Break the code

Here's some fun: Can you decipher this note that was left for me the other day? I'll help by typing it out:

Natan tiene un paquete en Bisne emiu

The first part is easy: "Nathan, you have a package in..." But what's "Bisne emiu"??? It took me two days to figure it out. "Bisne emiu" is how my Spanish speaking friend understood "Business Mail", the name of my mail service back in the states! :-)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

San Pedro de Macorís

What an enjoyable weekend in San Pedro de Macoris. Since the congregation granted its pastor a sabbatical to study at our seminary in Santiago, a missionary goes every other weekend to teach Bible classes and lead a worship service. It is a three hour trip one way, so we try to make the most out of every trip.

After heavy rains prevented some of my Saturday visits, most of the members still came for Saturday evening Bible class — we just started at 8:00pm instead of 7:00, waiting for the rain to stop. We’re working through the Catechism to prepare Patricia and Neli for confirmation, so we studied the 8^th Commandment.

The small but faithful family of believers gathered Sunday morning for worship at 9:30 (starting the service by 9:45). The Gospel was Jesus’ third appearance to his disciples after his resurrection (John 21:1-14). Like young children who love to hear their parents read the same stories or sing the same songs over and over again, we never get tired of hearing about Jesus’ resurrection and its guarantee of victory over sin and death.

Making a few visits after the service, I was able to schedule Bible classes with some prospects in two weeks. Then it was back to Santiago to get ready for this week’s seminary classes.

Thank you, Lord, for safe travels and the joy of gathering around your Word with your saints in San Pedro de Macorís.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Great minds...

You know the saying "Great minds think alike." We in the DR now have proof that it is true.

Gathering for our special Maundy Thursday service during Holy Week, Prof. Phil Strackbein and son David walked in both wearing wine-colored (purple) shirts and black pants. They hadn't planned it that way at home; it just happened.

As the members were joking about father and son dressing alike, in I walked with a similar wine-colored shirt and black pants. Proof positive--Great minds *do* think alike!

:-)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Spread, oh, Spread The Mighty Word

Preach the Word. Every week the gospel is spread in the Dominican Republic in three different languages.

The Haitians meet and preach God’s Word in French to their members and visitors. The Word is spread and taken to Haitian households.

The Dominicans spread the Gospel message in Spanish. The Word is spread and shared in Dominican homes.

The English speakers meet for a weekly Bible study and encourage each other in English. The Word is spread and strength is received to continue spreading the Word to others.

Occasionally all three groups plan a joint activity and enjoy the fellowship of other believers. Christian love is shared and hearts are encouraged when we see other believers coming to hear and learn of the free forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. The Word is spread and hearts are filled with joy at seeing the growth of others in the faith.

God’s Word is spread and shared in three different languages, encouraging hearts and building up faith in every believer. The Holy Spirit continues to be active in giving His gift of faith to many people of many different languages.

Thank you Heavenly Father for this gift of faith.

Thank you for this evidence of Your work among us.

(Submitted by Kathy Strackbein. Thanks, Kathy!)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.... BUT Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

"Death has been swallowed up in victory.... [God] gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
-- from St. Paul's great resurrection chapter, 1 Corinthians 15.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Dominican Driving

I just got back from Santo Domingo after picking up my renewed passport (yes, it’s been ten years this June since I went to Mexico for Spanish immersion to start vicar year). The four hour round trip allows a lot of time to experience Dominican traffic. On this trip I saw:

• A truck that veered too far to the right and fell sideways into the open trench (deep and wide for heavy tropical rains). He lost most of his load of 10-pound bags of rice.
• A tractor-trailer that lost its trailer.
• A semi-truck that went barreling too fast down hill and hit the back end of a delivery truck, forcing it off the road into the ditch.
• A bull running loose on the freeway. (At least it was running with traffic, instead of against--and it observed the rule of "slower traffic keep right".)
• Too many “stealth” vehicles to count. (I call them stealth because they belt out so much black smoke that you can’t see the vehicle until you’re right next to it.)
  

Just par for the course in daily Dominican driving. (For the record, I didn't see any injuries--by God's grace.)

And to top it off, upon checking my new passport for errors, I discovered that according to the American government, I am now female. That means I get to drive to the capital again to correct my passport and be a man again. :-) :-) :-)

The Lord is good as he watches over us and sends his angels to keep us safe.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Sunday of Palms

They took palm branches and went out to meet [Jesus], shouting,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)

On Sunday, the Christian church celebrated Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem for the final week of his earthly ministry. We acknowledge that he is King of kings and Lord of lords -- our King. We marvel at how he is a King unlike any other. Humble, not arrogant. Who rules with peace instead of the threat of war. Obedient to his Father's will. One who comes to serve instead of be served. One who gives his life for his subjects rather than demand that they give their life for him.

But Jesus' triumph came at a price. The shouts of "Hosanna" changed to "Crucify him!" in five short days. As you travel with Jesus to the cross this Holy Week, marvel that God's Son would give his life for yours. Treasure Christ's blood shed to pay for your sins. Praise Jesus for taking your guilt as his own and suffering the full wrath of God so that you would not have to.

Look forward to next Sunday when the shouts will change once again. From "Crucify him!" to "He is not here. He is risen, just as he said!" Then celebrate Jesus' greatest triumph -- his victory over sin, death and the devil. And rejoice that as your King, he gives that victory to you!

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Culture sidelight: Does your church have to buy palm branches from the florist for Palm Sunday? In the Caribbean we just go outside and cut a few branches off the palm trees in our front yard!