mccdc-dominican-outreach

Timoti's Kodak moments....

2006-08-05T01:46:00.000-04:00

Mark paints our mission logo at the Dominica School.
You know the morning work session is over when the bubble lady appears!

Rojo, rojo, verde...
Mo enjoying some time with the children
Mo really enjoying some time with the children!

Mauri's class at the closing ceremony, my favorite photo from my disposable Kodak.

Posted by Timoti

Our Dominican Crew

2006-08-05T01:15:00.000-04:00

The Dominican Crew -- Edward, Michael, Wilkens, and Yeison.
Two great shots of Wilkens - one at work and one not.

Senor Edward
Michael and Yeison working on the outside wall.

Michael's color coordinated painting outfit!

The Maintenance Crew in action.

2006-08-05T00:37:00.000-04:00

Edward and Wilkens struggle with the basketball stand, but they will eventually prevail!
A rare picture of Gwen when she is not painting....

"Hey Yeison, how bout you push and I'll paint?"
RJ contemplates whether an excel spreadsheet might help Michael with the "painting of the gate," a massive public works project that took 3 days to complete and used over 6 gallons of paint.

Posted by Timoti

From our friends at El Tamarindo

2006-08-02T19:54:00.000-04:00

IGLESIA DE LA COMUNIDAD METOPOLITANA DE LAS ALIANZAS CRISTIANAS DE EL TAMARINDO
ESCUELA DE ICM EL TAMARINDO
Calle 23 No. 86, El Tamarindo, Santo Domingo Este
Teléfono 414-9722

Augus 3, 2006

Dear brothers and sisters:

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus, to you and to the entire congregation of MCC there in Washington DC, from all the children, all the teachers and the whole church here at El Tamarindo and La Ureña.

I hope to find you well when recieving this message.

Thank you very much your very neccessary dedicated time, efford, financial support and for coming down to visit and share with us this past week with the Team Mission, both at El Tamarindo and La Ureña.

It was really exited and a very transforming and fruitful experience, both for the students and the teachers. I hope you have had the same feelling. We have a lot of hopes and expectations since then. I know only the God I serve and that I believe can accomplish it, for there is nothing impossible for him.

Your Pastor must be very proud of all of you with this outreach. Please give my regards and my respect. I know also that many lives have been changed through this experience since then.

God has never let us down, and when all the doors seem to be closed to us, there are always many windows that he is allowing to be open through where we can get his enormous, abundant and immense grace.

Yolanda, Mama Cee, Bryan, John, Frank and Wayne, what special you are in our lives!

Que Dios les bendiga!

Con amor y cariño, abrazos y besos

Rev. Juan Fco. Barrera
Pastor-Director

Many A Sweltering Moment

2006-07-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

The Inaugural MCC-DC Mission Team Returns with Blessings from the Dominican Republic, July 19, 2006.

The blazing Dominican July sun caused us to drip sweat into buckets of blue paint and onto coloring book pages. Logistics Group Leader, Tim Helm, responded to our needs:

My hotel room has no hot water; The AC is broken; The AC won’t go off; My bathroom doesn’t have a sink. (Ask Cathy Campbell and Lisa Codario — they worked it out.)

The meetings are too long. We should be praying more. We don’t want to see sex workers in our hotel bar. I’ve been robbed.

We learned again that all we have is each other and God’s infinite love – and found we lacked nothing.

For a week, 15 DC-area mission members, some old classroom hands, some learning teaching the hard way, took over eight classrooms in two schools. We demonstrated how the arts can be integrated into reading and writing skills for 140 children and 16 partnering Dominican teachers. Our curriculum was based on an original Spanish and English children’s version of Moses and the Pharaoh’s Daughter.

The mission’s school materials budget, daily schedules, staff assignments, curriculum and teacher training, coordination with Dominican school directors, and evaluation were directed by Frank Wirmusky, Group Leader for Children’s Programming and Teacher Training.

Mission member Brian Christinakis translated Frank’s re-telling of the Moses story. From this central theme, an astonishing array of teacher-designed arts activities exploded, including: theatre, dance, song, instruments and wind chimes, hats, t-shirts, bracelets, and masks, along with journal and poetry writing.

Brian Christinakis also did yeoman’s duty as Head Translator. Brian tirelessly facilitated classroom directions, church services, teacher meetings, and critical conversations with our Dominican partners. He co-led our Saturday reception with the members of ASA, Amigos Siempre Amigos/Friends Always Friends, the DR’s sole provider of HIV/AIDS services for men.

Cathy Campbell’s 6-member maintenance team installed six ceiling fans, repaired chairs and desks, refurbished a kitchen, and fixed dormitory toilets and showers. They repaired plumbing, painted walls, gates and doors; installed a new basketball hoop, repaired the old one. They gratefully took help from paid and volunteer workers from both countries to complete the job.
We left behind bookshelves and laptops (like manna from heaven popping out of RJ Flowers’ backpack), tools and paints, art and classroom supplies, musical instruments, sports equipment, a world map mural, and even some dinero.

Reverend Lance Mullins from New Covenant MCC in Laurel, MD at times seemed to be speaking several languages at once, including more Spanish than most of us. Rev. Lance coordinated the daily programming at the Dominica School and Orphanage in La Ureña, moving masses of people through prayers, readings, singing, rainstorms, meals, meetings, performances, and ceremonies. He was our Mission Moses, ably assisted by School Director Dominica Rosario.

At El Tamarindo Yolanda Jackson just plain took over, astounding her peers and the Dominican staff with energy and creativity. School Director Reverend Francisco Barrera and mission member Cecelia (Momma C) Hayden-Smith kept spirits high despite the oppressive heat.

Our 1ST MCC-DC DR Mission Trip was brought to a close by MCC-DC Senior Pastor Candace Shultis, who championed our work and prayed us off in style. She stood ever fast and was at the airport to receive us and bless our safe return. We now look ahead to what more can be done.

The 2006 MCC-DC DR mission team thanks Group Transport Leader Maureen Doyle for her outstanding work as air travel shepherdess, delivering intact not only the sheep, but 22 suitcases of donated school supplies and tools; and Mark Sprague, Tommie Adams, Jr., Leah Clause, and Lisa Codario for their work on marketing, photography, and the mission blog.

God’s plan for us and the Dominican people is just unfolding; please support us with your prayers and gifts. In turn we thank our sending partners, MCC-DC congregation, and special contributors for their prayers and generous support.

For more information on how you can help, contact the MCC-DC Dominican Republic Outreach Ministry, led by Associate Pastor Reverend Venson Phillip Mathews, vpmathews@msn.com.

The Dominican Outreach Team: Our journey is not over it has just begun...

2006-07-22T10:20:00.000-04:00

The Dominican Outreach team returned home this week filled with stories of love, hope and change.

So many of us commented on how strange it was not see one another the day after our return to the US. I guess we were suffering from a little separation anxiety. I know how much we will miss the amazing interaction with the children, teachers and staff at the schools in the DR. And the feelings we have for each other come from the changes in our relationships on this journey. Our team went from church acquaintances to becoming friends to leaving as family members by mission's end.

Each of us has so many stories in our hearts and minds that will reside with us for a lifetime. Sometimes it is hard to explain the feelings in words for our experience there. I just know it changed many of our outlooks on life and our place in the world around us. No doubt this was our gift from God.

We returned home to the open arms of Rev. Candance at Reagan National Airport late Wednesday evening. I think seeing and embracing her made our trip complete. It brought us some closure that we finished what we hope will not be our last mission trip to the Dominican Republic together.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK OUT THE BLOG FOR MORE STORIES FROM THE DR. THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO TELL.

P.S. It's funny, I expect to hear those dang roosters crowing in the morning now, anybody else?

Posted by Tommie

2006-07-21T13:15:00.000-04:00

i never knew . . .

i never knew that standing on an endless shore watching a sea full of multi-hued chocolate children playing freely and surrounded only by love would affect me the way it has. golden and copper children who are so full of joy . . . well, but not always. the ones i spent this past week with were full of joy most of the time. in their families, going to school was a priviledge because your younger brother might be the little one whose mother bathes him outdoors, just beneath your schoolroom or your wish list might include toys, books, and . . . medicine -- even though you do not appear to be ill, or food. i'd thought, in my often broken spanish, that cosina meant clothes. it does not. it means cuisine or more simply, food. i wish there were words for the kick that i felt when i realized that the children used the unlit, unventilated toilet-with-no-plumbing bathroom downstairs -- the one where the door didn't close all the way (but what six-year-old wants to be in a completely dark bathroom anyway, right?). teachers use the ones upstairs (there are two) with at least a toilet that flushes and a partly-effective window for light and slight cross-breeze. i loved those babies, but i still used the one upstairs. i'm hoping that's offset by the fact that i didn't gripe or balk about having to use theirs occasionally, too.

the kids, though, are superamazing! i'm in absolute love with every single one of them. who wouldn't be?

class picture day

reinaldo, sweet and mischeivous one

paloma, isn't she just a little heart-stealer?

i never knew that being mistaken for taimo would be so powerful an experience for me. where my darkness is exotica but not foreign. a place where saying the name atawallpa opened doors so delightful that words can't contain what lies therein. we met some incredible people too. yeison was easily my favorite person y mi amigo por vida. we seemed to have this mutual admiration society thing going on from the moment we met outside the airport. when we hung out, we ended up laughing and laughing until i thought we'd both turn blue! i got to meet his wife over the phone and she seems really very sweet. i hope to see his new baby on the next trip. the way yeison giggles, he's gonna make a great papi.

oh and SETH, if you're reading this, THANK YOU for the spanish learning packets you designed for us. one of the coolest things was sitting down with yeison and using your packets; i corrected his english and he corrected my spanish and the way you had the document set up made it a really great tool to have. weird thing is that in school, the reason i like taking online courses is that i learn better as a solitary student, so having those packets came in very handy. THANK YOU, SETH!!!

oh and the food . . . the hotel had this four-cheese macaroni and cheese that just puts my homemade mac'n'cheese to sorry shame.

powerful trip was dominca and i can't wait to reach her shores again. solo Dios puedes un mundo gusto Dominica cos El Tamarindo, El Punto, y Santo Domingo en uno region.

my spanish is improving.

para yolanda. 21.07.06

Solo Dios Puede...

2006-07-20T22:17:00.000-04:00

We set off for the mission trip with hopes and plans,and watched God work out all the details. There were many moments during the trip where a moment of grace answered a moment of apprehension. I found that the language barrier diminished with both time and effort, and also thanks to the patience of our Dominican friends. The children were open,curious,and kind, and very eager to try their English as they wondered at our Spanish.In every case, God's grace completed the sentences and joined our hearts. We watched God move in miracles large and small. God's grace met us at every turn...

Gracias en todo, Gracias Dios

Lisa

Learning more than just reading, writing and arithmetic...

2006-07-20T11:08:00.000-04:00

The theme of our mission trip was the story of the baby moses which we reflected in our class projects.

Our projects expressed our individuality as well as our commonalities in the world God created around us:

Making masks and tie-dyed T-shirts
Windchimes and musical instruments
A Wish Book
Painting a world map
A dramatic retelling of moses
Photography project
A book of life goals
Finger painting
Scrap booking
Making music

Just to name a few...

posted by Tommie

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT SEVERAL NEW ENTRIES BELOW...and MORE to come!

2006-07-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

HGTV has nothing on us...

2006-07-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

Our maintainence crew and others lend a helping spiritual hand...
They repaired, remodeled, repainted, and restored...

Some of the projects completed:
Installed ceiling fans
Repaired and repainted student chairs
Refinished and repainted kitchen cabinets
Fixed plumbling
Added shower heads
Repainted exteriors and fencing

posted by Tommie

We came together to worship...both young and old

2006-07-20T02:24:00.000-04:00

We worshiped...
We praised God...
We broke bread together...
We sang...
and we embraced!

-pictures from our Sunday worship service in La Urena.
Posted by Tommie.

They came to be teachers and helpers and learned so much more...

2006-07-20T01:27:00.000-04:00

posted by Tommie

Not looking forward to departure...

2006-07-17T16:17:00.000-04:00

Our school in El Tamarindo...

2006-07-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

posted by tommie adams

Mission outreach reaches out!

2006-07-16T00:14:00.000-04:00

The mission team spent the evening in Santo Domingo at a reception sponsored by ASA -
Amigos Siempre Amigos. http://www.amigossiempreamigos.org/ This group is focused on assisting men with education, prevention and support services surrounding the prevention of AIDS in the community. The mission team presented shirts to key members of ASA as well as a cash gift in support of their efforts.

Posted by: Lisa Codario

Beauty is all around us...

2006-07-14T23:52:00.000-04:00

Day Two in the presence of joy.

We are thoroughly enjoying the love the children are showing us....as much as we are enjoying handing out our love!

posted by Leah Clause

The mission begins...

2006-07-14T00:47:00.000-04:00

WE'RE HERE! PRAISE GOD!

2006-07-12T22:08:00.000-04:00

After traveling from 5 a.m. to nearly 5 p.m. the MCC-DC Dominican Republic Mission Team arrived safely at Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. What a blessed arrival it was! They were tired and excited. On the U. S. end there was some confusion about the number of bags that got on the flight, but upon arrival all the bags were accounted for. With that being as close as the group came to experiencing a glitch in their travels, we are praising God for their safe arrival.

Tomorrow morning we head to the schools at El Tamarindo and La Urena. Before going we'll have a group up and power walking at 5 a.m., breakfast at 6:30, and boarding vans at 7:15. Even with this early schedule, the hotel is humming with excitement tonight! I may have to "put a few folks to bed."

Blessings,

Phil

SOMEBODY MISSED THE MEETING ON PACKING LIGHT!

THANK GOD FOR GOOD HELP

YEISON, ONE OF OUR DOMINICAN HOSTS/HELPERS

IS TIMOTI HAPPY OR WHAT?!

TELL ME AGAIN, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?!

GOD CAN, AND GOD DID, GET THEM ALL HERE!

HEADED "HOME" IN THE DR

COUNTING DOWN ... DIEZ, NUEVE, OCHO ...

2006-07-10T20:02:00.000-04:00

MEETING WITH REV. FRANCISCO BARRERA AT EL TAMARINDO

A NINO PURCHASING FOOD FOR HIS FAMILIA AT LOCAL STORE

LOOKING UP THE STREET FROM A LOCAL CORMADO IN EL TAMARINDO

LITTLE MIGUEL AT WORK WITH HIS MOM AT LA URENA

THE ADVANCE TEAM HARD AT WORK AT ESCUELA IN LA URENA

NO, CATHY ISN'T PRAYING, SHE'S LOOKING AT THE CEILING.

THESE CABINETS COULD USE MORE THAN PRAYER!

CATHY AND TIM CONTINUE THEIR ASSESSMENT

A SUMMER CLASS AT LA URENA, SINGING THEIR HEARTS OUT

GOD BLESS THE CHILDREN, WHO CERTAINLY BLESS US

NOW, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AGAIN?!

DAWN AT OUR HOST HOTEL. WHAT A SIGHT!

CATHY AND FRANCISCO ARRIVE AT LAS AMERICAS AIRPORT

YES, THE GANGS ALL HERE ... ALMOST

Volunteer Staff Prepares to Depart with a Prayerful Send Off

2006-07-10T00:53:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, all those remaining volunteers, made their way to the front of the church to receive blessings before travels to the Dominican Republic in a few days. As each member approached the front of the church there was an awesome feeling in the air. You could not help but feel the power of their numbers and the solidarity among them.

Rev. Schultis began the blessing by introducing the church to the mission group. She then handed over the microphone to each mission volunteer to introduce themselves and tell just a little bit about their individual projects. As you heard each volunteer speak with confidence, nervousness and excitement, you could not help but anticipate the amazing potential power they will have in the week to come -- the power they will have to touch the lives of others.

The Reverend asked the church to reach a hand forward as she led them in prayer. She asked God for many blessings including safe travels and the blessings of a wonderful journey of giving. As the group stood hand in hand, she asked them to remember to let God lead the way. In our thoughts, we knew in just a couple days our mission will soon become a reality.

Posted by Tommie Adams

2006-07-09T23:47:00.000-04:00

A WEEK OF PREPARATIONS

2006-07-09T13:46:00.000-04:00

Our New Hotel is a Dominican Paradise!

Meet Michael Rejes Martinez, Our Dominican Team Supervisor

A Place to Relax, After a Day of Mission Work

Yes, This Pool is at Our Hotel! Which is Minutes From the Beach!

This is Where We Will Sleep, After Working All Day!

Tim and Medina (an employee at Dominica School) at the Dominican "Home Depot"

This Man is Testing the Fans We Bought to Make Sure They Work

Tim, Hard at Work!

Our Dominican Work Crew Meeting and Planning

Meet the Best Work Crew on the Island

These pictures are from the activities we've been involved in over the past few days. As you can see, we've been doing various things ... buying paint, changing hotels, forming a work crew, you name it! It has all been good, and we've been blessed in the process. We can hardly wait to see the rest of our mission team on Wednesday.

Blessings,

Phil, Tim and Michael

THE BOYS & THE BEAST OF BURDEN CONTINUED

2006-07-04T00:21:00.000-04:00

These young boys were on the street where I live, selling fruit when I returned from picking up Tim at the airport. They were trying to get their horse to go into the parking lot of my apartment complex. It was much easier said than done! This beast of burden had its own agenda. They finally got it to cooperate, only after it had left a nice little "gift" in the driveway.

AS I PROMISED, MORE PICTURES

2006-07-03T23:48:00.000-04:00

Here are the remainder for the pictures I promised you the other day, when I was having problems with the blog posting. Enjoy!

The Alliance Banquet

Sarah, An American Student

Enjoying the Alliance Banquet

Mr. Helm Couldn't Wait to Show off Our Logo!

This is at Las Americas Airport

Did I Overpack Again?!

Checking in Was a Breeze!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Work!

A WEEK OF FIRSTS ...

2006-07-01T16:44:00.000-04:00

This past week was pretty quiet, partly because "escuela de espanol" was not in session. We start classes again on lunes. Here are some of the "firsts" I experienced this past week, and there are photos for some of them!

#1. I got to make my first hospital visit. A good friend's father has been in the hospital for over 20 days now, so I decided to make a visit. If you don't already have the healthcare system in the Dominican Republic on your prayer list, please add it today.

#2. I was in the gym this past Wednesday morning, getting dressed after a quick shower (I know ... too much information for some. But it's important to the story.) As I was pulling up my underwear ("pulling up" lets you know I don't mean my t-shirt) this woman walks into the men's locker room. What a surprise! But the bigger surprise was that she didn't seem surprised and did not frantically rush out. She had some business for being there and she completed whatever it was then left. A first, I tell you, a first! Sorry, no pics for this one.

#3. Friday afternoon I attended my first graduation at Dominica School, and it was a precious event. Just before it started we were hit with a humongous thunder storm, but that didn't put a damper on the graduation one bit!

#4. Friday evening, after the graduation and with rain still falling from the sky, I attended the first, very first, "ALIANZA" banquet at the Hotel Domincan Fiesta. Hundreds of us sat in this grand ballroom sharing dinner and celebrating the formation of a new alliance between various groups in our community.

#5. I got to pick up my dear friend, Timoti, from the Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo. Up until this trip, we've always flown down together. There are pictures for this first. Enjoy!

One hundred year old organ at Iglesia Episopal in

Santo Domingo, where I worshipped last Sunday morning

Beautiful little "muchachas" all

prepared for the big moment!

Don't even begin to think these guys aren't ready.

Because they are!

A little brother sharing the spotlight

I'll have to add more pictures later. For some strange reason, the blog won't let me add any more pictures at this time.

Benediciones,

Rev. Phil

2006-06-26T23:13:00.000-04:00

Middle school class creates art for the children in the Dominican Republic

2006-06-26T23:08:00.000-04:00

This past Wednesday, June 21, Mauri Kindle, brought the mission group original artwork, in various media, to the supply packing meeting. The artwork was created by his middle school students to send as "letters" to the children in the Dominican Republic. There were over 50 pieces of art work done by the middle school. The children created work about themselves. Most of the “letters” were written in Spanish by his class as a way to build a bridge of communication between the two groups of children, maybe even a way to begin new friendships abroad. Posted by Tommie.

MCC-DC Members and Friends Donate School Supplies for Mission Trip

2006-06-26T20:56:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, June 18th, a special offering was held at both of MCC-DC's Sunday services for the purpose of donating school supplies and suit cases for our mission trip. Team members packed these bags on Wednesday night after our Spanish class. We are now loaded with 22 suit cases filled with supplies for our two orphanages! Muchas gracias a nuestros amigos! Posted by Tommie and Tim

2006-06-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

UFMCC & Rev. Phil Make the DR News

2006-06-24T13:50:00.000-04:00

Friday, 6/23/06, I participated in the "III Foro De Derechos Humanos" (Third Forum on Human Rights) at the Clarion Hotel in Santo Domingo. This forum was an important part of a day of events celebrating "Orgullo Gay y Lesbico" (Gay and Lesbian Pride). If you'd like to read more just click on this link: http://www.elnacional.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=57460. But have your diccinario espanol handy!

Benediciones,

Rev. Phil

Rev. Phil, near the end of the day, at the Human Rights Forum

Presenting our Mission Logo!

2006-06-22T23:24:00.000-04:00

The two people forming the church structure can be viewed as MCC-DC mission members providing shelter and safety to the children of the Dominican Republic. Also, the church structure can be viewed as a partnership, one side of the church representing MCC-DC and the other side our Dominican friends, working together to build a church that all the Dominican people can call home. The Cross is in the diversity rainbow colors for the obvious reasons. The colors inside the church are from the Dominican flag. The child represents the children we will meet on this mission trip. But it is also a reminder that in order to be God's helpers and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, one must first see the world through the eyes of a child. Everyone that looks at the logo will get a different perspective of our mission and the plan that God has for us and the Dominican people! Many thanks to Mark Sprague for his design work.

FEAST YOUR EYES ON THESE

2006-06-22T10:52:00.000-04:00

Vickie and Tania at Parque Duarte

An Old Building in Parque Duarte, A Community Gathering Place

Tania Guzman Preaching at El Tamarindo and Loving It!

Tania and Phil with a Musician (Who Happens to be
the Pastor's Father) at El Tamarindo

The Choir at El Tamarindo

A Trip to the Montanas on Our Last Day Together

The Beauty of God's Handiwork!

A Family Enjoying a Sunday Afternoon Outing

El Salto de Jimenoa

The Mission "Advance Team"

Dear Mission Team Members and Friends,

Blessings to all of you!

These are a few pictures from my ten days with Tania and Vickie. God really blessed our time together, as I knew God would. Before you know it, God will be blessing our time together here in the Dominican Republic. I can hardly wait!

Peace,

Rev. Phil

¡Sí, nosotros hablamos el español!

2006-06-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

Here are some pics of the July mission team during last week's Spanish class. Our teacher Seth has prepared a 4 part intensive language training class for those members who have little or no experience with speaking Spanish. We are even learning to speak the entire Bible story of Moses and the Pharaoh's Daughter in Spanish. ¡Fantástico!

FIRST CENTURY CHURCH HAD PAUL & SILAS, WE HAVE TANIA & VICKIE

2006-06-11T11:56:00.000-04:00

Tania y Vickie hablando en iglesia en El Tamarindo

Sergio Valga cantando en suceso politico

Vickie, Phil y Tania en desayuno el Sabado

Clase de Espanol antes examen

Dear MCC-DC Mission Bloggers,

As you can see from the pictures, it has been an eventful and exciting week here in Santo Domingo. One of the exciting experiences I had was a phone conversation with the Mission Team this past Wednesday evening. It was great to hear, and feel, their enthusiasm over the phone. These folks are doing an amazing job of preparing for their mission/ministry here in the Dominican Republic. To say I am proud of them is definitely an understatement. It brings me great joy to know I'll be sharing this experience with them in just a few weeks!

Speaking for "sharing the experience," I was joined by two of our MCCers from Sara Sota, Florida this past week. Tania Guzman and Vickie Miller arrived at La Romana airport (about an hour and a half drive east of Santo Domingo) on Friday afternoon. They are both clergy candidates at their church. (Tania was born in the Dominican Republic and has a desire to return here to do ministry.) They've joined me here for ten days in hopes of connecting with the women's community here. They have taken this place by storm! Last night we visited "Amazonia," a local bar, and these two women made themselves right at home and offered outstanding bar ministry. I am so grateful for their willingness to come and share themselves in this way. Please keep Vickie and Tania in your prayers.

This past week I also had the awesome experience of taking two Spanish exams, one verbal and one written. I was very surprised at just how much Spanish I actually knew. The other day someone asked me if I'd set a date for preaching my first sermon in Spanish. To be honest, I had not given it any thought until I was asked. After the exams this week, I believe I'll be ready to to that sermon by December ... 2008! (Big smile)

Benediciones!

Rev. Phil

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS ... OR MAYBE YOU WILL

2006-06-03T14:27:00.000-04:00

Group meeting of Amigos Siempre Amigos - ASA, (Friends Always Friends), the number one non-profit organization in the fight for AIDS treatment and prevention in the DR. We'll meet with this group during our mission trip in July.

Mission headquarters! Sample hotel room and view of the ocean from the Hotel Europa!

Hello Mission Bloggers!

I hope you're all enjoyed a nice, relaxing weekend wherever you may be. I'm doing well here, at least I was until a moment ago. I'd just completed about 45 minutes of work on my latest blog, and then tried to attach some pictures. Well, you know what happened ... I lost the entire document! So, maybe that means I didn't need to send all the stuff I was planning on sending.

Things are going well here. I've had a busy couple of weeks, and I can hardly believe on Monday I'll have been here four whole weeks! Monday also marks just 5 1/2 weeks before you're all headed this way. I invite you to join me, in this moment, in a prayer of gratitude for this realization, and for the fact that God is blessing our endeavors ... everyday, in every way! Gracias Dios!

Here are a few pictures I'd like to share with you. Some are from the Hotel Europa, where we'll be staying while you're here. And the others are from a meeting I attended this past Thursday evening. It's a planning meeting for a GLBT Pride event to be held near the end of June. I've been asked to serve on committee planning the events that focus on human rights issues. God continues opening doors. Again, gracias Dios!

Rev. Phil

A LOOK AT THE BOOK OF ACTS ... AND OTHER THINGS

2006-05-22T17:55:00.000-04:00

Hello DR Mission Bloggers!

I hope all is going well in your part of the world. I'm blessed here in Santo Domingo.

I've been doing my daily reading and reflection on the Book of Acts and I have a few ideas I want to share with you. I'm hoping some of you will be willing to do the same thing on this blog. Here are my reflections:

Acts Chapter One

Verse (v) 7 - I don't have to know everything. I only have to trust God's Holy Spirit will be available to me, in me, through me, in any given situation.
v. 12ff - Judas is replaced by Matthias; there are parts of who I am that I can release in order for a new experience to occur in my life.

Acts Chapter Two

V. 1ff - As I (we) seek to learn Spanish in our efforts to be effective in the Dominican Republic, let's not forget there is a language of Spirit that communicates beyond all of our perceived inadequacy in connecting with our sisters and brothers.

Acts Chapter Three

V. 6 - In a place like the Dominican Republic, with so much poverty and need, it's easy to believe what's needed most is financial. I'm reminded that what I am here for may include financial assistance, but the ultimate gift we offer is the love of Christ, and the freedom of living through the Holy Spirit.

Acts Chapter Four

V. 13ff - I am amazed by the boldness of ordinary, uneducated women and men who stood their ground in proclaiming Christ. Because they spoke of their experience of Christ others got the message in ways that changed their lives forever. We only have to be ourselves as we offer the gift of Christ's love, and the Spirit does its work as we give of ourselves.

Other Things ....

This past weekend I had the opportunity of offering sermons to the two congregations at El Tamarindo (Saturday) and La Urena (Sunday). These are the sites of our mission projects in July. My experiences at both churches were a blessing! Here are some shots (having problems with uploading pictures, so only one for now) from La Urena, where our host is Ms. Gayle Schultes.

The church at La Urena prepares to go forth to spread Good News!

THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN THIS PLACE!

2006-05-13T19:47:00.000-04:00

Today I worshipped at El Tamarindo, about 30 minutes outside of Santo Domingo. It's one of our mission sites. The worship experience was amazing! The congregation was mostly children from the community. They were reverant, attentive and really involved in the entire worship experience. I am grateful I have this opportunity to be with them in worship, and I can hardly wait for the mission team members to share in this worship experience. Say a prayer for us (especially them), I'll be preaching there next week.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy! Blessings, Rev. Phil

The Front of the church/school at El Tamarindo.

Inside the sanctuary, which serves as two classrooms during the week.

Pastor Francisco Barrera waiting to serve his flock from the Lord's table.

2006-05-11T20:36:00.000-04:00

Pharaoh's Daughter and Moses, Marc Chagall, 1966

Moses and the Pharaoh's Daughter

Moisés y la hija del faraón

God Has a Plan for Us All

Dios tiene un plan para todos nosotros

A Classic Theme in Art History Chosen as the Focus for

A Week of Teacher-Training in the Arts

Our July mission trip will provide teacher training for 16 Dominican instructors and assistants through arts activities for 120 children.

Our theme story will be Moses and the Pharaoh's daughter, Moisés y la hija del faraón. The text was translated by Brian Chistinakis.

Moisés y la hija del faraón
Dios tenía un plan para Moisés, igual que tiene un plan para todos nosotros.

Durante muchos años los hebreos vivieron en paz en Egipto y eran aceptados por los reyes, los faraones. En determinado momento, asumió el trono otro faraón al que no le gustaban los hebreos. El faraón tenía miedo que los hebreos pudieran hacerse fuertes e imponerse sobre los egipcios. Decretó que todos los hebreos se convirtieran en esclavos y mandó matar a todos los varones hebreos recién nacidos.

Pero la madre de Moisés tenía un plan para salvar a su hijo. Fabricó una cesta, y colocó al niño Moisés en ella, y puso la cesta con el niño en las aguas del río Nilo. Luego mandó a la hermana del niño, Miriam, a que se ocultara en los juncos cercanos a la orilla del río a ver qué pasaba con el niño y la cesta.

Cuando la hija del faraón se acercó al río y vio la cesta con el niño, sacó la cesta del agua y al niño de la cesta. Reconoció que el niño era hebreo y tuvo compasión de él. Le puso Moisés, por ser un regalo de Dios, procedente de las aguas.
Miriam se acercó a la princesa y le dijo que conocía a una mujer hebrea que podía hacerse cargo del niño. Esa mujer era su propia madre.

De esta manera Moisés fue criado por su madre y la princesa en la corte del faraón, y luego se convirtió en príncipe de Egipto. Años después, Moisés llevaría al pueblo hebreo a la tierra prometida y a la libertad, por mandato de Dios.

(Historia adaptada de: Éxodo 1:1-2:10)

Dios tenía un plan para Moisés,igual que tiene un plan para todos nosotros.

Moses and the Pharaoh’s Daughter
God had a plan for Moses, as God has a plan for us all.

For many years, the Hebrew people lived happily in Egypt and were accepted by the Egyptian rulers. Then there was a new King of Egypt who did not like the Hebrew people.

The king was afraid that the Hebrew people would grow too strong, so he made them slaves. He had all Hebrew boy babies killed so they could not grow up to be soldiers.

But Moses' mother had a plan to save her baby. She made a basket, put baby Moses in it, and put the basket in the Nile River. Moses' sister Miriam watched to see what would happen.

Soon the Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river. She saw the baby and had compassion. She called him Moses because he was a gift from God that she drew from the water.

Miriam told the Pharaoh's daughter that she knew a woman who could take care of the baby and brought their mother.

Moses was raised by his mother and the Pharaoh's daughter in the court of the Egyptian king. Years later, Moses became a Prince of Egypt and led his people to freedom in the promised land, according to God’s plan.

(Story adapted from Exodus 1:1-2:10)

God had a plan for Moses,
as God has a plan for us all.

2006-05-05T22:26:00.001-04:00

In March, 2006 the DR Outreach Ministry wrote Director Rosario informing her that our feasibility study had been accepted. Here is her response.

This is great news you are giving us. God is opening doors for the wellness of our ministry here. We are so blessed knowing that you are planning a Mission Trip for this July!!

There are many needs that the brothers and sisters can give us a hand with here in the orphanage/school. If there are some of your group that know about education or teacher's department or any crafts, they can show the teachers how to improve their work and then they can teach to our children.

Crafts activities, bible class, blue painting to the orphanage is very much needed. Also the wood/doors need repair. The children love painting class. You could share with the children playing table games, giving them the sense of attention that they're always searching for. Let's move forward and start selecting the brothers and sisters willing to volunteer in the different activities. We are going to start counting the days until July.

In the meantime let's keep in touch and include our orphanage/school in your circle of prayers please.

Blessings,
Domínica

2006-05-05T22:26:00.000-04:00

MCC-DC Dominican Republic Outreach Ministry School Visit
Dominica School and Orphanage
Dominica Rosario, Director

February 21, 2006

The Dominica School in La Urena is located in a small town about a half-hour drive from downtown Santo Domingo along a scenic well-maintained highway on the way to the airport; however one must leave the highway for a 15 minute crawl over the town’s rutted, potholed unpaved streets. A local youth, on his moped, spontaneously volunteered to escort us through the town when we stopped to ask for directions.

14 years ago the school was founded by the current director, Dominica Rosario, and her brother, Alexis, who died of AIDS three years ago; they rented space in the community before the current facility was built. The first thing the director showed us was a wall display of photos of Alexis. She and her brother were raised in an orphanage.

Ms. Rosario described the traumatic causes of the children being orphaned: substance abuse, physical abuse, violence, Hurricane George. We briefly met the volunteer psychologist who is reimbursed for her gas/transport cost and counsels students 3-4 times a week. You got the feeling the director really knows how to make meager resources stretch—she described how she finagles local bus and taxi drivers to help with school busing when the school’s vehicle is broken down which it was the day we visited.

Today, 350 children are enrolled in nine grades; younger children (starting at age 3) attend mornings, older kids in the afternoon. 67 students live in the nearby orphanage and attend free. The rest live in the community; some are housed and fed by volunteers and staff members; the families of these children pay “what they can when they can.” 33 receive free lunches every day. She described the challenge of feeding so many students as “the daily headache.”

As we visited each classroom we were warmly hugged by all the children, immaculately dressed in attractive school uniforms. They were extremely polite and articulate as they welcomed us, sang for us, prayed for us, and told us about what they were learning that day. The director regularly singled children out for praise: “this one has a beautiful singing voice…this one makes everyone happy with his funny stories…this one is very sensitive and helps others with their problems.”

When asked what a visiting mission team might do to help, she rapidly reeled off a list: teacher training, structural repairs, vehicle repairs, “just sitting and praying with the children would be wonderful. Of course we need money! But the importance is the connection, the affection . . . the children need this most. Please don’t forget us.”

Welcome to the MCCDC Dominican Blog

2006-05-03T21:20:00.000-04:00

This is the place where we can share stories and information regarding the Dominican Republic Outreach Effort.