Nov 5, 2013 Update
This update is filled with lots of good news coming from the DR and the US! First, many of you have been praying for Alex and asking for updates. I recently received pictures (they are on Facebook) of Alex walking and playing at the chool. It is my understanding he is not attending school but he came up to visit! He still has opened wounds which is dangerous for infections but appears to be doing much better after his last surgery.
Secondly, Renewed Hope Missions has been re-approved as an Advance Special. For those churches part of the United Methodist conference, this is a huge privilege to be selected. Our Advance number is 3021098. The project will be able to receive gifts from donors for up to $25,700 annually. Our Advance page can be seen at http://www.umcmission.org/
Please feel free to share this information with friends and family as well, just make sure they have our Advance number 3021098 in order to allocate funds directly to us! Please help us raise the money for the teacher’s salaries and transportation vans for the church!
Thirdly, due to the overwhelming amount of support we received this summer, both financially and through teams, I am able to send Sairy the money to complete the windows, doors, paint, and other items needed to finish the second floor of the building. We hope to have the money to Sairy in December and hope to be using the second floor the first part of 2014! This is nothing we could have even imagined in June of this year! Thank you so much for making this happen.
Do NOT worry! This by no means we are finished!!! This is simply the beginning. Through the Advance we are working to raise money for vans and the teacher’s salaries.
Lastly, this coming summer is nearly booked!!! St. Paul UMC Jacksonville (fourth trip) will be joining us again this year from June 10-17. City Beautiful Orlando (third trip) from June 18 to July 2. Round Hill UMC Virginia (1st year travelers but 3 year of support) from July 3 -12. First UMC Lakeland, Florida (1st years) will be joining us July 17-24! The amazing thing is that all teams are youth based trips! If you are interested in coming to the DR next summer, please let me know ASAP. We will not be booking trips in August out of respect for the pastor’s family order to have a summer and spend some time together!
On a personal note, I have returned to the states and am currently living in downtown Orlando. I am working with a company doing play therapy with children, mostly in Spanish!!! This also means that I am not at liberty to travel like I was doing, which I miss greatly. God is good and the purpose of the mission has alway been to empower the Dominicans which means all projects continue to run, even when no Americans are around. A huge thank you to everyone that has supported the mission with prayers and donations. God is truly using you to make a difference in the lives of many children, families, and communities.