Snow Scoop - December 2005

Dear Friends:

Feliz Navidad - Ellen and I are now back in the Dominican Republic after spending 6 weeks in the United States visiting churches, our family, and attending the Nebraska Diocesan Convention. On the morning on December 8, Ellen and I were sitting in the Omaha, Nebraska airport with temperatures hovering near zero. It is never easy to leave our family, but the hope of much warmer temperatures did make it easier.

December 8 also marked a significant anniversary in our lives. It was on this day in 1995 that we began our first full day as missionaries in the Dominican Republic. When we were at the 2005 Nebraska Diocesan Convention, someone asked how much longer we planned to serve in the Dominican Republic. Our response was “at least three more years, health permitting.” She jokingly replied “You said that 7 years ago, and every year since then.” And, she is right. Our new response is: “We will continue to serve in the DR until the Lord tells us our work is completed. We heard his call to serve in the DR, and we’re confident He will tell us when it is time to go.”

The last 10 years has been a spiritual adventure full of surprises, challenges and a time when our faith was tested in many unexpected ways. Above all, it has been a time when our lives have been enriched by uncountable blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Among those blessing has been the opportunity to visit over 100 churches to share the inspiring stories of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Dominican Republic. During this time, we also estimate that we have hosted well over 2,500 Christians who have come to the DR to participate in the ministry of the diocese. Indeed, it has been an amazing journey.

In trying to live out Matthew 25:40, Ellen and I have been blessed more than we have blessed those who the Lord sent us to serve. We have witnessed first hand the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and the commitment of Christians whose most valuable and sometimes only possession is their faith. In the last 10 years we have obtained a warehouse full of memories. Here are just a few that occurred to us as we were writing this.

• Our Dominican friends have helped us grow spiritually. These people have a spiritual quality that cannot be described, only experienced. Spiritually, we are not the same people who arrived here in 1995. We are still learning and experiencing.
• We each have a clearer understanding of “faith”. Dominicans who have little materially are rich in ways that we may never be able to obtain. This is one of the fastest growing dioceses in USA Episcopal Church. Dominicans, especially Bishop Holguin, truly believe if you are in God’s will good things will happen. New church buildings, shelters for the poor, and schools will be built. Ministries to the poor will receive the resources they need. This diocese has a “Field of Dreams (build it and they will come”) way of thinking. If the diocese waited until they had sufficient funds for a project, fewer projects would have been accomplished.
• Driving in the Dominican Republic is an unforgettable experience. The word for stop in Spanish is “PARE”. Carla Anderson from Nebraska decided that this really means: “Proceed Aggressively Risking Everything.” This describes our driving experience here.
• On Sunday, December 18, 2005 I will reach an important milestone in my diaconal ministry. When I serve as a deacon on that day, I will have served more time as a deacon in the DR than in my home diocese of Nebraska. On November 8, I completed 20 years serving
  Christ as a deacon. What an honor it has been to serve both of these dioceses.
• In the last 10 years we have hosted Christians from many parts of the United States and Canada. We treasurer the friendships we have made. When we first came here, the diocese was hosting 6 - 8 teams a year. Ellen wouldn’t say so, but I will. She has done a tremendous job coordinating 40 to 56 (our high) teams a year. Last June, we had 7 teams in the country during one week (some coming, others going or working).
• One of our great joys has been watching the Holy Spirit use Dominicans to touch visiting Christians in a way that will impact their spiritual lives forever. We have also gratefully watched US team members touch and provide hope and resources that has changed the lives of their Dominican brothers and sisters in Christ.
• God has rewarded us by giving us the opportunity to share our Dominican experience in many churches, especially those in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Nebraska. Each visit has been a blessing full of new friends and good food. Thanks.
• Our greatest honor has been the title of “Mom and Dad” of Vivencia (Happenings) in the Dominican Republic. Along with two Dominican youth, we helped start this youth program. The youth in this diocese are incredible and our greatest joy has been watching this program strengthen the Diocesan youth program.
• GOD’S MIRACLE - Education is the key to changing 3rd world countries. Nine years ago when I started a scholarship program for our 7 Episcopal schools, my goal was to obtain 150 sponsors. In 2005 we had 702 sponsored students in 19 schools. There are over 800 students requesting help this year. We desperately need at least 100 more sponsors. So, we’ll wait for another miracle.
• ANOTHER MIRALCE: - My first major project was to help the priest in San Pedro start a regional medical clinic. We struggled for two frustrating years without much success. By word of mouth and a small miracle Esperanza International heard about our hope to start a clinic. With their help and assistance from many others, the clinic opened less than a week after hurricane George hit the San Pedro area in 1998. God’s timing is always perfect. Over 18,000 patients are now served each year. The clinic is $150,000 pesos or $5,000 in the red this year. We’re looking for another miracle, because this shortfall could negatively impact services next year.
• MIRACLE, AFTER MIRACLE: Perhaps the greatest miracle we have witnessed took place in Batey Central in Barahona. In a batey of depressing poverty there now stands a beacon of hope. Jesus Peregrino was built on a piece of land that was once a community trash pile. In addition to the church, there is now a children’s shelter and within the near future a bakery will be in operation. Go to “Field Notes” – “Year 2004” on our web page for the complete story of this ministry.
• MORE MIRACLES: There have been many more miracles. For instance, the South Carolina medical team met a man who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. The team raised funds to buy an artificial limb and pay for rehabilitation required. If this SC medical team had not come to the DR, this man might still be using crutches.
• Or, how about the 12-year-old who would have died, if a Virginia Beach medical team hadn’t raised funds to pay for an operation in the USA.
• Or how about the church community on the north side of the island that had been praying that someone would provide the resources they needed to build a new and larger church. And guess what – Grace Presbyterian Church from Dallas, Texas answered their prayers and helped out.
• There are many, many more stories like this, because the ministry here is truly one of miracles. The greatest of all miracles in our personal lives was the ability to learn Spanish at age 50.

The success of our ministry depends upon your prayers and financial support. Please continue praying for us and the Dominican Episcopal Church.

As you know, we do not receive a salary from the Dominican Diocese, the diocese of Nebraska, or the United States Episcopal Church. We must raise all our own support. Frankly, we have experienced a dramatic and serious decrease in our financial support. Should this trend continue, we may have to return to the USA in a year. This was not unexpected, because there have been so many world tragedies. This isn’t the first time this happened. Seven years ago we faced a similar problem, and our Lord took care of us. We’re confident He will do so again.

My friends, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will enrich your life and ministry in the same way He has enriched ours during these past 10 years. Your prayers and support have made this possible. God Bless.