Psalm 35:28
We rejoice and praise God that Paul was able to be involved in a mission trip since recovering from his surgeries a little over a year ago. On Wednesday, February 13th, a Work and Witness team from our church left for the Dominican Republic to work on a pastor's home and several other small projects as well as participate in some outreach ministries to children. The main work was on a pastor's home in a Haitian village outside of Santo Domingo. Living in a shack for over twenty years, the pastor and his wife were going to be treated to a new home that seemed like a palace to them. Our focus was to do a lot of the finish work on the home such as painting, plumbing, digging of septic system, and cement work. Paul's job was to finish the bathroom plumbing and caulking and smoothing the walls. Everyone on the team worked very hard, and we were able to complete the project so the pastor and his wife could move in this past Saturday.
Saturday evening the church held a special service of celebration and praise that the project was completed. There was lots of singing and members from our team and the church shared what this experience meant to them. The people were very happy and praising God for what had been accomplished. The people on our team feel that God directed because when we left for the trip, we were not sure what our tasks were going to be. However, God knew all the time what needed to be done.
The church services we attended in the Dominican Republic were very lively with lots of singing and sharing of God's blessings. They are very passionate about their walk with God, and it shows in their enthusiasm in and out of church. We met a Pastor Jesus in a village on the north side of the island who is wanting to build a new church because they are renting a small space at this time, and the church is growing. They are presently trying to secure property so they can begin their building project. We are hoping to be able to help them raise funds for this land. It will be exciting to see how God provides for this pastor and his congregation.
Pastor Jesus needed some work done on his home so Paul and several others from the team broke away and spent an afternoon building partitions for the inside of his home, which originally was just two large rooms. While working on his house, Pastor Jesus grabbed his machete and cut open several coconuts so we could enjoy the milk and the coconut meat. They also offered us a cup of Dominican coffee which is very strong and sweet. All in all everyone we encountered was so kind and appreciative of our work.
While there we stayed in aWwork and Witness compound which was surrounded by four tall walls with razor wire on top of all the walls as well as the front gate. Our housing conditions were very good with many of the comforts of home. Paul took his alarm clock but never needed it as there were lots of crowing roosters and barking dogs at 5:00 in the morning. You soon forgot about that nuisance as every morning broke into a beautiful day of sunshine and 80 degrees. Our evening meal was always prepared for us by two wonderful ladies that served there at the compound. The meals were excellent and always had plenty to eat.
The team returned this past Sunday, February 24th, and everyone concluded this mission trip by feeling that God had guided us the entire time. Hopefully, we were great encouragement to those who serve God in the Dominican Republic. There is so much more to tell but must not make this too long.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
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