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