PHYSICAL HAPPENINGS

Well it’s been three weeks since we stepped foot in the Dominican Republic.  Two weeks were spent with Darnel and Ronnie (Pastor Juan and Mia’s oldest daughter and son in law) and their two beautiful children Amy (2) and Arturo (2 months).  It was a great transition from our home to theirs.

At the end of week 2, last Monday, the eaglets were kicked out of their comfy nest (by our good God) and we moved to our studio apartment. Please hear every word and know that not one of them is a complaint only the facts. We moved in with a bed, that’s it.  We had no stove and no refrig.  In the DR all your appliances you buy.  We have no car so getting to stores, church and other activities involves getting a taxi.  To buy a stove and refrig we went to a second hand store a ways out of Santiago.  We picked the ones we wanted, hoping that they would work, but we didn’t buy it yet.  We were told it would be picked up that night and delivered to us. No, that didn’t happen… day one, without food (a good time to fast).  Then the next day we were told that someone would pick us up and then go get it.  No, that didn’t happen.  So, Sam took things into his own hands and hired a truck and picked it up and got it home.  The gas container didn’t work.  Day two, no cooked food (PBJ’s worked for us!)

We spent all day Saturday with a sweet sister from the church helping us with our errands and hers.  We left at 10:30 am and got home at 9:30 pm. Every errand you run, you have to go in and visit for at least 30 minutes.  We visited more than we ran errands!  Ha! Finally on Saturday night we had our stove and refrig working.  Food!  It’s the little things we take for granted, huh?

As soon as we moved in we discovered we had no water.  Hmm, what do we need water for?  To drink, that’s okay we bought drinking water at the corner market. What else do we need water for, to bathe, to clean the house, to cook, to wash dishes, to flush the toilet, yes we began to see the preciousness of water, something in America we took for granted, because it’s always there.  Mind you, it’s 85~90 degrees with high humidity, so showers are twice sometimes three times a day. So to live without water is frustrating to say the least.

So the first few days we have a plumber coming in, with ancient tools, and looking for the problem.  He installed a pump so the water could reach the third floor, which is where our apartment it.  Great, we took showers, cleaned dishes, flushed toilet, etc… Then we woke up the next day, no water… the pump had broken the plastic pipes.  So they came and fixed it for a moment… and now we have been without water for three days.  When I say the service is slow around here, I mean slow.  “Hello Landlord, there is no water…”  “Ok, Ok, Ok, we fix it…”  Next phone call the next day… “We have no water…”  “Oh there’s a problem with the neighborhood.”  Ok we wait. Then we ask the neighbors if they have water, “Yes” they said. We call again to our landlord, he says, “I called the plumber but he can’t make it till the next night.”  So, Sam and I, like our forefathers before us who did not have water, brought large bottles of water from downstairs and worked sparingly to make whatever water we needed last for our household chores, showers, cooking and toilets.  Instead on focusing on what we didn’t have, we did what we could to make it.  As I write we still have no water flowing out of the faucet.  One day?  Yes.  As well as the water, our electricity is off.  The whole neighborhood has no electricity.  So we do what we can with the natural light.  At night, candles or flashlights. It’s like permanent camping…

So we have been in our little, adorable apartment with no water, and no furniture except a bed and four folding chairs. Then yesterday Jennifer and Adon (Pastor Juan and Mia’s middle daughter) brought us a small plastic table and today someone from our church brought us two rocking chairs for our balcony.  Sweet!

Oh yes, did I mention the bat that almost attacked Sam? Picture it.  Sam with a broom… He’s okay!

SPIRITUAL HAPPENINGS

God has definitely been showing up in our meetings.  We have seen heaven open and the Spirit descending on people.  Lives have been changed and God is receiving His due worship.  Some of the happenings are:

Sam and Pastor Juan were at church on Saturday, when a man came into the church acting desperate.  As he unfolded his story to them he said he had done some pretty bad stuff for the police here in the DR; that he was tired of doing corrupt things and needed help.  Sam and Pastor Juan prayed with him and he seemed relieved.  A week later, Pastor Juan got a call from him.  He asked, who was that missionary who prayed for me, how did he know all about my life?  P Juan said it was the Holy Spirit revealing it to Sam.  He said since he left the church he has had a peace in his heart.  He said he was leaving the country so he could start his life over, this time with God.

Sam preached the second week we were here.  The title to his sermon, “God is the Center of our Storms”.  He did great with an interpreter and there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit with prophetic words going out to many.

I was asked to teach the ladies on Monday for our church.  Ivette (Pastor Juan and Mia’s youngest girl) interpreted. I choose Dorcus and God gave me some beautiful words to share with them.  Afterwards, I asked if anyone suffered from depression… Yes, many ladies stood up and we were able to pray for them and there were many deliverances!

Everywhere we go we have had divine appointments.  God has been amazing.

EMOTIONAL HAPPENINGS

As much as we know we are meant to be here, in the Dominican Republic, it doesn’t stop the ache in our hearts for our children and especially grandchildren.  We want to do what God wants, but I think… I’ll miss out on all the Tati moments I used to have with her.  I won’t get to share all the things we did together.  I am sad that Josiah doesn’t have his Papa to cuddle him in the morning.  I do feel the ache in that.

Sometimes I wonder, “What am I doing here?”  The language difference is hard. Even though Sam tries hard at interpreting, I still know I miss a lot. I have wanted to get on a plane and go home to where it is safe and comfortable.  Then I realize I wouldn’t be happy at home in the comforts of my family, because we were made to be a voice for Him.  In my devotions each morning He gently reminds me of all the people that need to hear about Him.  Is it hard? “Yes, definitely yes!”  I have had melt downs in the middle of stores, in my room at night and on our balcony just last night, but I am not going to quit and I am not going to give up and run home, I am going to stay and tough it out with my husband and my Jesus.  There is much to be said about leaning on the One you Love (Songs of Solomon 8:5)

He can do all things through us if we only let Him,

Sam and Laurie

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Pray for our emotions to fall in line with Jesus

Pray for our beautiful DR Church.  We want God to move by His Spirit so we work His Agenda

Pray for the injustice here in Santiago.  There are reports of 1-6 murders a day of women being killed by their spouses or domestic partners.  It reminds me of Jesus when he was two and Herod had all the babies 2 years and younger killed.  Please pray for Justice to be revived here.  “In the last days He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh” (Joel and Acts).

Pray that God will supply all our needs according to His promises, which are, “Yes and amen!”

Setting up the foundation of a building is an important part of the success of the future of that building. Fred Nelson (My contractor- Daddy)

We are here in the Dominican with our good  Dominican friends and pastors, Juan and Mia Martinez.  We are working side-by-side building the foundation of a very young and new church.  The building we are building is not of brick and mortar but of living stones.

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…  

We are setting the groundwork for a very important task. Getting a people ready to share the gospel of Christ and preparing for the return of our Lord.

Sam and I have been teaching, on Thursday nights, the importance of knowing the Word of God.  We have been going through the entire Bible, so the congregation has a framework of who God is.

The Families of our church here are so beautiful and so hungry for more of God.  It’s been an amazing journey into their lives.  We are enjoying watching God set this little church on fire for Him.  There are challenges for our congregation to overcome and there are times when we see the hurts and needs of our church.  In these times, we understand the importance of seeing God as our Builder.  He helps us build up the people in their firm foundation, which is in Him.  When there is not enough to go around, we share how God is more than enough!  God will supply all their needs

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

Then we trust God to do what He says He will do.

Our beautiful little church is so eager to learn about God.  We are in the Ephesians 1-3 stages:

Learning who we are in Christ:

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5) He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will… 7) In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

 And where we are seated:

Ephesians 2:6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… 13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

To Understand His Purpose:

Ephesians 2:15 …His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two (Jews and Gentiles), thus making peace, 16) and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11) according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Finally God’s Has a Human Dwelling Place:

Ephesians 3:21) In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a Holy Temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

So many times churches run on Ephesians 4-6, the duties of the church (serving) without first teaching Ephesians 1-3  who we are in Christ. We want the foundation of the church to be built on who they are in Christ so the duties come naturally and the “burn out” is non-existent.  Read all of Ephesians, you will be blessed and encouraged!

We covet your prayers for Your Dominican Brothers and Sisters.  We ask that you would pray that God would build the foundation and that it would not be built with human hands.  Pray that God will supply all their needs…

Psalms 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,

the builders labor in vain.