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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”
The classes at Fountain of Life school have gone very well so far this semester. I have seen a definite change for the better in the attitude towards study and class in several students. Some have taken a liking to anything having to do with music, including the often-despised music theory! Private lessons are given to select students twice a week, opening up the opportunity to talk with students about their spiritual life.
One day, while speaking with a violin student, I realized more fully just what is happening with many of our students. Every day at the school, they are filled with Bible. Many high schoolers know all the Biblical answers. They can quote the Gospel, verses, know doctrine, and sing Christian hymns and choruses, and are just as lost as they can be. They have head knowledge, but not heart knowledge. Please pray that God will give me wisdom in sharing the love of Christ with these students! Pray that as they sit under the preaching of the Word, that God would draw them to Himself. Most of all, pray that they will open up their hearts to truly receive the Gospel.
In the midst of giving music classes, Abel and I had an interview at the U.S. Embassy on October 21. Other than the six hours of waiting our turn, it was a positive experience, and Abel received his visa to travel in the U.S. for our wedding in December! Looking back on the interview, we realized that there were several "small" details we were able to give that probably guaranteed us the visa, all of which were things we learned about each other in conversations that almost didn't happen!
We are excited about this upcoming change in our lives, and are looking forward to fulfilling God’s call to the ministry together.
Monday, September 13, 2010
More Beginnings
Fountain of Life School is off to a wonderful start! We have new students sprinkled throughout the school, and many more new opportunities!
My sister Kristina stayed with me for most of the month of August, throwing her energies into whatever needed to be done. She gets the credit for starting three new piano students in the church in Juan Tomás, and all have continued to come faithfully to piano class even though she has since gone back to Georgia. Interest continues to grow in the music ministry in both Bible Church of Juan Tomás and our colaborer, Quisqueyana Baptist Church; in fact, Quisqueyana Baptist is starting down the road to having a full orchestra, complete with strings, winds, and brass! We recently had a second performance of string students there, and are looking forward to setting a date for a string performance here in Juan Tomás as well.
It continues to be very encouraging to see the desire that the school students have to learn music. Even more encouraging, is that there will soon be a (temporary) place where I can give them the much-awaited music lessons! Please pray for me as this opportunity continues to develop. This is where I really begin to know each student. Pray, as I incorporate the Gospel and discipleship into both the classroom and the private lessons, that God would use this ministry to change lives.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Place in Which I Live
First, I will say that school has gotten off to a great start, and I am excited for what will be happening this school year! Second, I am now going to write about something other than ministry activities for a change...
I am blessed to be living on a dairy goat farm that requires a generator, and right by a school that requires internet. In these ways, my life here is not usually so very different from how it was in Georgia. Every once in a while, though, I get that reminder that I am, in fact, living in a third world country.
For example: I am currently enjoying "air conditioning" from a mechanism that has blades that whirl around in fast rotation (the fan). This may not sound like A/C to you, but it is. Any doubt of that fact is erased from the mind just as soon as the generator breaks down and we are stuck with public electricity. I am currently using the internet. The internet system, however, seems to be allergic to thunderstorms. These are small reminders of how most of the people here live: planning anything using electricity around certain (or uncertain) hours, going to a public internet center, and the like.
Perhaps the most constant reminder of WHERE it is that I live is when it comes to cooking. When I left Georgia over a year ago, I brought with me several simple and tasty recipes, looking forward to plugging in the crock pot in the mornings and coming in after school to a wonderful lunch. It didn't work out that way. As we are usually on public electricity in the mornings, the current is too low for the crock pot to bring anything to simmering point. Sadly, it has been reassigned to keep things warm AFTER they are cooked if so needed. Several of my recipes, too, include a very necessary cream of chicken soup. After looking at tiny cans with high prices, I reached the conclusion that anything requiring cream of chicken soup must inevitably be made from scratch. A week and a half ago, I got stuck in an interesting situation: no precooked leftovers left, raw meat thawed for cooking, no recipe for said meat, and the internet was out (and I forgot that I had very helpful neighbors). That was when "ranch chicken and potatoes" popped into my head -- a recipe that made it's debut in my life while my friends and I waited for it to cook 4 hours in a stove that wasn't turned on... (another story).
Despite these "reminders," I love the Dominican Republic and its people, and wouldn't trade these learning curves for anything! By the way, I owe a big THANK YOU to several of you who have given me cooking tips over the past couple of weeks -- it has really helped!
May God bless you this week! Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
I am blessed to be living on a dairy goat farm that requires a generator, and right by a school that requires internet. In these ways, my life here is not usually so very different from how it was in Georgia. Every once in a while, though, I get that reminder that I am, in fact, living in a third world country.
For example: I am currently enjoying "air conditioning" from a mechanism that has blades that whirl around in fast rotation (the fan). This may not sound like A/C to you, but it is. Any doubt of that fact is erased from the mind just as soon as the generator breaks down and we are stuck with public electricity. I am currently using the internet. The internet system, however, seems to be allergic to thunderstorms. These are small reminders of how most of the people here live: planning anything using electricity around certain (or uncertain) hours, going to a public internet center, and the like.
Perhaps the most constant reminder of WHERE it is that I live is when it comes to cooking. When I left Georgia over a year ago, I brought with me several simple and tasty recipes, looking forward to plugging in the crock pot in the mornings and coming in after school to a wonderful lunch. It didn't work out that way. As we are usually on public electricity in the mornings, the current is too low for the crock pot to bring anything to simmering point. Sadly, it has been reassigned to keep things warm AFTER they are cooked if so needed. Several of my recipes, too, include a very necessary cream of chicken soup. After looking at tiny cans with high prices, I reached the conclusion that anything requiring cream of chicken soup must inevitably be made from scratch. A week and a half ago, I got stuck in an interesting situation: no precooked leftovers left, raw meat thawed for cooking, no recipe for said meat, and the internet was out (and I forgot that I had very helpful neighbors). That was when "ranch chicken and potatoes" popped into my head -- a recipe that made it's debut in my life while my friends and I waited for it to cook 4 hours in a stove that wasn't turned on... (another story).
Despite these "reminders," I love the Dominican Republic and its people, and wouldn't trade these learning curves for anything! By the way, I owe a big THANK YOU to several of you who have given me cooking tips over the past couple of weeks -- it has really helped!
May God bless you this week! Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Bring Forth Fruit
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." John 15:16a
The last week has been packed with preparations for the new school year. Every teacher has goals for themselves and their students. As I considered the students that I will have in each class this year, I was able to come up with new ideas and new methods to help these students retain and put to practical use what they will learn over the next several months. Every teacher's dream is that what they teach would REMAIN with the student; that the student would put what is taught in class into practical use, helping them to succeed in life and personal growth. Sometimes, the transmission from teacher to student can be quite a challenge when the students simply can't afford textbooks or extra school materials. But still we have hopes of success.
Even more important than academic success is communicating the Living Word of God to our students. Many are as poor spiritually as they are materially, with little hope of coming to a clear understanding of the Gospel within their family or community. Please be in prayer for each staff member of Fountain of Life School, as we seek to bring forth fruit that remains.
The last week has been packed with preparations for the new school year. Every teacher has goals for themselves and their students. As I considered the students that I will have in each class this year, I was able to come up with new ideas and new methods to help these students retain and put to practical use what they will learn over the next several months. Every teacher's dream is that what they teach would REMAIN with the student; that the student would put what is taught in class into practical use, helping them to succeed in life and personal growth. Sometimes, the transmission from teacher to student can be quite a challenge when the students simply can't afford textbooks or extra school materials. But still we have hopes of success.
Even more important than academic success is communicating the Living Word of God to our students. Many are as poor spiritually as they are materially, with little hope of coming to a clear understanding of the Gospel within their family or community. Please be in prayer for each staff member of Fountain of Life School, as we seek to bring forth fruit that remains.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Great Things
"The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Psalm 126:3
It has been wonderful to see the Lord working in the lives of so many young people over the past couple of weeks, Dominicans and Americans alike.
After a busy but refreshing visit to the U.S., I returned here to the D.R. followed by a team of teens and young adults, mostly from Crooked Creek Baptist Church, who were to work in an English Camp here on the school property and run evangelistic services every evening. This dedicated team was with the Dominican kids (age 12-15) day and night, impacting lives by showing the love and truth of God. At the end of the camp, many Christians had been greatly blessed and three boys received Christ as their personal Savior. A few days after the team left, we received news that one of the girls had also made the decision (AFTER leaving the Christian atmosphere!) to follow Christ as well.
Many youth, like those pictured above in the spontaneous seaside service, are hungry and thirsty for love and truth. We feel that there are more close to salvation, but have been held back by peer pressure from their friends or family, or think that God cannot forgive what they have done. Please join the CCBC team in prayer for these young people as the school season starts up again, that God would continue to work in their hearts and lives.
Personally, I am grateful for how God has blessed me through the mission team as well, through their devotionals, messages, loving spirit, and support. I appreciated their squeals of joy as they witnessed Abel De la Cruz propose to me with the full blessing of my parents in front of a majestic Dominican waterfall. We look forward to serving the Lord together to win the lost, edify the believers, and glorify God through the music ministry.
It has been wonderful to see the Lord working in the lives of so many young people over the past couple of weeks, Dominicans and Americans alike.
After a busy but refreshing visit to the U.S., I returned here to the D.R. followed by a team of teens and young adults, mostly from Crooked Creek Baptist Church, who were to work in an English Camp here on the school property and run evangelistic services every evening. This dedicated team was with the Dominican kids (age 12-15) day and night, impacting lives by showing the love and truth of God. At the end of the camp, many Christians had been greatly blessed and three boys received Christ as their personal Savior. A few days after the team left, we received news that one of the girls had also made the decision (AFTER leaving the Christian atmosphere!) to follow Christ as well.
Many youth, like those pictured above in the spontaneous seaside service, are hungry and thirsty for love and truth. We feel that there are more close to salvation, but have been held back by peer pressure from their friends or family, or think that God cannot forgive what they have done. Please join the CCBC team in prayer for these young people as the school season starts up again, that God would continue to work in their hearts and lives. Personally, I am grateful for how God has blessed me through the mission team as well, through their devotionals, messages, loving spirit, and support. I appreciated their squeals of joy as they witnessed Abel De la Cruz propose to me with the full blessing of my parents in front of a majestic Dominican waterfall. We look forward to serving the Lord together to win the lost, edify the believers, and glorify God through the music ministry.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Continued Blessings
I am in my first day of visiting family & friends in the U.S., and am currently going through culture & climate shock! Thanks to the hard work of my family over the last few weeks, I will be able to continue to enjoy fresh fruit while here -- apples, blueberries, strawberries, and plums instead of mangoes, pineapples, bananas, and cherries. "Hot" here seems to be hotter than "hot" in the Dominican Republic, and the air is much dryer. On the flip side, the A/C here is much more effective than the open windows and fans there!
Before coming home, I attended a conference for Christian educators and school administrators in Santo Domingo with the staff from Fountain of Life school. The theme was "Going Beyond in Education" and the main session "From Mediocrity to Excellence." It was a wonderful experience and a real blessing as I learned many new things.
On Sunday morning, I attended Quisqueyana Baptist Church in Villa Mella, where several young string students gave their first Sunday morning presentation, after only 2 1/2 months of lessons. It is a blessing to see so many young people spending their time in learning music for God's glory instead of going the way of most teens. I was back at Juan Tomas Bible Church for the evening service, where once again I saw a passion for singing and playing for the Lord. By the way, the most advanced piano student in Juan Tomas will have his first opportunity tonight in the prayer service to play ALL the congregational hymns! Please keep Ariel in your prayers over the next few weeks, as this is a whole new kind of "pressure" for him.
I will be around until July 22, when I leave again for the Dominican Republic, and would love to hear from you. Thank you VERY much for your prayers, encouragement, and support over the past year!
Before coming home, I attended a conference for Christian educators and school administrators in Santo Domingo with the staff from Fountain of Life school. The theme was "Going Beyond in Education" and the main session "From Mediocrity to Excellence." It was a wonderful experience and a real blessing as I learned many new things.
On Sunday morning, I attended Quisqueyana Baptist Church in Villa Mella, where several young string students gave their first Sunday morning presentation, after only 2 1/2 months of lessons. It is a blessing to see so many young people spending their time in learning music for God's glory instead of going the way of most teens. I was back at Juan Tomas Bible Church for the evening service, where once again I saw a passion for singing and playing for the Lord. By the way, the most advanced piano student in Juan Tomas will have his first opportunity tonight in the prayer service to play ALL the congregational hymns! Please keep Ariel in your prayers over the next few weeks, as this is a whole new kind of "pressure" for him.
I will be around until July 22, when I leave again for the Dominican Republic, and would love to hear from you. Thank you VERY much for your prayers, encouragement, and support over the past year!
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