Most Memorable Mission Moments 

The Gift of Thankfulness

 ELLEN - A medical team was working in a village.  It was the second time that they had worked there.   As the team was setting up, a small, older man walked up to the team.  He recognized several team members and he hugged us warmly. 

     He said to me, “You don’t remember me do you?”  I said, I am not sure.”  He said, “I was here last year and your team dressed my infected legs and feet.  I could hardly walk, but you dressed my legs and feet and gave me antibiotics and dressings and creams and showed me what to do to take care of my legs.  I am here today to show what you did for me.”  He lifted his pant legs and showed us his healed legs.

     He said, “ I am here to say thank you and to offer my help in any way.”  That gentleman worked with us every day that we held the clinic.  He did everything from running to a store for us, to helping clean up and  to assisting us with patients.  We were all touched by his words and actions.  Almost every team member talked about him when we had a team meeting.  Once again, the Lord took me to a place that I hadn’t been before.   He showed what it means to be humble. 

Ordination of the First Dominican Deacons

BOB –Twenty Five years ago, I was ordained with 13 other Servants of the Lord in Omaha, Nebraska.  We were the first vocational deacons to be ordained in the diocese.  When Bishop Warner said MAKE HIM A DEACON IN YOUR CHURCH, I knew instantly that my life would be entirely different.  Little did I know what the Lord was planning for Ellen and I.  I want to stress Ellen´s role, because her life changed at the very moment mine did, and the two of us were off on a very special and wonderful spiritual adventure. 

     In February 2007 as we processed into an auditorium in Santo Domingo, where we would ordain the first group of Dominican vocational deacons, my mind flashed back to the moment in November of 1985 when I was ordained.  This time 3 men and 3 Dominican  women were entering into the servant hood ministry.  Their lives would be changed, but the history and ministry of the Dominican Episcopal Church would also be changed. 

     What an honor to be among the first 13 deacons in Nebraska and to be present at the first ordination of vocational deacons in the DR.  Making it even more special was the presence of Jim Visger and his wife.  We had studied for the deaconate together, and were ordained at the same time.  Indeed, it was a moment in my ministry that I will never forget. 

Cultural Understanding

ELLEN- I think some of the most important moments in the DR are times when I have learned that in this culture, things aren’t always what they seem to be.  There was a child who came to our summer camp program in the mountains, for the first time.  Every time the counselors looked for him, he was in the dormitory sitting on his bed.  The Counselors became worried about him and one of counselors was asked to talk with him.

     The next day the counselor took him aside and started to question him about his behavior.  The boy listened, but finally stopped the counselor.  He said, “At home I share a bed with three brothers and sisters.  This is the first time I have had a bed to myself and I am going to enjoy it while I have it.”  

     This moment humbled me to the point of tears.  Many of my experiences in the DR have humbled me.  These events are God´s way of showing me the true picture of the people who make up this culture. 

Jiamani Flood

BOB - As the public information officer for the City of Lincoln, I saw and worked several weather disasters including tornados, blizzards, and flooding.  Because Relief and Development grants were probably called for, the Bishop asked me and two priests to travel with him to Jiamani after a devastating flood hit that part of the country.  None of us were prepared for what we encountered as we entered the city.    

Many Children Died

     Where there were once small homes and businesses, there was absolutely nothing.  It was as if the homes never existed.  The homes and their contents were completely washed away by a tremendous and unpredicted flood.  Water even tumbled through a cemetery and washed away bodies.    In many cases, my mind found it difficult to accept what I was seeing.

     We visited with an acquaintance of the Bishops who was caught in the raging flood water.  He told us he experienced  10 minutes of absolute terror as he battled the raging current to save himself and his young daughter.  He was lucky.  An estimated 300 people in the DR and 3000 people living in Haiti died in the flood.  Most of those who died on the DR side of the border were women and children.  The husbands of these families were looking for or working in other parts of the county.

Even though the closest Episcopal Church was 90 minutes away in Barahona, Bishop Holguin assigned a seminary graduate to coordinate diocesan relief efforts in the community.  The Seminarian was scheduled to work there for three months.  At the end of this period, a church community had been established and the people requested that the diocese continue its ministry.

     Through this tragedy, our Lord and Savior brought hope.  The diocese purchased a significantly large piece of property in Jiamani.  A large new church was built along with dormitories for groups coming to help people in the area.  In June, a children´s shelter and school will be blessed.  The community is recovering.  After the Haitian earthquake, Jiamani served as jumping off point for relief volunteers.  The Church served as our main control point for sending ERD supplies into Haiti.

     Once again our Lord showed us how He brings good out of tragedy.

Nebraska Visitors

ELLEN - I remember our first Nebraska mission team to come to the Dominican Republic.  Most of them were from St. Matthews Church, Lincoln, NE where Bob had served as deacon for 10 years.  We had planned to work with them the whole time and it was so wonderful to have people we knew and loved come and work with us.  There was one person in particular that I enjoyed watching during the whole trip.  We had been friends for years.   I had never seen this person become emotional before.   But on this trip I saw this person cry.  Mission has a way of changing people and I think it changed this person´s life.  He has been instrumental in establishing the largest independent scholarship program for the diocese.  He also arranged  for a  Rotary club to work cooperatively with a Dominican club to do all kinds of wonderful projects.  Because Dominicans blessed him, he in turn has blessed hundreds of children who are attending two Episcopal schools in San Pedro.

US Embassy Honor

BOB - Ellen and I became missionaries because of a hungry desire to serve Christ and his people.  When and Ellen and I were nominated by the United States Embassy to receive a distinguished service award for our work in the DR, we were at first embarrassed.  We knew so many other people who had done more than we had for the Dominican people.  When  your country wants to honor you, it is almost impossible to retain the humility that Christ demands when you serve him. 

4th of July Honor

     So on July 4, 2006 we joined five other people at the national theatre in Santo Domingo to receive this special recognition.  Ellen and I were driving an old English made Ford at the time.  And, both of us chuckled as we parked our little car in a VIP parking lot full of giant and new SUVs.

     The huge theater was completely full and we were escorted to our seats by a US Marine.  (This for me was very special.)  For me the most memorable part of the entire evening was not standing on stage to receive the reward.  For me the most significant part was the joint presentation of Dominican and American flags as first the  Dominican and then the United States National Anthems were played.  With tears in my eyes, I suddenly realized that I am an extremely patriotic American, but I had fervently adopted the Dominican Republic as part of who I am.          

      

Other Most Memorable Mission Moments

·         Palm Sunday parade through the streets around Epiphany. (Ellen)
·         The Designation of Epiphany Church, as the Diocesan Cathedral. (Bob)
·         Christmas Carolling in neighborhood around the Church (Ellen)
·         The visits of three Presiding Bishops.  (Bob)
·         Vivencia Kids celebrating Christmas at our apartment. (Ellen)
·         Attending a Exhibition baseball game with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal
·         Bringing in the year 2000 with a 11 30 p.m. Epiphany Church service. (Ellen)
·         Woman preparing bags to share what little food she received with her neighbors.      She received a gift of food from a US church team. (Bob)
·         The first Vivencia.  (Bob and Ellen)

The Time Has Come

This is an email we sent to our supporters.  I hope you will also read our March reflections in this blog.

Dear Friends in Christ

    The time has finally come.  For the last two years, Ellen and I have said we were retiring.  Because this diocese and its people are so much a part of us, we have continually postponed this date.   Though we didn´t realize it, we were subconsciously waiting for God to tell us it was time to return to Nebraska.

    Ellen and I heard a very strong call to enter the mission field.  We believed that we would hear a call when it was time for us to leave.  Though the call wasn´t as strong, we have heard a call indicating that it is time for us to return to our family in Nebraska.  However, we are not abandoning our mission work for the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic.  We will remain involved.

    In fact, the Bishop has offered us Diocesan housing when the cold winds start to blow across the Nebraska plains.  January, February, and March would seem like a good time to help in the Dominican Church.  We are still discerning how we should be involved, but we WILL be involved. 

    There are many reasons why we think the Lord is recalling us.  First of all, our family has given us 16 years in the mission field, and we believe it is now time to be with them.  Two years ago when we first announced our retirement, our funding dropped off almost immediately.  Last fall we learned our mission account was $38,000 in the red.   As of the end of December we lost part of our stipend coming from the National Church, because they also thought we were retiring.  For these two reasons, and others, we thought it was time to say good-bye.

    The Diocese of Nebraska has carried us, but Ellen and I haven´t owed money to anyone for over 20 years.  The burden of owing the diocese money was one we could not personally accept.  As a result we took money we have saved to relocate back to Nebraska, and used it to repay the diocese.

    The Lord has taken care of our every need in the mission field, and we know he will do so as we adjust to living back in Nebraska.  However, please do not stop praying for us.  We need to find a comfortable place to live in Nebraska and we need to feel content in being back home.  I know it may sound ridiculous, but we believe it will a more difficult to adjust to our Nebraska surroundings, than the cultural adjustment we made to the DR.      If you do wish to help us financially, please use this address - Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, Snow Mission, 109 No. 18th St., Omaha, Nebraska 68102   Be sure to indicate it is for SNOW Mission.

    My friends we thank you for your prayers and support.  You have made it possible for us to live an incredible life over the last 16 years in the Dominican Republic.  It has been a fantastic spiritual adventure.  As a way of saying good-bye to one adventure, and hello to the next, Ellen and I want to share with you some mission reflections on our time in the DR.  We hope to do so monthly until the end of this year.

    With each reflection we send out, we will also share memories of some of the people who made a difference in our lives during our time in the DR.  There are hundreds, in truth, but we have limited it to 25.

    We will post these reflections on this blog.  I hope you will also take the time to read some of our past reflections.  There two reflections this month in addition to this one. You can reach the blog by going to May God Bless you as he has blessed us by your support over the years.

In His Service

Bob and Ellen Snow

Friends that Influenced Our Ministry

March 2012

Every month for the rest of the year, we will share with you five individuals or groups that influenced our ministry.  There are hundreds of people who we met along the way and gave us a helping hand.  We prepared our lists separately.  In some cases, only one of us will share our reflection and some occasions we will both share.  We limited to 25 simply because it seemed like a good number.

Bishop Julio and Milagros Holguín

BOB    When Ellen and I arrived in the Dominican Republic to serve as full-time missionaries, it was only our second trip.  On our first trip, we were in the DR for two days.  This time we had committed ourselves for a minimum of four years.  We were here, because we both believed that this is where our Lord wanted us to serve.

    Now 16 years after our arrival, we can look back and clearly understand why we were called to serve in the DR.  Bishop Holguin, Milagros, and the people of this country are the reason we have stayed here 12 years longer than our original commitment.  Bishop Holguin taught us what it means to live by faith and believe that if you do your part, our Lord will do his.

    This diocese has undergone a spectacular period of growth, because of the leadership and faith of its Bishop.   When Bishop Holguin believes a worshiping community is strong enough, he will buy property and start the foundation of a church.  At first, I thought the diocese was over-extended, because we had several schools and churches under construction.  But Bishop Holguin´s faith philosophy is start building it and they will come to finish it.

Milagros with Bob

    Working in the diocesan office, we have seen a side of Bishop Holguin that few others in this diocese have an opportunity to see.  His generosity to especially the poor is a wonderful and a very special gift he gives to God´s people.  He has been incredibly kind to Ellen and me.  He has on many occasions supported clergy and lay people who are struggling with grave health problems.  He is a person who reaches out without others knowing.  

     Milagros joins him in this generosity of spirit.  She has supported her husband and his ministry but has remained in the background.  She helps when help is needed.  She is both a Mary and Martha and her gift of hospitality makes everyone entering her home feel comfortable.  

    I cannot put into words the influence they both have had on this diocese and us.  Their love and support have made our ministry here both satisfying and productive.  
 

ELLEN - You can’t separate the two, but I will do my best to talk about each one.  Bishop Holguin has been a very exciting person to work for.  He is a visionary.  He accepts no boundaries.  He dreams with his heart and his soul.  He is so honest.  He pushes people to do things, they don’t think they can do, but he pushes and gets what he thinks is needed.  His shoes will not be filled easily.  It has been a huge privilege for us to serve as missionaries under his tutelage.  He has always been available to help and to give aid.  He will have a special place in my heart forever.  Many people do not know all the ways he has helped people.  He carries so much responsibility,  I don’t know how he handles it, but he does.  He amazes me. 

     His soul mate, Milagros, is always at his side.  She is the hostess to top all hostesses.  I have never seen her without a smile on her face.  She handles a small dinner party of 5 as well as a dinner party of 25.  She also helps many people and projects that no one else knows about.  She and the bishop are so generous, but are always behind the scenes when it comes to letting people know how much they do.  This diocese is what it is today because of the tireless work of the two of them together.  I am so thankful to have had the privilege to work with them and get to know them personally.

Vivencia Kids

BOB - Perhaps our greatest and most lasting gift to this diocese was introducing Happenings, or Vivencia, to the young people of this diocese.  Ellen and I were Mom and Dad on the first Happenings in Nebraska.  We knew the spiritual impact Happenings had on young people in Nebraska.  One of our early goals was to introduce Happenings in the DR.  Fortunately Aldo Rincon and Miguelina Espinal, two Dominican young people, had attended Vivencia in Puerto Rico.  Our friends from Puerto Rico joined us in presenting the first Vivencia here.  After the first Vivencia, the youth took over and provided strong leadership without much adult supervision. 

    Vivencia has changed the spiritual face of this diocese.  Our youth are involved and committed.  Youth on the first few Vivencia are now adult leaders within the diocese.  The diocese will continue to benefit from the spiritual leadership qualities of these young people for years to come.

ELLEN - Bob and I were active with Happenings in the US.  When we arrived in the Dominican Republic, a young women who is now a priest, asked us to help get Happenings started in the Dominican Republic.  Of course, we said yes.  We started the program with the help of the youth and clergy leadership from Puerto Rico.  Every since then I have been one of the moms on the weekends.  I feel now like a grandmother to some of the youth that are now in the program.

    Every year we have a Vivencia weekend in August.  For the last few years, I kept saying I didn’t think I had the energy to do the weekend, but I did them.  I always feel so fulfilled with the youth.  They work hard and we worship together and pray together and it never ceases to energize my aging body and my faith.  I come back renewed and energized to tackle the problems facing me each time. 

    I have watched some of these youth mature into young adults.  They put me to shame at how hard they work on the weekend and how much they put into the weekend.  Some of them I believe will be or already are priests and other ministers of the church.  I know many of them now are serving on their vestries.  Many of them are youth leaders in their church.  I can’t tell you how much they inspire me.  They also give me hope for our church in the future.  I pray that they do not lose the fire of their enthusiasm to share the gospel with other youth outside their circle. 

Father Gonzales (left) with the Bishop

Father Daniel Gonzalez

Ellen – I remember when coming to the Dominican Republic, there was this priest with a sweet smile.  However, all the seminarians were afraid of him and even some of the people in the church.  He was known as a man who could be really tough. 

    However, he was very kind to Bob and I.  He had the patience of Job.  He was the dean of the seminary at the time and also was the Spanish pastor for Epiphany church.  For some reason, he felt sorry for Bob and I and he took us under his wing.  He was so patient with our bad Spanish.  He never spoke English, although I think he could have if he wanted to.  He was a learned man and he ruled the seminary and the church with a stern hand.  But yet there was something about him that Bob and I grew to love, and so did others in the church. 

    He was so loving to us.  He would push us when we needed to be pushed, but he was always there to talk to us and guide us. 

    As the years went by, Fr. Gonzalez developed heart problems.  He never let it get him down.  He would get sick, but he would bounce right back.   He never stopped doing what he loved.  Every morning I would see him take his morning walk.  He would always greet me and give him a special hug.

    My favorite memory of him was on Sunday mornings.  When he was not responsible for the Spanish congregation, he would go to his office and wait for us to deliver communion to him after the service in the church.  Although he was a learned man, he never made you feel beneath him.  He could look into your eyes and make you feel like he could read everything about you.  I still see his face now and then. 

    Fr. Gonzalez left this earth as he always went about God’s work, quietly and gently.  I know and hope that one of the people that will meet me in heaven will be Fr. Gonzalez.

BOB – When Ellen arrived in Santo Domingo on December7, 1995, Epiphany Church did not have a priest.  Bishop Reus, the former Bishop of Puerto Rico, had served the church until just two months prior to my arrival.  I was a new missionary, who spoke very little Spanish, and was assigned to take care of a church with both an English and Spanish congregation.  I was relieved that the Dean of the seminary would celebrate Sunday services for the Spanish congregation.  I was intimated at first at serving with the Dean of the Seminary. 

    At first, I was to reluctant to speak Spanish in the mass.  My pronunciation was terrible, my vocabulary was small, and I stumbled over words with more than three syllables.

    The second Sunday I was at Epiphany, he asked me to conduct the first part of the Spanish service.  I was prepared to read the gospel, but I was not prepared to read out loud from the prayer book.  I said I had not practiced the readings.  He agreed to do it, but told me to be prepared on the next Sunday.  From that point on, I conducted the first part of the service.

    Father Gonzalez always pushed me to do more, than I thought I could or should do.  When I stumbled over words, he didn´t say thing, even though I knew he had a reputation as a perfectionist.  Few deacons, and even fewer missionaries, have the opportunity to learn from the dean of a seminary, and a person who preached the gospel in both words and life.

    When we moved off of church property, we spent less time with Father Gonzalez.  When we returned to the DR from Nebraska in 2011, we learned that Fr. Gonzalez had died.  Now as we are about to leave the DR, I regret that I did not spend more time with him.  Fr. Gonzalez made our transition into this culture easier, but even more important he gave me an insight into Latin Spirituality.  Thank you Fr. Gonzales.

Cathedral Feeding Program

Mary

BOB - I don´t remember Mary´s last name, but I do remember when I first met her.  I was preaching at Epiphany Cathedral when Mary entered the church, shouting embarrassing phrases and walking up the center isle barefoot and dirty.  Epiphany frequently has street people enter the church, so our ushers politely asked Mary to sit down or leave the church.  She decided to sit down. 

    Mary was extremely aggressive and could be violent.  She was hungry, and there was little doubt that she needed help.  But Mary´s greatest need was that she desired someone to care about her needs and love her. 

Mary would periodically visit the church, and she discovered that we did care about her if she entered Epiphany and sat down.  Because of her  aggressive manner, people were afraid of her.  But she knew that there were people at Epiphany who really cared about her and would help.

    When we didn´t see Mary for a few months, we became concerned.  About a year after we stopped seeing her on Sundays, she entered the church and she was wearing shoes and a clean dress.  She sat down in the back row as always.  When the ushers came down the aisle with the offering, I saw her stand up and follow them.

    After the ushers presented me with the offering they stepped back.  It is then I saw Mary holding a lit candle with a picture of Jesus.  She kissed Jesus and then handed me the candle as her offering.  I left the candle on the altar and after communion put it on the credence table.  When I looked out at the congregation, I could easily tell they knew what had happened.  Several of them were wiping tears from their eyes.

    Another year passed without seeing Mary.  One Sunday Ellen came back to the sacristy and said there was someone by the front door who wanted to see me.  When I asked who it was she said you may not recognize her, but you will be happy to see her.   
    As I walked down the center aisle, I did not recognize the person who wanted to see me.   Then suddenly I did.  It was Mary.  She was at least 25 pounds heavier, and wore a clean and neatly pressed skirt and blouse.  I gave her a hug.  She told me she was staying in a Catholic home, but she just wanted to tell us how much she appreciated the church and what we did for her.

    Mary taught me many things about the culture of living on the streets.  She illustrated to us the power of Christ´s love when we demonstrate this love to other people.  We haven´t seen Mary for about two years.  But we both believe she is being taken well care of.  Maybe by the Catholic Church, but most certainly by the one who takes care of us all.

Mission Questions and Answers

Earlier in the year, a woman attending a seminary asked us to respond to some questions for a class she is taking on mission.  We thought our answers were a good way to start a series of monthly blogs on our mission experiences.  Every month we will share with you 5 people or groups which influenced our mission work.  In addition, we will share some of our experiences.  If you have questions about mission that you would like us to answer.  please send them to bobsnow_2005@yahoo.com.  Now the questions.—

1.  What are the greatest challenges you encounter in your ministry?

BOB - In many ways, every day is a challenge.  In the first part of our ministry learning Spanish was by far the greatest challenge.  Through language you can learn more about the culture.  The first two years were especially difficult, because we did not know the culture we were called to serve.  In our third year, we began to understand this culture.  Another great challenge was determining how we could best serve the church in the DR.

ELLEN-In the beginning it was learning a foreign language and adapting to a culture that was very different from where I came from.    Now that I have been in this country for 16 years, I think my biggest challenges have been to be the bridge between North American mission teams and the Dominican people and clergy.  The two cultures are so different and sometimes North Americans want to be so generous, but they don’t understand there is a wrong and a right way to be generous. 

Another challenge that all missionaries face in a third world country, is the poverty.  You want to help everyone, but you know you can’t.  So you must decide who gets help and who doesn’t.  It is very difficult at times to work this out in your heart.  Who can I help and how much and how? 

2.  What are the greatest joys of your ministry?

ELLEN-  I think that any missionary receives great joy when you see that you have helped someone to know God.  When you see the fruits of your labors flourish and someone comes to you and says, you have helped me. 

 A personal joy to me is that I see relationships with Dominicans develop into deep trust and true affection for one another.  There is no greater joy than to realize that someone trusts you and truly cares about you. 

BOB- My greatest joy is worshiping in a poor barrio with my Dominican brothers and sisters in Christ.

3. What theology grounds your work in the particular ministry you conduct?

BOB­ ­: Matthew 25 35-45  Ellen and I heard a call to serve God´s forgotten and needy people.  We were involved in prison ministry in Nebraska for many years, which is certainly a mission field.  It proved to be a training program for foreign mission work.  Mission involves accepting and working comfortably in another culture.

ELLEN - First of all, my love of the Father is my motivation for everything I try to do.  Without that love to show me and guide me and strengthen me, I could not do anything.  I believe now, that all things are possible with God’s love.  To love God is so simple.  The world wants us to believe it is too difficult, but that simplicity, the faith of a child, is so important to loving God enough to give him yourself completely.  As I write this, I realize that is the joy of my ministry, is to love God with all my heart, and mind and soul. 

4. What surprises did you find or encounter in your work?

ELLEN - The first surprise that I found in my work is that I could work with my husband and form a real trust relationship with him.  We work as a team.  We come from very different perspectives, but we have learned to count on each other to give us a different twist on all things. 

I can’t tell you how many times I have learned that the power of prayer really, really works.  God answers prayers.  He answers big prayers and little prayers. 

On the negative side of things, I have been shocked sometimes at how insensitive people can be to one another.  I have also been shocked at North Americans that do not understand what is going on in the rest of the world from the stand point of cultural differences and just the world poverty.   I guess I will say that working in another country has opened my eyes to many things, good and bad. 

BOB - Like most missionaries, we were surprised that we have received more spiritually from those we were sent to served, than we were able to give to them.  It seems that the poorer the community, the richer the spirituality among its people. 

5. What forms of support have you received?

BOB - We have received financial, prayer, and love support.   This support comes from churches and individuals.  We have visited over 125 churches to talk about mission, not necessarily to ask them for personnel support.  However, many of our financial supporters come from the churches we visited.  We also receive a stipend from the USA National Church as appointed missionaries.

ELLEN -  Oh my goodness!!! I could go on for hours about this subject.

Not only have we received financial support of all kinds, but people have been  generous with their prayer support.  Plus many people are kind to us.  They will send us care packages of things that we couldn’t get here at first.  Just to give you a little list – chocolate chips, peanut butter, mint tea, peppermint hard candies, etc. etc.

We receive e-mails and letters and cards from many, many people, some we don’t know too well. 

    We have received support from the National Church in the years past.  The church here has been a wonderful support to us.  The Dominican Diocese is always ready to help us when something is needed.  They help us find doctors when we need it, they have helped us when our apartment was broken into and we had to have doors replaced.  They have been a wonderful support system for us. 

6. How have you been received by the receiving community or other communities you have visited?

ELLEN - The receiving community helped us by having another missionary help us get established here.  They received us with warmth and love.  However, I think they waited to see if we would stay here.  Most missionaries don’t stay for a long time.  Usually, they stay for four or five years and then move away to another location or back to the states.  I think they thought we would do the same.  However, once they knew we were staying, things began to change.

    Because our ministry takes us all over the diocese, we have been received in many communities with open arms.  I know that at first we represented North American teams, but as the relationship formed, they realized that we were here to help them. 

At first, I think communities were polite to us because they knew we were from the diocesan office, but as our relationship grew, we were received into other communities because the word had gotten around.  

BOB - We have been received extremely well.  Many of our Dominican friends, including the Bishop, say we are now part Dominican, a real compliment.

7. How have you been changed through your involvement in mission?

BOB - I cannot possibly list all the ways I have been changed through our involvement in mission.  Here are just some

·         A richer, deeper and more meaningful spiritual life.

·         More dependent on God, and less dependent upon me.

·         More laid back in dealing with life events coming my way.

·         More accepting of all God´s people, no matter skin color, smell, or mental attitude.  I love working with street people.

·         I demonstrate my love and care for people in a more personal and loving way.

·         Etc. etc. etc. etc.

ELLEN - Here is another subject that I could write a book.  I think the first and foremost thing is that my faith as a Christian has grown tremendously.  I am not afraid to offer to pray with people.  I am not afraid to talk about my relationship with Christ because I know now that it is the most important gift I can give to others. 

    My perspective on the world, on poverty, on just living has changed drastically.  I have lived a wonderful adventure with Christ for 16 years.  I no longer look at life and say how can we do this?  I look at life and say why not?  My life has been filled with so many wonderful adventures, that  anything outside of the mission field has to be anticlimactic.  I have been given the greatest gift a Christian could have been given and I am totally grateful for that gift. 

    My whole perspective on life has changed and will continue to change.  It cannot be expressed in words.  If I continue to try I will just frustrate myself and bore you. 

8. How has this affected your family/children who are either with you or geographically separate?

ELLEN - This is one of the down sides to being a missionary.  I would be dishonest to say everything was fine and is fine.  I will start with our parents.  I had just lost my father and I had to leave my mother.  But my only sibling came to me and said, “Ellen, I know God is calling you.  Go ahead, I will take care of mom.  We will be fine.”  This took a huge burden off my heart.  He is still doing what he was called to do.   My husband’s parents on the other hand, were in disbelief.  They couldn’t understand how we could leave our good jobs and family to do this. 

    My husband’s brothers had varied reactions.  Some did not want to talk about it.  One brother has supported us and ask us to visit with them all the time about our work and about Christian issues.

    Our children – We have two daughters.  One is a strong Christian, but she at one time found it hard to understand how we could leave them for this long.  However, we have a  good relationship.

    Our other daughter – In her formative years was quite a hand full.  But as she became a mother and matured, she has been the one who is more understanding about what we are doing.  She shares with us her deep faith in God and always wants to know what we are doing.  She is a single mom, she has very little to support us financially, but she will open her home to us any time and is always ready to visit with us when she can.   Her emotional support has meant a lot to us through the years. 

BOB - Our family is separated from us.  Our youngest daughter, who is divorced with two children, became less dependent upon us, or in other words grew up.  Our grandchildren would like us closer, but have a pride in what their grandparents are doing.  My Mom and Dad continually ask when we are coming home.  I think initially they thought we were crazy in giving up our jobs.  After 16 years they are accepting.  In some ways, I feel closer to my family, because when we go back we spend quality time with them.

THE PROPHECY AND DISCERNMENT

After a sermon at Epiphany Cathedral, a church member and close friend said she needed to tell me something in private.

After I greeted the congregation, she said, ¨Bob as you were preaching I looked at your face and, and this thought came to me -   You are heading into a period of great difficulty.  Christ wants you to know that you have the faith required to come through this period.  This will be a time of spiritual.¨

Throughout my life, I have received and accepted prophecies coming through fellow Christians, and my own dreams and meditations.  After several dramatic instances when these prophecies became reality, I began paying even closer attention to these pronouncements.  Ellen and I are in the mission field, because of a very strong message I received when we were in Honduras in 1989.    

In my ministry of prayer, the Lord has given me the gift of discernment.  As a deacon who tries to walk among and serve the people of the world, I am very grateful for this gift.  Discernment was essential when I was a prison chaplain, and it has certainly allowed me to be a better missionary in the Dominican Republic.

Frankly, I debated whether or not I should share this in my blog. But most of you reading this have touched our lives in someway.  Several of you have visited us in the Dominican Republic.  Some have included us in their church or personal prayers.  Others have financially invested in our ministry.  So, as a partner in ministry, you need to know what is happening in our lives.  With this knowledge you will be able to discern our prayer needs.

 Rejoice in the Lord Always – Again I Say Rejoice

Thirty-five years ago when I was struggling to find my spiritual identity the words to this revival hymn was always on my lips.  When an Epiphany Cathedral member told me that she received a message that I was entering a period of difficulty, this hymn once again came to mind. 

Even so, there have been many times in the last two years when I failed to focus on the ministries the Lord had placed in my care.  The following events are not excuses for my inefficiency.  They are what they are.  Times when life´s problems challenged my commitment to the gospel.

Car Accident - Most of my difficulties started with a car accident a year ago last July.  After dropping Ellen off at the airport, I was heading back to Santo Domingo.  It was a rainy Saturday afternoon and my car hydroplaned and slammed into a concrete barrier.  Even though it was a busy Saturday there were no cars on my right or behind me. (Rejoice in the Lord).  The car was severely damaged, but I got out of the car on my own.  The airbags and seatbelt saved me from severe injury. 

For several months my back was ached, and I had difficulty walking.  About 9 months later, an x-ray for another problem showed that I actually had cracked vertebrae.   When I went in for my annual physical, I discovered that I lost an inch in height due to an increased curvature in my spine.  For many years, I have had arthritis of the spine.

Infection – For nearly a year, I struggled with a urinary tract infection.   Three days before Christmas, I had minor surgery to remove two urinary tract obstructions..  Ellen and I flew back to the DR on January 2, but complications forced me return to the Nebraska about 16 days later.  In early February, I once again flew back to the DR.  Rejoice in the Lord Always.  The Lord truly blessed me, because I was able to spend more time with my daughter Tracey´s family.  Oh, and my granddaughters were out of school for two days because of snow.

 In the Red - In December, Ellen and I were told that our mission account at the Nebraska Diocesan Office was $8,000 in the red.  Earlier in 2010 we announced that we were planning to work part-time near the end of the year.   Apparently this premature announcement had an impact on contributions to our mission fund.    

The bottom line message of this blog is – During the last two years, I have at times lost my focus on the mission the Lord has given me.  There have been many other events that have caused Ellen and I to wonder if it was time for us to leave the mission field.  Age certainly has played a role in all this.  But my conclusion is that we have been under spiritual attack.

Ellen and I want to leave the mission field, because we have heard a call to do so.  We have several chinks or weaknesses in our spiritual armor.  In some of these cases, I do believe Satan has not only distracted us from our mission, but has planted seeds of doubt.      

I have asked for the Lord´s forgiveness and help on several occasions when failure seemed close at hand.   As a result, I have grown spiritually.  I am regaining my focus on the ministries which are before me.  And, I praise the Lord everyday for Ellen who is my life and spiritual partner.  She not only prayed for me, but kept our mission efforts on solid ground.

So my friends, I asked that you keep us in your prayers.  Specifically, I ask that you pray for:

• ·         The discernment we need to determine when it is time for us to leave the mission field.
• ·         For the energy and desire we need to carry out those mission projects you have given us.
• ·         To provide us with the good health we need to joyfully complete our mission projects.

Haiti Will be Victorious

Dear Friends:
  Thank you for your calls and e-mails telling us that you have been praying for us. In fact, these contacts have pushed me to provide you with an update on what Ellen and I have been doing lately. And, let me say we have been v-e-r-y busy.
   As we sat at our computers in the diocesan Office, we felt the earthquake. As usual I thought it was a truck driver who had pushed too hard on its brakes. That night Bishop Julio Holguin was hosting Fr. Paul Head, a priest from the diocese of Northern North Carolina. When we arrived at the apartment of the Bishop and Milagros, they were listening to CNN reports on what had happened in Haiti. We knew at that very moment that all our lives would become more complicated. Bishop Holguin was already thinking about how our diocese would respond.

   Shortly thereafter, the diocese began receiving calls and information from our many friends in the United States and Latin America, asking if we were okay and in most cases indicating they were willing to help. We once again experienced what it is like to be part of Christian family that has no borders.
   In very short order, the Bishop determined that none of our facilities were damaged. He was particularly concerned about Fr. Jesus Mosquea, our young priest in Jimani which is just two hours by bad roads from the Haitian capital city. We have a new church in Jimani which is less than ten minutes from the Haitian and Dominican border.
   Epiphany Church where I serve has many Haitians. We also have two young Haitians who work for Ellen and I. Sunday after the earthquake was extremely emotional in both our Spanish and English services. The Holy Spirit moved powerfully among us as we prayed for our Haitian brothers and sisters. For me the experience equaled the emotion of the service we had after 9/11.
   I served as deacon to Fr. Jean Monique Bruno. We knew he was in Haiti at the time and were concerned about him and members of his family who were working in northern Haiti at their school and clinic. Fortunately, they were not injured and their program was not impacted. You can read about his experience on our diocesan web page under Haiti.

   We were equally concerned about our two other Haitian priests and their family. The son and daughter of Fr. Samuel and Deacon Aurianne work with us at the diocese. We are very fond of this family. Fr. Nephtaly Desir is our other Haitian priest and a priest we frequently work with in Barahona which is only 90 minutes from the border.
   As you might expect, all our Haitian priests traveled into Haiti to locate their friends and family members. Nearly all those living in Puerto Principe lost their homes and each had extended family members who died in the earthquake.
   Ellen and I were impressed with the immediate response of Episcopal Relief and Development. They were quickly on the ground in the Dominican Republic, and left for Haiti a short time afterwards.
   Water Missions International also responded very quickly. This mission service provides water purification plants in areas of tragedy and in areas where there is no purified water. We have had a relationship with them for a long time and three of their plants have been installed at diocesan properties.
   Most of our time has been spent helping with logistical matters. Ellen and I will be supporting our Haiti efforts in anyway we can, while continuing our ministry to those coming to the DR to assist us with diocesan projects.
   Right now, we are not accepting teams who want to go into Haiti. It is still too early to determine how we can help with the Haitian diocesan response. We have helped other mission organizations figure out how to get into Haiti. This past Thursday, we met with other missionaries to hear about what they are doing and to determine how we might work together. We received several good suggestions.
   My friends I could go on and on, and I promise to update this blog in the very near future. However, I want to leave you with this final thought and prayer request.

   Haitians are survivors. We have seen this demonstrated in many different ways. Haitians have enough faith to see them through this terrible disaster. Evidence of this is the miracles of survival we have witnessed on television. The latest example is the young Haitian they pulled out after 15 days buried in rubble.

   A Haitian priest, who works in their diocesan office, clearly indicated that there is hope for Haiti. I would take it another step further and say from the ashes will rise a better Haiti. They will demonstrate how our Lord Jesus Christ works to bring victory out of chaos.
   Again, thank you for your prayers.

In His Service

Bob and Ellen

WHAT A YEAR!!!

Dear Friends.

On December 7 Ellen and I began our 15th year of serving our Lord in the Dominican Republic. It doesn’t feel like we have been here than long. However, we remembered that three of our five grandchildren have only known us as missionaries. They are or approaching 15 years old. It has been a remarkable gift that our mission supporters have given us.

We are both at social security retirement age. Yet, we find it difficult to think about leaving the mission field and especially our Dominican friends. We still don’t have a firm timeline. However, we would like to reduce our diocesan office hours in the near future to devote time to developing a street ministry.

Some events in the past year may have been the Lord’s way of telling us it is time to leave. In May we returned to the United States to see our daughter receive her Masters degree and our grandson Lewis graduate from high school. On this trip, I discovered a way to avoid the custom’s line at the Miami airport. As we were hurrying to catch our next flight, I tripped over my own feet and fell in the customs area. I received a deep gash over my right eye. The medical responders told me the airline would not let me board until I was checked medically to determine if my heart or diabetes was the cause of my fall. As a result I received a very expensive ambulance ride with sirens to a University hospital. The cause of the fall was my own awkwardness.

In July I was returning from the Las Americas airport in a rain storm when our SUV hydroplaned. I lost control and hit the concrete barrier separating lanes. Fortunately, I was alone and there were no other vehicles near me. Thanks to the airbags and seat belt my only injuries were a nasty scrap on my arm from the airbag and a very painful back problem. The SUV was considered totaled by the insurance company. A gift from a donor and the insurance money nearly covered the cost of buying another vehicle.

However, 2009 was also full of blessings. Our daughter Robbin and two of our grandchildren spent the holidays with us. In February Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefforts Schori visited the Dominican Republic and we provided her with a short tour and I had the opportunity to serve as deacon of the table in a mass with several thousand people. On different occasions the diocese also hosted the United Thank Offering board, three Bishops from Michigan and the Bishop Eastern North Carolina.

As I approach my 25th year as a vocational deacon, I have considered it a tremendous honor to serve as mentor of our 6 Dominican deacons. Deacon and Sister Priscilla Wright, Sisters of Transfiguration, this year celebrated her 45 year of ordination making her the oldest acting deacon in the North American Association of Deacons. She has devoted most of this time serving as missionary and has been in the DR for many years. She is one of the great treasurers of this diocese and we are so very thankful that the Lord called her to this island.

This year Deacon Alexander Romero and I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of Deacon Formation Coordinators in Mississippi. At that meeting we suggested that NAAD consider sponsoring a Latin American experience for candidates to the deaconate. Because the primary ministry of the deacon is in the world, an understanding of the Latino culture is essential. The future of the Episcopal Church in my view rests with this important segment of the US population. The proposal is being considered very seriously by NAAD.

This is the 13th year of the scholarship program. In the first year of the program we provided 150 students with scholarships in 7 schools. Even though the number of scholarships applicants increased every year, we were able to provide scholarships to ever student until this year. Though 775 students received scholarship assistance in one of our 24 schools, we fell short by 125 students. Those without scholarships were allowed to continue their education, but this caused financial problems for several of our schools. This year we reduced the number of scholarship applicants. Even so we have 812 applicants. If you are interested in supporting a student, let me know.

We thought the economy would have an impact on the number of teams we would host. Though 10 teams did cancel for financial reasons, the diocese still hosted a record 64 groups. We had: 9 medical teams, 22 construction teams 16 vacation Bible School groups, and 10 groups for tours of diocesan projects. This total represents 18 different dioceses.

In 2009 Bishop Holguin set a goal of building 100 homes for those living in poverty. In Azua 21 new home owners received deeds to their new homes. Several more homes are nearly finished and the diocese has nearly completed another 20 homes. Of all diocesan projects, this is one of the most satisfying.

Thanks to the web company Digital Faith, we have spent the last few months developing new web pages in English and Spanish. When the new web pages are completed, they will contain even more information than our old web. We have calendars for diocesan activities, visiting teams, and the pastoral visits of Bishops Holguin and Skilton. There are pages with information on schools, the scholarship program, diocesan history and growth, diocesan institutions and organizations, developing mission teams, and much more. There is also a clergy and church directory. In the future we hope to have individual web pages for every school and church. To check it out go to http//www.espiscopaldominican.org

This year I have also had the great pleasure of sharing the ministry at Epiphany with the Dean of our Seminary with the Rev. Napoleon Brito and the Rev. Dr. Michael Floyd, a professor at the seminary. I now have served as deacon for a longer period in the Dominican Republic, than in the United States.

On our way back to Nebraska for our annual vacation, we spent a week with our mission friends in South Carolina. During our stay, we attended the Dominican Development Group meeting, and I preached at All Saints in Hilton Head and at the cathedral for the Diocese of South Carolina. We also had a restful stay at the beach home of Howard and Joy Hall.

Ellen and I both like to travel by train, so we took Amtrak from Charleston, SC to Lincoln, NE. It was indeed a restful trip with short stops in Washington, DC and Chicago.

As we enter 2010, may God bless you and your family as he has blessed us by your support and prayers.

SNOW SCOOP – May 2009

Our last Blog was posted May 2008 which seems like it was just yesterday. What happened? Believe me a lot has happened. I am in my mid’s now, and my memory is not what it should be. There are other body parts that fall into the same category. So my friends, you are only going to get those events which pop into my mind.

Just in case you’re wondering Ellen and I are still in Santo Domingo and living in the same apartment. It is been 13 good years since we left Nebraska. We’ve been here so long our friends are labeling us Dominicans. However, if you understand Spanish you would quickly realize that simply a term of endearment. We try, but I don’t think we’ll lose that Nebraska Spanish accent.

Before the start of the heavy team season, Ellen and I traveled to the states to attend the graduations of our daughter Tracey and our grandson Lewis. It was Ellen’s second trip back to Nebraska. Tracey diplomatically asked if one of us could come back to help as she transitioned into a new job as assistant principal at Maxey Elementary School and finished her Master’s degree. My household skills are severely deficient, so it was a no brainer on who would get the assignment.

Our trip back for the graduations was an interesting one. I tripped and fell in front of the customs entrance. “One minute Bob was behind me, and the next moment he was laying on the floor plat on his face,” Ellen told others when they asked about my black eyes.

A tip – this is not a good way to avoid long passport lines and taking your luggage through customs. The Miami fireman working the ambulance put me on a gurney and wheeled me to an ambulance. The highlight was a siren run. My glasses cut my cheek and upper eye. The benefit – a night in Miami and a “free Hotel” room courtesy of American Airlines.