The first story involves the community where we live, Lajas del Yaroa--we have lived here two years and we are blessed to witness how God is "wooing" the people, especially the young men of this community--we have shared the story up to this point of how the two men who work for us became Christ followers, were baptized and have been sharing their faith with their neighbors as they do life together. This spring another young man made the decision to follow Christ and also was baptized. A small group of young men in the community has formed and they are now meeting twice a week in our gazebo--for study and fellowship. After one of their gatherings, three of the young men said they wanted to follow Christ and be baptized---so Dave and the other three believers met with them for futher teaching and discussion--other young men from the group came to these teachings with the result that six young men were ready to be baptized!!! So on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June, these young men gathered at our place--for a meal of course!! and some fellowship with young men from our church in Santiago--they also invited family members to witness the event. So those ready for baptism gathered in our pool with Dave, Jose Miguel and Santos...
Two of the young men asked Dave to baptize them...
Each Baptism was followed by much applause by tapping the water!!! a nice Dominican touch to this Christian tradition...
Three of the young men asked Jose Miguel to baptize them---it is beautiful to see the young men look to him as a leader now...
and more celebration...
And Santos had the privilege of baptizing his brother, Noel...
And one last grand finale "splashing" to celebrate the new lives here!!...
LAJAS...OUR COMMUNITY...So we ask you to pray for our community and this "movement" that seems to be growing here!!! Here are a few photos of the neighborhood...
The elementary school...
The basketball court with a great view of the countryside!!...
And here are two possible sites for a playground and community center which could bring much of God's goodness to this community!!...
A PRISON MINISTRY STORY...
We have shared that three groups of fifty men each have now completed the manhood study at the prison in Santiago---for the first two classes, the director, Adolfo, observed from a distance, somewhat skeptical of what was going on. But he could not deny the changes in the men so when the study was offered to the guards and leadership of the prison, he joined the group. And now he has a story to share!!! He has been touched by God through the study and is very hungry for more---it's exciting to ponder what God will do through this man who is in a postition to affect great change for good in this prison as well as in the penal system throughout the island. Here is Adolfo, front right in the white t-shirt, with the group of guards and leaders after they spent a day of reflection and fellowship at our place.
STATESIDE--SPECIAL MOMENTS...SPECIAL STORIES...
Each of these photos represents a special moment for us stateside---and there were so many of those moments...
Time with our son, Shane and Grandma King (Cherry's mom)...
Rachael's very good friend, Raquel, from the DR and their Young Life small group leader here in the DR, Kristen, visited us at Cherry's mom's farm---extra special to have DR friends see our life stateside!!...
Rebekah got her ears pierced...
She wanted Grandma with her for the special event!!...
Rachael FINALLY got her cast off thanks to our very good friend, Jeff Williamson---just one example out of many of how well our Illinois friends care for us when we are back home---we are so grateful to all of them!!...
We were very grateful to spend time with our oldest daughter, Blythe----here are three generations of "King women"!!!...
A special evening with many of Dave's family...
We spent so many special moments with friends!!! We can't include them all but one special moment was spending an evening with our old neighbors--a big chunk of Rachael and Beka's childhood memories include these neighbors, whom we hadn't seen in five years!!! Now the kids are teenagers!!!...
Even if it was a bit "awkward" at first for the kids now grown up, it made us parents smile and proved to be a beautiful evening for all...
And we got to share a meal with our co-laborers in the DR field, Amaury and Catherine--how fun to see them stateside---Dave wanted to buy Amaury a steak dinner!!!...
AND...A BIG FISH STORY!!!...
Dave was blessed to be treated to a fishing trip up north in Minnesota---he did a little ministry, helping them plan a manhood study for their church and then got to do something he loves!!!---fish!!!! And he has the pictures to prove his "catch"!!
Thanks for letting us share these special "stories" with you---please look at the right-hand panel for our prayer requests and some things to hopefully encourage you in your walk with the Lord today.
By God's grace and for His glory,
The Dave Schwuslt family