Yes, We Are Still Here!

Kris, Cindy, Noe & Anyoly at the last chapel
constructed for the summer season

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

It has been many months since we've written and we apologize for the absence. We are at the end of another blessed season with TIME Ministries in the Dominican Republic. Here's a quick recap of what's been going on since our last post (as if we can "quickly recap" five months!):

In May Cindy and I had the opportunity to attend language school. We had individual classes for four hours a day, five days per week. In addition we had a couple hours worth of homework each night. It was a challenge getting into the routine of schooling again but proved invaluable for increasing our language ability. We pray for the opportunity to return for less intensive study as time allows.

The team successfully finished the summer season. Though we didn't face the weather and illness challenges that we did last year, Satan had new ones for us. Several of the chapel sites had property issues in that we weren't allowed to build at the planned locations. We usually didn't find out about this until the day we arrived to build the foundations! God is good though, and the chapels were able to be constructed in alternate locations. We also had chapels that were built in many different parts of the country. While this allowed the teams to see many different areas it did lead to a tiring summer as many times we were waking up at 4:00am to get to the locations! Our groups were somewhat larger this summer and we really filled the building to capacity. Our largest group had 80 participants! Praise God for our summer interns and DR staff as well as the many group leaders who helped make this summer a success.

Logistics aside we saw lives changed this summer, both in the Dominican people and the American groups. It continues to amaze us the fire for the Lord the Dominican people have and how Christ is the center of everything they do. They are so thankful for the American groups and their willingness to give of their time to serve here, if even for a week. We also saw many Americans rededicate their lives to Christ after seeing what they could do through Him. Please pray that TIME's ministry would continue to be effective here and that we would respond to the Lord's leading wherever it would lead.

You would think things would slow down after the groups had left for the summer but far be it from the truth. A few days after our last group left we received a phone call from a group that was stranded when the airport shut down during Hurricane Irene. They remembered meeting our site director Noe several years ago and after a few phone calls managed to get in contact with us. They asked if we might be able to host them for a few days until their flights got rescheduled. Not only did we host them but they conducted evangelism and outreach as well. Good thing they were only here a few days or we might have made them build a chapel! While we were looking forward to the end of the summer it was a blessing to be available and in a place where we could share the Lord's provisions of TIME Ministries with others in need.

In the weeks since we've been catching up on tasks that we couldn't get to over the summer. Our generator has had a complete overhaul, it's first since being installed in 2003. Due to the power fluctuations here it runs nearly half a week and was well due for service. Since we now don't need the amount of power we typically do during the summer and we'd like to save on diesel costs, we have installed an inverter in the apartment. For those who aren't familiar, an inverter uses car batteries and converts the current to household electricity. When we have city power the batteries are charged and when the power goes out the inverter keeps things running. It's a great blessing to be able to have electricity 24/7. The only challenge is that the inverter does not have enough power to make our well and cistern pumps work and as a result we've got to store up water for cleaning and bathing when the city power is down.

In addition we have our 1998 15 passenger van back from the shop! It's been there for the better part of a year getting engine work and a new (well, used) transmission. Upon it's return the carpet padding was pretty moldy and so we've spent the past few weeks removing the carpet, pressure washing it, stripping the padding and putting new padding in. It's a blessing to have another vehicle for running errands and transporting smaller groups. It even has working air-conditioning! Please pray though as this vehicle is relatively old and will likely need to be replaced within the next couple of years.

Our new office project has begun in earnest. Currently the TIME DR office resides in one room of our apartment! There was a space reserved on the lower level of the TIME Center here for a future office and through prayers, contributions and the God's blessings we have finally begun construction. It will house two small offices for accounting and private meetings and a common area for computers and meeting space. There will also be a much needed storage area for ministry supplies. The office is expected to be completed within a couple of months. TIME is still accepting donations for outfitting the office (furniture, fans, A/C, shelving, etc.). Please contact Linda at the TIME office if you feel led to contribute. Since we'll be losing some construction space for the new office, we'll be developing our back lot for multi-purpose use. We found with our large groups this summer space is at premium and we need every inch we can get!

Along with our day to day responsibilities we've been getting more involved in local ministries here. Cindy has been attending a Bible study with other American women every other week. Some are missionaries and others are here for work. She is also praying for opportunities to teach English upon our return. Cindy has begun a couple of small groups and praying to see where God is working too. I (Kris) continues to work with the sound team at our partner church and I've begun attending the men's group twice a month. Please pray that the Lord would show us opportunities how we can continue to serve in the "off-season"

Finally, we are preparing to return to the States in a few days. We'll spend six weeks on a whirlwind tour visiting churches, friends and family. We'll be in Orlando, FL for the first two weeks, then Iowa with our home church, and finally Minnesota visitng churches and family. We hear it's going to be cold in Minnesota but it will be great to see the fall colors!

We thank you all for your prayers and support of our ministry here. We look forward to reconnecting with many of you in the coming weeks and we pray that we would continue to shine the light of Jesus as much in our home culture as we do here.

Our stateside schedule:
September 20-October 3 Orlando, FL
October 3-17 Des Moines, IA
October 17-November 1 Minnesota

Praises:
The opportunity to attend language language school in May.
A safe and healthy summer season.
All scheduled chapels were built.
Our home church sent a group to build a chapel. It was a blessing to be reunited with our church family!
Getting more comfortable living in a foreign culture.
Though our home did not sell we have an opportunity to rent again to people we know and trust.
Commencement of the new office project.

Prayers:
That we would be effective in sharing what God is doing here during our meetings in the States.
For safety in travel during our time in the States.
For the TIME board meeting being held in Dallas, TX.
For the Monterrey, Mexico site, missionaries and return of groups there next summer.
For additional prayer and financial support. We are currently at 55% monthly support and pray we can meet TIME's request of at least 60% to be on the field during our stateside visits.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

We pray that all of you are doing well and enjoying the time we celebrate our Savior's resurrection!  Here in the Dominican Republic most people celebrate Holy Week or in Spanish, Samana Santo.  Many people take the Thursday before Easter through Easter Sunday off from work and head out to the "campo" or country to visit relatives.  We've been told it is a dangerous time to be out on the roads as there is a lot of drinking and driving and parties.  Many people also set up portable swimming pools in their garages or even the street.  We were at the store the other day and I would say at least a third of the people there were buying pools or pool supplies.  It turns out that the evangelical Christian community doesn't really make a big deal out of Easter here in order to distance themselves from many of the less savory activities going on.

Kris and Jean Carlos smooth things over

Since our last post we hosted a group from Seminole, OK who partnered with us and the South Texas Children's Home Ministries (STCHM).  This group that conducted medical clinics, ministry, and poured a concrete floor for the brother of Pastor Rudy.  It was the first time I (Kris) had worked on such a project.  All the concrete was mixed by hand and carried by wheelbarrows and buckets into the house.  The most interesting part of the project was watching a Dominican worker stain the concrete by sprinkling colored powder on it and then smooth it with a trowel.  It was amazing to see how he could get the concrete so smooth without gouging it.  It must take lots of practice!

The next three days consisted of medical clinics and ministry.  For the first two days we were at the San Felipe church, which you may recall was rebuilt by the Hope College group a few weeks ago.  During the day a doctor and three nurses treated patients while the rest of the group taught Bible lessons, crafts and sports activities.  The Lord's timing was perfect as the Pastor's daughter had just come down with chicken pox.  Many of the patients suffered from parasites, allergies, skin conditions and high blood pressure which is understandable given the strong coffee down here!  In the evening we participated in church services at San Felipe and even with a bigger church they are bursting at the seams.  God is truly working in this community!

Dr. Kemp evaluates a patient while Suzie translates

The final day of clinics was held at the Hatillo location where we conducted a program with the teenagers based on the True Love Waits series.  We shared what the Bible has to say regarding marriage and sex, and shared about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.  Over 35 youth participated in the program and were very receptive to the information.  All in all, over 200 people were served by the medical clinics and many more participated in the various ministry activities.  It was a true pleasure working with the Seminole group and we made many friends.  We look forward to seeing them again.

Foundation for Dajabon chapel

After a couple days of rest we traveled to the northwestern part of the country to a city called Dajabon, on the Haitian border.  We hit the road at 4:30am and arrived there about four hours later.  We spent the day putting in a foundation for a chapel that will be built next week.  After a full days work of digging trenches, mixing concrete and laying block, we were all exhausted but still had a four hour drive home.  (yes we locked the keys in the bus again and yes, the machete worked again to unlock the door)  We arrived back at the TIME Center around midnight and needless to say slept in a little the next morning!  It was great being able to see a different part of the country.  Some of the area was near desert-like with scrub and cactus.  We also passed many banana and plantain farms and rice fields.  Even though the city seems crowded, this is a big country and there is lot's of room once you get out into the country.

We've had many other activities going on as well.  Cindy has been helping with the planning of VBS programs for the summer and we are both teaching English to some of the youth from the local church.  We also had an opportunity to visit the language school we'll be attending in May.  We'll be spending four hours a day for five days a week in intensive language school.  The location has a beautiful landscaped yard and looks to be a great place for polishing our Spanish skills.  This week we helped our site director and his family move to an apartment just across the street (I though we were done moving things!).  This should be a better location for them as their previous landlord would not fix a leaking roof and other problems with the house.  Please pray for them as they adjust to the new home.

That's about all for now, thanks again all for your prayers and support!

Praises:
Over 18 people accepted Christ during the medical/ministry activities, angels are rejoicing!
Wonderful teamwork with many entities during the medical/ministry activities.
We have received some one-time gifts.
We continue to meet people and make many friends.
Involvement with local ministries and activities.
Screens on our apartment windows!

Prayer Requests:
Language school in May, for comprehension and transportation as we are still trying to determine the best way to get back and forth.
That our home would sell.  We have lowered the price but still have no offers.
Continued teamwork.
For our interns as they raise support and prepare for serving this summer.
For our next team arriving on Monday from New Hampshire.

This doctor has seen too many patients!

A "Normal" Week

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Our first week in the DR without a group is over and believe it or not, the Lord continues to work!  We're starting to ge some sense of day to day living here.  On Tuesday we needed to get to the grocery store to pick up some supplies.  When groups are here, the TIME Center kitchen is open and we eat with the groups.  Now, we're resposible for our own meals!  We shopped at store known as "La Sirena", which is essentially the equivalent of WalMart.  When it came time to check out, none of our credit cards worked.  Fortunately we had a ministry credit card and were able to get home with all our food.  Turns out that even though we had called our credit card company and notified them of our move, the data didn't make it in the system.  All is well now however.

Once home, Cindy realized how much more time it takes to cook from scratch and without a microwave.  While you can get pre-processed food down here it is a bit pricier.  This week we had a roast (which carried over to some BBQ sandwiches), chicken tacos with Cindy's homemade salsa, and stir fry.  Suffice it to say we're not starving!  Fortunately we have a dishwasher.  He's about 5'11" and is married to Cindy!



Missionary Carlos with Pastor Maximo



This period between groups also allows us to visit other minstries going on here.  On Wednesday we connected with Carlos, a Cuban/American missionary who is working with Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic.  He runs a bible institute that helps train and disciple Haitians wanting to become pastors.  Last November, we built a chapel in a community knows as Las Flores for one of these pastors.  This week, we visited a friend of that pastor who has also gone through the progam and has a small congregation of his own.  Their "church" consisted of sticks with a blue tarp for a roof and vinyl banners from the last presidential candidate for walls.  The Holy Spirit was in that place, though, and the sense of God's presence there during worship cannot be described.  TIME is planning to build a chapel for this congregation later in the summer.



On Saturday Cindy and I had an opportunity to assist with a youth ministry that our Site Director and his brother-in-law have been working with.  This was an all day affair that inclued a meal, contemporary worship music and a gospel message.  The youth even went door to door throughout the neighborhood inviting people and handing out tracts.  Cindy and I helped with transportation and packed a Ram 2500 diesel quad cab inside and out with kids and then drove them to the ministry site.  All arrived safely and fortunately there was no rain!

Youth ministry in Hatillo, DR



Today (Sunday) we had all day church, just like at Indianola Heights.  Cindy had made a cake and next thing we knew there was a line of people wanting to try some.  I even gave someone the tinfoil lid with frosting stuck to it and they devoured it.  It was a great time of fellowship and community.

So that's our first week!  If it's any indication, the Lord is going to keep us busy.  I didn't even mention the miscellaneous work projects and VBS activities we've been participating in.  More to come and as always, thanks for your prayers and support!  By the way, our latest newsletter should arrive to you shortly.



This bridge not DOT approved!



On your mark...get set...GO!



Pastor Greg and family from Beeville work on a chapel
panel together

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Cindy and I returned to the Dominican Republic on March 6 and hit the ground running.  After a few days of planning and preparation we hosted a team from Beeville, TX and staff from South Texas Childrens Home Ministries (STCHM).

The Beeville group consisted of families from First Baptist Church of Beeville, TX.  It is always a blessing working with family groups and this one was no different.  We love to see families serving the Lord together and often times renewing relationships with each other.  Serving together in a third-world country often makes them realize the blessings they have to be thankful for and draws them closer to God and each other.

While the Beeville group was conducting ministry and building a chapel, staff from STCHM conducted medical clinincs.  STCHM's primary purpose in the States is to promote the physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being of children and their families.  They carry that purpose to ministry here as well through medical/dental clinics as well as achild sponsorship program known as Samuel's Fund.  TIME's partnership with STCHM is a great example of using our gifts for the Lord's purposes.  TIME has facilities to provide housing, meals and transportation, while STCHM has medical expertise.  We look forward to working with them in the years to come.

 Due to a flight scheduling conflict, not all members of the Beeville/STCHM were able to depart on the same day.  As a result, we had another day to keep them occupied and took them with some of the Samuel's Fund children downtown to the science museum.  This was very interesting to see as it was our career before we entered the mission field.  Afterward we treated them to Pizza Hut and took the metro back to the TIME Center.

Kris and Cindy at Trampolin, Santo Domingo's
science museum

Later that day, in a flashback to our summer schedule, we picked up another group at the airport.  One of our summer interns from last year had organized a group of friends from Hope College in Holland, Michigan to spend their spring break with a purpose.  For being a relatively small group (15 people) they constructed one of the largest chapels yet.  One of the pastors that we commonly partner with has a chapel in a neighborhood where a disco club has recently opened.  Due to the large crowds, alcohol and loud music he decided it was time to relocate a few blocks away on a plot of land nearer his home.  In five days, the Hope group disassembled his chapel, fabricated additional pieces, and reassembled it in the new location.  This new chapel is twice as long as a typical chapel and will provide space for the congregation to grow in years to come.

 

Hope College students after disassembly of the San Felipe
 chapel

 

Pastor Domingo working on his new chapel



Cindy and I are now entering a unique time.  For the past several months we have returned to the States after a group has left.  We are now here full-time so this  period of day to day work and living will be a new concept.  We will have another group arriving in late April and then plan to attend language school in May before the summer schedule begins.  We thank you all for your continued support and prayer!

Praises:

We are now here full-time!

Our house is on the market

God's handiwork through the teams and many personal friendships made

Good health

Prayer requests:
That our financial support would continue to grow.  One of our major supporters needed to stop support due to a job loss.  Please pray for God's direction in their lives and additional supporters for our ministry here.

Sale of our home

Adjustment to day to day life here and deepening relationships with the nationals and our team

Our home church, Indianola Heights Evangelical Free Church is planning a trip here this summer.  Pray for their organization, cohesiveness and support raising.

This ladder is not OSHA approved