our injured leader

OK, no alarms but Connor did get a small fracture on his foot while playing in the yard here at camp.  He went to get an x-ray and found the small fracture.  He is fine and in good spirits as he eats chinese takeout resting his foot on John's head.  He is still planning to preach tonight at the prayer rally so pray for him.

db

Wed. update

More to come soon.  Pray for our team.  Having some team time then hopefully head out to the plaza to hang with some locals and share the Gospel if the rain holds back.  Pray for sick tummies and one leader who got a little injured.  God is good and greatly to be praised.

Darin

in boma

listening to Enrique's story in Boma

update from Bethany

Right now I am seated in the breezeway at La Salle, the retreat center where we are staying. It is a beautiful Dominican evening, and the high schoolers are swing dancing under the overhang.

This has been a great week. On Monday we got to go to Los Calabazos. We gathered the children, shared the Evangicube with them, and made prayer rocks as reminders to pray. Los Calabazos is a beautiful and innovative pueblo lying next to a river and boasting a 13-room hotel in the middle of the abundant foliage. In the evening we went to Nueva Vida church and hosted a youth rally. We invited youth from 3 different communities. Mikayla and Karen shared their testimonies, and we had great group discussions.

This morning we divided into 2 groups. I can't speak for the Buenos Aires group, but I really enjoyed helping with the VBS at El Montana! I narrated the story of the Good Samaritan, and we accompanied the children as they moved to different stations. It is neat because this church has figured out how to put on their own VBS programs, so we just facilitated their efforts.

Rick surprised us with the news that we would be able to go to Boma today! Two of the translators, Alex and Biohanny, are from Boma. We hiked down to the city entrance and were greeted with a pueblo where you say the fruit and they pick it off a nearby tree! We sat in the gazebo eating passion fruit and listened to Biohanny's father tell about the history of the pueblo. After years of visits from church group, there is now a church and a group of believers in Boma. We went up the hill to see the church, and Biohanny climbed up the coconut tree and cut off 8 coconuts for us to drink! Pray for the people of Boma, that they would come to know Christ as Biohanny and his family have.

We are all full from a delicious Dominican dinner and are now singing "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" before we continue hearing about spiritual disciplines from Gail Peterson.

Important messages:
Roger loves Sue super duper great big bunches of a whole lot!
Connor loves Renee. (Despite his iced foot twisted during an energetic round of Kaboomball, he is delighted with everything about life right now because he got to talk with Renee for 20 minutes. :))
Mitchell Barnhardt loves his family.
and Darin misses his family!
                                 

--
Darin Brown

High School Pastor

Calvary Evangelical Free Church

www.calvaryefc.org/students

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@darinbrown on twitter

finally another update!!

It has been hard to keep you all updated with the limited access to the internet.  I will try to get one of our students to write an update in the next day or so from their perspective.  All is going well.  Amazing youth rallies!  Your kids are doing great!

Thanks for praying!

db

Sunday summary

Sunday was a great day.  We were invited to share in the Sunday morning services at the Church in Jarabacoa and some of us played in the worship team.  our Drama brought tears to many including the pastor who was able to use it in his message.  Ben M. was able to share his testimony and it was really raw and precious that he was so open with the change God is doing in his life.

Today is Monday and we will head  up to Los Calabasos for an afternoon with the people there and then an evening in Jarabacoa doing our second rally with the youth.

We have had a few down for stomach illness, most were short lived, yet one is currently down in her bed so pray for health as we continue the second half of our trip.
db

Day 4 Update From Karin!

Hello America! Yesterday we worked construction at El Montana to make a play area for Awana for the church there. We were all exhausted pretty quick but the real workers were the children! Every chance they got they would jump in and work 'til they got kicked out. Rick explained that they had the same experience when the church was built. The kids want that church built because it is THEIR church and this concrete is going to be THEIR place to play. So we ask all of you guys at home, while we are laying this cement we need you guys to pray. PRAY that this slab of concrete would be more than a place to play; more than a hangout spot. But that our God would use this spot as a place where children can share their love for Christ, where teenagers can start talking about the Bible, and most of all where anyone can experience that incredible love that only our Father in heaven has for us. All it takes is prayer.

Ohh and Roger loves Sue :)

...and Connor loves Renee! <3

Last night we had the first youth group in El Montana. IT WAS AWESOME. We helped them experience something they had never done before; as youth we helped them read and study scripture together. We played a few games, heard an AMAZING testimony from our own Lauren Tebben, we did 2 skits, and listened to them study the word. We did our best to equip them to be able to study and discus the word on their own. That way, this ministry will continue long after we leave. Its important its not all us teaching because then when we leave it will all go back to normal.

Today was our beach day and tomorrow is our day to serve in the local churches.  We were invited to play in the worship team too.

Thanks for Praying...

Oh and, Connor Loves Renee and he giggles every time we say RENEE.