A theme that has been emerging lately in our lives here is the idea of "drinking deeply" from all God offers us every day. So this month we want to share how God nourishes us through his beauty and through relationships with his people---enjoy!!
Our youngest daughter, Rebekah, took these pictures on our property...
Rebekah, budding photographer with our great landscape in the background!!
AUGUST MEN'S CONFERENCE... was offered to all the graduates of the manhood study these last two years...it was held at a beautiful retreat center in our community...
Paul Thompson, a MK who grew up in Cuba and later ministered and raised his family in Spain and now lives and ministers here in the DR, did the teaching...
Our good friends Josh Davis and Royce Morris led worship...
There were times to connect...
times to relax...
times to play and enjoy this beautiful countryside in our community...
or to take time alone to pray in "quiet places" such as this little chapel on the retreat center's grounds...
SPECIAL GUESTHOUSE VISIT...Our family was blessed to have Josh and Royce spend a week with us while they put on the conference--great times of fellowship...
we especially enjoyed times where Josh and Royce "made music" in our living room with our daughters, Rachael and Beka!! We even went out in our neighborhood one night and went door to door giving a "portable concert"---one of the most special times we have had here to date!!...
A VERY SPECIAL MEN'S GROUP GRADUATION--THE GROUP FROM OUR COMMUNITY, LAJAS DE YAROA...after 24 weeks of study, four young men from our community were ready to "graduate"---first, they spent a Sunday afternoon at "27 Waterfalls" with Dave and their two group leaders, Jon and Jose Miguel---it was the first time for all of them!!!
The waterfalls experience...
The ceremony...we hosted the graduation at our place on our gazebo that night---Rachael and Beka started off by leading us all in worship...
Dave introducing the graduates...
Joel giving a testimony of how the group has impacted his life...
Jose Miguel, Jon and Dave presenting the medalions and certificates to each young man...
The "audience" of friends and family seemed to enjoy it all--each graduate was encouraged to invite their families to the graduation and each one had one or more family members come!!!
Joel and his mother...
Antonio and his father...
Lindo and his mother...
Frances and his mother...
Everyone had fun eating cake afterwards...
And what's next...
The above picture is very special to us--on the surface it is simply a picture of three of the young men who participate in the men's group in our community holding the new study they are doing by Paul Thompson, "Una Salvacion tan grande" (The glory of the Gospel)---but it is really much more---many of you will remember that about one year ago, Edward, a beautiful young man from our community was killed in a motor cycle accident--as in any small community, the people all came together to grieve and comfort one another--we felt humbled to be a part of all that---but we also prayed, O Lord, let this death not be in vain! Do something beautiful here---well, as we look at the above photo, we realize that it is a photo of Edward's younger brother, Joel, his cousin, Lindo, who was with Edward the night of the accident, and a good friend and neighbor, Frances---all three of these men as well as the others involved in the small group are now on a very different "camino" (path) than they were on a year ago. Thank you Lord--you are good!! Please continue to pray for our community of Lajas, especially the young men here.
RACHAEL AND REBEKAH...
Our girls do seem to flourish here and we are so grateful for that!! These past few months Pamela, the sister of one of the young men in the men's group here, has expressed her desire to grow in her faith. So Rachael offered to mentor/disciple her--in Spanish of course!!--so they are now meeting weekly for study and prayer---please pray for them.
Both Rachael and Beka continue to write music, in English and Spanish, and bless others---here they are at our home church with Dave singing harmony--in Spanish!!! God is good!!!
And sports at their school, Santiago Christian School, is a big part of Rebekah's life here---she is talented and a great team player---here are both girls with their team at the end of last soccer season...
Thanks for sharing in all this with us---your prayers, support and encouragement bless us!! Look at the right-hand panel for our prayer requests and some things to hopefully encourage you too.
By God's grace and for His glory,
The Dave Schwulst Family