Witnesses

Julio first heard the gospel from a WELS member who has traveled to Antigua and met one of the missionaries there. He was studying with his friend when he came into contact with some WELS missionaries that were living in Santo Domingo. Julio continued to study and became a member of the WELS church here in the Dominican Republic.

On a bus trip to the east end of the island, Julio sat next to Freddy. He began to talk to him about the things he was studying in Bible class. The new things he was hearing intrigued Freddy and he began to attend the Bible studies with Julio. With time, Freddy became a member of the church and eventually began to study in the WELS seminary program.

Freddy met Juan while living in Santiago. He began to talk to Juan about the things he was studying in the seminary. Juan was very interested in what Freddy was telling him and continued to ask questions and read the materials Freddy gave him. The Holy Spirit worked faith in Juan's heart. Juan is taking classes to become a member of our church.

Juan began talking to Angelo. Angelo was a member of a different church but was unhappy with some of their teachings. He liked the things Juan was telling him about the Bible, and how he was able to show that everything he taught was based on biblical teaching. Angelo is also taking classes to become a member.

Angelo is talking to his family members. He wants them to hear the truth and believe in the Savior for their salvation.

The Lord uses the witnessing of believers to work faith in their hearts. What a blessing and a privilege that He allows us to participate in this glorious activity of witnessing about what He has done for us and for all people. May He also use you to speak to many people of His love.

Do You Know Jesus?

Remember playing games with your friends and cousins when you were little? What great fun to be done with chores and homework and be able to go outside and play. What's even better, is when your friends and cousins live nearby and can come over every day and play.

We easily remember happy play days of our youth. How often did we talk to our friends and cousins about the Savior and witness to them about forgiveness and the promise of eternal life? Not very often, I have to admit.

Alexsandra is a beautiful example of a young girl who not only loves to play with her cousins but also loves to tell them about Jesus. At eight years of age, she is already witnessing to her cousins, sharing with them the basic teachings of the Scriptures. After play, she invites her cousin to sit with her and read about the creation of the world, the life and death of Jesus, the meaning of His resurrection. Her great joy in her own salvation compels her to share this wonderful news with others.

What an inspiration for others to see her witnessing. With what ease and zeal she speaks to others of Jesus - introducing her best friend to those she loves most.

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for this beautiful child who speaks so easily of your love. Help me to also have the heart of a child, to speak to others without fear, using every opportunity to share your love with others. For Jesus' sake.

600 Blocks

Last year the Moca congregation was granted a donation from the World Board Building Fund. With these funds they were able to purchase a lot for a new church. After much searching, they found a building easily accessible to the members of the church in Moca.

The lot already has an existing building, but it needs repair. The church has initially purchased 600 cement blocks to begin the needed renovations. On Saturdays and weekday afternoons members find their way over to the church to donate their time to build their new church. It is a joyful job for them as they fit block upon block and await the day when they will worship their Savior in this new building.

Now that the rainy season has started it has been more difficult to progress with the construction. Most of the work is outside, the cement dries slower in the humid weather, and the roads that are not paved turn into endless potholes slowing down the traffic.

The congregation is practicing Christian stewardship to purchase more needed blocks and other building materials. It is a challenge for them but one that they do with contentment. They are taking ownership of their church by donating their time and talents to help with the construction and their treasures to finish the purchases.

The congregation in Moca sends its thanks to the World Board for the donation. They are also thankful for this opportunity to serve their Lord. To Him alone be all the glory.

Mother's Day for Sandra

Sandra's father died when she was eight years old. He had been suffering from leukemia for over a year and she had watched the disease ravage his weakened body. Homemade remedies and pills of different sizes and colors became quite common until he no longer had any strength left to fight off the disease.

Sandra's mother was left alone, with six small children and another one on the way. Without work and no income, she had no way to continue supporting all her young ones. Her first thought was to "farm out" the children to different relatives even though her husband's dying wish was to keep the family together. Plans were set in motion to send the children to different relatives.

Then Merecedes, a lady from the community, stepped forward and offered to take all five of the girls. Sandra's mother agreed, and so it was that Sandra was raised by Mercedes along with her four sisters. Mercedes honored the dying wish of Sandra's father.

Some time later Sandra's mother remarried. Sandra hoped and hoped that now that her mother was no longer on her own she would come for her children and reunite her family since they were still living in the same town. This did not happen. Her mother eventually had two more children with her new husband, but never approached Sandra, her sisters or Mercedes.

Sandra grew up under Mercedes' care and married and started a family of her own. Her husband, Alex, is a seminary student in the WELS and studies with LATTE professors. Alex began talking to Sandra about God's agape love, how much He has loved us, how much He has forgiven us.

This concept of agape love was a difficult struggle for Sandra. Years of resentment and rejection against her mother had built up inside her heart. "How could a mother treat her own children way? Why didn't she come for us once she had the means to do so?" Alex patiently repeated to her the truth of God's forgiveness and His agape love. A tear forms in Sandra's eye and her chin begins to quiver. "Then I began to understand how unfair I was being with my mother. I was harboring anger in my heart and sinning against my Savior. Continually I sinned against Him with my anger and He just kept forgiving me. How could I point my finger at my mother?"

Does Sandra still struggle with the pain and anger? "Yes, there are days when the memories creep back into my mind. Sometimes the same questions go round and round in my head. Many days I forget about God's love and how many, many times He has forgiven me. But the Holy Spirit brings me back. He shows me the cross".

Sandra is planning a trip out to the "campo" where her mother is living. She doesn't visit very often and hasn't seen her for a while. But a desire is starting to form in her heart. She wants to talk to her mother about this agape love.

New Work

"Send me, send me". The Holy Spirit has touched many hearts with this desire to serve and witness about their Savior. This desire yields a zeal to teach others about the Savior, to share with them the good news that someone else shared with you.

Rona is an example of such zeal. Recently he began church services among his neighbors in the apartment building where he lives. The majority of the people are fellow Haitians that are here in the DR for health care, studying in universities, or trying to find work here to be able to send money home to their families.

Rona has a love for his Savior and a love for his people. More and more Haitians cross the boarder every day. He talks about the wide variety of churches and teachings the people are exposed to in Haiti but their is a scarcity of true doctrine. Out of thankfulness for the gift of faith that he has been given, he wants to do as much as he can to spread this saving message to others. He is beginning with his neighbors. This service is held in the evening in addition to the normal Haitian service that is held in the morning in a different part of the city.

"We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard". "Send me, send me".