[Guest Post] Melissa shares about our time with the school children

Waiting for the bus

What an experience our family has had. Two days ago we learned again how schedules are different in the DR.  We took a 20 minute walk to meet the bus again. This time we walked in the daylight.  We praise God for our family as they greeted every Dominican passing-by with a smile and an "hola."

We arrived at the bus stop "on-time." The target time was 3pm. We arrived at 2:59pm.

We waited.

We waited.

We waited.

Getting on bus

A good lesson in patience emerged because we waited for over an hour before the bus arrived.

Excitement and nervousness stirred in our kids--uneasy about the unknown. We arrived at the school. The schoolyard was filled with children dressed in blue & white uniforms. The sheer numbers of students amazed us.  Six years ago only 40 students attended. Today almost 600 students attend in two sessions--morning and afternoon.  The wealthy Dominicans and nationals pay for their kids to go to school in the morning session. Then in the afternoon session the poor families especially the Haitian children go to school for free.

Johanna, the Principal

The principal Johanna gave us a tour of the school and we interacted with the students during on of their recesses.  The girls painted fingernails and faces. The boys played a pickup game of basketball.  Our children showed brave hearts as they tried to communicate with the students.

The most stretching experience was the bus ride after school. Imagine 90 kids plus 12 US Citizens packed into a 66 passenger bus. The afternoon session had Dominican and Haitian children to take home.  So we felt  surrounded. The school children wanted attention and love, so they crowded closer and closer--pushing each other out of the way to touch us. Of course, our children were overwhelmed.  Personal space is different here in the DR.

Our family was taken-aback by the visible poverty and odorous filth as we dropped children off at their homes. But there was hope.  On each child's face hope shines through. Praise God for this school's dedication and love for the children who attend the school. We look forward to spend more time with them and possibly sponsor one of the children as a family.

Thanks for your prayers. We leave in four hours for the airport. We are scheduled to arrive at 10:30pm tonight. Adios!

Update from Jim & Stephanie in Haiti

Bonswa!
We are doing well. Internet wasn't good for most of our trip. They got a new router today. :) Facebook on my phone seems to work the best....but that depends too on connectivity.

We have been encouraged by what we have seen and our discussions with Greg. Barshaw of Connect2Ministries in Haiti.  So much to do here!

We thank everyone for their prayers. The tropical storm Emily disipated, but much prayer still needed for all those in the tent cities!!! Yet CNN shares that TS Emily has been downgraded to a tropical depression. All watches and warnings have been canceled (@cnnlive).

We saw a couple churches in Cap Haitian and an orphanage. We already saw three churches in PAP and two orphanages. We were to see three more churches today, but postponed because of the weather. Please pray we can do this tomorrow (Fri Aug 5). 

Blessings!

From Connect2Ministries

More pictures from the Harley's in Thailand

Contrast of darkness & Light in Cambodia

Internet wasn't working last night, so tonight I am writing for two days.  Yesterday we visited Angkor Wat which is a large complex of ancient temples and cities.  This helped us to understand a little more about the religion of many people here.  I am including a picture that sums up our thoughts on this day.  Here you see a tree's roots clutching the temple rocks. These are everywhere.  It reminds me of how the Evil one takes people into his clutches, destroying lives, and not letting go.  This is what I saw with people bowing down before stone statues.  Satan has them in his clutches for sure. We even saw an elderly couple with a flashlight searching in a dark part of the temple looking for a water well that supposedly contains holy water that will heal them.  They dipped a bucket into the dark well and pulled out the water placing their hope in that. Very sad.

 

Today was a much brighter day!  The day we have been waiting for.  The day we get to go to Grace Place and see the kids.  Vannak surprised us when we arrived at the hotel with about 25 of the kids there to greet us.  That was so awesome to have them there hugging us already.  After spending some time with them, they returned for lunch and we checked into our hotel.

 

After lunch, we met Pheakdey and headed out to visit some children that GROW is looking to bring into a new GROW home in Cambodia.  We had to walk quite a way due to the rain making the roads bad then down a bike path to meet the three children.  They are living with their aunt and uncle and their two kids on $3 a day.  The children do not have enough to eat and are in desperate need of being cared for.

 

We then traveled to Grace Place. Wow what fun we had.  Nathan played guitar while Zac drummed out a beat on the chair and Val sang, we played snakes and ladders which we brought (a big hit), we ate dinner with them, and danced.  Zac spent about an hour with Nga imitating everything she said in Khmer.  Most of the kids gathered around and laughed at the scene. It then went to mimicking motions and soon broke out into dance. Volleyball, soccer and lots and lots of hugs rounds out the list of things we did with the kids.  We were exhausted when we left tonight.

 

Hope all is going well at home.  We miss everyone, but couldn't't be happier than to be at Grace Place.

 

Mealtime at Grace Place Battambang

 

Sharing with our kids at Grace Place Battambang

 

 

Our Kids!

 

 

Zac trying to repeat Khmer words to everyone's laughter

 

Surprised by Vannak & kids at TEO Hotel

 

Orphan Children to Rescue

 

 

Road to Village

 

Angkor Wat

 

NBC teaches the Bible (it's not what you think)

We value outreach.

Often I cite things going on around the world, but tonight I want to praise God for the first of a series of clubs meeting in Wayne County, OH.  Wooster Grace offers Neighborhood Bible Clubs (NBCs) where host families invite children to their homes to have fun, to study the Bible, and to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, NBC teaches the Bible.


The Number 4--This past week Linda Kline, NBC coordinator, taught a club at the Northwestern Religious Education Building in the morning.  60 children enrolled during the week with the average attendance of 47.  The best number was 4. Four children made first time public commitments to Christ. 

Keep praying for the other clubs starting later this summer.  The other club at Carrie Becker's house had 25 children on the last night. More detailed stats were not available tonight.  When I get them I will post them here.

Still, keep praying for the children who came. May each child who heard God's Word continually apply what they learned. May God increase their knowledge of Him.  May each one grow in Christ by remembering that "I am a child of God (John 1:12)."  Moreover, please pray for the two clubs at the Norwayne Religious Education Building.  May many children come to have fun, to study God's Word, and to respond to the Gospel.

Short Term Missions Trip to Alabama

NEWS

Tornado Southern US Relief: Informational Meeting to send a team to Alabama to help in the relief efforts. Please join Pastor Daron @ Wooster Grace 4599 Burbank Rd Wooster, OH.  We will gather in Room 425 on Sun May 29 at 12:15pm. More information to be added later.  Pass the Word!

In his own words: Wooster Motor Ways truck driver helps those in need

This is a first-hand account from the Wooster Motor Ways truck driver re: delivering aid to the Christian Service Mission in Birmingham, AL. We praise God for Wooster Motor Ways help.

Hi Pastor,

I am the Wooster Motor Ways driver that picked up the trailer Monday for Birmingham, AL. I just wanted to let you know that all went well.

The Christian Service Mission was a busy place. It was so busy that Birmingham Police were actually there to help direct traffic.

Truck & Trailer arrived 7pm Tue May 10

I had 6 or so volunteers helping me unload my truck. Those helping me were as far away as South Bend, IN helping on a missions trip. Volunteers were helping from everywhere, it was quite an amazing sight to see.

I do not remember the names of the people that I talked to when I got there, but they were very happy to get this, and amazed at how much there was on the truck. Several of the volunteers were amazed as well. Everything was much appreciated, and well needed.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this. At one time I was the youth leader at my Church, we went on trips every three years, we did a lot of service projects, it was an amazing feeling to help someone in need.

  

Sincerely,

Trucker Driver Brad

Wooster, Ohio will do its part in tornado relief

Hello everyone,

Wooster Motor Ways helps out

We are scrambling to put together a relief drive here at our church. The relief drive starts today Wed May 4 at 1:00 p.m. and is scheduled to end on Sun May 8 at 1:00 p.m so we can ship a load of items to help families in the Southern States. Thanks to Wooster Motor Ways for being willing to donate a tractor & trailer to transport relief supplies (see list below). 

Juana is putting together a schedule for people to volunteer to be in the tent area for two hour shift starting today.  If you would be so kind as to help us, we would appreciate it very much. Look at the schedule on the office board and/or contact Juana if you have questions (330) 264-9459 x246.

For your information, here is the list of "approved" items you can donate

Items Needed

• Gatorade
• Juice (packaged)
• Toiletries (teeth care, deodorant, soaps, etc.)
• Toilet paper and paper towels
• Diapers and wipes
• Baby food / formula
• Packaged food for distribution (non-perishable, not expired)
• Tarps
• Rakes
• Shovels
• Chainsaws
• Other large yard tools
• Snack food
• Aluminum pans
• Serving trays
• Canned food (not expired)

So purchase and collect the items. Then bring them to the tent set up next to the Wooster Motor Ways trailer. If there is no one tending the tent, then please come to the church office to drop off your donations. Please note the church offices are open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.  The tent will have attendants over the weekend too. If you have questions please call Juana (330) 264-9459 x246.  Let's fill up the trailer to help families who live in the aftermath of the violent storms that ripped through the Southern USA. 

You can donate through Wooster Grace or online with Samaritan's Purse or Worldvision.  I have embedded a video from Franklin Graham showing the devastation so you can respond with thousands to help families recover.