Dominican Update Again

We've spent some time with Haitian families who have found refuge here in the Dominican Republic. The poverty they faced in Haiti was unbearable, their children were dying of hunger (I really mean that). It has been difficult for me to relate. I remember days of not having much to eat in my house, but we always had something. No matter how extreme our poverty is in America, the thought of putting our children to bed at night without dinner is something many of us have never had to do. Yet, this is a daily reality for many of them. So many of their children can't attend school because the Dominican government won't allow them to enter public school without a birth certificate...Haiti's government makes it very difficult to obtain a birth certificate. As I watch the Haitian children playing outside or doing chores while the Dominican children are in school, my heart breaks. It reminds me of my early days of homeschooling, when I didn't know what I was doing, when I had no money for books and I had to borrow books from others or pray until books would come....I thought that I was disadvantaged then-now I see that I had so much...my children have so much.We also returned to a village in Moca. We spent time visiting with different families there and left full of the love they have for one another and the Lord. We visited with Alberto, a new Christian who has taken his new walk seriously. He gathers many at his home every week for a service that Ruben's family leads and he is highly respected by all of his neighbors. Alberto has 5 children of his own and he is raising 2 more. The other two are with him because their father died and the mother didn't want them anymore. He didn't let his own poverty keep him from reaching out to these orphans. The interesting thing about this is that he's not the only one, many from the village take in abandoned children. Alberto's house actually caved in recently so he, his wife and all of their children live in a one room shack that he built with the wood from his house that caved in. As he gave us a tour of the shack, he wanted us to pay attention to a poem that he had hanging up on his wall. The poem spoke of a father who spent time with his children...he says that the most important thing to him is his family. He also wanted us to notice the little window that he made in the shack, he showed us the wonderful view...he doesn't focus on what he doesn't have, his eyes are on the horizon. His wife and children are so wonderful...you can clearly see the love of Christ on all of their faces. There is so much more to their story, I'll give more details later. There are so many families...so many stories to tell. I'm so blessed that we had the opportunity to share the love of Christ with them. Each person who gave to make this happen blessed so many. The money, the food, the toothpaste,the toys, soap, shampoo, socks, undergarments, school supplies...it all blessed many and gave us a great opening to share the love of our Lord. You should have seen how the Haitain woman's face lit up as I handed her undergarments for her son! You would have rejoiced to see the village children receive their pencils and undergarments. It made me rejoice because I know that each time they write with those pencils, they will remember that Christ loves them.And boy oh boy, you should have seen Ruben preach to his people! What a sight!By the way, he has been starting small fires as he speaks out against the ungodliness in the church here! Pray for him.Love you all and I'm sorry if this was too long...I left out so much because I didn't want to bore you.

Dominican Republic Update

We have been having a wonderful time here in the sunny Dominican Republic. We spent the first two days resting and visiting with family (remember Ruben's family had never met all of his children). We didn't realize how much we needed the rest, praise God for so many aunts who fight to take care of the children. We've had many divine moments right here within the family. Family members have opened up to us in such sweet ways, its as if they've been waiting for someone to come to help them. Their hearts are so ready to receive the truth, discipleship is so needed here.We've also spent time traveling throughout the country to "spy out the land". It was great for our children to see how some live here. We found 15 acres of fruitful land for sale in a town where resorts are being built. It would be great to build the orphanage there. We also spent some time looking at houses here in the city of Santiago and visiting different neighborhoods within the city.We visited a primary school in a poor town and read stories to the children. We spent time telling them how special they are to God. They were so tender, I wanted to take them all home with me! We also visited an orphanage in Jarabacoa and spent some time with a family of 5 children who were abandoned by their parents. Its so awesome to see how God has restored those children. There are so many children here in need. So many whose parents just abandon them, so many whose parents died of AIDS, so many on the street trying to make it...all alone. It breaks my heart. We also took the children to swim in the river at Jarabacoa's water falls, this is the country's 2nd highest mountain peak...the DR has the carribbean's highest mountain peaks. They had a blast in the river.We went to the church were Ruben grew up yesterday and Ruben shared with the congregation for a little bit. Everyone was so happy to see him doing well and with such a large family. Our children have been lights everywhere they go as well; family, neighbors and friends keep asking us what our secret is-they've never seen such obedient children. This gives us a great platform for ministry.We also visited the village where Ruben's family ministers. We had a church service with them and visited many of the families there. Their hearts are so sweet and they are so ready to give the little they have. I was convicted by their willingness to give. The poverty in that village is disheartening...I could barely take it, yet all of their faces were filled with joy because they've all come to know Jesus. He really is all we need and they know that for sure.Last night was spent in church, then ministering one on one to those around us. I'm excited about the work that God is doing here and we would be honored to join Him in ministering to Dominicans. Please keep us in your prayers. We love you so much and we miss you all. The Dominguez family