On Sunday we attended and served in both services at IBC. The girls sang in each service, and Kristy and Julia shared testimonies in the evening. Our flute trio also played the offertory. Dr. Sam Horn from Northland has been in the DR since Friday speaking at a Couples' Conference for IBC, therefore most of the couples were still away Sunday morning. The conference ended Sunday afternoon, and we were glad to spend some time with Dr. Horn in the evening. We had lunch in the food court again on Sunday, with the youth of course, and were able to have an hour and a half of down time at the house before heading back out to church.
I think it would be approriate to say what a blessing Jennifer Renner has been to this team. Many of you know Jennifer teaches in our Music Department back at Northland, and is fairly fluent in Spanish. She has prepared the girls very well for music and children's ministry, but has also been our translator for a variety of situations, including with our driver Marcos. She has done all of this with a servant's heart, and I know has made a great impression on our team and everyone she meets.
Because I'm a rookie blogger and took my crash course a couple of days before we left the State, I have no idea what I'm doing or how to format the posts to look good (those of you who know me, know this drives me crazy!) The pictures are a big part of the issue, so I will add a few pictures in a separate blog. I hope this helps. The pictures include some outreach opportunities in the stands at the game at Hato Mayor, Marcos buying us sugar cane on the way back, Jenna and Kate enjoying sugar cane, some of the Sat night youth meeting and food court gathering, and Sunday services at Iglesia Bautista Cristiano.
Monday is obviously our last full day on the trip. It is very bittersweet, as we all miss families, but love what we're doing. We hope to see more of the city in the morning, and have our final game Monday afternoon. Don Juan, our gracious host, wants to have a bbq for us at supper, so I'm sure there will be stories from that! Please pray we can be salt and light on and off the court on Monday! Thanks for your prayers!
God has taught me a lot this week. I‘ve learned many truths about Him and His Word. The main truth He has taught me is that I need to examine my life all the time, not just to prepare for something special like a mission trip. I need to be willing to be open and transparent with Him every day. He already knows everything about my life. I know I need to be willing to confess the sin that is in my life to him and ask for forgiveness, but sometimes my pride holds me back. I want to hold on to things that God wants me to let go of. God knows what is best for my life, and I have to be willing to be used by Him. I need to let go of the sin in my life that hinders my relationship with my Savior, so I can better serve Him on the mission field and at home. -Kristy
It has really been an amazing experience to be here in the Dominican where the majority of people don’t speak English - especially when I don’t speak very much Spanish! It’s also great when we can still sing and worship God together with the other believers here. Friday evening we attended a revival meeting held by the church in Hato Mayor. As we were singing the opening songs, I was able to pick up on some words and phrases since we’ve been here in the Dominican for several days now. It was such an amazing experience to be able to praise God in Spanish! It was different than the songs that we had rehearsed already in Spanish because the words were not explained to me, I had to think and figure out the lines on my own and really focus on the truths of God and His word. What an amazing thought that in every location the truths of God’s Word and His majesty is still supreme and there is no language that can act as a barrier against our praise to Him! - Becky
Thanks for the updates!!!!
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