For many years I have been visiting very poor Dominican and Haitian communities here in the Dominican Republic. All of these communities have been blessed at some point with visits from teams from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. These teams do outreach through projects like Vacation Bible School, medical clinics, construction, evangelism and Christmas visits. From these visits, many people have come to Christ and now serve with their families in churches.

Short-term mission teams are a blessing and really help us stretch forward in our ministry. Through their work, many families have been fed and dressed, others have been able to send their children to school because they have their backpacks and uniforms, some have discovered they are diabetic or hypertensive and are now receiving treatment, some children have received Christmas gifts for the first time, many families have had a Christmas Eve dinner to share and so much more.

I use my blue Nissan truck to pick up teams at the airport and carry their luggage. Whenever I’m driving to a village, as I come close enough for people to see my truck, they all start running behind me, singing “here comes la Americana” (the American) or “here comes la rubia” (the blondie). They know that my truck will bring them something. They do not know what it is, but can be sure that is something they need. My heart feels very excited knowing that God uses teams and me to bless many.

Please pray…

• For safety, health, wisdom, provision and guidance for my ministry in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
• For the many communities in poverty that lack basic needs like water, electricity, food and medicine.
• That new teams will accept the challenge of a short-term mission trip and come and bless many families and communities.