In our last update, we mentioned that a group of men from our church went to Columbia for a month to help serve and learn more about the structure of other
churches. They arrived home safely to a community that was anxiously awaiting them. These men are a great encouragement to our neighborhood so they were greatly missed while away. While in Columbia, these men learned a great deal about what kind of changes they want to make in the churches here in the Dominican Republic. They now realize the importance of accountability through small groups. We had a meeting last week where leaders from the church discussed their plans for implementing these small groups into the church structure. Audrey and I have been appointed as leaders for the sports crew, as well as helpers in the marriage group and the young adults. We are thrilled with the ideas that are forming and the passion that the people here have for God, their church and their community. Please pray for the efforts that are taking place to expand the church body and for the discipleship that lies ahead.On the sports side of things, the basketball league here in Hoya del Caimito has ended. The championship games were very exciting and the awards ceremony was something the kids really enjoyed. After the games were over, we invited the kids and coaches of the league to an awards ceremony on the third floor of our dormitory. I had the opportunity to deliver a message which tied in all of the devotions the kids had with their coaches through out the league. After that we gave out awards and our media director put together a video filled with pictures and live action from the games. The kids went CRAZY! We set up a projector and put the show on a wall so they could see themselves in action on the big screen. They cheered and laughed the entire time. It was great to see them enjoying each other as they looked back upon the 7 weeks we spent together. Please pray that these boys will continue to pursue what they learned in their devotion time and that we will have the opportunities to visit with them and help encourage them.
Now that basketball is over, we have begun our adventure with volleyball. We now have a volleyball clinic for girls on Saturday mornings! God is so good as He brought us over 30 girls on the very first day. Now that things are under way, we had to change the schedule and split the clinic into two different groups at two different times due to the number of kids. Please pray that these girls will understand 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 as we try to teach them what it means to be "one" as a team and as the body of Christ. After the clinic ends at 10:30, we have invited adults of the church and the community to play volleyball with us. So far, many have come to play and the games are pretty competitive....which we LOVE :)
It hasn't been all "work" and no play over the past few weeks as we had a staff trip to Santo Domingo (capital). There we visited the place where Columbus and his ships made their home here in the Dominican back in the late 1400s. In the early 1500s, the first church of the new world was built and still has services today. It is a catholic church known as the cathedral and it is beautitful. We then toured the city some more before heading to Outback Steakhouse.....obviously the only one in the country. Also for entertainment, Will has been playing in a basketball tournament in a town outside of Santiago. Club Amistad is the name of the team and they are in the championship beginning next weekend. We have really enjoyed meeting the people in this community and seeing a different part of the country.
We also had a couple of visitors this past week......Rob and Jennifer Partin (Will's parents). They arrived on September 28 and stayed until October 4. We all had a great time seeing ministry sites, touring the city, hanging out, and spending a night at the beaches of Sosua. It is always a blast having visitors because they bring energy and a fresh view of the ministry and the Country. A girl from Santiago (Virginia is her name) spent one year at the Partin household about 7 years ago, so this was the first time that the Partins could come here and meet her family. They really enjoyed getting to see them and learn about their life here in the D.R.
The month of October is here and we have a busy month ahead. There is a group here right now from Michigan working on construction and childrens ministry, so pray that their hearts are open to what God has to show them through this experience. We have a few more groups coming which will entail construction, two medical clinics, soccer clinic, childrens' ministry, womens' ministry and evangelism. As we prepare for these weeks to come, pray that the people will continue to see that Jesus lives in the hearts of these people and that we all solely rely on Him for everything. He is the air we breath...He is our daily bread.
The holidays are approaching and we are planning on coming home at the end of October. We look forward to seeing all of you as usual and we pray that you are allowing God to move in your life. We'll be updating you soon on our plans for our time at home so we can schedule some times to get together. We love you all and praise God for what He's doing through you.
In love with Jesus,
<><
Audrey and Will
