HIS FAITHFULNESS...

Hello everyone! This is our first update since we arrived on the mission field, in the Dominican Republic. I believe you all know our story from my first post but if not I will give you the brief summary to catch you up to date. In February 08 my husband and I began to feel the call of God on our lives to serve the orphans and people in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. After prayer Brad and I made our first visit in May 08 which was followed by a 2 week visit with our children that following July. We knew after that trip that was where God wanted us, our kids even felt the call which was amazing in itself. It was August of last year when we were confirmed as Globeworks missionaries and began raising our financial and prayer support. After raising that support and renting our home in Hoover, we moved our family June 22nd to the Dominican Republic. We were so excited about the ministry before us. Below is our August 09 newsletter...last month our Director of Globeworks sent out a letter to everyone telling them of the "situation going on in the DR" the abbreviated details are this...upon our arrival we discover that "Pastor" Joel, a Dominican National, was illegally placing children (not orphans) into the orphanage, mishandling money and falsifying documents. He also was intentionally not keeping with compliance with the National child services organization, Conani, and we were weeks away from being closed down and dismissed from the country. It was by the grace of God that Brad felt the Spirit leading him to go to Santiago and meet with them to explain the Joel situation and that's when all the legal issues began and the desperate maneuvering of Joel Pena. Please read on to see where we are today...thank you all for your new and continuing prayers.


HIS FAITHFULNESS…

Hello support family!! I will apologize first off for the fact you don’t get the entertainment of Brad for this news letter. Instead you will have me…not as funny or witty, but the Lord woke me at 6:30 this morning and I felt Him leading me to share with you all this month. As you all read last month in Dale’s newsletter, Joel who was our local leader for Globeworks here in the Dominican, has “gone bad” to put it nicely. We have had many trials here as a family, but God is still God!!


I will start by letting you know that despite all that has gone on here, Brad and I along with our children, know and believe that God still desires us to be in the mission field here in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic!! We are still going to be house parents to a successful orphanage because we will be able to make a fresh start. We still know and believe we are called to impact the communities and villages of Puerto Plata. It is where the Lord led us and after MUCH prayer, it is where He is STILL LEADING US. In fact, we have hosted 3 successful mission teams since our arrival and 6 in total this summer plus a pastor’s conference. God is still being served and there is much ministry to be done here!


Over the last 4 weeks I admit I have had my nose in numerous scriptures!! God blessed me with a Bible study series in Ruth…a love story! It has shown me how much my Father loves us…I want to pass along just a few of my notes…In Week 1 – Ruth 1 Even though Naomi was in the midst of pain she still calls God Almighty “great and good” (vs. 20) and so do I! God ordains tragedy to set the stage for triumph, to display His great faithfulness! Week 2 – Ruth 2 He has called our name, He has become our refuge, He has satisfied our longings and He has saved our souls. STAY IN HIS FIELDS!! God has ordained for His people to be a display of how much He loves the poor and takes care of the poor. We will rest our lives under His protection! Week 3 – Ruth 3 Again God reminds me, when Naomi says to her friends that she left Bethlehem full and came back empty, that when it seems like nothing is happening and God isn’t close, we feel alone…God may be setting the stage for the greatest display of HIS faithfulness. Week 4 – Chapter 4 Gives us insight to God’s character through the story of Boaz & Ruth…God is committed to sovereignty, providing for His people. We can trust Him in the worst of times because His is also committed to radically pursuing all peoples and He is using ordinary people to accomplish an extraordinary purpose! I could go on and on…I have pages, but these are just some of the key points where God has encouraged me!

WE ARE STAYING IN HIS FIELDS!

I want you to hear my heart and the heart of my children. I am preparing for our last day in the Dominican with Brad. As a family and with the request of our board at Globeworks International Ministries our children and I will be returning, for an undetermined time, to the states. We feel it is what’s best to keep us safe and it will allow Brad time to handle the business at hand that needs to be done without having to worry about us. When we told our kids that we would be returning home to the states, Jake and Jaden at the same time said “this IS our home”. Brad and I looked at each other and smiled. We are disappointed, in all honesty our kids included, but we have had a chance to show them how God loves and takes care of those who call Him their Father. We are so proud of them…they have all been very mature about all of this!! Upon our return we will be visiting family for a few weeks and beginning September 1st our church has offered a missionary house for us to live in. Once Brad is done with the business at hand, he will also return to the states to begin raising additional support. Due to circumstances we will need to rent a house here in the DR. We have found one in a safe community with 24 hour power and a continual supply of water. The monthly rent is $800 plus the utility costs. Brad will be moving all of our things in once the kids and I leave, due to the fact there are no storage units in Puerto Plata or the neighboring city of Santiago? When we all return, we will have a place to live! Just a side note, thank you to Globeworks. They will be taking care of this expense until we return.

“Hang in there, almost done”…Last week our dear friend and partner in ministry, Mat Whatley, who has supernaturally loved on us through this time, visited us to go over plans for the girls orphanage. We met with Conani, children services, and they loved his plans!! Please be in prayer for him as he leads the fund raising for the building. You can view a short film about the project at:

http://web.me.com/globeworks/Exit148Films/Exit_148_Films_2.html

In closing, I want you to know that my family apologizes for not sending a monthly newsletter, but we felt we needed to gain more knowledge and wisdom before sharing. We did not want to alarm anyone unnecessarily. I hope you all understand…you are dear to us and we appreciate your partnership! Which leads me to what you can do during this next month: First please praise GOD for He is worthy of all praise. He knew this was all going to take place long before we came. Pray for continued wisdom and discernment for our family, Globeworks board and Mat Whatley as we all move forward with the ministry God has in the Dominican Republic. Pray for safety for my husband, we turned each other and our kids over to God a long time ago, but it is still not easy to leave each other. It will only be for a time. Pray for the sweet staff and friends that will be taking care of things while we are gone…Harry, Soto, Dianna, Henrietta, Phyllis, Dr. Mateo, Antonio and his precious family. And lastly please ask God what your role in His ministry here in the DR would be? To be a prayer warrior on our behalf, to provide for our financial needs, to come serve along with us in the future? We trust if you are spending time with the Lord He will direct you in how you can play a part in His ministry! It is exciting and we are thankful for the ride, no matter where it leads. Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger for You are with me…He never promises it will be easy, but we have the blessed assurance He is right with us through it all!! Praise Him for that!