Building update

Construction on the Moca building has been moving along at a steady pace. The building currently under construction will initially be used for worship but in the future will be for classes and group activities.

Cacique, a member of the Moca congregation has taken charge of the work crew and supervises the work and the purchase of construction materials to keep the work moving.


Sometimes materials are hard to find, but the workers keep at the job and the progress can be seen. It is quite a job to do construction in the hot sun, and most everything is done by hand. Even the mixing of cement is done by hand (no cement mixers).



The workers hope to get started on the roof this week. After that, the building will be painted and then the last details, windows, doors, pour cement for the floor, etc. We are thankful for good workers and hope to be in this temporary worship facility soon.

Fathers

Do you remember holding your newborn for the first time? What joy, what inexpressible pride fills your heart when we see that new life resting in your arms gazing up into your eyes. What great illusions we have of how intelligent this child will be, how this child will change the world.

As parents, we try to fulfill all our child's needs. This includes food, clothing, a home, education, security, activities that stimulate their lives and minds. As believers, we also bring our children to the Lord, where God adopts them as His children and puts faith into their hearts.

We have also seen a different phenomenon that occurs frequently in the DR - fathers raising children that are not their own. One example of this is Julio who is raising a child that is not his own. She doesn't know who her father is. Her mother is related to Julio but is no longer able to raise her daughter, so Julio has taken over that responsibility. This happens quite frequently here where people die young, or parents may lose their jobs and are unable to take of all their children, or sometimes the family is abandoned. Then other family members take over and nieces and nephews are received into other family homes. So many men are being fathers to children they have not fathered. They become fathers to them.

Julio not only provides for Angela's physical needs, he is also "training her up" in the Lord. She is receiving catechism classes and attending church services regularly. Julio tells us that Angela often cries because she feels abandoned, not knowing who is her father. He tries to comfort with the message of her heavenly Father who cares for her and loves her.

What a blessing to be born into a loving family, what greater blessing to be "brought into" a family. We have been brought into God's family, grafted in, and made His children. Thanks be to God for giving us earthly fathers that loved us and trained us in His ways. Thanks and thanks and thanksgiving be to our heavenly Father for choosing us before the creation of the world to be His children. Happy Father's Day.

I was sick and you visited me

I spend a lot of time in hospitals; not because I am a nurse and not because of poor health. The time is spent visiting and helping others who are seeking medical care. Health issues are a constant concern in a country where the majority of the population is poor. Unpaved roads, heavy rains with poor drainage systems, lack of pollution controls, littering all contribute to health problems.

Thankfully there are clinics available. You may have to wait eight hours or more for the doctor to arrive, and nine times out of ten you will be given antibiotics for whatever it is that you have, but people still use what is available.

Hospital stays usual mean bringing someone to stay with you. The room comes with a pull-out couch, but you bring your own sheet and pillow. You also must bring your own meals. You also bring your own clothes - no hospital gowns. When the doctor writes out your prescription, the pharmacy may not have the drugs you need.

Hospital visits are great opportunities to speak about Jesus, the Great Physician and how he heals of us our deadly sickness - sin. He is the doctor that is always available to listen and diagnosis your condition. And the medicine he prescribes, forgiveness, is never scarce or unavailable. Whatever our physical ailments may be, they are nothing compared to the pain of eternity in hell. Some physical ailments may not be cured, but the promise of forgiveness has no limits.

Baptized into God's Family

Does an infant sin? Can an infant believe in Jesus? Do infants need baptism? Can baptism save us? Previously, before becoming members of our WELS congregation, many of our members would have answered "no" to these questions. Many of them come from Pentecostal and Evangelical backgrounds that reject infant baptism.

What is different now? The Holy Spirit has been working in their hearts. They have learned what Scripture teaches about baptism, about our sinful condition from conception, about the power of God's Word working through baptism. What they had believed before, based on human logic and reasoning, is now rejected as false teaching. The Holy Spirit has worked faith in their hearts based on what God says and not man. What previously was staunchly rejected has now become a badge of honor, "Yes, we baptize infants."

Now they are bringing their children and infants to be baptized, believing that the Holy Spirit is working faith in these hearts from that very moment, forgiving them all their sins, making them His children and giving them eternal life. Adults, who had not been baptized are also being received as God's children.

Do infants sin? Yes. Can an infant believe in Jesus. Yes. Do infants need baptism? Yes. Can baptism save us? Yes. The Holy Spirit shows us the truth and gives us joy and comfort in his promises. "Baptism now saves you" 1 Peter 3:21