It is so hard to choose just a few highlights but here we go...
The month of July began by hosting a team of 55 youth and sponsors from our home church, Eastview Christian Church. It was such an awesome group of young people--they worked hard, had great attitudes and their nightly praise and worship sessions on the top floor of the dormitory in Hoya del Caimito literally lit up the neighborhood!! Muchas gracias Eastview!!!
Here they are worshipping at a bonfire for the youth of the Caimito church on the "land" we will use to build the new church!!!
Many medical clinics were held in areas that so badly need medical care--a US audiologist teamed up with an audiology group from the island and offered free hearing aids to many---here a pastor brings a young boy from his community to be fitted for a hearing aid---they both left smiling and so were we!!!
Our friends the Marshall's came down with a new team from their daughter's church--stayed at our new facility in Hato del Yaque and put on a teacher training here at the school---our teachers were thrilled with the training material!! Thanks Ralph and Elaine---please come back!!!
Then...life took an unexpected turn---as we all know can happen!! Our youngest daughters, Rachael and Beka, had gone back to the states to visit grandma and friends. Rachael got quite ill and we found out she needed surgery to remove tonsils, adenoids and open up her sinus passageways. Fortunately Dave and I were able to return to be with her during surgery and recuperation. Our home church and home town friends were just awesome in how they rallied around us, found us places to stay, fed us, and just loved on us for three weeks!!!
Rachael's surgery was a big success!!
Here is just one example of how everyone cared for us and loved on us---our friends the Williamson's did a "rap song and dance" to cheer up Rachael in the hospital
We also were able to fly our oldest daughter Blythe back to Illinois to be with us and we even got to go visit Grandma on her farm!!! Here we are with all three of our daughters...
So...the last few months we have experienced the love of Christ modeled by so many here and there...that motivates us to spend more time communing with God, getting to know Him and His ways better so we can let His love flow through us out to others--every day wherever we are!!
And speaking of love...another wedding--Pastor Wilby and GO missionary Lisa--we are blessed to have this sweet couple in our lives--please pray for their new marriage and for their new church plant which reaches out to Haitians in our neighborhood.
We love you all---and keep you in our hearts and prayers---please look to our side sections on prayer, upcoming team dates,etc---also we encourage you to check out some of the other GO staffer's blogs as they are excellent and have many more pictures and videos---our staff team photographer, Amanda's, blogspot usually contains videos of each team that comes down---www.braistedadventures.blogspot.com
By His grace and for His glory,
The Dave Schwulst Family
ps--just for fun---look at our youngest, Beka, with classmates who worked together on a small group school project (rapper style!!)---thank you for praying for ALL of our children!!
