Sunday, Feb 20

Our day starts at Rob’s church, the skies ope up once again as we enter a beatiful plantation-style hotel. The church is held in the back patio; the ocean surrounds us on all sides, and flower gardens are everywhere. Wow! How awesome to worship in this setting. Pastor William Oosterman preached on Luke 7:18-50, he challenges us to live as Jesus did. To close the Open Door team sings “The River”.

Team members meet for lunch after the service, and most us take advantage of the afternoon for relaxation and much needed rest. Dale and Lynne arrive in the DR. We leave for Juan’s church at 6:30PM in our trusted jeep-truck, Rob at the wheel. As we arrive at village #3, we hear loud prayer and praise. The women are annointing and preparing for the service. We present our songs and the Drama. Dan and Colette also share their testimony with translation by Daniela.
We feel so welcome here although we don’t understand the language, we feel peace and the presence of our Lord Jesus. We are amazed at the capacity of so small a building; the people keep coming in. More chares fill the front of the building. We stand in awe of God’s mighty hand. Praise and worship is loud but so amazing. As we return to our hotel it’s very quiet on the ride back. We learned an important lesson tonight. We have so much, complain loudly, and are often not happy. These people have little or nothing, depend on God’s mercy and continue to praise him daily. Amen.

--Colette

Another praise report. After the service Aime, Daniela and I went to Juan’s house to pray for his wife Jocelyn, who had been sick for 4 days. She had a fever and was feeling very ‘down’. We worshipped, prayed and annointed them and the house with oil, and instantly her fever left her and she felt better! They had a good rest last night, and she was back on her feet today. Praise the Lord for answered prayer! --Jerald.

Hi everyone,

I’m at a loss for words and the people who know me know that that doesn’t happen often. What we experienced today was heart wretching yet uplifting. It’s hard to believe that people could live in such horid conditions. We visited Los Algononos, walked through the sludge infested streets and were even invited to go in and see their homes. The level of poverty was something we had never experienced yet when asked where their hope was, they said it was in Jesus. One particular elderly woman shared how she had had nose cancer and was healed because of the care she received at the clinic. She expressed her faith in Jesus and how her faith had sustained her through it all. This woman lived in a tin shack, with dirt floors infested with termites and, exposed to all the natural elements including rats and boa constrictors. And at 77 years old, she was raising her grandson all by herself.

Dale and Henry met an elderly gentleman of approximately 97 years old, around the same age as their dads and he told them pointing to his black skin that no matter if we are black or white we have one Father in heaven.

Today was also very rewarding as we were able to work with a great team, digging trenches and painting to embellish the school grounds. We also did crafts with the children and saw the joy on their faces when their bracelets were finished and they could wear them.

Change was evident when walking through the new streets with the news homes that had been built. There was a sense of community among the people and a sense of pride in their new surroundings. What touched us greatly was the joy of the children that were in school. They were well kept and so eager to share and talk with us. We saw the value of sponsorship in that place.

After today we know that God works in people’s hearts everywhere around the world if they
let him in. He is the same God we believe in and he is changing lives everywhere.
It’s been a day that will be marked in our memories forever.

-- Lynne and Dale