HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN LAJAS DE YAROA...

No matter what  "season" we may be in, our view here in Lajas stays the same--BREATHTAKING!!-- an occasional rainbow does add a special touch..



But inside our home, it did look like Christmas--a bit non-traditional with a Norfolk pine that we bring inside and decorate each year.


Both Dave and I grew up with the tradition of Advent which we have carried on with our own children and now with our ministry here--the Christmas holidays can be a very "dark" time with lots of parties, lots of drinking and, unfortunately, many fights and accidents.  So we especially focus on bringing lots of opportunities for "light" and life-giving activities.  We started with a time of reflection and healing prayer ministry.  A Latina friend of ours from Florida came to the island for a week of healing prayer ministry--our key people went into Santiago for a weekend conference and later we continued with  the healing prayer time up here in Lajas---we were all powerfully affected---thank you Diana and Joy for your love and dedication to setting captives free!!

Healing prayer ministry...





Next our good friends Amaury and Catherine Gracesqui brought their drama group from Santiago up to put on their Christmas production--"Recuperando la Navida"--Bringing Back Christmas

Christmas drama...



A Wedding...


A beautiful way to celebrate this season is always a wedding!!  And we were blessed to share in the celebration of one of our young couples in the church--we are especially grateful for the example that they set by being obedient in this way--please pray for Joel and Ilumin...





With the judge and their "padrinos"--Godparents



The groom's father game them his blessing...


And Pastor Jose Miguel caught the bridal bouquet!!!



Two other highlights for the Christmas holidays were "an evening of prayer" in the church with candles, instrumental music and plenty of the Holy Spirit---we all left "full"--we also shared a meal together and shared our muscial talents with a time of karaoke---so fun!!  Here are some of our little ones in their Santa hats and singing for us..


Christmas...






We also surprised our very faithful young members of the worship team with new bicycles!!  





Family times...

We got to share with our youngest, Beka, what is called her "lanzamiento" which means "launching" of the senior class--we can't believe our baby is going to graduate!!


And we were so blessed to have our daughter Rachael home with us from college on a long holiday break!!!





And our oldest, Shane, also came home for a visit---so we had three out of our four children with us over the holidays---always something that makes us very happy!!!



And our good friend, Josh Davis, who grew up here in the DR and feels like family to us, came for a visit and put on a concert for us in the church!!!  We are always so blessed by his visits--and our friend and his, Jhonny Vicioso joined him for the concert...

New Year's Eve concert at the church...


Then Josh went on to La Vega to lead a conference for Dominican youth--we had four of our young leaders participate in the conference--a great way to start the new year, 2015!!!


More leadership training...







Would you please keep these young people in your prayers--Jose Miguel, Juan Luis, Anthony and Isamar.

So we are now in 2015 and praying to live it out well, day by day, focusing on depending on God and adoring and pleasing Him.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Please see our right hand panel for some words to encourage you and our latest prayer requests.

And a big thank you to all who sent us Christmas cards with family photos--take a look at our refrigerator!!!


By God's Grace and For His Glory,

The Dave Schwulst Family










Email us...

cjndj.schwulst@gmail.com