Beauty

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

A Hole in our Gospel

http://www.amazon.com/Hole-Our-Gospel-Thomas-Nelson/dp/0785229183

I am reading "A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns while here in the Dominican Republic. Monique read it last year before coming to the DR and loved the book. Here are a few quotes from the book that might prompt you to consider reading this book. I recommend it to you. So far it is very engaging and challenging.

What I have discovered in my travels to more than forty countries with World Vision is that almost all poverty is fundamentally the result of a lack of options. It is not that the poor are lazier, less intelligent, or unwilling to make efforts to change their condition. Rather, it is that they are trapped by circumstances beyond their power to change.
-Richard Stearns, p. 118

Here I want to make a key point: it is not our fault that people are poor, but it is our responsibility to do something about it. God says that we are guilty if we allow people to remain deprived when we have the means to help them.
-Richard Stearns, p. 123

Bob Pierce once said, "Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything." These are wise words to anyone overwhelmed with the magnitude of human suffering in our world. We are not asked to help all of them at once, just one at a time.
-Richard Stearns, p. 152

Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.
-Leo Durocher, p. 169

If we in the Church are truly dedicated to the Great Commission, then we will first have to do something about the "Great Omission." We will never effectively demonstrate Christ's love to the world, if we cannot first demonstrate it to the Church-the whole Church, and that includes those struggling just to survive.
-Richard Stearns, p. 187

If charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.
-Jewish proverb, p. 210

Doctors, Nurses and Leaders

Last week we were blessed not only by Austin and Jordan's work, but a team of doctors, nurses and leaders who shared their gifts with the children and young adults here. I'm including pictures from COTN's medical clinic and from some small group teaching in Altagracia. The teaching in Altagracia was focused on leadership prinicples, encouraging young people in their walk with God and in leadership of their communities.

The doctors and nurses spent much of their time organizing and inventoring supplies at the clinic. This was so necessary and a great blessing to the COTN nurses. The clinic is a shining light for COTN and really is developing into an excellent facility for health care.

Meals for children in the D.R.

Austin, Jordan and I had the opportunity to see COTN's feeding program in action while we were in Altagracia. COTN believes in holistic care for this precious children. (caring for the whole child; spiritually, physically, educationally) COTN's feeding program is one way we attempt to meet nutritional needs. The meals are packaged in the U.S.A by people like you...see this link:
http://www.cotni.org/pages/meal-packaging I know I speak for our family and Austin and Jordan when I say it is our desire to see a Meal Packaging event happen in Friday Harbor this fall. Would you consider helping us?

We believe love is the process of meeting needs. These kids experience our love through these meals. For just 25 cents, you can provide a meal for these children. Please consider joining us in this project. Take a look at the link above.

Blessings...

Vic for the fam

Painting murals

These photos are of Austin and Jordan's mural project in the batey Altagracia. They made their own colors by mixing the primary colors of the paint they had to work with for the project. What an amazing job they did with the help of the children. Austin shared when the mural was completed the significance of the mural in each batey. Again... I think these pictures tell the story of the impact of this project...an impact that will last for years to come. Thank you Austin and Jordan for sharing the gifts God has given you with these children.

Smiles

Meet Maria and her children...it is her family who is getting a new floor thanks to Austin and Jordan...She would never have been able to afford a floor on her own. What a blessing! She is so grateful! Thank you God for leading Austin and Jordan in the project.

New Floors

I have been reading the Proverbs while here in the Dominican Republic. A proverb a day seems to pour wisdom into my head, heart and soul. There are quite a few proverbs that speaking of caring for the needy and our attitudes towards the poor.

Proverbs 14:21 in The Message says; It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor ---- what a blessing. Proverbs 13:25....An appetite for good things brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more. Proverbs 17:5...Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator, gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

The first two COTN Venture teams who have visited the children and adults who live in the bateys have demonstrated a compassion and concern that God brings to our hearts when we step out in faith to serve Him in developing countries. It is beautiful to witness God doing what He always does when we are open to his leading; He teaches us how to love well.

This video shows Austin and Jordan in a demonstration of love towards and woman and her kids in the batey, Algodon. Beautiful! They had fun too...a smile on everyone’s face.

First teams leaving today

It is hard to believe that our first teams are leaving the Casa today. Wow! Time is just flying by here. Austin and Jordan spent their morning yesterday pouring a cement floor for a woman in Algodon. I know I have shared with you this project before, but it was so good to see friends Austin and Jordan experiencing this work. Maria...the woman pictured with her children, was so grateful to have this cement floor. She would never have been able to afford it on her own.

The Casa is quiet now. Monique and I, along with other Americans just finished making and each lunch for the Dominican staff here at Casa Batesada. We made them hamburgers and french fries. Oh yeah, we served Coka Cola too, made with sugar not high fructose corn syrup. We are going to a campana tonite in Altagracia. A campana is an outreach/revival meeting from what I can discern. A small church in Barahona is doing the outreach for the Altagracia community and it will be another new experience for us.

Adios for now..

The Juggler and Pato Pato

Jordan Nash "The Juggler" and Austin Scheffer the taxi are here from Friday Harbor, WA, our town....the pictures tell the story of how they are fitting in here with the children in the batey - Altagracia...so good to have them here. More pictures coming soon.

Tour with the interns

On Saturday we toured the villages (bateys) with the interns. It is always special to see the children and how they melt the hearts of people. The children love to see Americans and love the visits. The tours give the teams a glimpse of life in the batey, before they do their specific projects. Our first two teams arrived Sunday evening, a team from California and our friends Austin Scheffer and Jordan Nash from Friday Harbor. This morning will be a time to see Austin and Jordan connect with the children. It is so good to have them here, as well as the doctors and nurses from So. California.

Our work begins...facilitating the communication and plans each group has for their week here. We also help with organizing the living arrangements here at Casa Batesada. The interns met their Dominican host families yesterday afternoon and they are gone now but will be back in the morning for a time of devotion before going out to the villages to teach math and english. Some will work at the medical clinic too. Monique and Bethany are leading them and are doing a great job. They had so much fun with the Flag Page, getting to know and understand each other, as they will be working together all summer.

That is all for now...Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. It is very hot and humid here. The Dominicans tell us it is unusally hot for June...coming from the northwest it all seems relatively HOT, no matter if it is just a few degrees different. June is usually the finish of a rainy season, but this year the sun is blazing so far.

Adios, hasta luego,

Vic for the fam

Container here

Last night we got a call here at the Casa, around 8:00 pm, to tell us the a container was arriving at the COTN office and we could go to help unload it. So...Carly, Olivia, Bethany and I hopped in a truck and went down to help out. See photos. Many young guys from Algodon were there too and were ready to help. It was quite a group effort as you can see. Generous gifts of food packages, furniture, beds, educational supplies, etc. poured out of the container in a few short hours. This particular container was shipped from Florida.

Late evening excerices have never been better. No problem getting a sweat up in this evening heat...whoa!

From island to island

Hello friends and family!

Above are some of our first photos: adios San Juan Island and arrival on the island of Hispanola, Dominican Republic - the airport in Santo Domingo. Bethany and Carly are rolling their suitcases to be greeted by our interpreter, Juanchi, who is in the midst of a throng of people who are at the airport to greet arrivals. There has always been a crowd of folks when our plane has arrived, as there are usually several planes arriving in the afternoon. It is quite a scene. We are thankful Juanchi has a COTN sign and we can easily pick him out in the crowd.

One of the interns, Carly, yes two Carly's this summer at the Casa, came in about an hour or so after we arrived. We waited for her. She is pictured in the van photo.

All of the other interns arrived a day later...see them pictured in the other photos I took during their first tour of one of the schools, Pueblo Nuevo. They immediately were surrounded by children, which they loved, as we toured the COTN school and skill center in Pueblo Nuevo.

Meal Packaging Program

One of the blessing of being here is the opportunity to meet so many people, both Dominicans and Americans. Fraser Ratzlaff is here at the Casa. Fraser is on staff with COTN and is in charge of meal packaging projects in the U.S. COTN is now providing meals for the children in the bateys here in the Dominican. This is a year around feeding program. I hope to go with Fraser today to observe the preparation and distribution of a nutritious meal for the kids.

A churches in Florida and California have participated in the Million Meal Marathon, packaging a million meals to send to the children in the various countries served by COTN. These projects also happen on a smaller scale and I will be talking to you about how we can be involved in Friday Harbor. See this link for a video that will give you a look at this fantastic program. http://www.cotni.org/pages/meal-packaging

On another note...all the interns, 4 of them total have arrived at the Casa. We look forward to getting to know each of them. Monique and I had them do their Flag Pages, www.flagpage.com, so we are going to have some fun learning about how to understand each other this summer.

Hopefully I can post some pictures of everyone before the week is completed. Sometimes the internet and power outages prevent me from downloading pictures. We will see how it goes.

Hasta luego mi amigos!

Ellie's Blog

Hi Everyone!

Ellie is blogging too and I want to connect you with her...so here is her blogsite: http://mydominicanadventures.wordpress.com

We are looking forward to seeing Austin Scheffer and Jordan Nash this weekend. It will be so good to have more San Juan Islanders here at the Casa.

More later.

Blessings.

Vic for the fam

Arrival at Casa Batesada

Greeting friends and family,

We are here now and after a great nights sleep, it is time to get adjusted to the heat and humidity. This morning we've met with David the Venture director here in the Dominican Republic and visit the staff at the central office. What a gift to be welcomed with such love and hospitality! This graciousness we experience here is a tap on the shoulder from God to us in the U.S. It is the way it should be for followers of Christ. I believe this is what the aspotle Paul was writing about in Acts when he shared about Lydia.


Acts 16:14-16
The Message (MSG)

On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!

After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, "If you're confident that I'm in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests." We hesitated, but she wouldn't take no for an answer.

The picture on top of this blog is one from last year that will be repeated over and over each day here. The guys in the picture, Manuel and Yellen from Altagracia (one of the bateys served by COTN) lost their pastor, who died very unexpectedly a few months ago. Join me in praying for the people in Altagracia. They deperately need our prayers. We will be listening to God's voice with Yellen and Manuel, could EL SENOR (The Father) have something for us in partnership with this church?

Love,

Vic for the family

A Psalm for departure

Psalm 72:1-8

A Solomon Psalm

Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince.
May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly.
Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape the hills with the contours of right living.
Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants.
Outlast the sun, outlive the moon— age after age after age.
Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers.
Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing.
Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim.

As we approach departure on Monday, I'm bouncing back between the Psalms and Proverbs. Will you join me in praying this Psalm for the children of the Dominican Republic, specifically the ones we will see in the bateys served by COTN.

Blessings,

Vic for the fam

Children of the Nations - Dominican mission

I love this statement from Chris Clark, president of Children of the Nations...www.cotni.org

Children of the Nations (COTN) is a movement of people committed to a single vision, Raising Children Who Transform Nations. This God-given vision directs our passion for seeing children and their nations transformed. By focusing on each most desperate child and their needs COTN has built a mission in each country in which we work. By mobilizing national and international partners a worldwide family has been created around our children. Our hope is that each child, fully grown up in our environments, will take what they have learned and become agents of Transformation.

This embodies what we, The Woodward family, will be all about with COTN. It is hard to believe that we will take off in just 10 days. Stay tuned...