Until They Know...

Changed Lives...ours and theirs

by Brad & Brooke Jenkins

Let me begin this month’s post by saying how great it is to be able to write to you from the field. To tell you of the wonderful stories God has orchestrated and ordained instead of posts about the plans we have for the ministry here in the Puerto Plata.

First, let me introduce you to Pastor Jacob, pictured here on the far right, and one of the pastors I asked you to pray for in our last post. He is a pastor in Aguas Negras that we have worked with extensively this summer. He is committed to serving the Dominican/Haitian Village of Aguas Negras as well as 5 other church plants he has begun throughout Puerto Plata in the last three years. Jacob is a 50 year old Haitian widower and sweet man. We love him and he loves our family and has actually asked Brooke to be his “god-mother”, which is a quite an honor. He will soon be graduating from “Bible training” and wants her to award his diploma to him, an honor given to mothers in the DR. We will also host a small party for him afterward. Pastor Jacob, through his ministry, impacts about 170 families a week and hundreds of orphans. We thank God for our partnership with men like Jacob, he is truly a blessing!

Jeffrey with the ever popular “gang” sign pose.

One of the young boys that Jacob works with and introduced us to is named Jeffrey (11 year old). He is from a tough family and he and his step-mother fight violently. Much of this is due to Jeffrey’s defiant and at times unstable behavior. The other reasons are their need for Christ, hope, and an understanding of God’s plan for their future. Jeffrey is known as the “crazy kid” in the village and proves that true often. About a month ago as we were doing a 3 day program at Jacob’s church in Aguas Negras, Jeffrey punched a girl in the face over a jump rope. Moments later, he stood in the street swinging and kicking at adults that had come to defend the little girl and to “teach him a lesson”. This group included his step-mother who held a 2x2 piece of lumber and the others holding rocks and sticks. Pastor Jacob and I kept them from using them, except for his step-mother who beat his legs, arms and head with the piece of lumber. Jeffrey then pulled a knife and the scene became more intense. I was able to back Jeffrey against a house and began to pray in his ear that he would be calmed by God and feel God’s presence. He broke down and handed me the knife. We were able to walk away from the crowd and he let me share the story of Jesus Christ, the hope of salvation and transformation through Him. Through his sobbing and tears he said he wanted to be changed. He accepted Christ! He then asked me to share with his step-mom and to tell her about what he had done. She was not ready herself and doubted God could really change Jeffrey, but seeds were planted. There has been a change in Jeffrey and just last week his step-mother, Lydia, told me she sees it. She has come to church twice in the last month and Jeffrey has been going since that day in the street. We praise God for His faithfulness and redeeming power. We also pray for his step-mother that she would recognize her need for Jesus in her life.

Two changed lives

This is the day I met Jeffrey. I told Brad that afternoon I felt a strong connection to him, but didn’t know why. He was the most disruptive child at the program and acted very tough on the exterior.  But there was something when you hugged him that changed.  The next day was the day Brad shared above and the Jeffrey became my little brother.

WOW...we have some other info to share...

Well, we are winding down our summer. In the last month, we have said good-bye to our wonderful interns and hosted 2 other teams. We also had the pleasure of sharing our home with the Little’s who will be joining us on the field as DR ministry partners once they have raised their support and sold their home in Hoover, AL.

The Alliance 29:11 sponsored team and Reel Life Adventure team joined forces this last month in Munoz on various water projects. Each team spent a week building a 6 stall shower house and for the first time people there don’t have to bathe in a bucket or a contaminated river. They also each spent the week training and distributing between the two teams 145 Pure Water filters in the community. In addition, to the water projects the A2911 team did VBS in Munoz and the Reel Life Team built a house in Javillar for a single mother of 6, whose house was falling down around her.

***For additional ministry photos and captions please click on the above link for July 2010 Photos***

We would like to conclude by thanking you for your prayers and support of our ministry here in the Dominican Republic!

 Praise God, my (Brooke) MRI came back and all is healed nicely with some remaining torn fibers. I am  up and moving around with ease. The only pain I have is when I over extends myself. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

 After a busy summer please pray for some downtime for our family. It has been great, but we are in need of some quality time as a family, please pray for that in the upcoming weeks.

 Please pray for a great start to the school year for our family. The plan is to on start back this month.

 As we wait on the property we continue to have ministry opportunities open up to us. Pray for discernment in what we are to do and where we are to trust God to provide someone else to meet those needs.

 As we wait, we also are in need of rent and utility funds. Until missionary housing is built we are responsible for our rent and utilities. We are covered through September, which leaves us needing your help to raise the remaining $2100 to extend our lease through December 2010. We’d also like to praise God for the add’l $50/month support that came in since our last newsletter. If just 18 people would commit $25/mo. we’d meet our needs. We are so thankful for how you all have supported us and trust God will provide our need. Please pray as we trust.

 Lastly, please pray for the property and the resources to be received. We have our RNC # which means nothing is stopping us now. All we need is cash in hand to negotiate our property. We have the interior walls to the orphanage sitting in Birmingham waiting to come. Please pray for God’s provision.

As ALWAYS, none of this would be possible without God!! We give Him all the glory for what is taking place and we give thanks for all of you!! You are His tools that make what we do possible!

From His fields…Brad, Brooke, Jaden, Jake & Abie Lynn

GIFTS

written by Brad Jenkins

Do you remember what it was like as a child on Christmas morning? Can you feel the excitement to open presents, to see what Santa had left during the night? Do you recall the patience required to wait for everyone to be awake and ready, and the cameras to be in place before you entered the room? I was not so good at the waiting, but the reward for the wait was always worth it! Whether it was the new bike, Mattel football, a Pistol Pete uniform (w/ kneepads), a puppy, bongo set, or even socks – it was exciting, it was a gift, and it was mine! I had made my request and had been heard.

Honestly, I’ve not gotten much better at the waiting. I have struggled with God’s timing on our return to the Dominican Republic, on His provision of the land for the new orphanage and the resources to prepare the site. I’ve struggled with waiting here while there were so many opportunities to minister in Puerto Plata like: teaching English classes, helping desperate prostitutes understand that God designed them for greatness, provide small business loans with Hope International to men and women whose dreams have been lost, disciple young people like Aranza - a 12 year old girl sold to a “gringo” man by a hopeless mother who hoped to give her a better future in prostitution, play soccer with Haitian children in refugee villages, or work alongside and encourage pastors. None of which mentions our greatest call: to rescue orphaned children and offer them a family that displays the love of Christ, which brings them the message of hope and points them toward the future God intends for them.

We are so close to returning! And today, I am reminded of Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings of eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint”. We have waited and continue, our strength is renewed, we are ready to soar with new perspective and opportunity, and we are ready to tirelessly run or even walk when necessary, because we know the Lord is with us.

Our wait today is to finish up our monthly support need. We thank God and our partners that our “special gift” goals have been reached and that our monthly needs are within reach. We hope to have the remaining funds ($1250/mo.) by the end of this month. This newsletter is mailed to 330 people and viewed by many others through our blog and website. If 60 people responded at $20/month we would be ready to go. We trust that God will continue to provide for His ministry to Puerto Plata. Any amount of monthly contribution makes a big difference, both to us, and those who partner with God’s ministry to “the least of these” by financial support of this ministry.

Please pray for:

• All that God has in store for Alliance 29:11 and our family in the DR
• All of our monthly support to be committed
• All the land and building financial resources to be given
• We have to be out of the missionary house in April, because of a prior commitment to another missionary family, so pray for provision for housing OR for our return to the DR! (we hope the latter)
• Safety during travel to upcoming appointments as we seek to close out those support needs
• And join us in thanking God for all He has done to reshape this vision, develop our ministry partners, for the recent Birmingham area media coverage of our ministry, and for the renewing of our family’s strength during our time in the states. And thank Him that our after the March 27^th Alliance 29:11 board meeting, our due diligence will be complete allowing us to return to the DR if our support is in.

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support. We can’t do this without you!

To give please go to:

http://web.mac.com/globeworks/dominikids.com/How_to_partner_with_us%21.html

Google Earth Image of the land we are praying for, it is eight acres in total.

Phase I – is the small yellow square on the right. This is the dominikids Hope House rescue village, to meet the immediate need of the orphans. Asking price for the land is $180K.

Phase II – is on the left. The Community Impact Center would include a microfinance bank, discipleship center, job training center & medical clinic. The Orphan Care Village would house up to 11 native foster families with children transitioned from our Rescue Village.

FEBUARY 2010 - DR assists HAITI

As I sit here in the Spirit Airlines terminal at Ft. Lauderdale, a stop in my return flight home from Puerto Plata, I am reminded of my playing days. If you have ever played a sport, you know that the worst days of practice the entire year are those just before the season starts. You and teammates have spent weeks or months going through difficult drills, sweating, bleeding, learning plays, beating on each other – tempers flaring up at times. You cannot wait to get to the first game and actually doing what it is you have prepared to do for so long.

This is exactly the feeling I have right now. It seems that for a couple of years our family has been preparing for that which God called us to. We even got to taste the season – only to seemingly have our first game rained out. Today we are trying to wait patiently on the Lord. We know that our call is like that of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 – “He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” We have seen God do some tremendous things this fall and bring such a great team together to do ministry in the DR. We have had our planning meetings, poured through budgets, the Lord has continued to sharpen us in the area of Orphan Care and developed our model for bringing love and hope and a future to the children that will be entrusted to us and now we are ready!

The last piece to come together is the financial piece. As I write this today, we are in need of $1150/month in our family’s budget. We also need $28k to get established there as a family again – this would cover tickets, a car, and our rent until the new missions house is complete. Alliance 29:11 DR is also in need of funds for the project as a whole. We are hoping to build a village of orphan care facilities, as well as, a community impact center on a couple of plots of land totaling 9.5 acres. These pieces of land are centrally located in Puerto Plata and give us tremendous opportunity to impact the entire city. We cannot go without God placing these needs on the hearts of his people and the obedient response of those He leads to act. Until then, we continue with pre-season.

Please pray for the arrival of these funds and God’s time to come. If our family’s resources came in we could leave immediately. If we were on the ground in Puerto Plata we would be able to continue to develop church/pastor relationships, train and recruit staff, launch community ministry through ESL programs teaching English classes, Hope International bank, teen discipleship programs, work closely with CONANI and our lawyer Mateo on compliance and philosophy of orphan care, and lastly, further relationship building in the community.

Brooke and the kids have begun their second semester of home school and are off to a really good start. Brooke is enjoying it, but appreciated the break. She is trying to sharpen her elementary grammar skills and is being challenged by teaching grammar. Please pray for her patience with herself in this area. She is doing a great job, but feels like she is struggling there. The kids are really growing up and taking responsibility for schoolwork. They are proud of their accomplishments and I am proud of teacher and students.

Please continue to pray for Alliance 29:11 and our family in these areas:

· Fundraising for our family

· Fundraising for Alliance 29:11 DR – land purchase $180K

· DR staff currently in place, and staff yet to be recruited

· A durable and inexpensive vehicle for our family in the DR

Another prayer request that I want to address separately has to do with the earthquake in Haiti. CONANI, Child Protective Services in the DR has asked for our help! They are asking us for 2 things, medicine and housing for Haitian Orphans. CONANI requesting our help shows great confidence in Alliance 29:11 and we would love to help care for the onslaught of orphaned Haitian kids to be arriving in the DR. But, we do not currently have the funding to return. Can you help? Please pray for our quick return or give as God leads.

To give please go to:

http://web.mac.com/globeworks/dominikids.com/How_to_partner_with_us%21.html

When you set up your account, you can set up a reoccuring paymant or make a special gift. When you enter the amount make sure to select Jenkins Monthly or Jenkins Special Gift. Thank you for your support, we can't do this without each one of you!

A FRESH START...

DECEMBER 09 NEWSLETTER FROM OUR NEW MISSION ORGANIZATION - ALLIANCE MINISTRIES - ALLIANCE 29:11-US is the division that solely operates the Dominican Republic Ministry we will be serving. This was the newsletter sent to all of our supporters...

Greetings to you and yours in this blessed season when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! And thank you for your partnership with Brad and Brooke Jenkins as they are willing to leave the comfort and safety of their home to serve the least of these in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, especially the widows, orphans and aliens. I am Don Ankenbrandt, director of Alliance Ministries, Inc. and its subsidiary Alliance 29:11-US. Alliance is a 501(c)(3) and will be receiving all donations made to support the Jenkins beginning December 1, 2009. Globeworks has officially turned its orphan ministry in Puerto Plata over to us so that we can proceed with the building of a new orphanage at which the Jenkins will serve as house parents. In addition to running the orphanage, the Jenkins will supervise and assist in several ministry outreaches in which Alliance is engaging either by employment of local Dominicans, partnership with the local church in Puerto Plata, or partnership with well-established US-based ministries. Our vision is to transform entire communities by coordinating and creating synergy among ministries which have been called to serve the least of these in specific areas of need such as family building, economic stability, sports, medical, church planting, education and, primarily, orphan care.

The Jenkins’ are still in need of more monthly support and one time giving in order to move them to Puerto Plata. We are proceeding with the building of the orphanage on faith that God will provide their support. You may see the progress we have made by going to the website www.orphanagebuilders.org. In the meantime, Brad and Brooke are very busy working on the ministry here as we set up the systems, build the relationships, prepare the legal documents, purchase the land and organize the processes needed to build and operate the orphanages. They long to be with the children and leaders in Puerto Plata, but their time and energies are well-spent here as they raise the remaining support and prepare to GO!

Please call me if you have any questions at 205.229.2491 or email me at dank@alliancemin.com.

Thank you and God Bless You!
Don Ankenbrandt




OUR FAMILY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 09





“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13


It is with overwhelming joy and excitement that I write to you today. God has been faithful as He promised. The last I shared with you, Brooke and I along with GlobeWorks and the DR sub-committee were praying about how to move forward with ministry and orphan care in the Dominican Republic. As Don laid out in his portion of this newsletter, God led and Alliance 29:11 was born.

“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Ps. 145:3) - This verse is most called into mind, when I look back on all of this. He is so worthy! All who are involved in this partnership of ministries are really excited about what God has called us to and the momentum that has been gained since the events of last summer in the DR. That’s right, I said “momentum”. We will return as soon as possible with great support from local churches in Puerto Plata, tremendous support from CONANI – government agency in the DR that certifies orphanages. We will have a new beginning with a new site, new facilities to be constructed, and other experienced ministries from the states that bring years of excellence to the table, as well as, additional families who will be joining us in full-time service to the people of the DR.

For our family, orphan care will be our number one priority. But, we will also be involved in the multi-faceted approach to community transformation. The orphanage center will be a hub for community impact and programs from micro-finance to English classes to medical clinics to discipleship programs to sports ministry.


With all of this in the plans, I am sure it is easy to understand that we are ready to be back on the ground in Puerto Plata. I spent the week before Thanksgiving there with our Alliance leadership team, and really just wanted to send for my family and not return. However, there is work to be done here. With this new beginning and new partners in ministry there are details to take care of, meetings to have, and of course, funds to be raised. Please continue to pray for all of these things.


We have, as was shared before, some additional needs in our monthly support, some one-time needs to get us back to the DR and buy a vehicle for our family, to shore up before we are able to return. It is our hope that we will be on the ground in January.


Thank you so much for your faithfulness to pray for our family during the trials of the past summer and in our pursuit of God’s plans this fall. We have been encouraged by you and know that God has answered in a big way. D.L. Moody said, “A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; only shine lights.” It is our prayer that in righteousness we continue to shine brightly both here and there as we represent the Lord, Alliance 29:11, and your obedient sacrifice in support.



Thank you and God bless,
Brad, Brooke, Jaden, Jake & Abie Lynn

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!