From the DR

I am writing this on Wednesday night from the Dominican Republic. As many of you know, this place has become very special to me. My co-worker, Chris Butler, and I are here meeting with Marsha Davidson, the IMB missionary that we work with here. Chris still does not have his luggage, so pray that he gets it before we leave on Friday. These past couple of weeks have been filled with extremes in my life...from the extreme cold and wealth I experienced in New York City over Thanksgiving to the extreme warmth and poverty I have seen in our time here. Tonight we helped lead a group of abou 16 young people in a place called The Hole in Santiago, DR...16 teens who will never have the experiences that I have been so blessed to lead many young people in over the past few years. We are so blessed, and if you are reading this you are more blessed than you will probably ever realize. My heart is so full right now, I am amazed at just the amount of people I have seen today, the dense population here is unreal. I got to spend some time talking (through Marsha) to Pastor Ramon Ortiz, one of my heroes of the faith who has overcome great obstacles to serve the Lord. My life has been so easy compared to his. We went to the church where he serves today, which is in a very tough area, and I told Chris that he was on holy ground...so totally different that what we have in terms of church buildings. A few weeks ago as I was walking from my car to the church building on a Sunday morning, I was overwhelmed with this feeling that I needed to come back here as soon as possible, and I am so thankful that God opened the door for me to make this trip. Some may not understand why I had to come, and I am not sure of all of the specifics of why I needed to come now, but I know God will make that clear to me. I am going to bed now overwhelmed for many reasons...the things I have seen today, what God has reminded me of, some other circumstances in my life now. If you are reading this, pray for the people here in the DR and for Marsha's ministry...it is an honor to be a small part of it, and pray for Roseanna, Pastor Ramon's daughter who is sick. She is 3 years old, has bronchitis and may need to go to the hospital. I am also very thankful for people back home like Jerry, who help keeps things going while I am away. I spent time today worrying about ski trip chaperones, and sharing with people who have very little hope about the love of Jesus and how God knows their names and how important they are to him....as I said, I am overwhelmed, yet still know that, somehow, God is in control even when I don't see it. And I had the pleasure of drinking some of Pilar's wonderful lemonade...every day is filled with so much here, and I hope you will see God at work in whatever your days may bring to you. I certainly have felt him at work today here. If you are a youth from LBC reading this, remember to pray for what I have been asking you to pray for, the future of our student ministry.