A freezing cold walk with my wife.

googled  picture of Vale de Lilís and Pico Duarte (Listindiario.com)

A few days ago, my wife and I set off on a four days walk to Pico Duarte. Although it was very tiring at times, and exciting at other times, what impacted me the most was our last walk. The few kilometers we had to walk at 4 am from our campsite to PD made this trip unforgettable in a very hard way.

It was a 3 hrs walk from campsite to valle de Lilís (a valley located right under Pico Duarte). My wife and I were the slowests in the team so we always walked behind everyone. however for most of the hike two of our 8 friends followed us and made us company. At one point I told them that they could join the others since my wife needed time to walk all the way up to Valle de Lilís and it was going to take her some time.

The remaining walk was longer than I thought, probably one hour. We didn´t bring a thermometer but frozen dew in the grass gave me an idea of how cold it was. During our walk, Patria was falling asleep, both of us were freezing and our destination seemed farther and farther.

I decided to pray. I just started talking with God in the dark while holding my wife´s hand and slowly walked on a rocky path. As I prayed I asked God to help me walk with her for the rest of my life through the ups and downs it brings, through hot and cold climate, and that HE always gives me the energy to walk with her despite the circumstances of life. Tears started to freeze my cheeks and my throat got stuck. I couldn't´t pray anymore, So I just tried to tell God "you know what´s in my heart, help me be a husband like you are to the church".

We had to stop and share a Cliff bar I had on my pockets, so this could give her some energy. then I whistled, I got a response and finally we were sitting around the campfire with our friends. Again we set off to climb PD. We made it. I pray that we can go on this journey of marriage for the rest of our lives, holding hands, sharing everything we have and depending on one another so we can go through life.

We are taking a day of rest (super difficult for me). We are both sunburnt, my ancles hurt, 12 blisters on my feet, She rode a mule for 10 hours straight for the first time so she is exhausted.  But we are both very glad we go on this walk together. IT represented our journey in life as a couple.

(in case you are the scripture focused person, Ephesians 5 was a chapter in which I kept on meditating these last five days, the whole chapter)

God won´t just give you money

Last night as we sat at our youth group staff meeting, one of the guys shared about how he had had a dream in which Mayi was already preaching in Africa. He shared about how God was leading him to give money for Mayi´s coming trip and that he was willing to help in anything he could.

Mayi then shared how she had given up her dream of going to Africa but that in recent days God had been confirming His purpose for her in Central Africa. Tears were everywhere (she made a good effort to contain them though). Once she finished sharing, people started commenting on that as I was overwhelmed by my own thoughts.

God has called a bunch of us to go to the nations. I agree that the field is not for everyone, that some of us are committed to pray, while others are called to give or to go. We expect God to give us what we need in order to obey, nevertheless He is way more faithful than that. God is God not only to provide for money; He will provide the prayers and the covering for the accomplishment of His calling.

So whenever you are called to do something for Him, don´t only think about the money, think about the blessings it is for you to be honored to serve Him. Stop worrying about the finances and He will send and He will provide, we are called to stand firm.

30 God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith! 31 Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ 32 The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things. 33 First of all, look for the holy nation of God. Be right with Him. All these other things will be given to you also. 34 Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.

Mathew 6:30-32

Trip to Asia

During the first century, Christians from Judea and surrounding areas obeyed the great comission and spread the gospel to those around them. Later, because of the persecution, the gospel went farther than ever. Several centuries later the gospel was then taken to the Europe, then the North America, eventually Latin America and so on. People may think that the work is done, but the truth is that we are far from finishing the task. Several things hinder the church from taking the gospel to every corner of the globe. For some is the culture, for some the funds.

Three months ago I got to visit an unreached people group. My visit was a vision trip to check the possibility of sending Dominicans to make disciples in the area as well as finding out about the logistics needed for that to happen. I was overwhelmed by God´s grace when I saw myself on the other side of the globe in a country where the customs officials didn´t even know what Dominican Republic is. I had made it, but what I was to experience was beyond my expectations.

I have taught about missions and UPG´s but I had never been to one. I got to an area in a country where several millions of people live and simply there are no believers there. Yes, there is one congregation here and another there, but they are foreign congregations led by foreign pastors which in no way represented that people group. they were more like immigrant churches.

In 8 days I was there, I met 7 missionaries and 3 believers (that were actually part of this people group). The word "Missionary" is like a curse word there. The Evangelical lingo I´m used to is banned there. The whole thing was shocking to me. I grew up in the only country in the world that has a bible in its flag. A country where its founders were true Christians. The emblem of our flag has John 8:32 on it "and thou shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free". Now I was in a country where being a Christian meant to be kicked out of your home.

Caucasian Americans are not very effective there. The culture, the history, the way they are seen makes it hard for Americans to be able to minister. On the other hand Latinos, because of the culture and no previous relationship with such countries, are more effective

One of the problems Latinos (especially Dominicans) face is the fundraising part. Once you find one or two disciples who have given up the Dominican Dream (a similar version of the American Dream except it is harder to achieve) you´d have to convince them that now they´ll have to "ask for money" in order to go. This of course makes it harder and therefore only those who are completely confident on their calling actually go into the field.

When you pray for this team, ask the Lord to provide for them. Pray that the team is a helping hand and not a burden on those working there already. Pray for God to be preparing their hearts. ANd Pray for the hearts of those who will receive the gospel according to God´s will.