Deck the halls!

Don't be mad at me!

I know full well that there it's over a month until Christmas. However, I made a pinky promise with Robersy that he'd let me put a Christmas tree up before the end of November. Turns out that sneaky little hunky hunk knew that I WAS LATE. Our neighbors already have their tree up, the hotels are decorated with lights and the grocery stores have Christmas music blasting!

Still, there is no time to stop and celebrate YET. Too much to do :)

Over the last week or so there has been a LOT of running around. We've had visitors, construction is still going on at the house that we rent so there is lots of dust/sand and lots of sweeping that dust/sand :), Robersy traveled to Moca for a mission trip and now we have begun Baseball week. A whirlwind of BUSY! And though we’re pooped… we have not lacked reason to give thanks to God Almighty!

I want to share a few of those blessings with you.

1. Business discipleship is going well. We have incorporated cleaning schedules and clarified responsibilities and through Erica’s “Servant Leader” class the girls are learning that “leaders” don’t sit around doing nothing… a true leader serves. Continue to pray for the ladies that they might have the heart of a Servant Leader.

2. We had our friend and fellow missionary, Jeff Hackett, come and speak with our teens about sex. Sadly, the number of teen parents is absolutely horrifying. Schools teach the importance of protection but the “purity” concept is completely foreign to them. Jeff was only able to scrape the surface and plans to meet with the teens 4 more times throughout January and February. Along with a teen girl’s conference that I have been preparing over the last several months, to present at the beginning of the year, we pray that the Dominican young people will begin to see that God has called us to remain pure. Pray for these upcoming meetings and for these precious teenagers.

3. Saturday morning, while Robersy played baseball with his boys, I was able to pray and be encouraged with several other missionary women at SCORE. Thankful for a refreshing time!

4. Sunday we celebrated our church’s anniversary with a LOT of brothers and sisters from other churches. So thankful to serve within this precious ministry and to sit under the teaching of Pastor Nate!

5. A young lady turned up at church to find out more about the Lily House ministry. She shared her heart and desire to change and I was able to pray with her before she left. We look forward to seeing her again on Tuesday to speak more.

6. Yesterday I was able to go to the beach to actually sit and enjoy it for the first time in months! I was so excited that it HAD to make the list of blessings :)

That of course brings us to today where I’ve already received lots of hugs from the precious little girls at the girl's home - Pasitos de Jesus (as I translated for some of the baseball player's wives) and Robersy is out ministering through baseball. 

ISN'T GOD GOOD!!!

Don't worry... I still have my Christmas tree count down and we will celebrate all December long BUT we are grateful beyond words that God has allowed us to serve here in the Dominican.