It is so difficult for these areas--already so poor and in need--to recover from this kind of damage---it is a long, slow process--please let's not forget them but keep them in our prayers...
Our van filled with clothes was a welcome sight in Batey 9...
Our dormitory there was a refuge for over 100 people whose homes were flooded...
Dave and Pastor Edward passing out bags of food supplies in Nagua...
The lines were long but there was applause at the end!!!
The middle of the month found us stateside in Louisville, Kentucky for our annual year-end meeting. It was very encouraging to review the year of 2007, spend time with our board of directors and stateside staff and pray and plan for 2008!!
Two other highlights of the month were...
Our neighborhood mom's group, Madre a Madre, seems to be a great hit with the women and already we have many women currently not attending church that would like to be a part of this mom's group---here's a photo of the group so far...
We see this mom's group as another opportunity to reach out to the needs of the community with the love of Christ.
Pastor Jonas of La Mosca, an extremely poor neighborhood built up around an active garbage dump (see video in our ministry videos section at right) asked us if we would help him offer some marriage workshops for the people of his community, most of which are not currently attending his church. His idea was to start with a few workshops for the women as they are eager and then start with the couples. We are excited to come alongside him in this much needed effort. We held our first workshop Friday evening, November 31 in candlelight as there was no electricity!!
About 30 women attended this first meeting and shared that their main concerns are: 1)single mom issues, 2)husbands with drug and alcohol addictions and 3) infidelity issues--please keep these families in your prayers!! We will meet again Dec 14.
We will be celebrating Christmas in Illinois--Dec 19--Jan 1---We will be attending Eastview Christian Church Dec 23 and Dec 30---We hope to see many of you then!!
Again, there is much more we could share but for now we again thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. And we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with much love, joy and peace!!
By God's Grace and for His Glory,
Dave, Cherry, Rachael and Beka
ps---please see more photos below, our prayer requests, our new word for the month and support updates all to the right.