Happy Easter...
My trip to Perdenales was incredible- 18 hours of Dominican driving, all in one day! It did me in, to say the least. What we experienced there is beyond words really. A small community, "Nuevas Rosas/New Roses," literally in the middle of no where- 8 kilometers from the main (only) road, surrounded by farmland with little to no commercial points along the way. A small community of 26 families, mostly Haitian, living without electricity or water, working for a farmer that runs a small store (the only one) where they can buy their food. It amazes me that in this day and age, there are situations like this. The pastors had told me about this place, but until I saw it I couldn't feel the hopelessness of their situation. We are studying various options to get them water and from there what else we can do to help them discover new ways to earn their living. Please keep this village in your prayers. They worship in an abandoned school, led by Pedro Jaison/Peter Jason.
Milagro went with me Tuesday- she kept telling me over and over she had never traveled so far in her life. The coast line was without any exageration the most beautiful I have seen in the whole country. It took your breathe away to see the turqouis blue waters. I look forward to future trips! On our journey, we had the priveledge to share with two of our Convention leaders/pastors. What a blessing for all of us! We are encountering a very difficult situation with a brother in Christ who has confessed to a hidden sin that shook us all, and has the potential to destroy another family in the church, not to mention harm the reputation of the church. Please be in prayer for us as we seek to deal with this situation using the Bible and the Holy Spirit as our guide. It is so painful when brothers and sisters in Christ fall into the deadly trap of sin. Pray for Villa de Yaque, that as this becomes known and we deal with it, God will be able to once again bless this community. Pray for repentant hearts!
This year, with my heart heavy from this devastating development with a fallen brother, Good Friday was more vivid for me as I was especially aware of the burden of sin that Christ had to carry. How can it be that he sacrificed all for people like us, so undeserving? I look forward to the celebration tomorrow, when we feel the hope and joy of His victory over such evil. May it be a day of joyful celebrations!
