Youth '00 Missions Trip
to the Dominican Republic

June 19 - 27, 2000

Ten senior high youth and four adult leaders will be ministering in the Dominican Republic during the week of June 19~27. Our group will be working in conjunction with Youth For Christ to minister to children in the town of Pimentel. During their week in the "D.R." the students and leaders will be conducting two Vacation Bible School programs in which they will be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The team covets your prayers as they embark on this trip.

Our team emailed updates from the Dominican Republic during the week that they were there. We hope you checked in to see what was going on as you prayed them through the week. Now, check out their final reports and photos.

The following students and leaders will be part of the team:

Pray for the D.R. Team!

Email Reports

First Report!
Date:   Tuesday, June 20, 2000
Subject: Hola from the Dominican Republic!

After a long travel day that took us from Baltimore to New York to Santo Domingo, and finally to Pimentel, we have arrived at our ministry site and we're excited to be a part of what the Lord is doing here. Today (Tuesday), has been a day of meetings and orientation. We have been preparing for the vacation Bible School that we will lead during the next four days. Pastor Radhames, the Dominican Pastor with whom we are working, has told us that we will probably have about 300 kids in the morning VBS and another 100-150 in the afternoon VBS. What an opportunity to share God's love!! Tonight we will be a part of a crusade in the nearby town of San Francisco. Pray for us that we will have hearts of openness to share the great news of God's grace in Jesus Christ. All of the team members are healthy and safe. The food, accommodations here in Pimentel are great. The political situation is stable.

Love,
The Mission Team

Second Report!
Date:   Wednesday, June 21, 2000
Subject: The blessings keep flowing!

We're doing well down here in the Dominican Republic. We're learning a whole new meaning to the word, "flexibility". There were about 500 kids at our VBS this morning, and nearly 100 at our VBS this afternoon. We're so excited to have the opportunity to minister to so many children, though it does present a challenge to handle so many kids in areas like crafts, music and games.

Lee P. has had the privilege of doing some construction work during the past couple of days. Yesterday he helped to dismantle a stage in a neighboring city that was used in an evangelistic crusade. Today he helped dig some footers for a new church that is going to be built next month in a small nearby village. As you can imagine, he's in his glory!

All of our youth and adult leaders are working very well together with the Dominican helpers. Each person on the team is such a blessing. We're finding that the Lord has uniquely gifted each one of use to contribute toward this ministry in a very important way.

This evening (Thursday) at 7:30p we will walk to the center of Pimentel, the town where we're living and working, and hold a street crusade. Some of us will sing, some will act out a drama, one or two will share a testimony, and I (Chris) may even preach.

We will do our best to send out more e-mail updates when time and technology permit. Our internet connection here does not always work, but we will do our best.

All of us miss our families, including our spouses and children. Our comfort comes from knowing that the work that we're doing here has eternal results. Thank you all for your prayers. We're certainly feeling the effects of it. Please continue to pray that we will have the strength, patience and wisdom to know how to minister effectively to the children here in Pimentel. We love you all and we hope to see you soon.

In Christ,
Chris & Team

Individual Notes...

Hi everyone. My name is Jennifer, and I am here working with your group. I will be sending you e-mails that they give me and also printing out the e-mails you send to them. We are excited about what God is doing here in the lives of the Dominican people, and also in the lives of the members of your group. God Bless.

Kay~ Hi precious! Everything is going really well. God has been talking to me in very powerful ways. I'm praying for you. I love you and Miss you.

Chris~ We'll be starting VBS today. We're learning whole new meanings to the word "flexible". We're really excited about ministering to the children today. I miss Kathy and Stephen very much. I wish you both were here!

Kim~ It's been really exciting. Today I get to narrate the creation story in front of 300 children! I miss you Mom and Dad.

Linda~ No migrane! PTL! Am continuing to learn flexibility. DR people are very friendly. Wish I spoke Spanish. So peaceful being here. Love to all.

Andrew~ Hi guys. All is good. The mosquitos aren't as bad as Tunica. Too bad I don't speak Spanish, I don't understand what they are saying.

Teri~ I am learning to communicate without language. I love the friendly people and I'm doing good on energy. Dad, Don't work too hard.

Katie~ I'm still alive! The DR is incerdible, the people are very nice and the Lord is definately here! My Spanish is getting better!

Galye~ God is great! He is teaching us more than we are teaching these people. Bob, Love you...tell kids I love them too.

Bri Bri~ Amy, I don't have any addressesand I don't think I can send post cards, so say hi to everybody. Anna says hi...

Date:   Thursday, June 22, 2000

Linda~Wow. We serve a great and mighty God who is teaching me (and us) so very much. To hear 500 children praise God through music is thrilling. God's plan is at work everywhere. We are all well, and happy and can't wait to share with you when we return. I miss you all- Hugs and Kisses

Kay~Hi Honey! You are really missing a lot. We are having a "Spiritual Feast". It's wonderful to see the Lord at work. Today I prayed with a group of girls and one boy inviting Jesus in their heart at a street service and then with a woman. My voice is getting tired and I'm getting the same thing that I did in OR because of humidity. Pray for me. I truly love you and npray for you everyday.

Kim~This has been such a fantastic experience! To see God move in such awesome ways astounds me. I am learning to be a flexible servant. Wish you all were here to see it all. Miss you.

Lauren~This trip has been an awesome opportunity. We have all learned so much and the children are fantastic! Can't wait to tell you all about it. Miss you.

Gayle~Our ways are not His ways! His ways are perfect! The blessing of 500 children is overwhelming. Pray for Diana Luz, Maria, Jenny, Luz Diana, Iris (she wasn't at VBS today?) Dear leader Nellie, and 496 more. Tell you more when we are face to face. Did Brynna lose her tooth?

Katie~I received your e-mail. Thank you. I really love it here, don't really want to leave! Can't wait to tell you all about it. Love always.

Carol~Hola, Rosedale. Pimentel is truly spirit filled. It is wonderful to see how much the Lord is working here. We are all well. Tonight was a "street service". It was awesome. Many people accepted the Lord. Thank you for your prayers and support. Love, Carol, and the DR team.

Chris~We have a little bit of free time before we turn in for the night. We've been reflecting upon all of the great things the Lord is doing among us. We're very thankful. Oh, by the way, the food is very good and filling. Dominican fare is pretty interesting. I miss my beautiful wife and my precious, bright-eyed boy, Stephen. I can't wait to see you all again.

Third Report!
Date:   Friday, June 23, 2000

Hola again from La Republica Dominicana. Today is Friday, and we are nearing the end of our week of ministry. We have one more VBS tomorrow morning here at MIVA (that's the name of the children's ministry here in Pimentel). Kay Smoes has been doing a great job ministering to the kids through translating what we are saying as well as clearly explaining the meaning of the Gospel message. Though her throat is a bit sore, God has been using her mightily on this trip. The same is true with each member of our team, though we each offer different talents.

Last night (Thursday) we helped to lead a street meeting in the town of Pimentel. We set up the sound equipment and lights in the middle of one of the main intersections, and then began a crusade complete with music, drama and preaching. The youth and adults did a great job performing 2 evangelistic dramas. Chris preached in English while one of the Dominican leaders translated for him. A Gospel invitation was given by pastor Radhamayas and several people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord!

We continue to covet your prayers for this team as we continue our ministry here in the D.R. Our God is truly an awesome God. We look forward to returning home so that we can share more with all of you about the great things that God is doing here in Pimentel.

In Christ,
Chris & Team

And, lastly, read Linda Hansell's Centinel article, Dominican Republic or Bust.