The WC Global Leadership Summit in the Dominican Republic

I returned to the Dominican Republic on November 12th.  A few days later, I traveled with 20 of our Dominican leaders to the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit here in the Dominican Republic. 

Some of you may have attended this conference in the United States.  While I was still teaching, I attended the conference three or four years in a row.  It was always a powerful - transformational experience for me.  I still think about things that I learned from some phenomenal leaders of churches, governments, businesses and non-profit organizations.  

Each year after the US conference, Willow Creek translates the messages into many different languages and put materials together to replicate the conference in countries around the world.  The Dominican Republic is one of the counties that is able to host this conference.

For the last two years, I wanted to take our Dominican youth to this conference, but I wasn't able to come up with the finances to do so.  This year, because of a donation made my Resurrection Lutheran Church in Monticello, MN, 20 of our leaders were able to attend.  For many of them, this was a life-changing experience.

The leaders who attended this conference are still commenting about things they learned.  We all came back inspired and with renewed passion and vision for sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

 

Bill Hybels opened and closed the conference.  He seemed to be everyone's favorite speaker.  As a pastor, he spoke right to the hearts of our leaders.  He used the analogy of fruit trees to remind us that if as leaders we want to see fruit in people's lives -- growth and tranformation through the Spirit-- we have to plant seeds.  Hybels emplored us to plant many seeds -  of all different types.  He also reminded us to enjoy and appreciate the gift of leadership every day, and to do what we can to improve as leaders.

Condeleeza Rice was another of our favorite speakers.  We were all inspired by her story.  She talked about some of the challenges of her childhood -- growing up in a low-income home, being an African American, being a woman, etc.  She gives glory to God that despite these challenges, she was able to work alongside of the president of the United States as the Secretary of State.  Condeleeza Rice told us, "It doesn't matter where you come from; what matters is where you are going."  This comment touched the hearts of our leaders.

The conference was two days, so we stayed one night in a hotel.  Some of the people on our team had never stayed in a hotel before, and most of them had never stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool.  The time we had together as a team eating, sharing, praying and playing was also really special. 

 We had a couple of gatherings after we returned from the conference where those who attended the conference shared what they learned at the conference with the rest of the team members who were not able to attend.  It was so fun to see their enthusiasm and hear the passion in their voices as they reported on the things that impacted them most. 

We've already begun to implement some of the things we've learned, and have begun thinking and praying about next year's conference! 

We're all incredibly thankful to God for the opportunity to attend this conference, and we're thankful for Resurrection Lutheran Church for their generous donation, making it possible for us to attend.  It truly was a life-changing, perspective-changing experience for all of us.  

Delivering ImpactLives Food - Near the River

While I was home in MN, Pastor Felipe Mendoza led a group to distribute ImpactLives food in a community near the river in Santo Domingo.  The homes in this community are very close to the river.  With the rain and hurricanes that happen frequently in the Dominican Republic, these homes experience a lot of flooding -- and all the challenges that go along with it.

The ImpactLives food was actually delivered twice in this community.  We went together once while I was still in the Dominican Republic.  During this distribution, Pastor Felipe commented, all the food we have is not enough for this community!

The second time food was distributed to this community was just after hurricane Sandy.  I don't have pictures of this distribution.  I can only imagine what it must have been like with all the water from the hurricane.

A woman was demonstrating how high the water level was after a recent rain --

before hurricane Sandy.  They told us that during a hurricane the water level rises so

high that the homes are completely under water.

There is a big bridge that passes over the river and many homes below. 
We also learned that with all of the water the bridge has been damaged over the years, and
people are concerned that soon it may collapse.

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We were told that the government would like to close this area down, build housing complexes in another location and have the people move in there.  Many who live in this area, however, do not want to leave their homes.

Praise the Lord for the blessing of this food and for all who helped

get the food to people who need it most. 

Please join me in praying for the hundreds of people who live in this community, that there would be a long-term solution to their needs.  That they would have a safe place to live, learn and grow and that they would be released to know and worship the God who loves and values them more than we will ever know.

Spending Time with Family and Friends

The time I was able to spend with family and friends while I was in MN was priceless!

I was able to meet my cousin Lindsay's new baby:  Brynn Rae.

I was able to spend time with my niece, Kiley Jo, who I just love to pieces. 

I had some special time with the rest of my family as well.
 I'm still praising God for the time I got to spend with each of them.

Icing on the cake...  My good freind, Ginger, and I were able to squeeze in a concert. 
We went to the Newsboys concert in Eden Prairie!

This trip home went so fast.  I can't believe how many people I saw and all the things we did in such a short amount of time.  It's pretty amazing really.  In three weeks, I stayed in 7 different places!  I got to visit my grandparents, stay at my sister's, have a special weekend away with my mom and visit with friends in Monticello.  I also had opportunties to speak at different churches, meet with individuals and with smaller groups of people to share more about our ministry and tell them how they can partner with us. 

People have been so kind, generous and hospitable.  It's amazing to watch God put the pieces together...matching people who have a need with people who want to help.  I think we all want to find ways to use the gifts, talents and resources God has given us to make a difference in others' lives.  The compassion and generosity people demonstrate is beautiful, and it's an absolute privilege to be on the front lines, watching as people receive gifts of love and hope in the name of Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord and glory to His name.  May more and more people come to know the perfect love of God through this ministry.

IGO Worldwide Conference

From Puerto Rico, I traveled back to MN in order to attend the first-ever IGO Worldwide Conference.  (IGO Worldwide is the organization for missionaries to which I belong.)  The conference was held in Stillwater, MN.  All of IGOww's Global Partners were invited to attend.  We had a good turn out -- all but two of the Global Partners were in attendance. 

I really enjoyed this conference for several reasons. 

1) It was exciting to meet other missionaries who are serving in different parts of the world -- India, Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands, California, etc. 

2) Each of us had an opportunity to share about the work we are doing.  We shared pictures, stories and videos.  It was amazing to see how God is using people in such unique and specific ways. 

3) I also really appreciated the time we had together as a family or team.  I found it refreshing and encouraging to rub shoulders with other missionaries for a few days.  After the conference, I explained to a couple of different people that I've been on teams my whole life -- athletic teams and with coworkers while I was teaching, leadership teams, mission teams and several small group Bible studies with church groups.  One of the challenges I face here in the Dominican Republic is isolation.  Though there are people all around me, and I'm working with Dominicans on a daily basis, sometimes I miss being with my family, and I miss some of the deep friendships I had back in the US.  At the IGO conference, we were together for 2-3 days straight, and it felt good to be a part of a team again!

I'm thankful for IGO Worldwide and the opportunity to be a part of this organization.  IGOww has a bit of a different approach to ministry.  Many mission organizations define their purpose quite specifically.  They may say, "we are a church planting mission or a "Bible-translating mission", for example. 

IGOww, on the other hand, defines their mission more broadly.  Here is the IGOww mission statement. 

"International Gospel Outreach exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ through proclaiming the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by any means consistent with it.

International Gospel Outreach values the experience, talent and heart of persons led to serve Jesus Christ, as well as the variety of effective, ethical ministry expressions suited to impact today’s world, therefore, IGO provides opportunity for people to pursue Kingdom values and results as they are enabled and equipped."

It was easy to see at the conference that IGOww truly is made of people with unique gifts and talents, and a desire to think and work "outside the box."  As I mentioned, it was an absolute delight to see how God is using each of us in such unique and specific ways according to where He has placed us in the world and the way God has wired us.

I also appreciate IGOww's efforts to minimize the "red tape" or "hoops" that organizations often feel compelled to put in place.  I'm also thankful for the priorty IGOww places in "missionary care."  The president of IGOww is traveling to the Dominican Republic tomorrow - to get to know more about our ministry here and to see me "in the field."   The last thing I want to note is that it's amazing that IGOww takes out only 2% for administrative fees while most organizations take at least 20%; some take up to 30%!  

I've been a part of the organization for almost a year now, and so far I'm impressed and grateful to be a part of the team.  Praise the Lord for IGOww!  May God continue to guide, bless and direct the members of the IGOww board and my fellow Global Partners from IGO Worldwide -- For the glory of God and so others all over the world may know God and experience His perfect love.   Amen!

Puerto Rico

On October 17th, I left the Dominican Republic to travel to Puerto Rico.  Pastor Carlos' home church was celebrating their annual "Mission Week," and I was invited to attend. 

 

The church was decorated for mission week with flags from each of the countries
where this church has sent missionaries.



This year's theme for all of the mission-week services at Iglesia Centro Cristiano Shalom in Puerto Rico was the "4/14 Window."  You may have heard of the 10/40 Window, which refers to the countries in Europe and Africa between 10 and 40 degrees North of the equator.  Many governments in this area are opposed to Christian work of any kind.  Dr. Luis Bush, a missionary strategist, started a movement in 1990 to help missionaries focus on an area of the world that most needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The 4/14 Window is a similar initiative.  Instead of focusing on a geographic region, however, the 4/14 Window movement focuses on a demographic group -- children ages 4 to 14.  The 4/14 Window strategy begs us to open our hearts and minds to the idea of reaching and raising up a new generation —a generation that can experience personal transformation and can be mobilized as agents for transformation throughout the world.

The resources I received about this movement emphasize the following:  

• Children are the most open and receptive to every form of spiritual and development input.
• There are approximately 1.2 billion children and youth in the world today.  The value and potential of this large group of people is often ignored and overlooked. 
• Our vision and hope is to maximize the transformational impact of children while they are young, and to mobilize them for continuing impact for the rest of their lives.
• Our enemy recongizes the importance of children.  While adults and churches are busy with "important things," children the most vulnerable members of society suffer in silence. 
• Children experience the effects of poverty, war, disease, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, exploitation and many other ploys of the enemy to rob, kill and destroy their joy and innocence.   

Because of our work here in the Dominican Republic with children living in poverty, I was asked to share at the opening service about what we are doing to reach and empower children and youth.   

 



The children of this church were very active in the service. 
Reminding us to include and engage them in all our ministry endeavors.

 



The opening ceremy included a special flag service.



It was a treat to spend quality time with Pastor Carlos, Teresa, Naty
and other friends from the Dominican Republic in another setting.

 



This is the home that Pastor Carlos grew up in!  It was neat to hear stories
as we traveled through the streets of his "old stomping grounds!"

 

Old San Juan

 

We didn't get to spend too much time site-seeing.  I've told people that I saw
just enough to know I'd like to see more!

The lovely Dominican ladies that I stayed with. 
Sandra and Isablle -- two new friends!

It was a great trip.  I'd go back any time!  I've especially been challenged and inspired to keep my eyes open, and  not overlook the opportunities I have to pour into children and empower them to use their gifts and talents NOW in the Kingdom of God.

Delivering ImpactLives Food - Batey Mamey

We took the example set by Pastor Felipe and duplicated it in a larger community, Batey Mamey.  (For those who have been following the blog, this is the same community we did the medical clinic in September.) 

This is also a very remote community, several kilometers from the main road and even further from the conveniences of the city.  Many of the people in this community do not have jobs.  Those who do find work, have to travel very far and work for very little in construction or in sugarcane fields, etc.   

We used the same process, the pastor of this community went to each home ahead of time, made a list of the names of each family and how many people lived in that home.  Over 100 families came to the church to receive food.  The pastor also shared about how Jesus was concerned with people souls, but he also took the time to care for their immediate physical needs.  They received the food in the love of Jesus Christ.

Delivering ImpactLives Food

Here are some pictures of one of the communities in which we delivered ImpactLives food.  The name of the community is Bario Carolina.  It's near La Caleta a suburb of Santo Domingo, but the community itself is very remote.  We drove on many winding, gravel roads to find this place. 

Pastor Felipe Mendoza knew this place.  They are preparing to plant a church there.  They have two pastoral workers living there and teaching the people to read and write.  As I talked to this pastor he said he wants everyone in that community to be able to read, so they can find a good job and so they can read the Word of God. 

Kids running and playing and being kids. 

You can see the condition of the homes.  Also, note, the device for catching rain water. 
They do not have access to clean drinking water in this community.

Pastor Felipe showing the food, explaining where it came from,
the vitamins and minerals it contains and how to prepare it.

The pastors had a very organized way of delivering the food. 
They went to the homes of each person ahead of time, made a list of the people with greatest need and the number of people in each house.  They informed them of the day and time of the distribution.  The people gathered at the pastor's house and they called each family by name, one at a time, to pick up their food.

There were people of all ages - elderly, fathers, single mothers and lots of children their with their parents.

When the distribution was over, some of the community members stuck around to visit.  We talked about the lack of education opportunities available in that community and their need for water.  One of the women commented that she was so thankful that we came -- she said "we're often forgotten out here." 

It was a great day.  Many people received a blessing, including me.  It's pretty incredible to see the food get to the people who need it most. As we get to know the community more, perhaps we can find more ways to support these leaders in the work they are doing in this community. 

 Thanks to everyone who made this possible.