Groupo DSM2DR

A tremendous hola from Groupo DSM2DR from Santo Domingo (Greg A., Caleb T., Shaly M., Tara B. and Becky H.)! We rose up at the break of dawn to spend time with the Lord, before consuming a scrumptious breakfast put on by the gracious staff of the Bella Epoca (the hostel we’re currently residing in). We then heard some convicting and challenging words from Herschel Martindale, one of the core founders of the Great Commission group of churches. He laid out how we should constantly be “ready to run when the sun is up” – in essence, encouraging us to push full-force for the cause of Christ. We then prayed it up and headed to the Santo Domingo University (which was a stone’s throw’s away from where our hostel was, i.e. was accessible by foot very easily).

The university hustled and bustled with life, with students hanging out everywhere, from the library, to the basketball courts, even to the edge of campus. Our group headed to the library, where we engaged in conversations with the students that were spread out in the patio area. Some of us were endowed with tremendous grace from God as we had the opportunity to be assisted by some university students that we just met who were proficient in English, enabling us to clearly get the message of the Gospel across in their native language, Spanish. The students who we conversed with were so open and had such soft hearts to hearing the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and why every individual requires Him to be his/her personal Lord and Savior. It’d be most excellent if the blog readers could lift up Patricia, Ibelka, Katherine, Ruth, Belli, Solangel, Yafreisy and Yael in prayers (some of the students we spoke to today). We invited them to participate in the English classes that we’re organizing daily at 1400 hours and to attend the daily 1600 hours Bible study that Greg leads.

The 1600 hours Bible study today focused on the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, and was terrific in following-up and tying together the Gospel in greater detail. Students that attended the English classes and others that were invited by the other groups were present there. We stayed to chat after the Bible study was adjourned. Last but not least, we finished up the night playing sand volleyball, at courts that were located just beside the picturesque ocean. Since there were locals “chilling” by the beachside while simultaneously watching the volleyball matches, some of us who weren’t involved in the games had the golden opportunity to pass out Gospel tracts and were able to share the Good News with those who were there. It was a grand time. Keep lifting each of our groups in prayer, that the Lord will be using each and every team member to advance His kingdom here.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3