It's All Good

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What a comforting word from our Father God! All things work together for good. Oh! How I love to hear those words while facing a hardship. It is such a relief to know that God is working out all of life’s misfortunes for my sake!

Have you ever stopped to wonder what “good “ the writer is talking about? Let’s consider the man who wrote the above scripture. Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, left for dead, walked many miles on foot to spread the gospel and was initially rejected by church leaders.

How about the lady who helps us with housekeeping? The electricity and water only work one day per week for about 30 minutes at her house! Imagine what life must be life for her three children as they bathe each morning. Yet, she is always singing hymns and praises to God.

Then I think of our own family. Transitioning to a new country, missing our loved ones from the states and continuously having to learn and adjust to something new does not feel good!

But we know that vs. 28 does not stand alone, for the “good ” that He is promising us is to become like His Son! You see, the good is not temporal. It is not something that this world could provide! He is promising to use the difficulties we face to make us like His Son. He wants us to be His Son’s siblings! He died, so shall we. Yet the comfort is in knowing that He got up from the grave, so shall we! The cross and the tomb are temporary, but the fashioning into the likeness of our Christ will last forever!

As we quote Romans 8:28, be sure to include the next two verses as well. They all work together. God wants us to take our eyes off of ourselves and to put them on Him. Allow Him to use your trial to make you more like His Son, then you experience the good life!

Thank you so much for your consistent support! You are making many great thing happen here in the Dominican Republic because you faithfully give to our ministry! Please take a look at our website www.hope4drnow.org and follow the link to our new store. Every purchase you make will go directly to our fund for our upcoming orphanage.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May Family Update

Our new family van is now sitting in our driveway! Thank you so much for your faithful giving! We were able to purchase the van and have everything that needed adjustment repaired! It is such a blessing to now have a vehicle.

The end of this month will mark our family's first year here on this precious island. We are excited about the ministry that God allowed us to accomplish this past year, but we are even more thrilled about what is ahead!

Testimonies of those we've served:
"Now that I've learned how valuable I am to God, I cannot continue to live with my boyfriend. I asked him to move out and now I feel at peace with God."
"My sister has changed. I'm so glad that she attends your church. She does not live in bitterness anymore. What are you all doing over there?"
"I don't even have a desire to drink anymore. God has really set me free."
"Tia Selina, can we have the Kids Klub party every day? Sunday is not enough! Kids Klub is the best thing that I do each week!"
"Pastor Ruben, I really do see things different now. Thank you for showing me the truth."
"No one ever took the time to teach me the Bible. Thank you for coming each week to teach us these things."

Oh, we could go on and on with the testimonies! It encourages us to know that our lives here really are making a difference and we hope that you are encouraged to know that your financial gifts and prayers have allowed us the opportunity to pour into these lives!

Here are some of things we've done this past year:
1. Launched Iglesia Evangelica Vida en Cristo- Lives are being changed each week as we meet in our home each Sunday morning and go out into other homes during the week for Bible studies. Our member's neighbors are coming to Lord through these Bible studies and God is doing a great work in each of their lives.
2. Completed and translated our Let the Children Come Orphanage Manual! This was a great task, but praise God it is done! We met with the government agency CONANI and turned in our manual for their approval. We should hear something from them by the end of next month. Our meeting was extraordinary! We didn't even know what the government regulations were before our manual was written yet, after meeting with them we realized that all of their requirements were detailed in our manual! God literally spoke to us as we wrote and was sure that we included the things that they were looking for!
3. We found 52 precious acres of land. Our lawyer is now working on the title documents for this property. So far, he doesn't see any problems, but we will let you know what his results are once we have an answer from him.
4. New children attend Kids Klub each week and are learning more and more about Christ. Their parents have told us how their children have changed.
5. We helped a small outdoor village church with a few construction needs, school supplies and Christmas gifts for the children there and groceries for the orphans in that village.
6. We led a Children's conference where over 700 children learned God's truths.
7. We answered the call to serve the Haitians who were severely affected by the earthquake.
8. We hosted a basketball tournament in a neighborhood near our home.
9. We ministered our HOPE C.R.E.W dramas in various churches and outreaches.
10. We began Bible studies in two different neighborhoods.

In the next few months we plan to:
1. Start the orphanage in our city in a rented house.
2. Move our church into a facility near our home.
3. Continue with the building project and assisting the orphans and families in the village.
4. Expand our Kids Klub ministry.
5. Host short term missionaries.
6. Reach more youth through sports, dramas and mentoring programs.
7. Host a special dinner for married couples.
8. Present the Judgment Day program that we've worked on for months.
9. Create more puppet shows.

NONE of these things would be possible without you. God is able to do anything and we have definitely experienced His miracles, but He most times uses people to accomplish His will here on earth. Thank you so much for allowing Him to use you as you give into H.O.P.E4DR.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. Josiah's and Starr's school books have been stuck in customs for weeks now! Imagine how difficult it has been to educate two young children without the proper books! Please pray that God will move on the hearts of the Dominican government and release our packages and the other missionary's packages who have been detained.

2. For God to continue to move on the hearts of those who attend our church and Bible studies. Pray for true transformations that God can only accomplish.

3. That our family will remain strong and united as we so often MUST stand alone. Pray that our children will not become discouraged and that our marriage will be an example of Christ to everyone around us.

4. Continued provision for each of our ministries and for our family.

5. Divine protection from the attacks of the enemy.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE WHEN WE NEED YOU!!!!

H.O.P.E Loves

Love is foundational to our message as believers. Love is fundamental to our work as ministry leaders. Love is the corner stone to our building projects, it is the wind that keeps our sails going. It is what holds us together as a body, it never fails. Yet we so often fail. We so easily give up. God’s love never stops, but ours runs dry. Working in our own strength keeps up stiff.

As I Corinthians 13:4-8 rings within our hearts, let us be sure to serve as God would. Here at H.O.P.E, we are given opportunities to walk out this love each day. Days like when the same three boys ring our door bell for a meal right after the kitchen was just cleaned and all of the food put away for the evening. Or moments like a late night telephone call for prayer while in the midst of the first good night of sleep we’ve had for days. Then there are the episodes when you just want to be alone and schools of people are vying for a moment of our attention. Times like releasing those closest to us to be who they are and not placing demands on them to be who we want them to be.

Opportunities to love are all around us. Love is not just doing an outward deed. Love is the motivation of that act. We all love those boys, that’s why we rush to the fridge to find them a meal when they ring our bell. We know that filling their bellies is not enough, but it’s a start. They are convinced that we are Christians because they see our love and this was our platform for sharing the gospel of our Savior with them.

Let us all choose to love now. Let God have the hurt, bitterness and resentment and let Him give you His love to share with all.

Ministry Update:

1. Our website is now up. Jonathan is working on our store where we will be selling our ministry T-shirts to raise money for our various ministries.

2. We are still working on our orphanage manual and guidelines. Once completed, we will translate it into Spanish, then meet with the government agency CONANI for the necessary permits to operate an orphanage. Keep the 220,000 orphans of this county in your prayers.

3. Ruben will be meeting with the owner of the land again this week in order to work out the paperwork details. Once that is done, we will launch our land fund raising campaign. We will be calling you soon!

4. Our church has experienced slow growth this past year. Please pray for revival and transformation in the hearts of the lives we touch.

5. We are looking into renting a facility for our church services and Kid’s Klub, pray for wisdom, guidance and provision as we consider various locations.

6. We have a weekly Bible study in a very small apartment each week where God is moving in the hearts of those who attend. Please pray for this special time.

7. We recently had an evangelistic basketball tournament that was a great success.

Family Update:

1. José and Josué attended a Christian survival camp with the Santiago YWAM Directors, Glenn and Rhoda Martin. It was a life changing experience for them. Jonathan and Selina will also attend the camp this July.

2. Jonathan is doing well! He is up and about as if nothing happened! Praise God for His healing power!

3. Starr has been doing well also. She is excited about learning and is very dedicated to her school work!

4. Ruben Jr. is thriving on the basketball court and in his walk with the Lord. He is often found on his bed reading his bible in the middle of the day.

5. Josiah is growing up and Solimar speaks more Spanish than English!

6. Selina is busy with all of the little Kid’s Klub participants that surround her in front of our house each day. She writes each of them letters and found the meaning of each of their names and has encouraged them by writing out their name meaning with a scriptural explanation.

www.hope4drnow.org

New Light

"I will never be the same again," Were Ruben's words as he walked into the house after his trip to Haiti.

Ruben and Jonathan spend a few days in earthquake damaged Haiti this month. Pictures of tent communities overwhelm their minds as they recanted their journey. They spent some time with the Christians of Port-au-Prince as they ministered in a church service there. The testimonies of those Christians brought a new light to their view of God's protection. Many testified of how they were led by God to leave the buildings they were in just a few minuted before the earthquake! They now feel that they have a new purpose and a new vision. They want to reach their nation for Christ more than ever. They feel that God saved them for that very purpose.

After some time in Port-au-Prince, they traveled into villages within the mountains of Haiti. It was a long 6 hour drive, but worth every single hard moment! In the villages, they ministered in churches and spent time talking with the people of the villages. Many have returned to their villages since the earthquake as they fear living near the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone.

Countless children survived their parents, which gives us more assurance as to why God placed us here now! We are still working with government officials in the Dominican Republic in order to legally house orphans. Once we complete this process, we will work with Haitian and Dominican officials to bring Haitian orphans into the Dominican Republic as well.

Thank you for your support and prayers as we work towards purchasing 52 acres of land to build homes for the orphans of the island of Hispaniola.

Family Update:
1. God has provided the necessary household help we needed so that we could dedicate more time on all of the necessary paperwork and interviews for our ministry.
2. Ruben and Vicki spent 3 days away for a time of marriage renewal and refreshment.
3. All of the kids are busy in school and working hard on their H.O.P.E. C.R.E.W presentations.
4. We had a great visit with Vick's mom and the Bray family in January.
5. Our house was almost broken into early one morning while we were asleep. Our landlord has not been reliable nor trustworthy. Please pray God's protection for us and wisdom on our part as we consider moving.

Ministry Update:
1. We are currently a legal ministry in the Dominican Republic, now we are working towards non-profit status here.
2. We are working with CONANI (the government's children's advocacy agency) to obtain permission to house orphans. This is a lengthy and tedious process, please pray for our patience!
3. Lots of children are still coming to our Kid's Klub. Please pray for complete household transformations!
4. Our church is growing slowly, but surely. Please pray for hearts to truly respond to Christ.
5. We continue to support a small church plant in a village near us. Please pray that each member will walk in encouragement.
6. More opportunities have opened for us in Haiti. Please pray for God's provision and wisdom.
7. Ruben and the boys are playing on an evangelistic basketball team. Pray for many to give their hearts to our Lord.
8. Our neighbors are now beginning to trust us. Please pray for God to use us in their lives.
9. Our children have invitations to perform (H.O.P.E. C.R.E.W) in different locations. Pray for their hearts to remain upright before the Lord.
10. We desperately need a vehicle. Please give towards a vehicle and pray!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Help Haiti

Pastor Jean Paulite, the founder of the first Haitian evangelical church here in Santiago, sat on my sofa cradling his head in his hands after the 6.0 aftershock hit his already rampaged Port-au-Prince. “First a 7.1 earthquake, now this,” he moaned as he tried his best to ‘be strong’.

Thankfully, he has communicated with his family in Haiti. His parents and siblings survived, but their homes are severely damaged. “Many of my cousins, aunts and uncles are buried amongst the dead of my city,” he lamented. “Those who have survived need help. They have no food, nor water! They medical assistance now.”

In light of Haiti’s disaster, we should all take an inward look at ourselves. I Samuel 15:23 tells us that rebellion is witchcraft. We can so easily point our fingers at Haiti and look at their ungodliness as a reason for this disaster.

It is true that at least 50% of Haitians practice Haitian Vodou, while most of the others use Roman Catholicism to cover their witchcraft. We recently learned that one of their ex-presidents even sacrificed an infant at their nations capital in order to please his god.

Many have gazed into their culture and have pointed their fingers at their blatant rebellion to God as a reason for this catastrophe. I personally don’t know why this has happened to Haiti, all I know is that each one of us should point a finger at our own hearts!

How many times have we dabbled in the occult by living in secret sin? How many times have we disobeyed God without any remorse? Look at your own life right now. I sure am these days!

Let us all take this wakeup call seriously. Let’s walk away from rebellion. Disaster may strike anyone, anywhere at anytime. Christ can return at any given moment. Are you ready?

Are you truly living for Him or are you just talking about Him or simply doing for Him? This is our opportunity to get right with our living God. Seek Him NOW while He may be found!

Please join us as we help Haiti:

Ruben and Jonathan will be going to Haiti the 2cd week of February to bring necessary goods to Pastor Jean’s family and to the churches under his supervision. They are also assisting other missionaries with a tent hospital at the border.

We so desperately need your help in order to accomplish this. Will you please make a financial donation today?

Rubén sitting in between Pastor Jean and his brother Moises.

An excerpt from my mom's blog

"God is... a present help in trouble, even when the earth moves and the mountains fall into the sea." Psalm 46

Traveling to the Dominican Republic took on a new sense of God as I awaited for the last flight of my trip to board. Looking at the TV in the waiting area, we learned that a 7.0 earthquake had hit Haiti! An earthquake of this magnitiude hasn't hit this land for 200 years. The number of people dead and/or missing is in the 100 thousands; totally incomprehensible! The after shocks continue. While I awaited the news regarding my now delayed flight, I learned that my daughter and son in law's house not only moved but throughout the Domincan Repiblic, which shares an island with Haiti, the land and buildings were shaking and moving, literally. As they each give their account of the earth moving, it seems like a movie. But, the Truth that God had already spoken to them early that morning when no one knew of the earthqauke coming, is that He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble... no matter what is happenning, God is a Present to Help. He serves as a Refuge. He is the Strength that we need in order to make it. Many Haitians, as I write are disoriented, confused, grieving, in shock because they have lost family, friends, homes, communities, etc. The Domincan missionaries and others in the Christian community here are meeting and planning their strategy to go the 5-6 hour drive to Haiti to help, to provide food, water or whatever is God's purpose for them at the time they are released to go. Our prayer and intercession is of utmost importance for this country who had been for many years ravaged by all kinds of demonic influence. Now is the time to take back the land for God who created it and take back the souls of the people who God made in His image and likeness! Through prayer we can do powerful work! Let's send our money, send supplies, send the relief workers who are willing to go. maybe you will eventally go, because it will take years for the healing and restoration of this nation. But prayer and intercession is what will allow all of these acts to have anointed success. Let's not take our lives and our times lightly. God has given us Himself, His Word, and the ability to pray as tools to bring His will and ways to earth. Though the earth quake, we shall not be moved to fear, but to prayer! In the name of Jesus, who did the work which has enabled us to do even greater works...

PRAY FOR HAITI!

**OUR FAMILY IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP HAITI. PLEASE KEEP US AND THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS!

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Is it Worth It?

I watched my boys walk our trash to the corner for trash pickup a few weeks ago with a heavy weight on my shoulders. Battling my little girls as they cry during their cold showers on these chilly mornings or evenings can be a bit cumbersome at times. Late nights, early mornings and busy days are the ingredients for cranky people.

I must admit that I spent the month of December asking God if all of this is worth it. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year; all without the ones that helped to make those events special throughout the years!

I am not complaining. All of this goes with the territory. We knew that we would have black outs while working on an important projects or water outages in the midst of a shower. We knew that we would terribly miss those who are reading this update and long to see you again. Yet, living it each day sure does take its toll on us.

So I ask, “Is it worth it?”

Let’s ponder that question. We came here on a mission. We came here to change this place. Right? We came here to bring H.O.P.E to the hopeless. Right? Even in light of that, is it worth it?

As I look at those I came here to serve through the eyes of my Father God, I must admit that it is worth it. You see, we thought that we came here to make a difference in the lives of others, yet this experience is making a difference in ours.

Those trash trips to the corner are keeping my boys humble. Those cold showers are making us strong! The busy schedule sure forces us to live orderly and causes us to choose to love one another.

Special days without those special people caused us to lean heavier on God and trust Him more. Missing you brings us closer together as a family and impels us to work out whatever issues that may come up.

Yes, it is worth it! It is so worth the change that is occurring in each of us. It is so worth the H.O.P.E that God brings to us each day. That same H.O.P.E that we came here to give is permeating throughout our home on a daily basis. Helping Others Pursue Eternity in our own home is worth more than we had ever realized!

Ministry Update:

1. The Children’s Conference was great! The pastor of the church where we hosted the conference tells us that he sees a dramatic change in the children and the teachers!

2. We received our non-profit status and name registration approval for the Dominican Republic!

3. Our children (H.O.P.E C.R.E.W) have several invitations to churches and ministries to share the gospel through pantomime, drama and worship.

4. God continually brings convicting messages to our church, Iglesia Vida en Cristo. Some have made major adjustments in their lives in order to uphold His standard.

5. The children who attend Kid’s Club are seriously learning God’s word. They are excited throughout the week about coming on Sundays and still wait at our gate an hour before we open.

6. Our pastor Brad and his son Adam were here with us for a few days in December. We were very blessed! Thank you City Church and Angela and Anna for letting us borrow them!

Family Update:

1. School has started again. We’re all trying to adjust to our new schedule.

2. We had a fun family day at the river where the boys jumped off a 50 ft. cliff into the river! Exciting for them…terrifying for mom!

3. God is dealing with each us individually as we seek Him early each morning to read through the Bible in a year. We are also growing closer to Him as a family as we go through Experiencing God together in the evenings.

4. We had a wonderful month long visit with Vicki’s grandmother in December! Her mom will be here in a few days for a 2 week visit!

Please pray:

1. Land in Monte Plata: Owner to finalize paper work for sale-Complete provision for purchase
2. Iglesia Vida en Cristo: True life changing transformations
3. Orphanage: Favor with government as we meet this week for permits
4. Our family: Continue to acclimate and see the Dominican Republic as home, Hedge of protection around each of us
5. H.O.P.E C.R.E.W: God’s anointing as the kids go out to evangelize through dramas, pantomimes and worship
6. Provision for our Judgment Day presentation
7. Complete healing for Vicki, Jonathan and Starr!