Blog Thursday 10/13

Today we were blessed to start off our day with a french toast breakfast. We enjoyed exchanging malarone dreams during this time. We learned that one of the side effects of taking Malaria pills is weird dreams. After breakfast we spent the morning on an incredible hike on a mountain next to the beach called, “El Zapato,” or “the Shoe” in English. The view at the top of the mountain was definitely worth the heat and sweat to get there. We spent some time up there just admiring God’s creation. Afterward, we were able to enjoy the biggest waves we have ever seen. It was extremely refreshing and it was great bonding experience for the team.

We ate lunch when we returned from the beach and then Silvia shared her testimony with the team. We had a much needed quiet time that followed to nourish our relationship with God after a week’s full of activities.

In the mid-afternoon we departed to a church called Cuerpo de Cristo in the city of San Jose which was an hour and a half away. When we arrived we were welcomed with open arms and smiles. The worship team Ellie, Silvia, TJ, and Zac opened the service with giving praise to God through music. Then Pastor Tom Moen led the church service with a very powerful message emphasizing that there is only one church in the world- God’s church. He spoke to the congregation on the commandments of being joyful, being prayerful, and being thankful. After the message,  the pastor of the church invited anyone who hasn’t received Christ in their heart yet but would like to do so to step forward to be prayed for. There was a man who stepped forward and the pastor said he had been praying for this man to come forth for a long time.

Then there was a woman who stepped forward with a familiar face. She was one of the women who had participated in the women’s conference we hosted the night before. As she was heading back to her seat, she gave Lydia a big hug in tears to thank her for leading the Women’s conference the night before. It was evident that this time at the Monte Cristi Church meant something to this woman and it was indescribable moment for us all to witness her acceptance of Jesus Christ.

After the service, we traveled to another nearby church in Barrero called Cuerpo de Cristo as well. The worship team once again opened with joyful praise music. Then Teddy gave his testimony to the church. Pastor Tom once again led the congregation with the same important message, except he was much more animated this time. The energy from the congregation was pretty infectious. We were greeted and thanked after the service and were invited to have dinner with the congregation. The wonderful volunteers of the church made us “pollo guisado por yucca” or “chicken with a seasoned sauce over yucca.”  Their gratitude for our travel there was overwhelming. We had enjoyable conversations and photos with the families and their children.

Overall, it was a very joy-filled day with much to be thankful for the fruitful conversations that took place within the team and with the people from the churches were evidence of God’s hand at work in the Dominican Republic. We are very excited to see how God continues to use our time here for HIs glory.

Your Sister in Christ,

Silvia