Siloam Springs Bible Church

First, thank you all for your prayers and support.

We connected with all of our flights on the way home, even though each one was delayed.  Praise Jesus for orchestrating all the flight times to fit perfectly so we could get home only 30 minutes late!

We assembled the chapel on Tuesday.  What a blessing to see God at work and to be a part of building up the Kingdom.  We were also able to have a lot of contact with the villagers, especially children.  Once the chapel was completed (after about 4.5 hours) we ate a meal prepared by the local ladies.  Then we did our ministry for the villagers, where the gospel was presented--please pray for the seeds that we helped to plant, that God would help them grow closer to Himself, and many would come to know Him as personal Savior.

We also completed, on Wednesday, the extra project of putting a roof on a block chapel that had been without a ceiling for about 8 months.  It was a long, hard day, but we made many friends among the kids and were able to be God's answer to these people's prayers for a roof.  After work, we were able to relax at the beach.

On Wednesday evening, the kitchen staff cooked up a huge banquet in celebration of God's work this week.  We also had a debriefing time when we could share what God had done for each one of us.  One of the recurring themes was the blessing the TIME staff was to all of us short-termers. 

We made so many wonderful friends in the Dominican Republic it was very hard to leave. 

Thank you again for supporting us in every way.  May God make His face to shine upon you!

All the kids say "Happy Father's Day" to all you dads.  They wanted to make sure we said that first.

Our time here is going quickly.  As usual, your GAP kids are way ahead of schedule.  We have completed most of the work for our chapel on Saturday.  (in three days).  The buildings are built by panels.  You can see in the picture a table  like object.  That is the template so that all we have to do is place the boards on the template and get busy.  We have been to two chapels like the one we are building for our ministry projects.  Tomorrow we will paint the remaining windows and build roof panels for a chapel that was put up, but never got a roof.  We will go on Tuesday out to our village and set up our chapel.  On Wednesday we will add the roof to the other chapel.  We (Jim Caldwell) have also be called on to help with repairs and additions to the existing building.  Jim Pearson is creating an entire new supply of tools by repairing the ones that weren't working and had been placed in a heaping pile.  In 1 day alone,  he doubled their supply of saws.  

We have afternoons free, so we get to to some sight seeing.  That is a wonderful blessing.  We have been to a beautiful beach, a cavern and today we are going to their equivalent of Wal-Mart.  

We are doing well.   Continue to pray for our health as some of the interns here have been feeling ill.  We don't want their bugs.  

Also, we are here with team of 5 from Michigan.  The leaders of the group got a call on Friday night that their oldest daughter, Nicky has had a return of her cancer that she has been free from for 3 years.  They were devastated and need our prayers.  They are continuing to work like troopers.  They will need strength for their battle ahead.  Please pray for Nicky, her husband Kevin and their three small children in Michigan.  Don't know their last names, but God does.

It is exciting to be here.  This morning we went to the 'big' local church.  It was packed with many young families and their small children.   God is very much at work here in the D.R.

Diane and Deborah for the GAP 

First of all, thank you for your prayers for our safe travel.  Eveything went extremely well yesterday.  All flights connected with out issue.  We arrived last night, got our things moved in, and went through a brief orientation before bed.

This morning we started work on the walls and roof of the chapel that we will take out to the village next Wednesday (6/18).  A seperate crew went to the site and worked on the foundation.  That was a difficult job.  As usual, our Siloam Springs Bible Church youth group is setting records and exceeding expectations.  We got farther than they expected on the chapel, but we still have plenty to do.  

This afternoon we practiced our presentation for the community and, again, the kids were outstanding.  Everything is well prepared.  They have worked hard and are ready to present the gospel to the people here.  We will leave in about an hour to to that.

We are with another team of 5 from Michigan. They are a great blessing.  TIME  Ministries have gone out of their way to insure that all of us are safe and well cared for.  

Please check the GAP Photo button for a few pictures.  We will update again when we get the chance.