Another new beginning...

Greetings from Bloomington, Illinois...

 On Wednesday afternoon, March 2, we landed on US soil at Chicago O'Hare Airport.  This time though it was not for a visit but we were moving back home.


Arriving at O'Hare airport...It's cold!!!


We have been stateside a little over a month.  We celebrated Easter with our two youngest daughters who also spent their spring break with us. It was such a blessing and definitely helped with the reentry here. It feels like our minds, hearts and souls are catching up with our bodies as we settle in to this new season of life and we wanted to give you all a little update.

So...to begin---here is our new home...




We love it and we love our new neighborhood.  We have met many of our new neighbors and they have been so welcoming to us. Bringing us brownies and other goodies--an old-fashioned welcome to the neighborhood!!  Dave and I both love hospitality and feel this place will provide many opportunities to share with and bless others.  The first weekend we even hosted some dear old friends of ours---even if it was just pizza and salad!!


We also want to share and give thanks and praise to God for ALL that was done for us to welcome us home and help us to re-enter.  We were truly in AWE with all the big and little ways people have loved on us!!  It felt like we were given a Holy Extreme Home Makeover!!!  Our kitchen was completely stocked with small appliances, dishes, pots and pans, etc, groceries and supplies to last us quite awhile!!!  So were our bathrooms and bedrooms.  Even sweet decorations which my friends know that I love. People came in and cleaned floors on their hands and knees and even lined all our kitchen and bathroom shelves with pretty paper.  And much much more!!  It was truly LAVISH LOVE and a beautiful example of the Body of Christ at work.  And so many have stopped by and checked in on us and continued to gift us with little things that just remind us of what it looks like to LOVE WELL.  All this has made our transition back so much smoother.  And it has profoundly impacted us...we want to love others that way!!  Love is like that.  Love begets more love. And it has tremendous healing power!!!  So we say THANK YOU AND PRAISE GOD!!!

Before I share about life here now, I know many of you prayed for our final months in the DR...that we would "finish well" there.  So I want to report that God definitely answered those prayers.  He confirmed that the work He sent us to do was completed.  So many of the believers we have ministered to there affirmed that God used us to bring the Light to them and that now it was up to them to carry that Light to others!  And they were so grateful to us and the Lord for our time there. That so blessed Dave and I.  

Our mentors there, Paul and Carol, shared with us that now our role would be that of "Apostles", praying and encouraging from afar and visiting from time to time. They reminded us that this is a very significant role and also a very enjoyable role!!!  We ask for your prayers as to how that will "look" in the future.

Here are just some of our "good-byes" there---VERY bittersweet!!  But we are so grateful for modern technology which allows us to stay in touch with them and continue to share what God is doing in each of our lives.


We walked alongside this sweet couple in their marriage and now they are proud parents!


We mentored this sweet couple and supported them in their business.  They too are new parents!


My sweet God-daughter, Josie.  So so hard to leave her.  Her parents have been in our lives since we moved to the DR in 2007


One of the sweet young women I have mentored in Lajas.


Brian and Carolina, another couple we have walked alongside and now the new owners of our property.  We feel so blessed that they will care for it well, continue to employ Jose Miguel, and use it all for the glory of God!!


Our dog Tink, also saying farewell to our beautiful mountain!!

So God was good to us in the last few months in the DR, we continue to hear good reports from the believers there, and we are praying about returning in July when our good friend, Josh Davis, will again put on a worship institute in our sweet community of Lajas.

Now...as for our time here this past month, we focused on getting our home in order, re-connecting with friends here and staying connected with our DR friends.  Dave started back to work last week and it has gone well so far.  We have seen our two youngest daughters quite a bit.


Rachael and Beka enjoying spring break in our new home.


We celebrated Rachael's 21st birthday together!! She and Beka sky-dived!!!




And we celebrated Easter together at our home church, Eastview.



We are taking time to get refreshed and reflect on our DR experience and the lessons learned and praying as to what God has for us in this new season.  Would you please pray that with us.

We have asked our supporters if they feel led by the Lord to continue our financial support through June, 2016 to help cover the expenses of moving back and getting set up in our new home and life here.  That will give Dave time to get his business back up and income coming in.  We thank all of you who have continued to financially support us and even the extra gifts we have received.  Again, we feel so blessed and loved!!!  After June, feel free to stop our support and use it to help whomever God may put on your heart that has a need. Supporting another missionary would be great!!!

We will continue to update you this spring as to how God is leading us.  You are in our prayers as well.  Please check the right-hand panel for prayer updates and more.

By God's Grace and for His Glory,

Dave and Cherry Schwulst

Email us...

cjndj.schwulst@gmail.com