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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 11/17/2008
sorry guys I don't have a lot of time , but I just wanted to stop by an let y'all know that I'm leaving to Haiti for 5 weeks. Lots of people are praying for me right now and a lot more committted to keep me in prayers. I'm arraghing a lot of stuff before leaving, I don't know If I'll have internet access or phone service, but please leave me a comment to let me know you are praying.
blessings
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 11/4/2008
For those of you who know.... Que lo Que?
My time in dajabon and Haiti was great, even thou I just went to talk personally with a couple people. First of all I met Pastor Orlando and his wife, a married couple of puertorrican missionaries. It was hard at first because when I told him I wanted to stay in Haiti for 6 weeks he confronted me asking me a lot of questions that I thought about but didn't except him to ask me. Then we talk for a while about the trials that as a missionary you might find (homesickness, cultural shock, etc).
After that he sent me to have a talk with a Haitian guy that works for the church, where he would give me a little cultural orientation. The next day was mostly hanging out in Dajabon. The last day I went to Haiti, where I spend like 3 hours hanging out with some teenagers in the school that knew some French. And then I talked to the Haitian Pastor that I'm going to work with.
He was very excited, apparently I'll be working at a youth group in a city called Capotillo, most kids there speak both Spanish and French. The rest of the schedule is going to be set after I go there.
Blessings to everyone and I'll be posting soon about other stuff before leave, (I don't think I'll have internet access)
P.S happy election Day
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 10/27/2008
Hey guys, fisrt of all thanks for you encouragment comments, they've been really helpfull these days.
Well, God has been doing great things in my life recently, preparing me more than anything to be patient and obedient even in the hardest moments.
Recently I talked with my mentors, and they gave me a good recommendation, and after praying about it for a while, I have decided that while I get the documents here, I'll go on a 6 week mission trip to Haiti. I'm still working on the arrangements and tomorrow I'll go to dajabon to visit the chruch there and go to Haiti to find a house to stay in.
This will help me a lot and I'll possibly have the chance to work at an orphanage there (which I'd love). I pray that in my time there, is not only a blessing to me but to the people there.
I'll finally leave on November 18th, so please be praying about this and interceding for the country.
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 10/22/2008
Buen dia a todos
Just wanted to stop by and say hi, since I havenīt posted a blog in the last month.
Recently, God has been doing amazing things in my life. Specially when I took some time to complain again about certain things that I want to happen in my own way.
This blog is to share a Lil bit with you guys what is my frustration about, and how has God ministered in my life.
As most of you know, I committed to go to the missions field for a time of six months. after praying a lot, my heart moved towards the other side of the world. I thought it was pretty far, but seeing people with a desire of the word of God being preached and willing to support financially, and what is more; the amount of people that are praying for it, I realized that is not as far as it looks.
Today, a month and a half after my supposed departure, I'm still here, waiting for some documents so that can get the visa to that country. After I have the visa, Iīll be able to go through Europe easily.
The time has come when people ask me when am I leaving , and I don't have an answer, or some question the fact that I'm going so far, when only God Knows why he called me to go there.
There are people that are not very close friends of mine, That I can see they don't really care, but those that are close friends, don't want me to go.
In the other hand God has done a great job killing me, instead a lot of new things are transforming my heart and mind. I've learned to be patient, and to understand that God is the one in control not me. Because I don't know when I might get all that paperwork, I can not make plans further than two weeks, cuz I don't know If I'll be there or here.
My personality has been totally changed. I used to be an agenda-guy, now my life has no plans. Used to work really hard, now I need to follow God and get involved in as much ministry as I can if I want to feel productive. Good mentors are hard to find, specially when the ones you had were so Christ-like, my hope of finding spiritual fathers is almost gone, which has led me to realized that is not about people but about God.
That's why I go to Him, Normally I spend a good time complaining a nd then I feel His grace, I think I'm running out of tears. I just take my frustrations to Him.
It feels like following some footsteps in the darkest night, you know you are following Jesus, but you don't know where is he taking you to. Is in times like this that one gets to understand Israel, Moses trying to get them to this "promised land" that sounded more like a fairy tale compared to Egypt.
My mom is starting to feel depressed because I'm not studying nor working,
Sadly there's nothing I can do, I'm not from this world, I'm dedicated to God, committed to do what he asks me to do. It was my choice a couple years ago not to live according to this world. If Iīm to die in the missions field Iīll know That I havenīt wasted my life.
I wonīt deny though That I miss living a "normal" life sometimes.
PLease keep praying.
Blessings to y'all.
P.S. plus the frustration of not being able to beat Mario in my computer games
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 10/4/2008
That wednesday, after praying I knew I needed to go to Guahupita, it had been three weeks since last time I was there, due to all the paperwork for the mission trip, I had hard to get a block of time to go down there.
I got ready to go when my cousin asked me why do I go there, and how did I get to know those people, if they are not my relatives nor friends from church or school. So I started the whole story about my heart for Guachupita. I finished my story telling her that maybe they are having a hard time in the guachupita's church because miguel is not here, and I had three weeks without going there.
On my way, I heard some claping, then a song then ....
They were having their thrusday meeting in cellgroup, it excited me How this people, after being kicked out of their area because of the hurricanes, moving three times in two weeks, with the financial problems, and sicknesses they still get together to praise God.
The most interesting thing is that I got there and I sat down and Clemente told me: Ronnie today we are supposed to read psalm 22: (so they did have a plan!!!)
For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
psalm 22:24
I was asked to close in prayer, and then we took some pics. keep praying for this house church.
P.S. Alex is doing good, his eye looks a lot better. and he says hi
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 10/4/2008
After all the frustration that I was still going through, all the paper work that I have to wait for,
and the inestability of my plans. One day I woke up.......complaining, asking God why is this all happening to me. First I'm the only rare San Juan guy that is going on a mission trip overseas, second not to a close country but to China, and with a desire to share the gospel in unreached countries that most people don't understand......sometimes I don't understand it either.
That wednesday morning after complaining, I had to shut my mouth up and ask God for forgiveness, A sinfull person complaining the PERFECT ALMIGHTY GOD.
Still, He showed me HIs grace and love, He told me to rely on Him, And not to trust My own understanding.
At That point I fell like opening my little gideon's new testament and try to find something to read, I didnīt have an specific scripture, I just opened it:
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
psalms 55:22
My heart broke, and after praising God I started praying for others, that wednesday was heart changing, I felt like a transformation was done. Since then Iīm trying to live out Godīs promises.
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 9/22/2008
hey people!!!
Some of you prolly receive my e-mail a couple days ago about prayer requests, in case you didn't let me know, so you can pray for the things that need to be done before I can go to the missions.
Right now I'm at an Iternet cafe in Santo Domingo, because I showed up too early for my appointment. So I thougth it would be good to take some time to post something about the "transit visa".
Well, first of all the American embassy requires you to bring a lot of documents that they are going to check if they want to, cases where people bring a lot of documents and then they don't check are heard very often, but either they check your documents or not, it is a yes or no thing. REALLY COMPLICATED.
I made this appointment a month ago, suppousing that I would get all the documents from the "other" embassy before that, but.... I haven't been able to get the "other" visa yet, it means that I have little proof that I'm really going to "the other country".
I found this in the american embassy website.
Section 214(b) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It states:
Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status...
So according to this and some people I have asked before is something about being honest with them, but they can believe you or not.
There might be three possibilities:
1. I get the transit visa, then I apply for the other visa and then I go
2. I don't get the transit visa for lack of proof, US$150 are wasted, and then apply again in a month.
3. there is a little possibility that I don't get the visa because there's a residency visa in proccess from my dad, It means that I'll have to wait like a year befor I can go through the states, or aply for another visa in another country (it means 300 dollars more in flight + paperwork)
Don't forget to pray as much as you can.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Anyways my interview is in a couple minutes (like 60) I'll let you know how did it go.
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 9/17/2008
I remenber like today, that first time I went with my friend anthony to Miguel's house.
He was a missionary I had just worked for as a translator, me and my friend having been called by God to be missionaries previously, thought it would be a good Idea to ask this missionary to "teach" us how to be missionaries.
AS life takes its course, things go where you walk to, my firiend soon got involved in a job, (businesses of life) right now he's working in Spain. All this while I'm planing my 6 months trip to China.
I had to decide to go to the nations to really see what it takes a random dominican to be a missionary. First of all the whole thing you have to fight, agains yourself wether being a likewarm pew christian or a bold follower of Christ.
The whole process of this project helped me to grow in a lot of things as well as getting an insight of the dominican culture. these are a couple things I would never do:
Ask people for money (fund raising)
Leave my family (being sent)
Leave my girlfriend ( value God more than anything)
Not listen to my friends (most don't want me to leave)
I had to accept the fact that while some people are not missionaries, they are the ones supporting missionries, That I'm an oportunity for them to bless those countries. I could see how real is the promise of God when he said that if you leave your family you'll be blessed a 100x with other families. One day Ana told me that if I really loved her I should express her that love by loving God more, my best two friends are getting married while I'm in the missions field they are reallly concenerd About my presence in the wedding, my aunt would prefer me to go to another country, (cuz of persecution)
Sometimes I feel like I'm following God but he's going in the opposite direction, but normaly that's what happens when you follow God. It encourages me to know that I'm not going where everyone is going.
As Time comes nearer the spiritual fight gets stronger (fund raising, paperwork, relationships, and the inner tiredness of working all these things out). the only source of strength is God. Litterally God.
While I'm going through this I think of all the other missionaries around the world, I think of those planing on going on a mission like me, and also I think of those that one felt the called to be missionaries and then didn't respond the call.
Never forget to pray for us, specially those missionaries comming from a background like the Dominican.
Latin americans that were born in a poor background are supposed to work hard to financially help their famillis and accomplish success.
A bold follower of God is supposed to follow Him wherever He goes. That is our eternal success
Thanks for your prayers
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 9/5/2008
hello everyone, blessings to y'all.
I don't really have a lot of time, but I just wanted to let you know about what's going on here in the Dominican Republic.
Two hurricanes have gone through our country, Gustav went more through Haiti and Dajabon (a border city) in our country leaving a number between 70-120 deaths.
After that we just had Hannah, I'm writing this and today is the first sunny day in the last 3 to 4 days. Apparently we're going to have another one.
Everything's ok here, Families in Guachupita and Mesopotamia (my neighborhood) have been evacuated twice this week. Authorities say they are doing everything to avoid flood by controlling the waters in the damps*.
Please pray for our country, I'll come soon with a more detailed update.
Again thanks for your prayers
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Posted in General Articles
by Brother David
on 8/25/2008
Hello everyone
Friday night Hombre o Na had its first outreach and I just wanted to let you know about some of the highlights of it
The first thing is that we've been planning this for about a month and it was supposed to happen at a friend of ours church about 3 km from where we live, in the afternoon a big rain started, leaving us without a clue of what was going to happen. Later on we got together and (after drinking some coffee of course) we headed out to the place.
There people received us very warmly. 
We had planned each one to have a part in it. I was in charge of sharing the message that later I had to change because everyone in the building was a Christian.
Andres and Ruth (Lenin's wife) led worship while Luis shared a testimony.
Then I shared the word of God with them.
The happiness in the people from the church made us even happier. We spend some time with them after the service while Eliezer (1 year old Lenin's son) played the drums. (pics)
 I shared with them what's hombre o Na and what's our goal, as well as encouraging them to have the same kind of fellowship that doesn't have to do with church names, councils or doctrine, but that has a real desire to be a Jesus' disciple and to have real fellowship among your brothers and sisters.
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