Dominican Missions News: August 2007

Church Threatened By Camu River

Last year the rainy season affected the banks of the Camu River and we lost about 750 square feet of the Rieles church property. We should have acted then but somehow we believed that the river would not take any more land but would instead keep going downstream and leave us alone. Not so. This last month we saw another 500 square feet disappear and now the river is 4 inches from the new parsonage we were building, and only three feet from the north wall of the church.

One more bad rainstorm or hurricane and we may be forced to salvage the roof and windows before the river takes these materials downstream. So what can we do? Most of all we really need prayer. We need favor with the government as the estimates for materials needed to build a new bank is nearly $30,000.00 US and we do not have any funds like this sitting around.

This church has really struggled. A few months back we wrote about the Pastor of this church who died of cancer. Currently we are conducting Bible studies and are ministering to almost 30 adults and 50 children. We still have no pastor for this work, but it would be a terrible loss to have to suspend services here when we are just starting to see some fruit in this poor neighborhood. The name of the church is Rio de Fe or River of Faith. Faith is just what we need right now!

Sunday School Children walk between the Church and the river

Prayer Requests

Rescue of the Rieles Church and parsonage.
God’s blessing on the newest Martinez grandchild, Isabella Ruth Rios.
A new job in Media for Paul Martinez
Launch of new TV show “La Biblia Para Hoy”
For more English teachers!

Volunteers Needed to Teach English!

Every year it is a struggle to keep our English program at La Vega Christian School staffed. We were blessed this last school year with the help of Judy Medsker, Jessica Turner, Shirley Featsent, Greg and Sandy McDonough and always faithful Jerry Durr. Jerry has been with us since the school began nine years ago. He is the head of our English department and has done an excellent job. He goes home on furlough this summer and we don’t know if he is coming back. We will certainly miss him. Of the four volunteers mentioned above only Miss Medsker has committed to return in the fall. That is why we are asking you to help us by making sure your church puts a small ad in the bulletin. It can read:

Needed: School teachers to serve as missionary educators in the Dominican Republic. Must love children and be willing to commit to teach ten months at La Vega Christian School. Spanish helpful but not necessary. Will receive a small stipend to help with food and lodging but must also raise some missions funds for personal support. If interested please email Debbie Martinez at lavegaschool@hotmail.com or call Debbie at 863-248-1119 (this is a US Vonage phone number). Thanks!

Jerry Durr, with us since 1998

Elias poses in new studio	LATIN MEDIA CENTER ON THE MOVE
	Our son, Paul Martinez was on hand the last two months here in La Vega and helped us work some bugs out of our TV production studio. He and Elias Castillo produced three new commercials for La Vega Christian School, which are airing on two cable channels in the city. You can see two of these spots at: www.latinmedia.org . They also produced ten four-minute devotionals to air on TV for the former national superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Reverend Manuel Bello. Currently the audio from these devotionals are airing on four radio stations in Santo Domingo (pop. 2.25 million). They also took the studio equipment on the road and did a great job recording three services of a annual women’s conference in Puerto Plata.	Plans are underway for the production of the new and improved TV program “La Biblia Para Hoy” (The Bible for Today). This is a program Mitch produced several years back to interest the general public to read and study the Bible. It is slated to start in September. It is also hoped that with the help of the Junior and Senior class at La Vega Christian School, we will see the development of a new youth TV program. Please be sure and visit: www.LatinMedia.org our new website for updates, goals, and previews of some of the videos that Latin Media has produced.

Child Sponsors Needed:
Can You Help?

New Baby in the Family!!!

Dear family and friends, we are so proud of our new granddaughter, little Isabella Ruth, born June 23rd, 2007, weighing in at 6 lbs 3 ounces. Sarah had a quick and natural delivery and is doing well.

As you can see above, her sister, Astrid Elena, is feeling pretty good about this special event also!

It is so exciting to hear testimonies of entire families attending church and serving the Lord because of the teachings their children received at La Vega Christian School. We are truly transforming a generation of students and reaching their families for Jesus Christ.

Every year at this time moms and grandmothers come to me asking for financial aid to send their children to our school. Many only need a half scholarship, which is $30.00 a month. Our school is truly an oasis in a spiritual desert, as one mother wrote. If you would like to make an eternal difference in the life of a child and a family in the Dominican Republic, please contact me at lavegaschool@hotmail.com. I’ll send you information about your child and you’ll receive letters during the year. I’ve already said yes to 10 students believing in faith that God will supply the need. Thank you for your generosity.

Child in Need