H.O.P.E Dominican Republic- Helping Others Pursue Eternity

Matthew 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

I’m amazed by all of the Christmas décor here in the Dominican Republic. Some began putting up Christmas trees back in September! After a few days of being upset about everyone ignoring Thanksgiving, I remembered that it’s a U.S holiday!

But still, why a Christmas tree in September? Maybe because Christmas is something to look forward to. When you live in a country where despair encircles you daily, you anticipate something sweet. H.O.P.E-maybe?

Even the wealthiest here are faced with this overwhelming despair each time they walk outside of their gates. Beggars are too many to count! You can’t stop at a street light without someone running to your car to sell you something! News of dying children ring in your ears constantly and the pain of the non-insured ill takes your breath away!

So, some shiny Christmas lights bring in a new H.O.P.E. An expectation of an awaited Savior! A day for families to forget the despair as they feast on roasted pork, rice and beans!

We, the Dominguez family, have been asking God to give us a way to share Him during this upcoming season and we believe that we have an answer!

A church in a nearby city has asked us to host a 2 day Children’s program there. We’ll use drams, pantomimes, preaching, music and puppets to teach hurting children God’s truth! We will do this during the Christmas season! We’ll then take the same program to a nearby village for the children there, then we’ll do it again at our church, Iglesia Vida en Cristo.

You can be a part of bringing these children H.O.P.E too! We’d like to give each child a gift. Ruben recently met with the manager of a large toy store chain here to share our plans with him. He has agreed to give us a significant discount on anything we purchase at his store! After purchasing prizes there for our Kid’s Club, we’ve realized that $10 would be a perfect amount for each gift.

Most of the children that will see our program have never had a Christmas gift before! Imagine their joy as we hand them a wrapped gift after sharing the truth of our Savior with them!

Will you help us bring the H.O.P.E of our Lord Jesus Christ to nearly 600 children?

 The church that asked us to come has 500 children attending their Sunday School, including those attending the Haitian churches they oversee on this side of Hispaniola.

 Their will be 50 children in the village, then another 40 at our church!

Would you consider reaching 5 to 10 children with a $50 or $100 gift this month for this cause? We truly believe that as these children play with their new toy, they will continue to remember the truths that we share with them at our program! These truths will save their lives and give them a H.O.P.E and a future!

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

UPDATE ON STARR: Thank you so much for your prayers. Starr is doing better. Her neurologist is working with her closely and has put her on a different type of medication. Her cardiologist took her off of the high blood pressure meds and her blood pressure has been stable for the past 2 weeks!