As we enter the last few days in the Dominican Republic before heading to Haiti, I wanted to update you all on what ministry has looked like this month. Spoiler alert, it’s looked very different, pretty much every day and even different from the morning to the afternoon. In a no where near exhaustive list, here are some of the ways we’ve served in the Dominican Republic over the past month:
- Teaching English and bible stories to kids at a local catholic school who speak very little English along with their teachers
- Painting murals at this same school to make the environment more lively and colorful for the kids
- Shoveling out dirt from the waterfall on the property that usually serves an oasis from the heat, an outdoor shower or even a place for washing clothes, but hasn’t been able to be this with the recent drought in the Dominican republic and the mounds of dirt within that soak up any water that comes through
- Mixing and pouring concrete as well as digging out dirt from where a house is being built for a man named, Nani and his family. Nani doesn’t yet know the Lord, but we’re praying God used us helping build his house as a way to soften his heart towards the Gospel
- Creating relationships with the local “Colmado” (or convenience store) owners as we bought delicious snacks from them, investing in neighbors like Maria and with sweet Dami who sells delicious homemade tea, coffee and cake off her front porch just up the road.
- Picking up trash and fallen trees from around the property near the playground where kids in the community like to come and play.
- Collecting and burning brush and sticks from out where the cows graze to make more room them to roam
- Digging out steps from the dirt path that leads from the main property out to the cows to make it easier for the men to carry out food and water to the cows
- Painting and housekeeping of our dorms, the pool, the bathrooms, common spaces, kitchen, etc. to help maintain this ministry’s beautiful property
- Participating in intercessory prayer for the country of the Dominican Republic, the Dominguez family, especially their three girls: Selina, Starr and Solimar, who have recently battled some illnesses
- Anointing the family and the property and in Jesus’ name casting out any spirits of the enemy that may be trying to hinder what the Dominguez family feels called to do through their ministry
- Training the family’s horse, Dominguez, so that when more visitors come onto the property they are able to explore it by horseback
- Speaking at a weekly women’s club preaching the gospel and enjoying fellowship with them
- Attending church’s planted by the Dominguez family and enjoying an authentic Dominican worship service
- Updating the ministry’s website to be a better resource for anyone wanting to come serve here at Hope Mountain (http://www.hope4drnow.org/)
- Filming orientation videos for the ministry and a fundraising video in support of a children’s center that recently lost its predominate supporter
- Teaching homeschool work, bible studies and building relationships with Starr and Solimar (Shoutout to Laiken and Amy!)
It’s been a really great month! Stay tuned for a post coming soon explaining what this month taught me and how I’m feeling at this point in the race! On that note, how is month one already over?!?! Thanks for reading and God bless!
