Following Him...In the Dominican Republic: January 2013

--------------------(Picture courtesy of our daughter Rebekah)------------ Well here we are in 2013---may we all know Christ better and make Him known!!! We had a very rich and meaningful December---our church community here in Lajas focused on the Advent season and its meaning to us individually and as a community--this new year we are going to focus on Loving our Neighbor and living out Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We spent the Christmas holidays here this year--it was simple yet very significant--one of our heart's desires has been to bring the light of Christ to this community by offering alternatives to the excessive drinking that unfortunately characterizes the holiday season here. To that end we had------------------------------------------ CRISTO URBANO IN THE HOUSE---IN LAJAS...

Our friend and Christian rap artist,Isaias Gabriel, came up to our neighborhood and put on a concert in our neighborhood basketball court---

We had a beautiful evening with clear skies and many people came out--both to sit on the bleachers and participate and to gather outside the court and observe!!!

Isaias did a beautiful job connecting with our teens up here---please pray for his ministry---we pray they will come back!!!!

And..they spent the night en la casita (our little guest house)...

We also showed the movie Chronicles of Narnia which was super well received---great symbolism---we pray all our hearts keep "thawing" in the warmth of Christ's light and love!!! And we spent more time visiting neighbors, even got to share some gift baskets with the most needy here--courtesy of our daughters' school, Santiago Christian School--------------------------------------------------------------------------A highlight of the month was Cherry's visit to the states for our son SHANE'S GRADUATION--CELEBRATING DR. DILLINGHAM!!!...

It was very special to also spend time with daughter Blythe and Cherry's mom and two of her brothers...

OUR FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS HERE...

we decorated a Norfolk pine for our gazebo which we enjoyed and was a nice addition for Sunday services here...

we had our little tree in the living room...

we relaxed in the house...

ate our family's traditional yeast rolls--cinnamon twists!!...

visited a sweet chapel located at a nearby retreat center--where we prayed as a family for all those we love near and far and we even sang some hymns together!!!

And we ate a pretty traditional Christmas dinner--ham,cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, yeast rolls, jello and a homemade blueberry pie for dessert!!! Thank you all for being with us in spirit!! We keep you in our hearts and prayers. Please look to the right-hand panel for new prayer requests. BY HIS GRACE AND FOR HIS GLORY IN 2013, THE DAVE SCHWULST FAMILY

PRAYER REQUESTS...

For our re-entry into life in the United States. May we be gentle and patient with ourselves and others.

For our family--- Pray for us all as we adjust to our new lifestyles and God's ongoing plans for us.

For Rachael and Beka as they get ready to go back to Taylor University later this month.

For more connections with our older two children, Shane and Blythe, as we are all stateside now!!

For Dave---as he adjusts to his new work, that he allow God to lead him day by day.

For Cherry's mother---She will be living with us here in Bloomington this fall. May we care for her well and be a blessing to each other.

For all the seeds that were planted in the DR and in our hearts--may they grow and become strong in God's Kingdom.

THOMAS MERTON PRAYER

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

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