Dear Friends,

I just wanted to send everyone a quick note and thank you for your support, prayers and care of me this year.I have had the chance to visit many churches and see how the congregations are supporting my ministry in ways that I never imagined.I want to thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts for Kobe, as well. He is doing wonderfully well now and has not had a nosebleed in over a month.We are both looking forward to returning to the Dominican Republic on April 27th.

I hope that I have left each place I have visited with a renewed energy to become involved in missions.As I have said so many times, mission has a different meaning for each individual.For some, it is going and seeing a mission field and becoming involved in a project like building a hospital or school.For others, it is praying for missionaries and their ministries.And for some, it is helping to send others to the mission field.No one part can be forgotten for missions to be complete.Everyone has their role, no matter how minor it may seem.I often tell people that when everything around me is going crazy on the mission field I know that people are praying because I can feel complete peace.Peace despite the chaos!So, if you are one of those who believe that prayer isn't enough, believe me that it is!

• Please continue to pray for me and the ministry in the Dominican Republic.We cannot truly make a change in this world without strong prayer support.

I once taught a Sunday School lesson on planting our roots deeply in the ground so that when life gets tough, we won't be moved.(Jeremiah 17:8)But the other part of that was so that our roots would extend down to the unseen streams below the ground that would continue to nourish us.This means that even in the toughest times, we can bear fruit, not just survive.Prayer is the key to this underground stream.Your prayers help me stay fresh so please continue in your prayers.

In the next few days I will speak at my last church during my deputation year and have a meeting with some campus ministers who are interested in involving their schools with a mission partnership.I will also get the chance to meet once more with new friends I have made during this last year.It will be wonderful to continue instilling energy and watching people get excited about their mission involvement.Thank you, again, for all you have done and continue to do to support the ministry in the Dominican Republic.You have made it possible for me to be where I've been called!

Love in Christ,

Kristy Engel, RN

Missionary to the Dominican Republic