At the Mansion

This past week we attended the funeral of one of our newest members. Magnolia, a member of Juan Tavarez' congregation died on Sunday evening.

Magnolia had been feeling poorly for a while and on Sunday evening she was taken to the clinic. After about half an hour she died of a heart attack. The general custom here is for the body to be returned to the family. So she was brought back to the house where the family bathed and dressed her body for burial. Then the family needed to go out to buy a casket and have it delivered to the house.

The casket is usually placed in the front room of the house - after all the furniture has been moved out. (In this case, the family decided to use the community center). Friends, relatives and neighbors will then arrive to accompany the family members throughout the night and until the service and burial the following day.

Juan Tavarez was able to give a beautiful law and gospel presentation to all the people present, affirming the faith that Magnolia had in her heart guaranteeing her a place in heaven next to her Savior. It was an opportunity to witness to many new people.

After the service, a rented hearse arrives to take the casket to the cemetery. Most of the burials here are in masoleums. The family must rent a space for x number of years (usually 3). At the end of the contract you are given the option of renewing or different options for disposing of the remains.

When the funeral party arrives at the cemetery, the workers are there waiting. Juan was able to say a few words again for the family. Then the casket is placed into the chosen spot and is immediately cemented in. The workers place the name plaque in place and fix it in place with cement. Some families may leave flowers or pictures in front of the vault. These are then enclosed with a metal grate and locked to avoid being robbed.

Final condolences are given and everyone returns to their homes. People do not get together for a meal after the burial, as is customary in the US.

Magnolia had been a member for just a few short months. She was very happy about her faith, always expressing her joy in forgiveness. In one service she gave a beautiful witness of her faith to another family member. We will miss her - but only for a little while. We know that she is already with the Savior - at the mansion.

Back from teaching trip

God is good.

He granted me safe travels during a ten day teaching trip to another country. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with other pastors and study the book of Galatians with them, translating and interpreting it on the basis of the original Greek. Martin Luther compared the book of Galatians to his wife, saying "I am married to it!" Such was his love for the pure gospel the book teaches -- that God declares us "Not guilty!" purely because of the merits of Christ; thus we are FREE IN CHRIST.

Please pray for Pastors Frank, Catalino, Vladimir, Carlos, their families and their ministries. Despite the many man-made obstacles they face where they serve, the Lord is blessing the preaching of his Word. We pray he guards, protects and encourages them at all times.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Feliz 27 de Febrero

Happy Independence Day!

Feb 27 is Independence Day in the Dominican Republic. We thank God for the freedoms we enjoy -- especially, the freedom of religion.

We pray for his blessing as we strive to share the blessing of true freedom -- freedom from sin, fear of death and the devil -- through faith in Christ Jesus here in the DR.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW