February has been quite a full month!

We were blessed by several teams who came to the Dominican Republic to serve our brothers and sisters through constructing churches, nutrition centers, VBS, feeding kids, and a celebrate recovery conference for the pastors and leaders of the local churches G.O. supports. John, a fellow missionary arranged for us to take 50 kids from "The Hole" (a landfill housing over 600 families) to get ice cream at Helado Bon, the local ice cream shop. As we drove to Bon, the kids, filled with excitement sang silly songs and once we arrived they spent the first 40 minutes going down the giant slide and then getting back in line... it was a never ending circle from the bottom of the slide to the line at the stairs. We asked Jenni, the pastor's wife, if this was something they get often (ice cream), and she immediantly answered "no." What a joy it is to be able to bring joy to a child's life praising God together for the things he gives us and the ways he blesses us... through ice cream.

I have made several trips to the Bateys this year and look forward to yet another trip next week when my mom and friend arrive to the Dominican Republic from Las Vegas. South Hills' trip has been postponed until July, but thankfully my mom and Zoraida will still be able to visit for a week, and work with another team that will be serving here in Santiago.

Please continue to pray for South Hills and their team that they are currently putting together to serve here in the D.R. this summer.

One special way I am learning about Christ's love for me and through his people here on the island of Hispaniola is through encouragment. I have been reading different verses in the Bible that all speak of encouragement, even that it is a spiritual gift. Which is not something I would have guessed before this study. Even a simple smile or a hug can bring joy to someone's day including mine. The simple act of visiting someone or letting someone know you were thinking of them can change someone's perspective. Take time to hold a child. Bring flowers to someone. Share your food. The Dominicans and Haitians here are daily teaching me what it means to be a servant.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work in this country and be shaped and molded by those around me and by our precious LORD Jesus. I know, that many hearts are being strengthened, as it is found in scripture, by Jesus, because of the ways you sacrifice for God's Kingdom to expand.

We look forward to the Spring which will bring 7 teams here to bless the work of the Nationals serving here. Please pray for a fruitful season of ministry. Pray for new partnerships to grow, for new believers in Christ, for the chains that keep us from living a life full in Christ to be broken. I ask that you pray for humility and a brokeness amongst our staff and in my own life and that we would remain humble before our LORD.

"The poor will see and be glad- you who seek God, may your hearts live." Psalm 69:32

Here are a few pics from this past month in ministry:

Dave Stone's Bible study team mix concrete and pour the floor for the Dormitory/ Nutrition Center/ Church building in Hato del Yaque

Girls from the team stop working to pose with some of the neighborhood kids who brought joy to the worksite in the form of flowers

Montan, a church elder, and pillar of the church visits the worksite with some of the neighborhood youth

50 Kids from El Hoyo "The Hole," eat ice cream at Helado Bon... son buenos!! Can you find Jackie?

Kids anxiously wait in line for a scoop of blue "chicklet" flavored ice cream

kids enjoy their ice cream!

I am visiting with my friend, Mary Luz, who is expecting baby Wilson this Thursday!

Happy February!

G.O. Ministries has been working in the bateys for many years now. The struggles many Haitians face day in and day out are inconceivable to most of us. I had the chance opportunity to spend 48 hours in the Bateys last weekend.

This particular trip was different than most. We were not there with a team... We were there on our own mission.

On the day we arrived we were able to bear witness to three bateys coming together to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 14 people were baptized all together in the ocean and it was very special time.

Pastors from the bateys baptize 14

Congregations come together to celebrate... can you see me busy video taping the service??

After the baptisms we were able to visit a church we work with in the large town known as Tamayo (pop. approx. 20,000 people)

Our mission on this particular visit was to interview and collect data from several different bateys where we will begin work on churches and nutrition centers. John and I met with 3 different Pastors who have been called by God to reach the lost , and bring hope and peace to their communities.

One Batey we visited seemed so desperate to me. It was twice the size of most bateys. I saw one girl lying on the floor of her front porch under a blanket shivering from sickness. I met a woman with 7 kids- her husband abandoned her... her "house" torn apart from the tropical storms last year... and she is rebuilding- alone. Kids without clothes. Two women we spoke to whose hearts were hardened to the Gospel. I listened intently as the pastor and another missionary from G.O. shared with one woman about Jesus and she wanted nothing to do with him. Despair. I left that place with a heaviness on my heart.

a sick child

bath time

prayer at the future site of a church building


The town

In another Batey and in Tamayo we visited the houses of two women who were sick. One woman had been bed-ridden for 6 months. I had the opportunity to pray for both of these women in their homes.

I know Christ is already there at work in the bateys. He is always ahead of us, preparing the way.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the bateys. Pray for healing in their hearts. Pray for openess to the Gospel. Pray for physical health as well as spiritual health- there is much sickness there. Many people are still repairing and even unable to repair the damage caused by the tropical storms last year. Pray for resources, help, aid for these people. Pray for G.O. Ministries and our relationships with these pastors to grow- that we will see the efforts of these men bear much fruit!

Please continue to pray for the G.O. Ministries Staff in Kentucky, here in the Dominican Republic, and our partners working in 5 other countries... pray for endurance- peace- & unity.


"May the God who gives you endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6

Happy New Year!

Hi friends!

I am here in the Dominican Republic! I arrived safely back to the place I call home on December 31st and was able to spend New Years Eve with my fellow missionary workers and close Dominican friends. We had a great time at the Gabriel household eating good food, playing dominoes, and in my case- trying to keep my eyes open to enter into the New Year!
There was a beautiful array of fireworks we were able to watch from the balcony, and of course they continued until the early hours of the following morning!

We had about a week to settle back into our houses (you wouldn't imagine how much cleaning there is to do when you have gone for two months), and visit friends and catch up on the last two months.

Just yesterday, our first official team of 2008 arrived here from California! Real Life Church is here working alongside Pastor Felix, helping to build the church and nutrition center in The Hole. All of our staff was anxious to receive our first team and get back to work on the field!

We are so excited for a new year, new teams, new people coming to Christ, new buildings being finished, new communities being partnered with, new mouths being fed, new, new, new!
Please continue to pray for G.O. Ministries- for a strong and healthy staff to lead on the field, for new Americans to partner with our Dominican and Haitian brothers and sisters, for new opportunities to grow in ministry, for God's leading and provision.

Thanks again for your prayers and allowing me this opportunity to serve God here in the D.R.

Peace,
Jackie

"May the LORD continually bless you with heaven's blessings as well as with human joys."
Psalm 128:5 tlb

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: