Friends and Family,
I am excited to share with you the opportunity I have to return to San Pedro, Dominican Republic with a group from Refuge Church. Shortly after returning from my first trip there in 2023, I felt like I needed to go back and continue what was started. Our trip last year was unfortunately cancelled due to global flight issues as a result of the Microsoft outage on July 19, 2024. God willing, I will be back there serving from July 19-26. We will be continuing our partnership with Juan, who is eager for us to come and serve the members of his foundation (Children of Peace Foundation) and community. Due to his personal experience living in poverty as a child, he has a heart for serving the people of the DR and restoring the lives of children. He is passionate about helping kids stay off the streets and guide them on a path of success through the power of Jesus Christ.
Similar to previous trips to San Pedro, we will be hosting a Vacation Bible School program for the children in the community, helping facilitate a medical clinic, and visiting locals to deliver food and personal care items. In the past, we were able to provide some short-term relief to a community living in extreme poverty, but we also supported and strengthened relationships with an already strong, courageous, and God-loving team of people supporting the foundation full-time. My favorite parts of the 2023 trip included getting to know Juan, his family, and friends and playing hours of nightly basketball or wiffle ball with the teenagers from the neighborhood.
As you feel called, I would be blessed if you would consider supporting me financially. The funds being raised for the trip help pay for my travel to and from the DR as well as supplies being purchased to take with us. Some of the supplies we brought down in previous years included: over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, band-aids, antibiotic ointments, lotions, soap, shampoo, other hygiene products, school supplies, basketballs, volleyballs, tennis balls, wiffle balls and bats, beach balls, frisbees, jump ropes, and more. If you feel God calling you to support me financially, please know that your gifts will be received gracefully and will be used to serve those who are in need.
I am also seeking prayer partners to pray for our group, the ministries, safety, the people of the Dominican Republic, and the trip as a whole each day. I will kindly ask for prayer while the mission team is still being built, prayers for a process of smooth trip planning over the coming months, prayers for uninterrupted travel plans, and prayers for those currently in San Pedro awaiting our arrival. If it is in your heart to be a prayer partner for us, I would feel just as grateful; it takes all of us as the body of Christ.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity and support! I look forward to sharing more with you all in the coming months of planning.