 |
| Group from Abiline, TX |
Cindy and I have returned to the DR for two weeks. We arrived on Christmas Eve around midnight. Praise God we made it out of Des Moines which was experiencing a snowstorm that morning. Due to a delay in Dallas and short turnaround in Miami our bags did not arrive with us. A word of advice if you don't already do so, pack at least two days worth of clothes in your carry-on! The Christmmas holiday caused the baggage delivery service to delay our bags by an extra day so we finally got our bags on Sunday at about 3:00pm.
This week we are hosting a group from Abilene, Texas. They are mostly older adults (I'm not going to identify what I mean by "older") and a high school freshman. They are constructing a chapel, benches, and conducting ministry outreach and dental clinincs. For not being here before, they are doing a great job. In fact after one day of work they are nearly 2/3 done with the chapel! This is great progress considering we only have three days to build this chapel as opposed to the normal four. We also have much needed help from our Dominican staff who are off work for the Christmas holiday. The chapel is being built for Pastor Gregory, who has graduated from the Bible Institute started by Pastor Rudy at the church next door to the TIME Center here. Pastor Rudy was in in turn led to the Lord by by a pastor that TIME founders Zeral and Doretta Brown witnessed to back in the late 1940's. This is a shining example of the consequences of discipleship for future generations.
The weather here at this time is very comfortable. Dry with days in the lower 80's and nights in the 60's. It's strange actually having to put on a long sleeve shirt or use a blanket at night, and yes, the mosquitoes are still around. Cindy and I will have the first mosquito bites of the year! Christmas decorations abound, and lights are on the houses but it is a bit unusual seeing lights in palm trees.
Cindy and I will return to the States on January 8 and will spend a few weeks visiting friends and family in Minnesota and continue our partnership building. At the beginning of February we plan to put our home in Des Moines on the market and plan to return to the DR for the spring and summer sometime in March.
Our training in Colorado Springs was invaluable. We learned much about ourselves and the challenges we expect to face on the mission field. Our days were filled with classes, simulations, role play activities and small group discussions. Evenings and weekends were spend relaxing, hiking, fellowshipping and just trying to digest the material learned over the previous week. Cindy and I also survived a virus similar to the one that went through the DR this summer. From what we heard from those who had it, it wasn't pleasant. We made lifelong friends with missionaries who will be travelling to the utermost parts of the earth, working for the same cause. It will be a time remembered and we'd highly suggest any of you future missionaries participate in the progam if you have the opportunity!
That's a quick update, thanks all for your prayers and support and hope you can take some time in the busyness of the season to reflect on our Savior's birth and the free gift given to us.
Kris and Cindy
Praises:
Safe arrival in the DR and eventual arrival of our luggage.
Great training program at Mission Training International and safe travel.
Our prayer partners, monthly and one time support continues to grow.
Good health.
Prayers:
Fruitful time of ministry and planning for 2011 here in the DR.
Successful sale of our house in Des Moines.
Continued prayer, monthly and one time supporters.
Our home church, Indianola Heights Evangelical Free Church is planning a trip to the DR this summer. Pray that all the planning would go well.
 |
| TIME Site Director Noe Figueroa & Pastor Gregory |
 |
| Cindy gets out from behind a desk! |
 |
| Kris using his Minnesota lumberjack skills |
Thanks for the update Kris! I am excited for the work that you and Cindy are doing! My prayers are with you both!
ReplyDelete