Summer time...many hands and hearts accomplish much!!!

The Dominican children---and there are sooooo many!!! A common thread among those who come on a short term mission trip is how impacted they are by the little children here and how they want to help give them a brighter future---to impact the island in such a way that these children have the hope of living a brighter life than did their parents!!! And this summer many people have come to the island to help do just that---in many different and varied ways...

Here are a few of the highlights...Hope Springs Church returned to encourage the work of their partner church here led by pastor Edward Gabriel. Pastor Calhoun did some follow up work with those pastors here that are involved with Celebrate Recovery in their churches, hosted a Celebrate Recovery event at Hogar Crea, the alcohol treatment facility here in Santiago that pastor Edward and Dave are involved with here. And...the women of the church offered a "day spa" for the women of pastor Edward's church here!!!


Lincoln Christian Church returned and, according to their tradition, made a delicous meal one evening for all of our Dominican workers and staff---chicken tretrazzini and fruit pies (19 of them!!) This group is really old pros at all this and know what food to bring with them and what they can buy here--they even let our cooks try their hands at making pies!!



We also hosted a team of 50 men, women and children who put on sports camps for children in baseball, basketball and volleyball. Rachael and Rebekah got to play on a team and they helped translate too!!



A highlight from the sports team was a young woman who plays girls basketball at Vanderbilt who came down for the second time to play ball and share hope for a strong future for these young Domincan girls. Thanks Meredith!!! You inspired us!!



The sports team also offered fitness classes to the women of the community and Cherry helped with translation---everyone really had a blast!!!



Fitness class leader, Susan, was very inspiring to the women of this community...



A huge happening here this past month was the official "inaugaration ceremony" of our new dormitory, feeding center and church facility in the community of Hato del Yaque---please watch the video below---we are praying to impact this community in a big way in the years to come...

Inauguration of Hato del Yaque



As always we thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement and support--and a special thank you to those who have come to work alongside us, those planning to come in 2009 and those who have been moved to "partner" with a national worker here or sponsor a child at our school.

By God's grace and for His glory,
The Dave Schwulst family

May/June Happenings in the DR...

Here is just one example of the "richness" of the teams that come to help---this is a young couple, she is a doctor, he is a dentist--they came to participate in a medical/dental clinic put on in our neighborhood here in Hoya del Caimito---they were able to come because when her father passed away two years ago, her mother sold their home and decided to use part of the proceeds to take her whole family (children, spouses and their children) on a missions trip---they also invited friends and church members so the trip grew to over 50 people. What an inspiration they all were to us here!!!

Greetings and God's richest blessings to you all!!! We have much news to report from this end.

May began with Dave returning to the states to help with our ministry's big support raiser--the Kentucky Derby. Game Time Sports continues to allow us to work as volunteers during the Derby with our "salaries" going as donations to GO Ministries. This year we received $30,000 which will be a great help to our work here on the island.

Since there were no teams in May, we were able to take time to reflect, get refreshed and re-energized and regroup a bit in our ministry efforts. We praise God for this time and are confident that this extra time spent with Him in prayer and meditation will help us grow in his wisdom and understanding as we seek to do His will in all we do.

We also made more visits up to some of the other pastors in the mountain areas whom we had not visited yet. We saw a new feeding center in action--one that serves the needs of Haitian children who have lost parents due to storms and flooding.



We were inspired by Pastor Thomas' young adult daughter, Jessica, who though physically confined to a wheel chair, certainly displays a loving servant's spirit that soars!! Here she is with a gift of new blocks for the children at the feeding center, sent by our friend and home church member, Peggy Parker.

And here is their church which was badly in need of a new roof and front door...we were able to provide both through your donations to our ministry fund!! They are so grateful to be able to stay "dry" during church activities!!

We also got to experience the wedding of one of the couples we have been mentoring with the Love and Respect study. Amaury and Catherine were married at sunset on the beach by GO Ministries president, Brook Brotzman---a beautiful bi-lingual, bi-cultural event!!! And Cherry had the privilege of being the "godmother"--a Domincan tradition.


Cherry was able to spend a few days in the Bateyes, supporting the work of pastor William's wife, Alexandra, as she participated in a week long event for the churches in the area, coordinated by the women's ministries in this community of sugar cane workers.



Cherry, fellow missionary Jackie, and summer intern Jana got to go with pastor William to visit some of the other newer church plants in some of the neighboring bateyes to encourage them--just like Paul did with the early churches. It was definitely a highlight of the month to see the enthusiasm of the new church plants and watch pastor William disciple them in the faith!! Here is one of the newer church plant's pastor and family.


June finds us filled with groups--many times three groups in one week!! It is awesome to meet so many wonderful new people who have come to serve the Lord through helping our Dominican/Haitian brothers and sisters. And it is great to witness all the work that can get done with "many hands,feet and hearts" moving in the same direction!!!

Our new ministry "hub" at Hato del Yaque is officially "open" with groups staying and working there and in the surrounding areas. Two weeks ago we had over 50 people at Hato del Yaque, another group of almost 50 at our main Santiago hub and a group of 20 at our smaller dormitory in Santiago. We know that on our own we could never have accomplished what we did but God is so faithful to equip those He calls---and a special thanks to all our Dominican cooks and cleaners who faithfully serve every day here!!

And thanks to all of you who faithfully support us in prayer, finances, and encouragement. We truly feel so blessed to be doing what we are doing --each day is an opportunity to learn and serve and that is a beautiful way to live!!!

Please take a look at our new prayer requests, thoughts to ponder and support status section to the right.

Dios les bendiga,

The Dave Schwulst family