A Second Blessing's Expansion

Have you heard about the expansion of A Second Blessing thrift store? We are excited that the store, managed by Cindy Beers, has begun accepting additional donations as well as larger gifts to sell. An average of $2,000 a month is given to Tomoka Christian’s missions account by the store, and now it has the ability to help fund missions to an even greater extent.

What you may not know: Along with this expansion came the addition of a new facility, the Tomoka Training Center. This center has become the place where the church’s Biblical Counselors are trained.

Those interested in learning more about becoming a Biblical Counselor are invited to a session there at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 23. The morning will begin with a DVD presentation and will include time for discussion.

FYI: The new Tomoka Training Center is in Suite 791 of the Tomoka Plaza. While it is inside the thrift store, the Training Center’s entrance is directly behind it. Look for signs.

If you have any questions about the store, including volunteering, you can contact Cindy at 386-677-6317. 

Sudan Mission Trip Report

Below is a report from the Creggar family who visited Southern Sudan at the end of December. Please continue to pray for the people of Sudan and the Creggars' return trip in 2013.

After multiple flights to get to Juba (the capital) we met Riny Tong, the oldest son of the chief and my interpreter for the last 6 years in Egypt.

After a few days and battling airline schedules, we were able to arrive in Wau, Southern Sudan and then get a car to travel the 126 miles to Ayeit. (This took us 6 hours as the roads are very difficult to travel on.)

Ayeit Village rests approximately 30 miles from the Northern Border of Sudan. Southern Sudan is predominantly Christian (with a Catholic influence). The church closest to the village is a Catholic church lead by an Egyptian priest. There were no Bibles anywhere from Turalei to Ayeit.

We brought 25 soccer balls that were inscribed with the plan of salvation, the ten commandments and other scripture which we read to those who spoke English. We also insisted that the younger boys do the same, sharing what the balls said with others in their native Dinka language. We also brought 20 bags of clothing for the men, women and children who had none. Lastly, we brought enough food to feed the community for at least 6 months and left them with enough money to sustain them for another 6 months after that.

After meeting with the chief in the village of Ayeit, he granted us full permission to build a church, school, clinic and do whatever else we felt was necessary in that area. We also met the Commissioner in Turalei who seems very open to “build up” that area. He was very welcoming and did not hinder our travel there with the exception of traveling at night for our safety.

They lack food, shelter, clothing, and worst of all a church or pastor. They are in desperate need of the hope in Jesus Christ and what the Holy Spirit can bring to them each day. This area is consistently threatened by the Nuer tribe of the east (as they continue to steal their cattle and kill anyone who gets in their way) as well as the Muslim regime in the North.

Their agriculture consists of tobacco which they sell to the market for money to buy meat. When we asked them why are they not growing things they could eat and feed their families with, their reply was “Show us how!” They lack the agricultural skills it takes to grow food, even with the river very near for watering.

We plan to return to the village in November of 2013. We are working on plans to build a church (with a pastor already in mind that is in the area!), help with agriculture and bring Bibles!

Sudan Report

Below is an exciting report from Safaa Fahmi, missionary to Egypt:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings and love in His loving Name.

I returned yesterday from Sudan, it was a great trip and I can easily see God’s hands dividing the water before us “to make for Himself an everlasting Name”.

The Sudanese students who studied with us in “HIU in Egypt” asked several times to extend our work to reach Sudan, but we could not do that for two reasons. (1) lack of money for plane tickets. (2) Our schedules were tight. For more than a year I was praying for Sudan asking God to open the door … and … He finally did.

The trip to Sudan in Numbers:

* Two weeks of extensive teaching. (Six subjects, 2 counseling, 2 N.T., 2 O.T.)

* No. of students: 48 , 80% of them are ministers and evangelists. 45 men and 3 women.

Next time there will be more than 100 because we will choose a better timing (this time it was in the midst of the midyear exams).

* 10 are studying for the MA level and 38 are studying for the BA level.

* The students represent 7 denominational churches.

* 3 of the students are the presidents of their denominations. We are expecting 5 more presidents of their denominations in the next conference. They already enrolled but they could not come, some because of war in their areas and the rest because different reasons.

* 15 students came from Sudan Church of Christ which is completely different from our churches, they are a blend of the Episcopal and the Presbyterian beliefs and system.

* The Students came from Khartoum in the North, Nubba mountains in the mid-west, Cordovan in the South-west and from Southern Sudan.

(Above - the 3 female students)

* Egypt is about 100 years more advanced than Sudan , although the bed was not comfortable and the rest room and the shower were very primitive and need God’s grace and peace inside for one to be able to use them , yet we enjoyed very much working with them there, they are hungry and thirsty for learning God’s Word.

I send my special thanks and my continuousprayers to the donors who helped in making this trip a success (persons and churches).

The Story of

Gabriel Coko Toto

I was in Sudan this week to start the first Bible College for our Restoration Movement in Sudan. School will be similar to the summer and winter courses in our colleges is the States. The staff will be going to Sudan for two weeks, every five days a professor will teach one course 6 lectures a day from 8am-9pm. This will take place twice a year until they finish their BA or MA degree.

Gabriel is one of our students who came from the Nubba Mountains area. He is a convert from Islam since 1984 and he became an evangelist 1986. In 1989 he was found by the Sudanese authorities, they arrested him accusing him of terrorism. They tortured him for days with electricity shocks, burnt his back and his thighs with very hot iron and hard beat him until bleeding to deny his Christian faith but he refused. They crucified him on a military tank in the burning sun heat of Sudan (110-115F). He was dehydrating but still insisting on his faith so they covered his hands except one finger with plastic bags and put his hands in boiling oil until everything melted, the plastic bags, his flesh and even his bones except the finger which was kept to remind him of all what he went through because of his faith ..…

He was hospitalized for nine months for fear of infection, then he was rescued by the members of his church. He was not afraid after passing through all this to go

back to evangelize and tell people about Christ “if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord…whether we live or die we are the Lord's.”

Gabriel lost nine fingers but he has now nine children. He is 49 and when I asked him about the story of his hands, he laughed and said, "I replaced every finger I lost with a child that will be a soldier in God’s Army."

Pray for him and his nine children. (Above - Gabriel & Safaa)

Every time I go to Sudan or work with Sudanese, and I see their misery and their spiritual and physical hunger comparing to the blessings I am blessed with from God, I feel a big responsibility towards them and I understand the meaning of Paul’s words …"the necessity is laid upon me, yes, woe is me if I don’t preach the Gospel."

May God Bless you all

Food Pantry 4th Quarter Update

We had another generous and successful quarter in our Food Pantry mission to wrap up 2011. The number of food pantry patrons continues to grow and because of your donations and our wonderful volunteers, low income families continue to receive a food supplement twice monthly. To learn how to qualify to receive assistance from the Food Pantry, click here.

We served 687 households this quarter, up from 609 in the third quarter. Additionally, we served 203 more people this quarter than last.

As for our Thanksgiving baskets, we were blessed to have enough funds for 330 baskets, but ended up distributing 270. The remaining food was returned to the pantry shelves to be distributed as needed at a later date.

The Food Pantry is always accepting donations and is currently in need of any type of cereal, peanut butter, and jelly.

Middle Eastern Missions Prayer Request

I am asking that you will join me in a call to prayer from one of our missionaries in the Middle East.

· Thank God for the baptisms, churches, and leaders that have come in the past 29 years.

· Pray for leadership development among the churches in this region.

· Ask that the sacrifice of villagers would bear fruit that makes their faith strong.

· Ask God to direct those writing the Arabic Bible commentary and the decisions they make while they are writing.

· Ask the Lord to protect our missionary, his family, and all of those in leadership.

"Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place." 1 Kings 8:28-29

Philippines Missionary Update

Our missionary in the Philippines, Henry Pilapil, has sent us an exciting update that I want to share with all of you:

“By the help of our Lord God we are okay. I’m doing my part teaching and equipping for spiritual growth. We lead a Bible study to prospects, establishing good relations with our neighborhood so we can reach them. We are preparing our plans to have a 2-year Bible training to equip some for the Lord’s work. If God wills, by this coming November we could start our training. They will get the same training as in seminary, but instead of 4 years it will take 2 years and will include church planting. I ask that you would please include us in your prayer list. We are doing our best for the Lord’s glory. Our goal is to establish or to have a church in every town in the island of Bohol. Thank you and may God bless you all.”

Backpack Bash

You probably don't know about a new ministry that Tomoka supports. Pastors John & Lisa Polite started Ministries for Christ Outreach in Daytona Beach to minister to the poor, the homeless, the addicted, and the abused and to bring the message of Jesus Christ to give hope to a hopeless people in Daytona Beach. Here is a report from Lisa Polite of a recent “Backpack Bash” they held at their church in the Mason Nova shopping plaza on August 20, 2011.

I don't even know where to begin. Friday's back pack bash was incredible. At 9:45 am we had a line of 229 people including children waiting to get backpacks. At 10:30 am, when the program was to start, we had a line of 323 people. By 10:45 am all the backpacks were gone, but they were still coming for food and clothes that we also had, and boy did the Lord bless. We got rid of everything we already had in the church and everything we bought for this event, plus everything people donated. I never have seen anything like that. Families were just hungry. They didn't mind people praying for them. Many people dedicated their lives back to Jesus or they accepted Jesus Christ for the first time. For the first time in my life I felt overwhelmed. The lines just never stopped. At 12 noon we had served well over 500 families. I can never thank Pastor Joe for praying for the people to receive salvation and boy it was just like Heaven opened up. We didn't finish until almost 4 pm. We had grandmas with 4 and 5 children asking for us to pray for the families. We had addicts who were trying to kick heroin asking to be saved. People just kept coming off the streets asking what was going on. Either people were being a blessing coming to others or they were being blessed. My day was blessed at the end when a little 8 year old boy came and kissed me. He wanted to know who was Jesus Christ and if He could help him. He said he heard me telling the other children about Jesus and He wanted Him too. Tears begin to flow, and He said he just wanted the voices to stop in His head. We prayed, and praise GOD NO VOICES AFTERWARD, HIS GRANDMA CRIED, WE CRIED, AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE WAS LED TO JESUS.

If you would like to give monetarily to this ministry you may send a check to the church and we will be sure that they receive you gift. If you would like to find out about how you can get involved with Ministries for Christ Outreach contact Lisa Polite at 386-852-7046 or by email at mfcoutreach@hotmail.com.

High School Youth Mission Trip-Retreat

I received a wonderful email from Pastor Bill this week in which he recounted our high school youth's trip to Kentucky and Tennesse this past week. Once again, it makes me so proud to be part of such a wonderful church family that is ministering to teens so they can in turn show the love of Christ through their actions.

They began in Kentucky where in just 2 1/2 days they were able to split up into teams in order to: tear out water-stained drywall, seal a leaking roof and put up new paneling; work at the Outreach Center digging and installing a new drainage system; hand-sand drywall and paint the interior of a home; and build a 12' x 16' front porch and stairs for the rear of a home. In Pastor Bill's words, "I have never been more proud of our teens as I was watching them minister to families in need in Kentucky. Our youth were so determined to finish their projects that they gave up free time in order to keep working. One group even went back to work after their dinner break and worked until it got dark. Even on the day we were to pack up and leave for Tennessee, they chose to stay to finish what they had started. The owner of Cumberland Mountain Outreach broke into tears as she thanked our youth for getting the tasks completed. She explained that we were the last group for the summer and if we didn't finish, those projects would have had to stay like that until next year."

Pastor Bill also shared how the group of 40 that worked so hard in Kentucky were able to bond and see the Holy Spirit work during their time of devotions and relaxation on their whitewater rafting trip in Tennessee. "The Holy Spirit moved and we began sharing with one another. Our teens opened up and decided they wanted their chains broken and wanted to come clean on things they had hidden deep inside them. I saw them rally around each other and many new friendships were made." Praise God for the work He is doing in our teens' lives!

Blessing-Filled Week at Camp!

This year we had yet another fabulous week of Elementary Camp that I co-dean with Cody Davidson. We hosted 95 kids and 33 staff at North Florida Christian Camp this past week. Of those kids, 11 were baptized either at camp or shortly after arriving home and another 13 made decisions for Christ and will soon follow in believer's baptism! Additionally, we raised over $1,100 for missions! What a mighty God we serve! Please continue to keep these camp children, as well as all of our students, in your prayers as they commence their new school year.

Ninos de Mexico's Current Need

Many of you are familiar with and have been very faithful to Ninos de Mexico, a mission with which TCC has partnered for over ten years. In fact, every two years, TCC sends a mission team led by Panda and Rob Rodriguez to Mexico to assist Ninos' efforts. Since 1966, Ninos' purpose has been to evangelize to Mexico's lost people, primarily through orphaned children whom they counsel, educate and house via one of their four schools and multiple church plants. Currently, Ninos de Mexico is running an urgent deficit of $53,000. This past Wednesday evening, a special offering was taken for Ninos and we collected $1,371.50 for them. Thank you so much to those who have given! We will continue to accept funds to help them meet their need. If you would like to help, please make out checks to Tomoka Christian Church and note "Ninos de Mexico" in the memo line. Checks may be dropped in the offering bag at any Tomoka Christian service. For more information on Ninos de Mexico's great work, check out their website here.

Team Tomoka in Ethiopia

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Ethiopia with a mission team of 20 was presenting new soccer outfits to a group of young boys living in poverty in Ethiopia.

In this picture, members of Team Tomoka, led by TCC’s missionary Shelly Hilvety, center, show off their new uniforms that were patterned after one of the boys’ favorite pro teams from Honduras. Tomoka also paid for balls and lots of other soccer equipment. Funds came from many sources that were gathered over a two-year period, including sales of coupon books, House of Prayer devotion books and Cafe food and drink purchases, as well as donations from individuals.

Boys on the team, most of whom would otherwise be spending time running the streets, are exposed to Christian teaching and example throughout the soccer season and beyond.

It’s not the first time Shelly has led a soccer team while serving in Ethiopia. Over the years, boys who’ve been on her teams have grown up. Many still stay in touch with Shelly, and even call her Mom. More than one who became Christians due to her teaching now are studying to be pastors.

A Story of Faith Through Compassion

Many of you took a leap of faith when you made the decision to sponsor a Compassion International child. I want to share with you the amazing story of just one family in our church.

I have to tell you that this was a big leap of faith for my family. During the time that my daughter asked me to sponsor another child, somewhere else in the world, I was going through cancer and unemployment (due to cancer treatment) and was not really sure what God was going to do with my own family. But, I was fairly confident in my God. He has brought us to and through so many valleys and He has never left us, nor forsaken us. My daughter reminded me during this past Christmas season that it really is in the giving that we receive the most.

We went to the Compassion website that day and we sponsored a 4-year-old little boy in Bangladesh, an almost completely Muslim country. And, you know the most amazing thing happened. The same day that I sponsored him I was listening to the Z88.3 on the way to the doctor and the scripture they read over the air was Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future." This is my favorite scripture and I just knew in my heart that I had made the right decision.

As if that wasn't enough confirmation from God that we were in His will and He was in control, I get to the doctor appointment and, on this very SAME day, I was declared CANCER FREE! What an amazing God we serve!

My family has since signed up to be correspondence sponsors through Compassion. There are children who have financial sponsors, but never receive letters of hope and encouragement from their sponsors for whatever reasons. My "Compassion family" has grown from one 4-year-old little boy in Bangladesh to include a 14-year-old boy in Bolivia, a 10-year-old girl in Uganda, and a 15-year-old boy in Tanzania! I thank God so much for the opportunity to share His love with His most precious creation. When you combine the siblings and parents of these children, we are actually reaching out and touching/changing the lives of 21 people through this one act of Compassion!!! And to think, it all started through a Christmas wish!

Click here to find out you too can sponsor a child through Compassion International. Then write to us at tcc@tomokacc.org and tell us your leap of faith story!

Acts 1:8

We received a thank you note and photo from the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan for a recent shipment of items that members of the TCC family donated. This military unit completes about three humanitarian missions a month. They visit an orthopedic clinic, a children’s hospital, a school for girls and women, a girls’ orphanage and refugee camps. At the camps, most of the refugees live in mud huts, tents or buildings made of rubble.

The letter said: “Your donation of clothing, toys, and school supplies are given to local Afghans. During any one visit, we can serve as few as 10 families to as many as 230. Each family receives several large plastic bags filled with clothing socks, shoes, hats, gloves and blankets …”

“It is your generous donations that make these trips possible. As you can see from the pictures (above), our trips put smiles on their faces.”

Thank you to Andrea Gilbert, TCC’s coordinator of the Afghanistan project!

In the photo at right, Tomoka Christian children led by Panda Rodriguez display clothing and supplies they gathered for the Afghan drive. They surprised Andrea with them — and $90 the children gathered through a month of offerings — on a recent Wednesday. Thank you to Panda and the children for showing God's love to those they'll never meet.

Note: Donations of clothing in excellent condition are being accepted at Tomoka Christian for a future shipment to Afghanistan. Please place them in the Afghanistan basket in the Café.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Aim at the Target, Part 4 of 5

Maybe the reason so many churches are dying is that at some point they have lost the desire to accomplish God’s goal. After all, even a small church can support a missionary, help send a student to Bible College, or help the homeless. Once the wagons are circled, death is imminent. Death is certain unless a church is willing to open up and love those for whom Jesus died.

The New Testament is replete with “one another” passages. The truth is these passages can never be fulfilled without a zeal for missions. A partial list is given below.

• Love One Another, John 15:17
• Confess Sins to One Another, James 5:16
• Pray for One Another, James 5:16
• Forgive One Another, Ephesians 4:32
• Bear One Another’s Burdens, Galatians 6:2
• Teach & Admonish One Another, Colossians 3:16
• Be Subject to One Another, Ephesians 5:21
• Encourage One Another, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Serve One Another, Galatians 5:13
• Rejoice with Each Other, 1 Corinthians 12:26
• Weep with One Another, Romans 12:15
• Care for One Another, 1 Corinthians 12:25
• Depend on One Another, Romans 12:5
• Be of the Same Mind Toward one Another, Romans 12:16
• Show Hospitality to One Another, 1 Peter 4:9
• Fellowship with One Another, 1 John 1:7

The only possible reason for Jesus leaving His church here on earth is for the church to help others find salvation in Jesus. Therefore if that is the church’s objective, is it any wonder why God blesses churches that are focused on people getting to know our Savior?

“Churches grow best if they find a model God is blessing.” –Carl George

More tomorrow!

Pure Religion

I recently heard from two missionaries who founded and continue to run Christian World Adoption. Bob & Tomilee Harding’s note below illustrates how God is moving in Ethiopia.

We have just returned from our Ethiopian trip with our spirits and batteries recharged!

It was so good to visit the children’s homes and have the opportunity to see two new homes recently added to our growing list of locally run homes that we support. Some of this support goes to children who are able to stay in their homes with their families or guardians with some financial aid from us through the local centers.

The major thrust of our trip was to visit and approve finishing touches on the children’s home in our new Acacia Village complex. This building is nearing completion, and we needed to approve some final layout decisions. Thanks to all of you, this is becoming a reality. It will be housing children this coming year! This is a big project for us but God has been faithful to guide us. Several more buildings are about to start, including a mission outreach apartment building, a clinic, and an enrichment center (school).

We were honored to have another audience with the President of Ethiopia including a short photo opportunity where he offered his continued support and thanks for our programs in Ethiopia.

The trip was truly blessed. CWA’s future programs in Ethiopia look very positive and we will continue to place the rights and concerns of the children first.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Tacos, Anyone?

We received word from our missionaries in Mexico, Steve and Kay Carpenter. A team of nine from TCC are serving with them right now. Below is an excerpt of the letter.

It is great to have nine excited men ready to go to work. But first they will attend worship services at the Northside Church this morning and then, after tacos, we all head up to the Eagles Church for the afternoon service. They came armed with small wooden crosses to hand out and enough toys for over 100 children. That's a good thing because this last Thursday we had 85 children and adults in attendance with at least 65 of those being children. Looks like we're in for a good week.

The Northside Church is the main project for the team. They will be digging, doing plumbing and mixing concrete. They may also lay brick, put in some lights and do a small bit of painting. All the tasks they will accomplish will move the construction along its schedule and bless the church congregation in a big way.

The rain seems to be a big story right now in lots of places. We read about the flooding in the Southeast and pray for those people. There was a need for rain but now I think the need has passed. Hopefully we will have some clear days, at least during the hours that we are working at the church. As an update for those of you who read about the flooding near us due to a break in a huge drainage tube and a lot of runoff water, the city gave appliances and items to the victims of the flooding. Alejandra received a new refrigerator, her son received a new bed and they received new tile for their floors. Their house isn't back to normal yet, but it is getting there.

The community ministry known as Community Health Evangelism is set to begin with a Vision Conference with community leaders from the Eagles neighborhood this October. We have two nights set aside for the presentation to community leaders. It is our prayer that from this Vision Conference that momentum can be built for the ministry in the neighborhood. Please keep this conference and the community leaders in your prayers. We need to bathe this in prayer!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. You are the ones who make this ministry possible and we praise our Lord for each of you.

Getting the Job Done

Every two or three years, we publish a prayer journal listing all of the missionaries that Tomoka Christian financially sponsors. Since the last journal, called “Be the Church,” was published, we’ve added many missionaries to the Tomoka Christian support roster. They are listed below. Please remember them as you pray.

Mike & Teresa Grant — Haiti
Barry & Charlene Owensby — Cuba
White Water Christian Church, Wyoming — USA
Robert & Natalie Braden — England
St Louis Christian College (scholarship) — USA
Shelly Hilvety — Ethiopia
New Missions Systems, Halima — Kenya
Grace House DeLand — USA
Compassion International: Christian Tejeno — Philippines
Compassion International: Rachel Niyonkura — Rwanda
Eric & Shelia Jenkins — North Africa
Charlie & Fern Peters — USA
Chris & Aubri Casey — Europe
Melonnie Kelly — Haiti
Zeca & Gabia Sales — USA
Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission — USA
Bill Frans, Toba Lake Church — Indonesia
Thomas Guiteres — Timor Leste
Pastor Martin Roberts — USA
Daniel Meyers Bread Ministry — USA
Kelly Bender — USA
April Roam — Honduras
Beth Ramos — New Guinea
Barbara Beute, Justice Missionary — USA
Sam & Karen Kohler — Japan
Richard & Chris Rice — Guatemala
Garry & Weiling Klinel — Japan
Providence County, RI, church — USA
Equipping the Saints — USA
Bong Barredo — Philippines
Mary Williams — USA
Doug & Carol Baldwin — Ecuador
Christ Reaching Asia Mission — North Korea
Every Home for Christ — Mongolia, Niger & Senegal
Voice of the Martyrs — Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos & Sudan
Team Expansion — Bosnia
Assemblies of God World Missions — Algeria

For those who don't have a journal, I want to encourage you to pick one up in the Worship Center lobby. For those who already have one, we printed stick-on labels with the above names that fit on the inside back cover of the journal. You can pick up a label in the Worship Center lobby.

Tomoka adds new missions

Pat Bolles recently published a post on Tomoka Christian’s Missions blog that introduces new additions to the 200+ that TCC financially and prayerfully supports. These newcomers are from the Philippines, Ecuador and the south side of Chicago. Pat’s post is online here.

A young adult on the mission field

It inspires me to see the young people of our congregation taking on ministry leadership roles and being God’s hands and feet. One of these servants in our church family is Jocelyn, who attends the University of Central Florida. Below, she shares a report of the mission work she is doing in the Dominican Republic with an Orlando-area organization.

The first time I visited the Dominican Republic was this past March during Spring Break. When I was first preparing myself for the trip, I thought I knew exactly what to expect and I was not anticipating much. God is so funny though, because he completely broke me down and I fell absolutely in love with the country. The culture, the people, the food, the language — everything about it swept my heart away.

We stayed in Santiago in a Catholic Retreat center. All of our meals were provided for us by the pastor of a church in the city who we called Pastora. She opened her home to us for every meal and fed us delicious Dominican food. She was one of the first pastors in Santiago and her church is growing every week. She praises the Lord that they need more space. It's been 10 years and the church is still in the process of being built. Her church sends out two vans to two small villages — Cuesta Arena and Los Cocos, about 25 minutes away — to transport people to the church and back every Sunday. The service is very passionate and I love watching the congregation worship God.

Each day, we went out to the village of Cuesta Arena to help with a water filtration system. The water in the Dominican is very unsafe to drink and the people of Cuesta Arena are surviving off of this water. A lot of the kids down there have discoloration in their faces and some are very sick because of this. Once they brought back some of the water to be tested in the United States. It was so bad that nobody should be even living near this water, let alone drinking it. A couple of students on this trip were engineering majors, so they helped assemble the final details on the filtration system. They were able to complete the system, but the well needs to be dug 100 more feet before it is usable. The community is excited but it is also hard for them to understand why it is so important to have the clean water.

My favorite part about Cuesta Arena is the kids. They are so much fun. They are innovative, loving and curious. They ask a lot of questions about your family and where you live and they just love giving kisses on your cheek. One girl said that she had the best day of her entire life because someone hugged her, loved her and wanted to play with her. What was so neat about this trip is that since we were out there every day, we were really able to start developing relationships with those kids. You learn their stories. I cannot even begin to describe how rewarding it is to see those kids looking up at you, telling you they love you. We had a little Bible lesson for the kids every day and they love hearing about Jesus. They all ask when you're coming back and it truly breaks your heart to leave.

It is a very giving community for both the kids and adults. The men are eager to help with the construction and digging. The women can't wait to offer you some fruit or vegetables. The kids will give you anything they can find — a slice of cheese, a cough drop, a hair tie. It's amazing to see the generous hearts of these people.

I returned in May and all the people remembered me, even the kids. They remembered the dances we taught them and the games we played. When they saw me they started yelling "Yoselin, Yoselin” — that's how they pronounce my name. I couldn’t believe they remembered it!

The purpose of that trip, and all following trips, is the construction of a missionary house in Cuesta Arena. There will be four different mission teams coming in and out during that time and I will help lead devotions in the mornings for those weeks. I am elated to be going back and I cannot wait to see what God has in store. He is so good and He truly is moving throughout the Dominican Republic. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

Note: Jocelyn is presently on her third trip to the Dominican Republic and will return home later this month.

My "YES" Moment

The link below is to an inspiring post, My "YES" Moment, from the blog of Tomoka Christian’s lead missionary to Haiti, Melonnie Kelly. She lives in Ormond Beach but is training for a long-term position with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.

Read about Melonnie’s "YES" moment here.