for the camera!

Patricia helping Brian get dressed for school!

Abuela Carmen and Patrick getting ready for school

Patricia with her children: Patrick, Ashley, and Brian
First day of School at the Colegio for Patrick and Brian, September 26th, 2007

Made To Worship

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9

As we close the season of summer, I am humbled as I look back and see how the LORD has satisfied and provided for the hungry and thirsty with many good things. We hosted 19 teams in just 10 weeks, and I am left with experiences that have changed me and will stay in my heart for eternity.

I was blessed with a visit from my home church in Las Vegas, South Hills Church Community. They led a team of 8 here- this was one of the smaller teams this summer, however the amount of ministry they saw and accomplished was truly amazing, not to mention a bout with Hurricane Dean!

South Hills spent 10 days here. They arrived at our main ministry hub in Santiago and the following day we traveled five hours to the Southwest part of the country to the Bateys. The Bateys, rural sugarcane fields (you can read more about them below), also function as one of our three ministry hubs on the island of Hispaniola. The first day we arrived they completed a Children's Ministry with over 200 kids crammed in the Nutrition Center (standing room only!).

Just a corner of the room housing over 200 kids for VBS

I was moved by their simple story of Jesus' love for us, and how it is unmatched by any of our loves. They asked kids to draw pictures of things they love- I saw 200 pictures of moms, dads, sisters, brothers, the church, family, and I was reminded of how simplistic their love truly is. There were no pictures of video games or toys. South Hills went on to talk about how God's love for each one of us, is bigger than that, and then the kids pasted their pictures on a huge heart taped to the wall for everyone to see!

Art for Jesus!

They worked hard during a day and a half of construction. On the 2nd day, we had just 4 hours to move what seemed like an impossible MOUNTAIN of dirt and rock! We had no fancy equipment or machinery. Hands, wheelbarrels, and shovels... and of course John Martinez cheering everyone on. We were reminded of this verse:

"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." Matthew 17:20

With about as much faith as a mustard seed we began this tedious process of hand picking out the rocks, shoveling a bit, hand picking rocks, shoveling a bit more, wheel barrel after wheel barrel, slowly it was dwindling. Then the youth from the church, joined in to help, and G.O. Construction team was full force: we were determined!

Carissa and Lauren tackling the mountain!

You know what I am going to say next, don't you! In just 3 and 1/2 hours the mountain of dirt disapeared! I believe it was the body of Christ coming together in unity, with one common goal and vision of working together to move this big pile of dirt to build the LORD's church!

South Hills, G.O. Construction Team, and the youth of the church in Batey Nueve

We left the Bateys after four short days due to an advancing hurricane moving directly towards the Bateys! Though the Bateys were cut short, there was plenty of ministry to be had in Santiago. We visited a local church for more children's ministry.

The following day we traveled to Dajabon, Dominican Republic. Dajabon borders Haiti and is one of the largest trading towns on the border. Our third and final ministry hub is located across the border in Ounamenthe, Haiti. The object of this visit was for South Hills to meet the pastor they partner with and uplift him in prayer and with gifts for him, his family, and his church.

His name is Elonce Bernadin. Unfortunantly, circumstances prevented the meeting to happen, and Elonce was unable to cross the border that day. We are working very hard to get the gifts to him, and I would ask for you to please continually lift up our brother Elonce, and his wife, who is ill, and their 6 children (1 is adopted) in prayer.

Jackie with Elonce during a visit to Haiti in June 2007

South Hills also had the privledge of visiting a place that they had worked in the past trips, Hoyo de Bartola, also known as "The Hole," a garbage dump, inhabited by over 600 families, and a new place, La Mosca, translated as "The Fly." I was humbled as I watched God change and open the hearts of the eight members on this team.

Little boy in La Mosca

Maggie, Valarie, and kids from "The Hole"

I am very greatful for their service, and for their partnership with me, as well. Through prayer and sacraficial gifts South Hills has helped pave the way for me to answer God's call to ministry to the Haitian and Dominican brothers and sisters of Hispaniola.

Jackie and a little girl from The Hole

Thank you South Hills!! Thank you Michael, Natalie, Valarie, Cory, Manuel, Carissa, Lauren, Maggie, and the many people who sacraficed so you could come and share Christ with the island of Hispaniola!

Dios les Bendiga!

As I wrote this blog, a song came to mind and was fitting as the title to the blog:

"Made to Worship" by Chris Tomlin
Before the day
Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
When you and I embrace surrender
When you and I choose to believe
Then you and I will see who we were meant to be
All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
Even the rocks cry out
Even the heavens shout
At the sound of His Holy name
So let every voice sing out
Let every knee bow down
He is worthy of all our praise

Check out the short video I made about the week they spent here!

Could I be free?

Let me tell you about the Bateys. There are approximately 14 Bateys, located in the Southwestern part of the Dominican Republic. This is where they harvest sugar cane. Most of these Bateys and sugarcane fields are owned by companies outside of the D.R. They have machines to harvest the sugarcane, but they refuse to bring them to the bateys because the cost of paying a Haitian to harvest the cane is far less.

Haitians are told that they could come to the Dominican and make up to $25 US a week. In Haiti the average Haitian makes $250 US a year. You can imagine how any Haitian would jump at the chance to make up to 4 times as much as they could living in Haiti. Once they arrive in the D.R. the guards tear up there papers, and many simply no longer "exist" to the world. With out any sort of birth certificate or official papers, they are nothing. They cannot leave. They make about $10 a week, and they suffer from extremely harsh conditions in the sugar cane fields. They cut the cane with machetes, and injuries are common. Boys may begin harvesting cane with their parents at early ages as well. They settled in these camps and many generations live here together. While the conditions here are better than that in Haiti, they are some of the worst in the Dominican Republic.

On this particular visit, we brought down a team of 18, which included 1 doctor, and two nurses. The team would provide medical care over the course of 2 days in Batey Cuchillo (pronounced coo-chee-yo). Many here have never seen a Doctor. We brought thousands and thousands of dollars in medications. Many of the people were patient and waited, understanding we were here to help. One woman, came in who believed she was pregnant, but she had bled for two months, and now here belly was no longer growing. Family is very important here, their kids are all they have. They were desperate to recieve care, knowing this may be there only chance to recieve help for their kids and family.













I met one man in his early twenties. He asked me for a Bible. I spoke to the Pastor, and it turns out he was a believer but did not have a Bible. I brought one to him and he was truly grateful. I continued on the day working alongside the team to meet the physical needs of our patients.

As the week drew to a close we had seen and treated almost 900 patients, held two VBS's, evangelized to Batey nueve and cuchillo, led 8 people to Christ, broke ground on the foundation of Pastor William's new church, and participated in the daily feeding of over 100 kids in the nutrition center.

So many things were accomplished that week for the LORD, and on the final night- we had a despidida (good bye party) for the Americans to say goodbye to the nationals they had worked alongside of all week long. There were over 100 people there, many had walked from Batey cuchillo, 30 minutes away, by foot. There are no street lights, just fields. Many stood up and thanked eachother, prayed for one another, and we worshipped as one body. Standing outside after the despidida, I caught sight of the boy who had asked me for a Bible. When he saw me, a huge smile came over his face, I saw a joy in him that was from our LORD. I walked up to him and said "Tu tienes la Biblia? Translated: do you have the Bible?" "Si, si" he replied and as he pulled out the Bible, he opened it to the back cover of the book, where the words had been written after I gave him the Bible "Dios te Bendiga" (God bless you) and his name! As I looked at his name poorly scribbled in his Bible, I thought how much the LORD knows each one of us by name, and I am reminded of this verse:

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:7.



The LORD not only loves me & you, but each of our precious brothers and sisters in the Bateys, and all over the world, those who believe in the LORD, and those who do not yet, the LORD, has not forgotten one single person. He knew that that boy was to recieve a Bible from me that day in Batey Cuchillo. Please pray for him.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 3-10

Thank you all so much for going before the LORD on my behalf, and on the behalf of the many more who do not yet know Christ and those who need strength to keep fighting the fight. I am so grateful for you guys! You can take a few minutes to watch this video from the Batey's, I created:

Basketball Camp

It has been a great week working with the team from Louisville, KY at our annual Basketball camp. We have been doing Basketball Camp for over 10 years now. What once started with 50 kids on one court has expanded to over 200 campers and 5 courts all bringing glory to God through a unique bond of sports.

Not being much of a sports player myself, I was assigned the job of team photographer. I traveled to all of the courts, visited many of the groups during "huddle time" and I was so blessed by what I saw.

The G.O. basketball team was composed of 25 individuals, men and women with a love of the game of basketball, and an even stronger love for the LORD. Some played the sport and others coached. Each day we began at the main court and met at the club house for chapel time. One of the basketball players or coaches would give a short testimony/ teaching and then kids would be dismissed into one of 13 different groups depending upon their division: NBA, Dominicana, College, Womens, and Little Man League for "huddle time."


During H.T. the leaders would share with their kids about Christ on a more personal level, and the kids would share where they are and what they struggle with, and recieve prayer. After H.T., the kids would warm up, and then it was off to the courts for drills and games.


Each night the professional league would play for a chance to play in the championship game at the end of the camp. The men on the trip were Team USA & they would also play for the title. Team USA had a winning streak of 4 years! The women would also play the professional women's team as well. Men's and Women's USA teams won!!!


On the final day of the camp the best two teams in each division would play in a championship game, and then we held an awards ceremony where we gave over MVP, Most Christ-like, and other awards as well. Each kid got a T-shirt, Nike Basketball, G.O. Min. Sports bag, and a ribbon for playing. The MVP from each team will play in an All-Star game next week!

I was blessed to be a part of this great week!!!

Thanks to the G.O. Sports Team for all their hard work!

Espwa (Hope) for Haiti

It has taken me a few weeks to update on my adventures in Haiti. It was, well, interesting. It has taken me since my return to process all that I saw, and I am unsure that I could ever process it all to be honest. I left Haiti a changed person...

I will backup some and start from the beginning.
This summer we will be hosting 20 teams and the first three arrived on June 12th. I had learned at our staff meeting that I would be traveling with the team that would be going to Haiti. I felt a mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to nervous anticipation for what may lie ahead in the following days.


We arrived in Dajabon, the border town on the D.R. side and walked with Arcenio Jimenez across the border into Haiti where we piled in the back of trucks to get to our final destination about 10 minutes away. As we drove through the streets of Haiti, or rather, the dirt roads of Haiti, my heart was pierced with sadness. Naked children everyone, women and men who looked twice their age, standing on their front porches as the truckload of "blans" drove through the village of Ounamenthe, swollen bellies, hungry eyes, the evidence of destruction surrounded us.


We arrived at the dormitory and the team began preparing their first VBS for the kids at "Le Orphellinat," the orphange. 38 kids live here, and recieve meals, schooling, and some are even learning a trade like sewing. There is quite a lengthy process for a child to live at the orphanage. The kids, undoubtably, were thrilled to see us.

At the orpahange

The team leader was fluent in Creole, so she was able to communicate with the kids in a way that us "blans" were unable to do thus far. We also had Romano, a Haitian who works with G.O., and several other translators with us, but their was something magical and spiritual about hearing the leader speak to the little ones in their native tongue. The team sang songs, played games, and told the story of God creating the world, and how he created each one of them very very special. That evening the clouds turned black and it poured down rain, turning the little dirt road that seperated the orphange from the dormitory and church into a river, that was untravelable. I sat there wondering how many houses were flooded... how much more damage did the rain bring?

In Haiti no one has electricity. Imagine when the dark falls, your day ends. People go to bed very early, and something we were not prepared for was just how early they get up. 5am is the usual time. The light is a precious and valuable commodity to the Haitians.

The second day we awoke we saw the effects of the rain, the orphanage was flooded and the water was up to our ankles. The kids in the orphanage made trip after trip walking to the dormitory/church grounds with buckets and trays and piled them high with dirt and walked with them on their heads back to the orphanage to fill up the water. Many others were busy that morning bucketing the water out of their houses.

bringing sand to the orphanage

Over the course of three days the team prepared for VBS in the morning at the church, and then in the afternoon they held a soccer camp. Kids lined the fence just waiting for us each day.

Soccer camp

One afternoon I was working on a project at the dorms and I heard this group of children shouting from down below "jackleen, jackleen, jackleen." As the time in Haiti was dwindling every day, my heart grew more and more sad. One of our last days in Haiti we spent doing a VBS at Elonce Bernandin's church. Elonce is a Haitian pastor with 6 kids. He and his wife have recently adopted a child. She had malaria, and now she is having other problems with a tumor/ cyst that if it does not go away with treatment, they will have to operate. This man of God is supported by my home church in Las Vegas. I had only been to his church once before and a picture of it hangs on my wall. It was about a 25 minute walk to his church and kids came out from everywhere. Many naked. we piled over 200 kids into the church to tell them about Jesus. We gave out dolls, candy, and toys to each child. When we left the kids followed us, hand in hand, to the other side of town.

At Elonce's church

The team was such a blessing to our Haitian brothers and sisters. We attended church with them, led worship, we sang songs in Creole, and a pastor on the team preached 2 nights in a row.
One evening the women from the church walked up to the Dormitory, and stood there in a line. We wondered what they could possibly be doing until they opened their mouths, and the most beautiful song came forth. I imagined in heaven it would sound as beautiful as it did that night.
We spent time with the kids in the orphanage one last morning before it was time to pack up and head out. We left Sunday morning after tearful goodbyes, and promised returns at the church.

I was a broken person. I sat in church each night and Sunday morning, unable to stop from crying as I looked around, as I heard the sounds of my Haitian brothers and sisters worshipping God in a way that I could not. With nothing they had everything. I had so much, and yet, so little.

I am so thankful to CCC for their hard work and sacrafices made to share Christ in this community. There is so much yet to be done. So many more lives to be saved, churches to be built, mouths to be fed, and G.O. has just barely touched the tip of the iceberg in Haiti.
God is so good, amidst all the tragedy and suffering in Haiti, he is still the LORD, who will one day, redeem his people and all in the world will know they are a people that the LORD has blessed.

I long to return and hope to soon.
I would ask you to please continue to pray for our brother and sisters in Haiti, and ask how God might want to use you to meet the needs of his people. If you are interested in partnering with me and the ministry in Haiti, please email me at jackie.douglas@go-ministries.org, and I will get you more information.
I have created a video of the team's adventures in Haiti, please watch it. The link in in the Ministry video section or you can scroll down to my past blog and there is a link there as well.
There is still much espwa for Haiti.
God bless you all.
Jackie

My favorite picture from Haiti:

Hey everyone! I am back in the D.R.
A full Haiti update is soon coming!
In the meantime please enjoy this video I made for the team that served in Haiti. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Hey everybody! It is 5:45am in the D.R. and I am finishing up packing to go to Haiti for a week. I found out yesterday that I will be leaving with the team (which I kind of knew, unofficially) today to Ouanaminthe, Haiti to do children's ministry and soccer ministry. I will be returning to the D.R. Monday.
Please please pray for this time that we will be there with Community Christian Church. Pray for the team to be united spiritually and mentally. Pray for the team that is leading the trip (John, Romano, Brent, and me) pray for the Haitians hearts to be open, that the Lord Jesus might penetrate them and they would come to know Christ in an intimate way as their Lord and Savior.
I want to write so much more, but I am on a limited amount of time. We leave in an hour. Thank you guys so much for your support. I will update when I return!
Peace.
Jackie

¡Bienvenido!

I am here!! I arrived at the airport in Santiago on Friday night at 7pm! Jen who is a staff member and Hannah, the first intern to arrive this summer greeted me as I stepped outside the airport into the warm sticky air. I knew I was home. We drove about 15 minutes to the dormitory. This is where the teams stay when they are here. The conference center and office are also located here.

I am living on the bottom floor of the dormitory in an apartment with Jen, Catherine (another staff member), Hannah, and may more female interns who will be joining us this summer. On Saturday morning we had our first assignment. We needed to go to Hoya Del Bartola (the hole) to get some footage and pics. for a video we are putting together for the church who support G.O.'s work there. Tonight we will be filming part of the church service at the Hole.

Last night we had dinner at Tim and Samira's house (minus Tim!)

It is great here, and I am looking forward to putting some personal touches here that will make it feel more like my space. I am going to get a small bookshelf which we make out of lumber and cinder blocks and also some sort of table/ night stand thingy, as well as painting the room.

My prayer this summer is that as I adjust, and try to figure out what is going on that he would open my eyes everyday for someone that I can serve. I came here to serve the people and share the love of Christ with them. That is the end goal. Whether that is in kids ministry, construction, sports, or cooking with the ladies in the kitchen. I came here to serve, and I pray that I would not forget that or take my eyes off of the LORD and his desire for me to be a light in these communities. And of course that I would continue to study the language.

The single most important thing I would ask of you is to please join me in prayer. Pray for the unbelievers in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, pray for the Dominican and Haitian Christians and Pastors to be strong in the LORD and that they would be a good witness to those who don't believe, pray for the G.O. staff to be empowering to those Nationals we work with and to always looking for ways to serve the people on the Island, pray for the may teams who will be arriving to work and serve Jesus this summer that their lives would be changed and that their work would become a testimony of the LORD and that it would touch the many lives of the people here, pray for Brook, the President of G.O. Ministries for discernment and wisdom as he leads the organization.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. Without your support- I would not be here.

¡Dios te Bendiga!

Jackie

Here are a few pics from the apartment where I am staying (I know there are no pics. of me yet... they are coming!!)

Just wanted to let everyone know of a few things!

I am leaving for the D.R. Friday morning at 6am- I am incredibly excited. Finishing up packing, and of course I have a million errands to run tomorrow- literally a million!! I am sorry I could not see everyone while I was in Las Vegas- who would have thought 17 days wasn't enough time!! (not me!) I will do better next time!

To those of you who financially support me: I want to thank you and thank you. You have no idea what this means to me and to the children, families, Followers of Christ, and non-believers that your sacraficial gifts will be used to help spread hope on the Island.

To those of you who do NOT financially support me: Please pray and consider how God might use you through your support. For $30 a month you could support a child through our Nutrition Center that will provide a child a hot meal 6 days a week, vitamins, spiritual encouragement, birthday, Christmas present. $30 a month- that's like 5 Starbucks drinks!! Check out this link: www.go-kids.blogspot.com

I started a financial update blog- you will find a link on the sidebar of my blog or you can visit it here: www.jackiesfunds.blogspot.com I hope this will keep everyone updated on where I stand monthly!

Please continue to pray for God's glory to spread through the D.R. and Haiti!! I can't wait until I write again from Dominican soil.
Bendiciones-
JD

April 07

Hey everyone! I know many of you have been emailing me wondering what has happened... where is a new post? Well, I have been sick- really sick. Let's just say I have not experienced this kind of sick... It was incredibly imperitive for me to be near a bathroom 24 hours a day!!

I am starting to finally feel better today (day #7 of the sickness) and hope to drink some chicken noodle soup broth!

So- here's the update!

The beginning of April started off rather smooth- I had been finishing up the promotional piece I had been telling you guys about for the Exponential Conference (aka- the largest church planting conference in the country) at the end of April. That was fun and really challenged me and helped me grow as a designer. Graphic design is something I have dabbled with in the past, but not on this level, so I really enjoyed being stretched in this area.
But before the conference we had to make a little stop in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!

We had a blast in the DR for a week at our Celebration of Partnership Conference. The week began with just the staff and our partners from Mongolia, Belize, and Colombia joined us for a staff retreat. John Kohler, who works with alcoholics and prostitutes in Mongolia challenged us during our devotional times to be real about where we are, who we are. He reminded us that Jesus did not just command us to come and drink once and our thirst will be forever quenched... no- Jesus says drink as often and as much as you need... and we need it all the time- we're fooling ourselves if we think we don't and soon we'll be or probably already are running on empty. I was thankful for John's message, as I think back to how many times I try to run on my own strength and might. It just doesn't work.

After the retreat, we took a tour around Santiago and visited 4 of our big projects. Hato del Yaque, Los Guandules, Santa Lucia (aka La Mosca), and Hoya del Bartola. In each of these places a church here in the States partners with a Pastor and the community to provide much need resources to bring hope and healing to these communities.

In Hoya del Bartola:

You remember my friend Jason? Well here he is eating at the Nutrition Center. The church and nutrition center are located here at the bottom of a garbage dump where over 600 families live, and a stream of raw sewage runs through it.

In Hato del Yaque:

This is the view from the top of the church. This is the future site of a new G.O. Hub. Each Hub will have a church, nutrition center, dormitory, medical clinic, and school.

In Santa Lucia:

These are just a few of the kids hanging out at the Nutrition Center/ Medical Clinic. This place is also known as La Mosca, which means "the fly," because there are so many flys swarming everywhere. La Mosca, like Hoya del Bartola, is also located at a lanfill, the difference is that the one here is a burning lanfill. The burn it all day and tractors drive over it to compact the trash. Many kids are hurt and even killed because they play here. The smoke that seeps down into the valley where families live brings many sicknesses including asthma.

In Los Guandules:

In this community there was a bar where prostitution and gambling were rampant. G.O. was able to to tear the bar down and erect a brand new two story church in it's place with a nutrition center on the first floor!

It was awesome to see the transformation in the kids at these places because of the work that is being done here on the Island. God is so faithful and he is continually providing G.O. with resources and partners to bring the Good News to those in need.

After the tour- we went to La Vega for our Celebration of Partnership. I stayed in a dormitory with Dominican women we work with from the kitchen to Hoya del Bartola and Guandules. In the morning the Nationals had training while us Americans had training of our own. In the afternoon we spent time hanging out together, learning about eachothers lives, and in the evening we had worship services in Spanish. It was so amazing to see all the different cultures represented as the body, coming together to worship and seek Jesus.

I was sad to leave, but knew I would be back there soon! From La Vega I flew to Orlando, FL for the Exponential Conference. We had an opportunity to share with hundred's of church planters about G.O. Ministries, and why we were there. Many people didn't understand why a missions org. would be at a church planting conference. And that is where we were able to say that God's plan for the Kingdom is both locally and globally. We were offering an exploratory trip in September for those interested in coming to the D.R. and Haiti and see how God is working and we had over 150 people sign up for the trip!!! Seriously! Please pray for these new potential partnerships!

It was a great experience and I hope to go back next year! (Pic of Vicki and I in Orlando)

Derby is here and I am hoping to get enough energy back to be able to volunteer tomorrow- my good friend Laura Snell comes in tonight with her mom to volunteer- woohoo!! Please pray for my health to return!

I will be coming home to Las Vegas May 9th and I hope to see as many of you as possible- If you are interested in seeing me, please send me an email to jackie.douglas@go-ministries.org. My schedule is filling up FAST!!

Just a quick financial update: I need to raise $1000 more a month to reach my "c" budget. If you are interested in financially partnering with me, hosting a get-together, or know someone who might be interested please email me at jackie.douglas@go-ministries.org

As I am preparing to come home for my final goodbye's before heading to the field, I just want to say thank you so much to those of you who have through prayer and finances partnered with me. I have been blessed beyond anything I could imagine and I look forward to sharing even more of what God is doing with you!
Thank you so much for answering the call of God to partner with me.

Dios te Bendiga!
-Jackie