Five years ago, in considering our future as a couple, we committed to a goal of serving the Lord full-time, hoping to find a God-ordained niche in missions. This past July, we found ourselves leading a team of students from JCS on a two week outreach to the Dominican Republic. Our team arrived at the Santiago airport but our suitcases did not. So the next night, back we went to the airport with Lowell Troyer, Field Director with Students International (SI). Through casual conversation with him on that trip, we unknowingly presented ourselves as an answer to prayer. The next week, Lowell shared with us an opportunity to serve with SI as he and his wife Cheryl, and Nate & Maggie Slabach have been called to open a new SI base in Nicaragua. We began to pray and ask the Lord to either open the door and make it abundantly clear that this was His call on our lives or to close the door tight.
He has opened the door wide!
On October 1st we traveled to the DR to interview with SI after a two month process during which the Lord has made very clear to us that this is indeed His call on our lives. We have been offered and have accepted a position with SI in the DR. We will work together as the donations managers, kitchen supervisors, and will oversee hospitality at the Guest House on the SI base. As we go about our “official” job duties, we look forward to the opportunities the Lord will bring us to reach into the lives of the Dominican’s we work with and to challenge the students from the States to be Jesus’ hands and feet.
What’s next?
We have a house to empty and sell, garage sales to hold, support to raise, things to store, boxes to pack, language school to attend in Guatemala, and field training to complete. Our target date to arrive in the Dominican Republic is the beginning of June. This will allow us time for on-the-job training with those who hold the positions we will take over before they leave for Nicaragua to start a new SI base.
We would love to talk to you if you have any questions or would just like to know more information about what we will be doing. Please let us know.
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass ... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:4,7
2 comments:
WELL I KNEW..this was coming! it was writeen on your hearts the minute I met you guys! I wish I could be there too but God/s not ready for me yet...God bless and I will see you in july!!!!!
So excited for you two! Lord, bless Dick and Mary Ellen on this new direction in their lives together. Also, give them an ear for the Spanish language so it will become part of who they are so they can do Your work in the DR.
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