I moved in to the Embassy hotel a week ago and enjoyed 4
AMAZING days of ministering and being ministered to! Ginger Millermon came and
encouraged us through song and message during the evenings, while the days were
filled with home visits and ministry to Dominican women.
It became clear, though, that God had called my group to
minister in a whole other way. One home we visited had a hurting mother. Guilt
and shame plagued her heart since she believes he child’s actions are a result
of her “old life.” His actions also affected another family… so then we had 2
hurting mothers.
By the end of the week our dear friends, Giovanny and
Carolina Valdez, lost their PRECIOUS little 1yr old girl… and then there were 3
hurting mothers.
During the conference I was given a monologue to memorize
with Carolina. This week it has brought on a whole new meaning.
Talking about how Dominican and non-Dominican women are
really the same it says this…
“We ALL are weak vessels
who question, worry, bleed, sweat & cry when hardship knocks at our
families’ door. We are still women who experience the loss of a child, rejection
of a friend, the death of a loved one, financial ruin, a wayward teen, and fear
& insecurity when doctors give us the results.”
Doubt and insecurities have crossed my mind while
ministering to Dominican women… but the truth is that we are really the same.
Minister in that manner.
I’m sorry to be short this week, but I am absolutely physically
and emotionally drained.
Prayers appreciated for these 3 hurting mothers… and their
families. God is still on His throne. He knew this was all going to happen. We
just need to trust that He has an awesome plan despite our heartache.
Praises… since there are always bright spots
1.An AMAZING conference with time to reflect on God’s precious Word!
2.Pumpkin spice coffee from Nina, brought by her
momma! THANK YOU!!!
3.Robersy is still celebrating his birthday. Thank
you for all the cards, messages and gifts!
After several months of praying, saving and raising support…
we are happy to announce that God provided a pickup truck! We have spent 7
months borrowing vehicles regularly from the Judes and Shaheens (THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!) as well as several other people along the way. The need
truly became great when we had to start saying “no” to new ministry opportunities
because we had no way of getting there. We are sincerely grateful to every
single person who understood this need and gave!
On Friday it filled us with joy to load the back with over a
dozen kids and take them to youth group. Then of course with the riot that
happened in Guayacanes (see my video on FB) we were able to use the vehicle to
go and see if we could get the kids home… and when we weren’t able to, the
truck was our safe place until we returned to the church for the night… and
even became my (Sarah’s) bed from 4:00am - 5:45am when the tile floor got too
cold J
You truly have no idea how much of a blessing this has been… and it hasn’t even
been a week. So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU FOR GIVING!!!
Speaking of the riot…
I want to share a fun video of the kids who were stuck at
the church with us. I’m telling you… God knows how to turn a bad situation in
to a blessing. After Nate (the pastor), Robersy and I were outside trying to
decide what to do with 20 kids that we had to keep for the night, we walked
in to see every one of the kids on their knees praying for the situation! THEN,
they asked for some music and we had a little “Jesus Karaoke” lol! “I will
praise you in the storm” brought on a whole new meaning. Enjoy a song by some
of our crazy kids.
I did have to laugh though. On the way home at 6am – ish, one
of the girls asked me (with every ounce of seriousness), “When do we get to do
this again!?”
Ummmm…
Let’s plan the next one with sleeping bags, food… and no gun
fire! J
So end of week report. Our God is SO SO SO good. For the
truck? Yes. For “Jesus Karaoke”? Yes. But more than anything else, we serve a
God who loves us. I mean TRULY loves us. Have you thought about it?
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.”
“WHILE WE WERE STILL
SINNERS.” Wow! He didn’t ask us to put a tie on or get dressed up. He didn’t
ask to clean up our life first and get things in order. He didn’t ask us to get
to church and get baptized. “While we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us.”
C-R-A-Z-Y! It’s a good thing I’m not God because I wouldn’t have died for
people who were still sinning… and I would have DEFINETLY expected some changes
before I would have allowed a bunch of dirty, rotten sinners in to my family.
But I am not God. He is God ALONE. And it is HIM IN US
that does the changing! So yes, there is a time to clean up and dress
up. And we ought to get to church and show the world that we are HIS. But lest
we forget, He did a LOT for us while we were still pretty nasty. He must love
us a bunch.
Do not ever forget the price paid.
He loves us. OH, how He loves us.
We have truly enjoyed sharing this same message with the people
here, young and old. Just to share one more photo before I sign off… these are
Robersy’s boys. He has enjoyed sharing this exact message of an AWESOME God
with them.
Just recently a mom of one of the boys thanked me for
sharing my husband with a bunch of single moms. Of course, I questioned what
she meant! Lol. She quickly explained that MANY of these boys don’t have
fathers. Robersy has sat with these boys, encouraged them, laughed with them,
disciplined them, demanded respect and, in return, respected these young men.
Pray for Robersy as he loves on these kids and teaches them to be men of God.
They are our future.
Thank you for your prayers!
Pray for me (Sarah) as I work at a Women’s Conference this
week. Over 80 women have to come to bless and be blessed. May God guide this
week.
Pray for Robersy as he fends for himself (I’ll be staying
with the women) and of course for all the ministry he is involved in this week!
GOD BLESS!!!
PRAISES
1.Robersy turned 26yrs old on Saturday! Thank you
for the birthday wishes J
For those of you that believe we’re overworked, underpaid
and exhausted… you are correct ;) lol. But we DO have a lot of fun.
This week was filled with smiles and tears. I had a trip to
the capital with some girlfriends, said goodbye to a lady from the Lily House
who graduated from the program, celebrated “health” victories, and of course we
discipled, preached and taught too. Even started my new English class J Still this weekend was
just a special time for us.
On Friday Robersy was able to go and see some pickup trucks with
our Pastor and he found “the one” J
haha! (the other one that we were looking at sold). It is everything we’re
looking for… except the price… of course. It’s just over $20,000 but totally worth
it! So since we’ve raised about $7,250 we are praying about paying half and
then paying the rest on a plan. This is a big risk since we know sometimes
we’ll be paying more than we should in interest, but ministry has grown to the
point where we do not have a choice. We NEED a ministry vehicle. Pray with us
about this decision. Robersy is going on Tuesday with a mechanic to give it a
big “check-up” and he’ll also speak to the owner about our situation and see if
any special exceptions or discounts can be made. Pray for a miracle! And if God
is pricking your heart about being a part of this miracle… please go to https://scoresponsor.org/missionaries-staff/shop/lara-robersy-sarah/
and give. Make sure you state that it is a gift towards our ministry vehicle so
that we will receive the entire amount.
MOVING ON…
Saturday was pretty awesome! One of Robersy’s teams that he
coaches had a game where he met up with another team from Santo Domingo. It was
an amazing time where baseball was played and the Gospel was preached! Robersy
had the privilege of welcoming 10-15 boys and 1 coach to the family of God!
That night we got to go on our first double date with a
pretty awesome couple. We ate Mexican and tried not to “talk work” but we found
that it was impossible. We love what we do and are excited to talk about it! J
Then Sunday was such a highlight for Robersy and I. After
celebrating the Lord’s supper at church in the morning and then enjoying
fellowship (and celebrating birthdays!!! Happy Birthday Adrienne!) with fellow
missionaries, we went home to await 12 crazy GAP students and 3 awesome leaders.
It was such a fun time sharing with them, laughing with them and of course
eating with them. And we sang… WE SANG! In ENGLISH. Now, you may not think much
of this… but it has been 7 months since I have worshipped with a group in
English! It was such a special time!
Don’t get me wrong… I love where I am and who I am with… but
there is just something special about worshipping God in your original language!
I.AM.SO.THANKFUL!!!
So long story short. This week has been pretty awesome. And
yesterday (Sunday) Robersy and I completed 6 months of marriage! Where has the
time gone?! I only got married yesterday right?! Lol. May I just say… I am the
luckiest girl in the world!!! I truly am. SO girls, who are 19 and 20 or 30 and
contemplating if “the one” will ever come along…. wait it out J I am 27yrs old and
thankful that I didn’t settle for 2nd best. He will come along in
God’s timing!
Ok I’m done bragging on my hubster!
Until next Monday J
Things I’m thankful for:
1.Robersy <3
2.Double dates!
3.Worship and fellowship in my native tongue.
What I’m reading: “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. A MUST READ!
One of my favorite quotes: “The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever
you are doing God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His. It is
His movie, His world, His gift.” Something to think about…
