Dominican Missions News: August 2005

Your Missionaries Mitch and Debbie Martinez

News From the

Dominican Republic

Summer Teams Make an Impact

Calvary Academy , from Lakewood , NJ started our busy summer in May with the arrival of their high school senior class. The Lord opened doors for them to minister with dramas in public schools where they distributed the Book of Hope. Over 1000 youth made decisions for Christ in these meetings. The class also painted churches and helped with various projects at the La Vega Christian School (LVCS). A highlight of their visit was a trip to the Rose in the Desert Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana. They spent time playing and ministering to the 70 plus boys that live there and even impacted the neighborhood

children.

Also in May, we were blessed with the visit of a college team from Anderson University , Anderson , Indiana . This group of 19 students worked hard putting the roof on the Latin Media Center . This is the new building we will be using to produce TV programs. It is on the LVCS campus. They also did a tremendous job painting the “El Faro Boys Home”, an orphanage in Santo Domingo (the capital city). They were preparing it for the visit of the South Carolina Women's Ministries.

The SCWM's were a great blessing to the orphanage. They came with 27 ladies and five husbands and they worked hard putting up curtains, painting murals and motifs for these 19 boys at the “El Faro” orphanage. The men helped with electrical and plumbing repairs. The team spent quality time with the boys. They took them shopping, bought them new clothes, shoes, sheets, and even new mattresses. When they left there was scarcely a dry eye. The boys cried, the ladies cried and even the missionaries needed some tissues. What a blessing they were!

What a blessing these teams were!

The Prayer Corner

We will be moving to Lakeland, Florida , where we will set up our stateside base for this year.
We are hoping that churches will respond this year as we itinerate. We will be raising the budget that will finance our ministry for another four years.

We have just finished the second year of studies in the Seminario Biblico Vegano. There are 20 students in the program right now. Pastor Gilberto Sanchez and his wife Argentina will take charge of the institute this year while we itinerate in the US . They are excited about the program. Their church is one of the churches that has sent many students. Hopefully, we will be back next year in time to see the first graduates receive their 3 year diplomas. It is exciting to see the strong desire in the students to study and prepare themselves for the ministry.

Juana Paula Sanchez and Heriberto Romero are both
pastors and faithful students at the Bible Institute.

Family Happenings

After a three year term of ministry in the Dominican Republic , the Martinez family will be moving back to the US for a year. We will be visiting family, friends, and supporting churches sharing the good report of what the Lord has done. Please let us know when your church is willing to have us share.

The Martinez Kids
Joshua (25) gave us a hand this year in the Dominican

Republic . He taught English at LVCS. He was a great help with all the other activities we are involved in. He will be living in Lakeland where he will continue his studies.

Sarah (22) graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland , Florida last April. With her degree she already has a job in Lakeland teaching first grade in a public school starting in August.

Paul (20) is fighting fires in the Grand Canyon . He and three cousins are working for the National Park Service. He will be returning to Southeastern this fall. His major is communications and he is interested in TV and media.

Johnny is 17, and is now a senior in High School. He will be starting classes August 3rd in Lakeland . We are praying this will be a great year for him.

Latin Media Center in Place

Thanks to churches , visiting teams, and individuals the Lord has done a great miracle. The first floor of what we are calling the Latin Media Center has been finished! This first phase includes a 25' by 25' studio that will be used to produce TV programs. Also in this phase is the 15' by 15' mixing and editing room and the guest reception entry area. We had already begun taping the first program, “Mi Familia y Yo”. It is a program geared towards marriage and family issues. The first five programs were taped at our house as we waited for the studios to be painted and equipped. We believe the program will have a tremendous impact on families throughout this nation. Elias Castillo will produce this program as we travel.

The Caceres children say thanks to their sponsors!

La Vega Christian School News

This has been the best year yet in the history of La Vega Christian School. We started our 7th year with 370 students, preschool through high school. Ninety of these receive full or partial scholarships. Others are praying for a sponsor for next year. As a result of weekly chapel services, 90% of the high school students accepted the Lord, plus most of the elementary students. We are discipling these students to win their families and city for Christ.

Please pray for Pastor Francisco Acosta, who will direct the school in our absence.