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. 

Sum Saharian Sara... my high-school complex

I love nicknames. 

There was a time in my life that I was actually sad that “Sarah” couldn't be made in to a nickname. Ashley gets Ash, Matthew gets Matt… what about Sarah? 

I remember having a little high school complex about this. LOL! My mom started calling me “Sar” and a few friends gave me a whole new name (it was “Sum Saharian Sara” lol… what were we thinking?!). Still, no matter what others called me it didn't change the fact that I was SARAH.

Enter God…

Since it was mentioned a few weeks back in a church service I haven’t stopped studying the names of God. To me it is incredible to understand that these aren't God’s nicknames… they are who HE IS at ALL TIMES!

This fascinates me. I can be sassy and I can be sweet, but I am most definitely not sassy and sweet at the same time. But the GOD of all creation is all that HE is all at the same time. Let’s look at some examples…

Because being a missionary is NOT boring!
Jumping off a 40 foot cliff.

YAHWEH-RAPHA:"The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.

YAHWEH-JIREH:"The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all.

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Sooooo… we serve an “Everlasting Provider and Healer who sees EVERYTHING!”

And those are just four.

Do you get it?

And check this one out… ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7;Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).

LOVE IT!

So let’s put it in perspective of the Lily House ministry.

When we go out on Thursday nights our MIGHTY AND STRONG GOD who SEES EVERYTHING is also able to HEAL the broken hearts and souls of each girl we come across AND if HE chooses to use Lily House as a tool in the healing process, we need more mullah to cover expenses which… enter GOD… HE also PROVIDES.

You see, He doesn't pick and choose what HE wants to be today… HE JUST IS.

Isn't that encouraging?! It encouraged me this week… 

Here are ways you can pray for us to EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24;Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.

Robersy and the team in Moca.
Yes that was taken today (Nov.3)... yes, that is a Christmas tree :)

1. L is so close to getting off the streets. Pray for her as she has some big decisions to make in regards to her family. (Praise: She brought her brother to church this week!)

2. I am helping in a new area the Lily House. Business discipleship (I will continue to teach and disciple, but this is an added responsibility). Pray as I work with the ladies who have been in the program the longest and for guidance as I seek to provide help in order to improve the workplace.

3.  Robersy is in Moca (another area of the DR) for a 3 day mission trip. Pray for the whole team that God will move in them and through them.

Babies!!!

There are a LOT of babies around right now! In Lily House there are a few and another yet to come… fellow missionaries are having babies… the dog downstairs just had 8 puppies… and the other dog in the area is ready to pop. A lot of little ones around. I've gotten a little used to it now and instead of running away (I’m not a huge baby person… just fat babies since they bounce if you drop them…) I have been embracing it. Not too much though (sorry mom!). Lol. Just enough to admire and cuddle little human beings.

Just so you know... I only put this photo because I
have no photos of me cuddling real babies since I'm
too busying cuddling them to take photos!
This will have to do :) 

But a lot comes with those little bundles! There is pain when you see them fall, triumph when you see them stand, anger when you see them knowingly make bad decisions, joy when you see them make right decisions. There are a lot of emotions for mommas and daddies.

I’ve been experiencing some momma emotions recently.

I praise God for the ministry He has placed us in and for the men and women who we serve with. Together, God has chosen to place several teenagers and young adults under our responsibility.

Between baseball, youth group and Lily House ministry Robersy and I are honored to teach and disciple around 100 young people in total. But that same honor and blessing brings hard days too!

In all seriousness, recently there have been some pretty sad days. My “momma” tears have flowed, my “momma” heart has broken but my “momma” love hasn’t quit.

HOWEVER… Today I want to share a few of the victories that we've witnessed in the lives of our spiritual sons and daughters, because if we focus on the sad things that happen we’ll forever live in the disappointments.

There is SO much to celebrate!!!

Here in the Dominican and around the world it is super common for someone to raise their hand, kneel at an altar or sign a piece of paper making a public statement that a decision has been made when really, inwardly there is no true commitment. But when it’s real… IT’S REAL!

Over the last month and a half we've seen 7 baseball boys, who have raised their hands a million times, truly come to know the Lord as their personal Savior. These 7 boys are particularly special to Robersy as they are some of the oldest boys on the team and basically the role models for the rest of the team. Isn’t God awesome!

Pray for Robersy as he disciples these 7 young men following their decisions.

I loooove discipling and teaching the women at Lily House. Over the past year we have prayed that as these girls grow in their faith, God would then place women in their life to begin discipling too. What a joy to hear M come and share her desire to disciple two young ladies in the youth group. Then L shared her heart to increase her discipleship focus within the youth group as well. God is moving!

During Women’s Conference we made a LOT of contacts in Boca Chica and just this past week we have been able to have meetings and share with two of these ladies in particular. Although no decisions have been made thus far to enter the LH program, there are women seeking and trying to make a change in their lives.

One of my highlights was when L (a different L) visited the Lily House and it was M (the same M – and it was M’s idea!!!) who took her around and gave her the tour in Creole (what Haitians speak) so that she’d feel more at home.

My “momma’s” smile could not be hidden. I love these precious ladies!!!

I had a “momma” smile on Sunday too as some of our young people sang for the church! Precious voices praising the God of all creation… does it get any better?!

You see. Even through the “bad” days when there are scraped knees or bruised elbows from the kids falling so many times, it is the moments like these that say, “It is worth it!”

Praying for all of you other spiritual mom and dads out there today!!!

Getting DEEP with Robersy...

Sometimes Robersy says some pretty profound things! Although most won’t believe me… he is SUCH a quiet guy. He talks when he has to and once he gets comfortable around you he won’t stop talking, but he is usually pretty quiet!

To give you an idea I remember that HE didn’t ask me out on OUR first date. He was SO shy and quiet he had a friend do it :) lol. Thankfully that worked out…

However, back to my point. Robersy really makes me think sometimes. Like yesterday. I had planned a little get-together with some of our closest friends and their families. It was supposed to be a very small “party” to celebrate Robersy’s birthday. However, while we were at church yesterday I overheard him inviting 5 boys that he has been discipling to the party.

Since I’ve been at a women’s conference all week I put some things in to practice and waited until we were home, but I said (calmly), “Babe, I think it’s sweet that you invited the boys, but this is kind of a friend thing, a real life thing… not ministry.” And he smiled and said, “but Sarah… our life is our ministry.”

DEEP.

Stick with me… this is going somewhere :)

So many times I split ministry in my head. Today is ministry day, tomorrow is our day, Sunday is church day, Monday is rest day. Really… as children of the MOST HIGH GOD Robersy is exactly right. Our life IS our ministry. Does this mean we can’t rest?! UM, NO. Even Jesus spent time alone. Does this mean we can’t have “our” day? UM, NO… my greatest ministry is to my husband.

This is what ministry looks like.

But it is so important for us to remember that everything we do, think, say, etc. is a reflection of Christ to those around us.

Take this past week for example. I spent the week eating, sleeping and serving with about 55 lovely ladies during our women’s conference. If our ministry had only been outside of that beautiful hotel we would have missed the opportunity to minister to each other, to the cleaning ladies, to the waiters, to the bus drivers, etc. Our life IS our ministry!

This is what ministry looks like too.

Perhaps you’re not a pastor or a missionary (although you technically are… but we’ll save that for another blog!!!) but you are still called to reflect HIM! In your home, school, office, neighborhood. Your life is your ministry. Don’t miss out because it’s not Ministry Monday or Serving Saturday… just let your LIFE be your LIGHT!

I’m so thankful God speaks to us in different ways… this time He chose my husband.

Things to pray for this week:

1.       Two meetings with two ladies from the streets.

2.       Thursday night ministry.

3.       Discipleship and teaching at the Lily House (Sarah) and on the baseball field (Robersy).

Training the next generation

Another day, another week, ANOTHER YEAR!

Robersy's cake at youth group

I love to have a reason to celebrate. New job, new tooth, new relationship… you name it, I’ll celebrate it! LOL. Of course, when it’s your hubbies birthday it’s even that much more exciting! We spent yesterday gallivanting around the capital celebrating Robersy’s 27 years of life. First lunch at Applebees and then BBQ hunting with some birthday $$.

Games at youth group

Some people think I’m too gooshy… but I can’t help but brag on my boo! So thankful that God chose Robersy for me. He puts me in my place, encourages me and makes me feel loved. I truly found my perfect prince charming! LOVE YOU BABE!

As for the rest of the week, it was a joy to see God’s hand working.

Robersy and I have prayed about taking our discipleship to the next level. We have taught and taught… now we are preparing and sending. Of course, you should have seen my mouth drop open (especially when we haven’t shared this goal of ours super publically yet) when one of the young ladies I disciple approached me about the opportunity to disciple 2 other girls in the youth group!!! What a peace to know we are aligned with what God has planned too.

Got to do the Color Vibe Run with the GAP students

In line with the goal Robersy also spent quite a bit of time visiting several boys this week and we’ve committed to having a couple boys (in rotation) stay with us each Friday night. This gives Robersy the opportunity to work with boys outside of the team setting… and it gives their mommas a break too (apparently teen boys are hard work! Lol).

I have a feeling God is gonna do something awesome with these boys!

Thursday night went well too! Girl after girl is opening up and I rarely have to approach them before they are yelling out our names. This week will be an exciting week as we have groups going out for 4 nights in a row to speak to and encourage these women! Pray that this week will be a “breaking point” for these women in Boca Chica and that we’ll see many come to Christ!!!

Well… that’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods.

*Prayer Request* As you know, a piece of my heart will always be back home in Bermuda! They just had a horrible storm this weekend that caused quite a bit of damage and they are desperately trying to clean up before the next scheduled hurricane arrives this weekend. Please pray for family and friends!

Why you gotta be so ruuuude?

Are you ready to get real?

It’s funny how life happens sometimes.

For 3 weeks you travel around, constantly reminded and fed spiritually by the ones who have thought of you, prayed for you and supported you over the year. You feel refreshed, uplifted, and ready to conquer the world and win the Dominican for Christ.

Then you are slapped back in to reality.

For me this slap was… well… an actual slap! LOL.

This past Sunday was like any other, but I wasn’t feeling well so I missed my morning run. It threw my whole day off! I love my runs! More than anything it’s my time alone with God and refocuses my heart and mind to the things that matter. My Divine Stress Reliever J However, at about 4PM I couldn’t take it anymore… I needed to run. So I put my fancy new running shoes on (yay! Thank you mom!) and went on my way.

When I had gotten half way I started my way back. It wasn’t long before I heard a motorbike coming closer and closer… then WACK! I doubled over in pain, felt like I was going to vomit immediately, but looked up in time to see the guy on the back of the bike pull his arm in. He had slapped me!!!

A million things went through my head. I picked up a rock. Contemplated murder… jk. Then all I could do was think, “Why you gotta be so ruuuude?”

People are mean!

We can say, “Yeh, worldly people are jerks” but the truth is a few days later I was emotionally slapped by someone in ministry! Serving Jesus together then… WACK! A reminder that no one is perfect...

Life hurts sometimes. People hurt sometimes. But like I shared with a struggling sister this week, we are emotional creatures. Women, you KNOW what I mean! I can literally laugh, cry and yell in within a matter of minutes. Don’t lie ladies… you probably could too, right!?

However, it is SO important, despite our emotions, that we remember that we serve an unchanging God! (Check out the proof for yourself: James 1:17, Num.23:19, Psalm 102:27) Look at Malachi 3:6, “For I, the LORD, do not change…”

That means we may feel defeated, but our Father can NOT be defeated! We may feel rejected, unloved, sad, far from God and still God says, “I am right here!!!” (Joshua 1:9)

I have to remind myself of God’s unchanging character regularly. Many times this comes out during our weekly ministries.

We’ve been praying for youth group leaders with a passion for discipleship. We have lost several of our young people to the sins of this world (WACK!!! – that was the slap). BUT God says… “I will provide ALL your needs.” (Phil. 4:19) Two women approached me this week about how God has been stirring their hearts to disciple girls in youth group!

Lately Satan has been whispering the “you’re not making a difference” lie when I go out to the streets on Thursday night (WACK!!!), BUT “God says I’m doing things my way… it’s better anyhow!” (Isaiah 55:8) We saw understanding and glimpses of hope in several girls this week AND a girl came to church with me!

Robersy and I have both been trying to get our ducks in a row ever since we got back (disorganization and exhaustion is my enemy - WACK!!!) BUT God says, “I will give you REST!” (Matt. 11:28) I had my regular Friday to clean up the house, then while Robersy was at practice on Saturday I was able to prepare my material for the week. Once Robersy got home we were able to RELAX!!!

Saying all of that… GOD IS GOOD! He doesn’t change even though my emotions do. I expect to be “WACKED!!!” again because 2 Tim. 3:12 guarantees it.

Be on guard friends. 

Don’t give up. 

Keep serving the LIVING Savior… 

AND run against the traffic J

First night of youth group 

Antonio preaching the Word!

We're Back!

It is so good to be home... but every second in the U.S.A. was incredible and we loved sharing with many of you in your homes, churches and local restaurants :)

This week I sent out our new prayer letter so instead of writing basically the same thing I'm just including the highlights.

If you would like to receive a prayer letter every few months please email me at rslara14@gmail.com!

Prayer Letter Highlights:

I can hardly believe that fall is almost here! The summer seemed to fly by with hundreds of people who passed through the SCORE complex, weekly discipleship, baseball and much, MUCH more. Still, we are thankful for every moment as God stretched us and molded us through our summer ministry.

             Summer began with a week of camp and we stood in awe as church leaders and pastors stepped up to the plate and got totally involved! Together with local pastors we got sprayed with hoses, covered in eggs and thrown in a mud pit and even after that we had the privilege to sit down with teens and see many come to the Lord. We are excited to begin youth group this month and follow-up with those who made decisions.

These past few months were a particularly tough time for the Lily House ladies as they worked hard in the salon, bakery and store with the hundreds of people who passed through the doors. They stayed strong and we watched as God has continued to transform them to be more and more like Him. It was exciting to see some of the women who have never shared open up and give their testimony. This is part of their healing process and it was awesome to see. Please remember our new girls that have just arrived at the beginning of this month. We appreciate prayers as they begin the program since the first 3 months are the hardest.

There are no words to express our thanks for our time in the states. God protected us and allowed us precious time with many loved ones. My sister’s wedding was gorgeous and Robersy loved meeting many family members for the first time. Then each and every visit in Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania and New York was a refreshing time for our hearts, minds and souls.

Now we begin our “regular” (which is never regular, haha!) schedule. Pray as relationships are formed and spiritual needs are met at youth group, baseball practice, discipleship and on the streets. We can not do this with out our brothers and sisters in Christ covering us in prayer so please remember us weekly as we serve here in the Dominican Republic.

Titus 2:7

             Dropout rates are extremely high in Dominican schools. Many families struggle to afford education and many kids dropout to work and help their families with daily needs. Still one of the biggest reasons for dropping out of school is baseball.

             If a child has the slightest talent in baseball they are encouraged to leave school and focus 100% on baseball. They are the “hope” for a family, village and country. Robersy was one of those kids…

In 8th grade Robersy gave into the pressure and gave his ALL to baseball. He thought he was done with school forever. God had other plans.

When Robersy began discipling the baseball boys he was honest that one of his biggest regrets was not finishing school. He struggled telling them to finish when he hadn't so… he decided to lead by example and went back to school.

This month Robersy graduated high-school! He is excited to have finished, but has already expressed interest in attending college. We pray that God opens the door for this! More than this, however, we hope that this example encourages his boys to finish school and we look forward to attending more graduations PRONTO!

Trip to the U.S. of A :)

As mentioned before, we truly thank the Lord for an amazing trip to the USA. Although originally planned in order to attend my sister’s wedding, God opened the door to speak with churches, Pastors and individuals regarding support. Although there has not been any commitments made for support as of yet, we trust that God is able to provide all of our needs.

Also, due to popular belief that the Christian life, and even more so, the missionary life is BORING we wanted to share some photos of a few of the amazing things we experienced during our 3 weeks. We are witnesses that our life is anything but boring! There is true joy (and a lot of fun) found when walking in HIS perfect will!

 

These photos are different from our prayer letter so if you'd like to see some more... email me to get our prayer letter OR check out my FB page :)

GOD BLESS!