The Barnabas Foundation...

We had a great day yesterday- the water team finished up their work on the water purification trailers. They were able to identify the problem: the pump. That helps me tremendously in being able to get the problem resolved. (It is hard to fix a problem when you don't know what the problem is!)  While they were working on that, the rest of us went to check on (and visit) Simon in La Canela. They were doing well with the water system.  We also were able to visit the Villa folks and found them working to resolve the problem with their well. 

We had a brief visit at my house (and lunch), some souvenir shopping, and then a surprise visit from the folks at Apocalypsis- they brought a gift for each team member.  It was a special moment.  From there we headed up to Camp David and had a wonderful final meal. 

Today everything went just perfect- we had time to stop and check out some things in Santo Domingo- the Colonial City, the ocean front, do some more souvenir shopping, and even managed to get Wayne his coconut!  And they pulled up to the airport at exactly two hours ahead of schedule and best I can tell, everything is on time. They should be getting into Atlanta around 6:30 and then will wait until 9:30 for their flight to Richmond. It will be 11pm before they get home! It means a LONG travel day for them because we left at 8am today with the long ride to the capital thrown in- and it was a crowded van. The little stops along the way made it a little easier.

Cool Spring folks- you need to ask Brent about his chicken adventure- he and Oreo had quite a time the other day. 

We had a great final day- they saw over 130 at the medical clinic. Russ and Hunter were able to visit a pharmacy and get some extra medicines.  The leaders of the ministry where we were serving were very pleased with the impact that the medical clinics made. Our medical crew has been blessed by getting to know the "team" that has worked with them which is what I love to see.

Our water folks spent the day yesterday trying to get the water trailers working and unfortunately, had some trouble. The pump and/or UV light unit is creating some problem which won't allow the water to flow completely through the unit. They tried and tried, and worked late, but to no avail. They are going to give it another try today. What a godsend these guys have been! I know understand how the unit works, know how to change the filters and set up the clorinator, change the UV sleeve and light, get it running, etc. and if nothing else, I know it has to be repaired- all much more than I knew a week ago!

Today we will be visiting some ministry sites, spending some time with Pastor Jose and his wife and the folks from Apocalypsis, working on the water trailer, shopping, and then having a special closing meal up on the mountain. Tomorrow we head to Santo Domingo early so we can see a little bit of the city before they fly out early afternoon. Thanks for your continued prayers!

We made a smooth transition to Ensanche Espaillat. Today was a holiday but it didn't keep people from coming to the clinic. The medical folks saw at least 120 people, and a LOT of children! And sick children, making it all the more special to be able to treat them and give them the medicine they need to get well.  Our space was more compact but Gabriel and his gang did a great job moving the cardboard roof around to keep our folks out of the sun! 

Out at La Canela we were fighting the sun too- we were able to add a badly needed filter to the system and re-plumb it for just one tank. It was amazing to see how much they have grasped the purification process.  While we were working, Simon's daughters fixed us lunch- it was quite an honor to sit at their table. It really touched us to see them make this sacrifice- and it really was a sacrifice!  We left them with their system up and running- having already purified almost 200 gallons of water and he was going to purify another tank of water he had out back.  Please pray for him and his family- they are dealing with some financial struggles although there is light at the end of the tunnel, maybe.  I continue to pray for him and his special gift of being a community leader.

The water team does double-duty because we get back to the house a little early and they work on getting all my supplies and equipment organized. We have put together all the units I have in country, mounted them on the boards- basically they are all set to go!  Buck and the Mill Creek Water Boys would be awfully proud! Today we were able to design a new model for a portable unit- we have one unit mounted on a board with a handle, and it fits into a suitcase. This will be an emergency/portable unit that can go out to whatever community has been hit with a water problem and go tank to tank purifying water.  It is pretty awesome!

Tomorrow will be our last medical day.  Hunter and I will be out looking for more medicines early in the morning so we can treat all we can tomorrow.  Then we will be finishing up at the hardware store, getting ready for the big day on Saturday- we will train a bunch of folks on the water trailers- we are going to pump the water out of my cistern and then back in.  Lowell and Wayne have sure been busy!! 

Thanks for your prayers- it has been a wonderful week- I love working with volunteers as they work alongside our Dominican folks.  I heard from everyone today that last night's prayer service was a blessing - both for the Dominicans and the Virginians! 

One of the joys of being a missionary is being able to bring US volunteers alongside Dominican brothers and sisters, working together for the building up of the Kingdom of God. Tonight we had the joy of worshiping and sharing together with the church we are working with this week- hearing from them and sharing our own faith stories. It was a blessing for both groups! One of our translators, Frank, sang and boy, does he have a voice that can praise the Lord!

Today was a sort of crazy day- we finished up in Palmar, showed some more folks the water system and how it works.  I left with the water team and we went out to visit Simon- his project has had some difficulties and unfortunately his schedule and mine have not matched up too well- we decided to make some radical changes based on some of the issues he is dealing with. We will head out tomorrow and get his unit back up and running, and I believe with the additional filter, a lot of our problems will be resolved.

Again, it has been such a blessing to have this team here this week- they have such a servant heart and it is inspiring to see them take such joy in serving others. Please continue to pray for safetly and more than anything, for their testimony to speak of God's love and strengthen His church!

Tomorrow we move to a new site- Ens. Espaillat. It will be a completely different environment than where we have been. 

We continued the medical clinics at Palmar Arriba. It is a beautiful little town, just on the outskirts of Santiago, at the base of a mountain. We saw about 120 people.  I had the opportunity to translate for Dr. Russ; I really enjoyed hearing directly from the patients and it gave me a new appreciation for how valuable these types of clinics are!

Our water team had purified 350 gallons of water by noon! They were able to train the folks there in the process- we will repeat the training tomorrow again. Wayne and Lowell also spent some time working in my water trailer and figuring it all out. They have been such a blessing- they have my water supplies organized, all the units set up and ready to go with their "kits" all put together- it will make my work later on this month much easier! 

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers- a great week is unfolding. Tomorrow we will return to Palmar to finish up with some patients, finalize the training on the water purifier. The water team will head out to La Canela to do some troubleshooting and bring Buck's plywood design to Simon, and then work on the trailer.  Tomorrow night, we will be participating in the Wednesday night service at Apocalypsis- the mother church of the new churches we are working at this week.  Thanks for remembering us in your prayers!!

They arrived without any difficulties, endured the three hour ride from Santo Domingo to Santiago, enjoying the beautiful scenery.  We have had an OUTSTANDING first day- the medical folks treated 110+ folks, and Hunter got over having a "drive-up" in his pharmacy! He doesn't like them back home, but it worked out well for the folks to come around to the back door of the church and get their meds.

The Mill Creek Water Boys did an awesome job of preparing the CS Water folks- we have the unit all up and ready to go, in one day, with just one trip to the hardware store! Lucas got the foundation built for us this weekend so that was ready to go. We just had to plumb a water source over to the unit, the tanks were there by 11am, and by 1pm, pretty much all was plumbed in. They got the plywood cut and the unit assembled.  All we need now is water! They say the community has water only in the mornings so we are counting on having full tanks when we get there and hopefully 500 gallons of purified water by 10am if all goes well!

On top of all that, we were able to do some troubleshooting at Villa de Yaque- their well is giving them trouble, pulling up a lot of mud which is creating other problems. They were expecting the man who dug the well to come this afternoon to clean it and put some gravel down to eliminate this problem. 

By the way, I got a "complaint" about the basketball court today- one of the neighbors was a little miffed that the kids were there making noise from 6am to 11pm everyday. We are going to meet with the community leaders again to see how we can alleviate some of their frustration- but what a great problem to have!

Not but last least, our Dominican friends who helped us, were awesome. We were able to share the gospel with everyone who attended- several made professions of faith. And for all of them, they had a great experience in this church, seeing God's love in action. Pray with us that many will come back and join in Bible studies and worship experiences so they may grow in their knowledge of God and live in His peace and joy.  That is what it is all about!

Yesterday was a typical day before the group arrives- many errands to do, people to see, etc. I spent some time with a young man who came to know the Lord about three years ago, through the church planting efforts of one of our churches here in Santiago.  As we talked, he shared how his life, his marriage and his family had been completely transformed as Christ came to be His Lord. His isn't a "dramatic" conversion- he wasn't into drugs, alcohol, etc., but still, the presence of Jesus Christ has transformed him and his family, and it was obvious to me how content he is with his life. In the midst of all the "busyness" of getting ready for the medical clinics, the water projects, etc., I thank God for this very gentle reminder of what our ministry is all about: seeing lives transformed by the gracious presence of God.  As we begin tomorrow leading the medical clinics and preparing another water purification system, please pray with us that more and more people will be touched by God's loving and gracious presence, and can share as does Lucas how God transformed his life!

I am excited about many things that will happen this week: another water purification system, people receiving much needed medicines and more than that, a loving touch in Jesus' name, different churches working together, bringing together the different communities that have these water purifiers, and Alberto, the Edge Ministries Dominican representative will be here to meet and work with these groups.  It promises to be an outstanding week!  Please keep the Cool Spring folks in your prayers as they minister, pray for all the folks from Apocalypsis Baptist Church, Palmar Arriba, Oasis de Amor church, Villa de Yaque, Simon and the folks in La Canela, Iglesia Bautista de Ens. Espaillat and Gabriel, their leader. 

I leave in just a little bit to pick the group up in Santo Domingo- today will be a major celabration by the PLD party (current government which won re-election.) Pray for safe travel and not too many "tapones" or traffic jams.

Despite some isolated violent outbursts here and there,  the elections were carried out very peaceably. It looks like the president was reelected.  Purple is the color for another four years!  I waited up for the first "boletin" which showed him with 51% of the vote- he needed at least that to aviod a run-off election in June or July. Hopefully with the political campaign behind us, we can move on!

This past week was an exciting one. I hosted the folks from our disaster relief organizations, the representatives from both IMB and NAMB, as well as from our region (Middle America and Caribbean.) They meet once a year just before hurricane season starts. We were fortunate to have them here this time. Tuesday we took advantage of their presence and hosted a training event for our national convention folks- we had 27 people from across the country participate. In addition to our missionary personnel, we had Daniel Ortiz, president of the Committee of Emergencies from Guatemala. What a blessing he was! A layman of 68 yrs, so eager and excited to serve his countryman in the area of disaster relief. He inspired us all.  Needless to say, it was a very informative day, and I know many good ideas were shared which will help us as we develop a plan to be prepared for when disasters strike. 

Yesterday being election day, was a quiet day, at least for me. Today we will make final preparations for the Cool Spring medical team- they will be working in Palmar Arriba and Ens. Espaillat.  I know they will make a tremendous impact on these two communities where we have new churches in place.  They will also be installing a new water unit and possibly a second one as well. 

As in other parts of the world, high gas prices are driving up prices of everything. Here in the DR we are also suffering the effects of the two tropical storms that hit us hard- Noel and Olga, which damaged a significant amount of crops. Food prices are rising by the minute it seems. One good thing is that while we run up to the election, the current government is taking major steps to control the situation. Once the election is over, the situation is bound to get worse before it gets better. Here is an article from the AP...


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - The Dominican Republic has expanded subsidies on basic food staples to maintain calm after deadly food riots recently struck neighboring Haiti. Trucks loaded with milk, chicken, eggs and other food staples have been rumbling across the Caribbean nation, where almost half of 9.5 million residents live in poverty. The subsidized food is on average 30 percent below supermarket prices. The government recently expanded the effort by selling a US$3 (euro2) package that includes a frozen chicken and 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) each of potatoes and onions. An estimated 20,000 of the packets are being sold daily, according to a Saturday news release. Food riots in Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, killed seven people in April and cost the prime minister his job. Dominican President Leonel Fernandez implemented the subsidies as he seeks re-election this month. The food packages are a welcome reprieve to 34-year-old handyman Vidal Rosario, who said people in his working-class neighborhood in northern Santo Domingo have been rationing their food. "It makes life easier on poor people," he said of the deliveries by government trucks at a basketball court near his house.

It is amazing how quickly this new house has become "home." Oreo doesn't even like to get out of the car at the old house, and if she does, she lies outside the gate! I spent one day this week fixing up my flower beds- it was a fun experience- my two neighbors and I went to the "vivero" (nursery) which made for a fun outing.  I have enjoyed getting to know them. One is from Bogata, Colombia.  Last night they invited me to their friday night Bingo- it was an interesting evening, meeting professional folks from here in Santiago. They have formed a foundation, each paying $15 dues per month, plus the proceeds from their bingo games to benefit older folks who have need of medicine and other basic necessities. I also met another Colombian lady and we had an amazing conversation about faith issues. She is extremely well read and has gone through a lot of personal suffering.  I don't think she is quite a believer yet, but she is on the road. I was pleased to see that my work in Human Needs opens the door to witness and reach the professional class. She shared last night she doesn't like evangelicals with all their talk and dancing, etc., but she was impressed with my work on behalf of the needy- she felt like that was "real religion." Pray for continued opportunity to share and witness, that she and others may come to a genuine faith in Jesus.