little by litte

Please read my other blog, Praise Today for an update on the soul searching I have done regarding this project. I do have an exciting update, though!

There are two experienced construction/contractors who have agreed to help with this project, and Escuela Caribe could possibly furnish the labor to put the roof on the house in two weeks! These are huge answers to prayer, for which I am most thankful.

God's word has been such a blessing lately.

GRPC coming!!!

Well, the GRPC group is coming next week. Right now as it stands, Vicente could receive:
1. A cement floor
2. A cement floor with foundation for house
3. A new house
4. Nothing

We'll know more next week. There are some issues that entangle the process, namely that Vicente does not own the land yet. He is five payments away from being the proper owner. However as it stands he could lose the land if the owner would sell it to someone else. A lawyer is preparing a legal contract that would be binding and should suffice to protect us from this possibility. Then it depends on how much the GRPC group wants to do at this point.

Ultimately, God is in control. He has a timing and purpose for this project, and I need to remind myself of that.

In other news...

Steve & Erin Chase (along with baby Ryan), Julie, and I met last night to discuss another project for the community. We are feeling led to build a community education center that will be used primarily as a school during the day, then for other groups to come in and do other projects, for example:

1. Skills training to give people job possibilities.
2. Church bible studies
3. Health education

We are in the early planning stages for this. Gracias a Dios that there are so many willing participants! I am amazed at the dedication shown by the others who have come alongside me in this venture. We are desperately seeking God's will for this project and how we are to be involved.

Would you prayerfully consider how you, too, might be involved?

Thoughts for the week...

I am amazed at the depth of God's love for us. That statement comes for no particular reason other than his love is simply overwhelming! It becomes especially mind-blowing when I consider that: I don't know the fullest depths of it, it is perfect and unconditional, it exists simultaneously for all the people on the earth, and it has been in existence forever. If we know that God is love, and his love is perfect, how can/dare we ever be angry at God? There are conditions in this world that anger me, I will admit that. I don't understand why people take advantage of innocent children for the sex trade and drug trafficking. I cannot fathom why people commit genocide. The thought of throwing away a life because the baby has Down's syndrome sickens me. yes, I understand that there is evil in the world. My head can grasp it (in part) but my heart cannot.

Please pray for the children of Jarabacoa and surrounding area who are part of the sex trade, being prostituted to adults. Please pray for the Cabañas Momentos business where this evil takes place. Pray for the families that are involved, the people that solicit this, and the poverty/generational issues that perpetuate it.

Please pray that God continues to show people ways to develop economic ideas that can sustain poverty-stricken communities.

Please pray that we continue to seek God's hand for development in La Quebrada.

Please pray for the students at Escuela Caribe - past, present, and future.

Please pray for Julie's visa.

I am reminded of Exodus 2:24, when God heard the groaning of the people of Israel, and remembered the covenant. My heart is heavy with the burdens of God's children, and heavier for the burdens of those who do not yet know him.

Thank you all who are faithful in reading this. Please forward the address on to a friend whom I do not know so they too may see. If you find this blog to be a blessing and encouragement, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail to: peteyjulie@gmail.com

Your words and prayers are very encouraging to Julie and I.

"Everyone thinks of changing humanity but no one thinks of changing himself."
--Leo Tolstoy

Community Meeting in La Quebrada

Tonight we had our long-anticipated community meeting in La Quebrada, more of an introductory thing to get to know the community better. Two days ago, I got the idea to invite Martin and Noemi, two Columbians who live and work here. Their church is connected with my contact in the community, so I thought they might want to be involved. The meeting went splendidly! The community is excited to get to work and eager for the groups. They have a burden for a preschool, as there are approximately 35 young children (under age 5) who just run around all day (some of them without real families.) It was almost scary how quickly the pieces started falling into place: Noemi getting excited about the project, buildings available for the short-term to run the school, people in the community with education backgrounds and the desire to get teaching certificates. We will see what God does with it!

Bus Encounters

On a recent trip to Cabarete, Julie and I "happened" to sit in front of a guy who was wearing a Habitat for Humanity hat. I asked him if he worked for the organization, was a volunteer, etc. It turns out that he had just finished a habitat trip on the island, and was a friend of the man who I am in contact with in the country's Habitat office! Praise God for these introductions!

GRPC

The GRPC group came for a 25-hour blitz exploratory trip in preparation for their youth trip this summer. Thanks be to God, they are interested in working in La Quebrada!!! Part of their time here today was an hour in the community, meeting with Vicente and getting a feel for the community. This is a picture of Steve and Paul, who to my knowledge will be leading the trip here. I first met Steve on his first DR trip, when I was a groupleader in Lance House. It has been fun to see their group come back, and also see their heart not only for world missions but also to stir the hearts of others in America to get involved. Please keep this group in prayer as they prepare for this trip.

Our next step will be a community meeting here in Jarabacoa. This meeting will serve several purposes, including:

1. Introduce myself and our group to the community.
2. Assess what they feel are their top needs.
3. Have them begin brainstorming ways they can be involved in the work and fundraising.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a supporter of this mission either through financial means or prayer, please e-mail me at: peter@riversoflife.net

17 Jan 06 - First meeting with Paul Branson

Paul came over to my house this morning. Over coffee we discussed how God had gotten us into this from each perspective and found some common ground and vision. Though the picture is unclear at the moment, it is clear that a relationship is forming and a partnership of some sort could result. We have abilities and resources that could work well together. It is possible that Habitat for Humanity will be involved, and we are open to that. If not, things will move forward accordingly.

Please pray for discernment and wisdom to follow God's plans.

Prayer...

Thank you Lord, for listening to the prayers of your people.

It meant so much to hear Victoria pray for this project during the Monday morning staff meeting at EC. There is something special, wonderful, frightening, and humbling about people involving themselves in a vision. It makes you fragile, gives you strength, encourages you, challenges you all at the same time.

I spoke on the phone with Dan and Kathie last night (16 Jan 06). We prayed about the meeting that Paul Branson and I would have today. I prayed about perspective. From our point of view, we see puzzle pieces, one at a time revealed to us in God's time. At times I try to force pieces in the wrong spots or in the wrong puzzle altogether! I am so thankful that God sees a beautiful picture with a master plan! Dan and Kathie spoke of "freeing people up" to do God's work, including people like myself. I don't know the what or the when of that, and to be honest, I'm not worried about it. It would be a blessing to work in a full-support raised mission and depend on God more, if I am called to that. If not I will continue to serve God at EC and in the community.

Second Visit - 15 Jan 2005

Julie, Susie, Victoria, Steve and myself traveled to the community with our list of people, in order to meet the people and assess what other needs were there. We were greeted by Vicente and his family. After some conversation in Vicente's home, we began travelling around the community to see what needs exist. For pictures of that day, browse to: http://www.theschottfamily.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=25

The generosity of the people was overwhelming. We were given a huge bag of peas ( en español "guandules" sounds like "juan" "doo" "lace") and "teyotes" (a vegetable that looks like a pear.) There are so many needs, we would walk down a stretch of road and there was no end, always more needs ahead, we would have to turn around and go back to look in other directions to get a clear picture of the original list. All in all we took a couple hundred pictures, and others (Victoria, Steve, Susie, and Julie) began to catch the vision as well. Comments were made like "I know of this guy who works in construction in Canada" or "There are a couple groups coming down in the summer that would be interested in working here." that reinforced we were doing the right thing.

We agreed to meet again in two weeks. Each of us will type or write a reaction of our experience and share it with others.

Julie and I invited Vicente to have supper at our house on the following Sunday, and I am anxiously awaiting it!