Republica Dominicana

We have had a CRAZY project so far, as nothing has gone as planned. The first week on campus, of which students stepping out for the first time to initiate conversations hoping to lead to the Gospel, ended with a riot on friday night. The riot began by students in attempt to lower tuition. None of us were present, but things got a little heated- closing down the school off and on for the following week. We were flexible and able to go to some other campuses, but things have certainly been up in the air.  Everything is safe and pleasant now, but we hear rumors of more to come ;) Please be praying for wisdom as we seek to be useful and encouraging to the ministry here.


I want to share with you two stories:

Roodly is a student we met last week on a smaller campus here in SD. Roodly is Haitian. Much like many of our students in Destino, being Latino, experience marginalization in the States, Roodly faces the same hardship here in the Dominican. His school was demolished in the earthquake a few years back in Haiti, forcing him to finish his studies here in Santo Domingo. During his time here, he has had few friends and is far from his family. We connected right away. The following day, he came with us to a VIDA (the ministry here) meeting, of which we had to walk 20 minutes to get to. On the way, a student Joanna entered into conversation with him.

After a few minutes, it was clear that God had put them together. They talked of similar backgrounds with their families being Jehovah's Witness. Soon enough the conversation led Joanna to tell her story of God revealing Himself to her through Christ's life, death, and resurrection. She has a vibrant relationship with God. Roodly asks her, "So, you know God personally? How do you have a relationship with Him?" You can see where the conversation was headed, as Joanna was faithful to share the Good News with him. He wanted to pray right then and give his life to Christ. The men met with him today to follow up with him, and will be meeting tonight to talk about what it looks like to walk with God daily as a man.



Phoenix, a student from Denver (yay!), is experiencing God's grace and truth in ways she never has before. She shared with us last night her response to this question: how are you experiencing the gospel this week in new ways?  I loved hearing her timid voice exclaim:
    "I have been understanding more and more how God hates sin, so much so that He died for me to have life. Now I am realizing that before I didn't want a real relationship with God before where I had to surrender to that. I wanted control, and to get away with things. As I have been here, reading God's Word, and sharing with people- Now I want to, IT'S ON! And I want everyone else to experience Him too."


Please be praying for our team, and our last week here. We love you all!