Guest Post

Today we are honored to share a Guest Post from someone who ministered with us last fall.  Lee Michaels is part of a ministry called Musicianaries International (http://www.musicianaries.org/) which uses music and fine arts to share the love of Jesus throughout the world.  While she was with us, Lee shared her life and story and love for Jesus with the women, teens and girls of El Callejon.

Lee writes:

It is always a joy for our teams from Musicianaries International to minister in the Dominican Republic, partnering with Students International at their various mission sites. 

On our last trip in El Callejon, we visited in the homes of many neighborhood families.  The difficulties that come from their impoverished conditions marked each face as they told their stories. 

But as we interacted with the women of that community, in spite of their situations, what I noticed most about them was a beautiful lifestyle of kindness, sharing, gratefulness, and care for others on a consistent basis. 

Lee helping our teens with a Christmas craft last fall

Our Bible studies and craft times together with these ladies, as well as teens and children, was a treasured opportunity to share each other’s testimonies of the Lord’s gracious love and faithfulness. 

My heart overflowed to see their attentiveness and hunger for His Word as they opened their Bibles with anticipation. 

Through the devoted leadership of Daisy and Kimberley in El Callejon, the families there receive continual encouragement to depend on the Lord Who is working His miracles in these precious lives, giving them blessings and loving direction that will create a lasting change for them. 

As we continue investing in Dominican lives through our mission efforts there, He is the one with the answers and we are the ones who get to witness this joyous transformation of hope and assurance in Christ!

Thanks, Lee!  We look forward to serving with you again!  And, if anyone else reading this would like to write a blog post about your time ministering in El Callejon, please email Kimberley (kimjstreeter@gmail.com).  We love reading and sharing stories of Jesus at work!

The Rest of Week One

Krista, Rachel, Daisy & Jessica

What a great week!  On Wednesday morning we met with another group of Adolescents.  We decided to try the same technique as the day before so Daisy asked Jessica, Krista and Rachel what their plans are for the coming year. 

Again, they responded with No se, Tengo mucho tiempo and No he pensando (I don’t know, I have a lot of time, I haven’t thought about it.)

Again, Daisy asked the teens what they thought.  Much to our dismay, this time they all agreed!  They are right, They do have lots of time, I don’t know either.  

The students were able to share the truth – which is that they do have plans!  We pray that hearing others of a similar age will help encourage our teens in seeking Jesus and His plans for their lives.

Charades of Playing volleyball - we think!

We ended with some fun – Jessica, Krista and Rachel acted out and drew some of the English the teens had learned last year.

On Wednesday afternoon we met with our Adult Women and showed them some short videos on Breast Self-Exams. 

We pray that the women will take to heart our encouragement to check their breasts monthly, and to set aside a bit of money each month so they can afford yearly mammograms.

On Thursday the rains (and cooler weather) came back.  We were supposed to meet with our Young Women, but because they typically have to walk to our Site (some for 30 or more minutes!) with young children in tow, the wet kept them away.

Instead of meeting with them, we spent time talking and sharing with some visitors from Joshua’s leadership, and others on a Vision Team, learning more about Students International.

In the afternoon we met with our group of Treces (thirteen year olds).  We had them individually write what they see when they look in the mirror.  Then answers were not surprising, but so very sad.  Like girls in North America, these girls see themselves as ugly and fat. 

We asked the students to share their thoughts about these responses.  In English – and in Spanish! – they encouraged their younger sisters in Christ to understand how beautiful and important they are to Jesus. 

On Thursday night we headed back into El Callejon to have dinner in the home of Susanna.  Susanna has two girls, seven years, and eight months.  Her home is painted a cheerful orange, and decorated with pretty things, many of which Susanna made at the Social Work site.  The Joshua girls got a chance to practice their Spanish, and to eat some delicious, traditional Dominican food, including rice and beans, chicken, and tostones (fried green plantains).

Friday morning was spent visiting some of the women in the community.  Francia’s 17 year old daughter, Rosanna, has recently moved back home after living with her ‘husband’ for 3 years.  They met when she was 13 and he was 30.  He asked her parents if they could date, they said No, and so she moved in with him.  They’ve fought on and off through their years together, but now she says they are finished. 

Right now she wants to try and find a job, but spends most days just hanging out.  Rachel prayed for Rosanna, and we continue to pray that she would see how much Jesus loves her, and has a plan and purpose for her life.

"Don Ramon" with the pre-teens

The afternoon was with our 11 and 12 year olds.  After our Bible lesson we played the ‘Don Ramon’ cup game, a Hand-slap game, and Telephone. 

For Telephone, we tried English as well as Spanish.  Krista’s “I like pizza” morphed into “Chocolate” (the Spanish pronunciation!).  We weren’t sure what was so funny, but little Naomi was literally wiping away tears, she was laughing so hard! 

What a blessing to be able to share fun and laughter and Jesus together, despite language and cultural barriers.  Next week we’ll have even more adventures, with Dramas and Activities and more time Meeting Jesus together in El Callejon. 

P.S.  Check out new pictures under New Site to see the work some of the rest of the Joshua team has been doing!

Welcome Joshua Team!

This week (and next) we are ministering with a team from the Joshua Wilderness Institute.  (For more on this incredible 'gap year' program, check out http://joshuawilderness.org/ ). 

Our Site is blessed to have Jessica, Krista and Rachel working with us.  These young ladies have jumped right in, eager to share their love for Jesus with the women, teens and girls of El Callejon. 

Others of their group are helping in our various ministries, including Construction, where six of their guys are raising the roof on our new Site!)

working with the Little Girls

This year we are planning to teach basic Bible stories with our Little Girls.  We started at the beginning - In the beinning! - with the story of Creation. 

We want them to be able to share these important stories witht their family and friends.  We helped them make little booklets with simple pictures for each day so they can show the pictures and remember what our amazing God made on each day... and that He saw all He had made, and it was good!

With the Teens, we tried something a bit crazy.  We want them to understand the importance of having goals, of knowing that God has a wonderful plan for their lives, and that they are to be active in this plan. 

So... Daisy asked each of our Joshua girls what their plans were.  "No se" (I don't know.)  "Yo tengo much tiempo" (I've got lots of time.)  "No es importante" (It's not important.)  The looks on our teens' faces was priceless!  They couldn't believe that these Americans had no plans, and didn't seem to care! 

Daisy asked what advice they would give them.  The teens began talking about how without plans they couldn't move forward.  That God wanted them to have plans and to grow.  It was great! 

Wanny (right) teaches Rachel, Jessica and Krista
how to dance like Dominicans!

At the end, Krista asked us to remember to let the teens know that they had only been kidding - and really do have plans!  Ooops!  We almost forgot that!  So, we assured the teens that these three not only had plans, but were spending a year in a pretty amazing way.  "But", Daisy said, "you've got to come back next week to hear the rest of the story!" 

We ended our time with a short dance lesson.  Serving Jesus is a lot of fun, and we want to celebrate that!  

Thirteen

Today we met with some of our pre-teens.  This year we have fifteen girls who are 13 years old.  Do you remember being 13?  What kinds of things did you think about, worry about, when you were 13?  What had your life been like up until then?  What decisions did you face?  What did the next few years look like?   

Imagine being 13, and you’ve had a fight with your dad.  “I’m running away from home!” you shout.  What would he do?  For most of us, our fathers would sit down and talk with us about what was going on.  Or, call in mom to handle it!  Most of us were blessed to have parents who cared about our well-being.  They weren’t perfect, but they tried to show us love, even tough love which says no sometimes. 

Imagine now, a different ending.  You see, when you threaten to leave home, your dad may yell a bit, but in the end, he shrugs and lets you leave. 

And, there’s another guy.  This guy lives not too far from you.  He’s 23 years old and has his own place and a moto and a blackberry.  He's been telling you how pretty you are.  How he wants you to come and stay with him.  It will be good, he promises.  I love you.  So, you leave your parents and start to live with the other man.

Your mom comes to visit later in the week to see what your new home looks like.  Your dad stops by once.  Neither asks you to come home.   The man, who is now your ‘husband’, isn’t always nice to you, but this is where you live now.  Remember, you are 13.

The sad fact is, this isn’t pretend.  This is a possibility for the precious girls we met with today.  Oh, we need your prayers! 

On the one hand, they really are little girls.  They started giggling when Daisy asked about boys – and got really flustered when she asked if they’d started their periods yet! 

On the other hand, they are maturing and being noticed.  Not just by boys with crushes, but by men in the 20’s.  Their parents love them, but since most had their kids at a very young age, they never really learned how to be adults. 

So, when a thirteen year old leaves home and moves in with a man in his 20’s, the parents shrug and let her stay.  (This really happened, and that little girl is now about to have a baby).

We want these little ones to have the time to grow up and learn more about God’s good and perfect plans for their lives.  We want them to have dreams, and not be manipulated by men promising things.  We want them to have a safe place to come and ask questions, learn and share, and be cherished. 

As I said, we ask you to be praying for us!  Pray that the Holy Spirit gives us His wisdom and discernment as we teach about God’s love for them.  Please pray that our words would always point them to Jesus Christ, who loves them and came to transform them into daughters of our Heavenly Father. 

Please pray that we would have His love and strength and perseverance as we minister to these precious 13 year olds, as well as to our other groups.  In ourselves, we can do nothing, but we know we are not alone.  Thank you, friends, for lifting us up!

Meet Alexandra & Yuly

Yesterday as we were planning, Daisy mentioned she really wanted to talk with Alexandra who is a part of our Young Women’s group.  When the group meets, Alexandra always pays attention, but is very shy and serious. 

We meet with them on Thursday mornings and will be starting again next week.  She misunderstood and came to the Site today at 10 along with her sweet son, Andreas (18 months).

What a wonderful ‘mistake’!!  Since she was herself, Alexandra opened up and was willing to share how she is doing.  She told us that her ‘husband’ has gone to work in Miami for a year. 

She has her family and his parents, but is without Andreas’ dad.  She is taking some classes in computers and clerical skills, but it’s difficult as she needs to find someone to care for him when she goes to school in Jarabacoa. 

We shared with her Jeremiah 29:11-13, which talks about God’s good plans for us, and about our part in seeking Him with all of our hearts.  We pray all of that for this sweet girl.  And we praise God for answering our prayer to spend time with her! 

Alexandra & Andreas

One other fun thing:  when I (Kimberley) was in California for SI New Staff training, I made copies of pictures for our three wedding couples.  On a whim (ha ha!) I also decided to make a copy of this picture.  Alexandra’s face lit up when we gave it to her today! 

After our visit with Alexandra, we went to visit Yuly.  As we walked, women at every other house called out, “Daisy!”  The 15 minute walk turned into an hour, but each ‘delay’ was an opportunity to talk with another of our Father’s beloved daughters.

Yuly seemed very happy to see us and greeted us warmly.  Her story is pretty amazing.  Last September, while she was napping, a fan came loose and fell on her, slicing her face nearly five inches, through her lip and up along her cheekbone. 

When we visited her in October, two weeks after the accident, her face was swollen and stitched, and she had to hold her mouth when she smiled because she had stitches both inside and outside her lip. 

At that time, Yuly didn’t complain or talk about how much she hurt, how unfair it was, or how she was worried scarring.  Instead, she told us she was grateful to God. 

“Gracias a Dios”, even though her home was quite far from the main road, her daughter (5 years old) ran outside and found help. 

“Gracias a Dios” Yuly had been holding her infant son, but he was on the other side.  If it had hit his small head, who knows what might have happened?  “Gracias a Dios”. 

We were humbled at Yuly’s faith, and willingness to praise God in very difficult circumstances. 

When we saw her today, her cut had healed, leaving a long scar.  But, what we noticed was how joy-filled she was.  She smiled and talked excitedly about God’s blessings in her life like her husband’s new small business, which means he won’t need to travel to Santo Domingo for work anymore (2 ½ hours away).

She also shared that a family member knows an excellent plastic surgeon in Santo Domingo and will try to help get her an appointment.   “But, if I can’t have surgery, that will be okay.  I can’t hide my face and be ashamed of my scar.”  We went to minister to Yuly, but instead, she blessed us.

Friends, we serve an amazing God.  He truly does have the very best plans for us.  He invites us to seek Him, and promises that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart.  Nothing is wasted with Him, and He is able to use mistakes and accidents and messes and brokenness to draw us closer to Him. 

We invite you to join us in praying that Alexandra would continue to seek God with all her heart, and teach Andreas about Jesus. 

We also ask you to pray with us that Yuly would continue to share her heart of gratitude with her two children.  And, if it is God’s will, that she would be able to see the plastic surgeon.

Answered Prayer & A New Year

Feliz Año Nuevo, everyone!  We hope that each of you had a great Christmas and New Year’s celebrating God-with-us!

Today was our first day back in El Callejon following our Christmas vacation.  What a joy to be back!  This week we’re planning to go around the community, visiting with women, and getting the word out that we’ll start meeting again next week. 

Well, we didn’t get a chance to leave the Site today as lots of folks came to us!  We asked each of them how the holidays had been.  And, one after another told us that they had been ‘Tranquilo’ (tranquil, calm, peaceful).

As we had posted in December, we were concerned about the holidays in El Callejon.  The Dominican people celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with gusto – and, sadly, with a lot of alcohol.  Drunken disputes and fights are common. 

So, we were praying hard for El Callejon.  And, we know lots of you were, too!  Thank you so very much!!  We know God answered your prayers.  The women were so joy-filled and happy to see us – and we sure were glad to see them, too!

Today we prayed to begin our day, and our year.  We want this Site and our work there to be all about bringing God glory.  We have big dreams and ideas, but we pray we will continue to seek the Holy Spirit in all we do and say. 

It’s exciting (and a little overwhelming!) to be starting a year in which we have so many plans for the Site and our ministry in El Callejon.  We welcome your prayers as we resume the groups for Women, Young Women, Teens, Pre-teens and Little girls. 

And, we especially welcome your prayers for the new groups we plan to begin throughout these first months - a Couples’ Group, a Discipling small group, and a Literacy group.  We’re also excited that our new site should be completed in a few months. 

Of course, every bit of this is only si Dios quiere (the Lord willing)!  We never want our small plans to get in the way of His huge work in El Callejon – and throughout the world! 

We’re excited to think of the outreach participants (1-week, 2-week, semester, high school, college, adults) who will be joining us in ministry.  We love the fact that with Students International, we are reaching both into the community through long-term Christian community development, as well as discipling those who come down on outreaches.

We pray that all of those who enter our site (both the ‘old’ one and our new one!) will experience the presence of Christ as we learn more about Him together. 

We’re also so thankful for you.  We pray that as you read about our ministry, you, too, will meet the One who invites us all, no matter where we live, to seek Him.  God truly is with us in Jesus.  What a privilege to serve Him!!