Te daré lo mejor de mi vida

"I will give you the best of my life." The title of a popular worship song down here in the Dominican Republic - very cool song. Talks about how we lay our crowns down before the Lord at the altar, giving Him the very best, because this is what He deserves. Amen! May we not just be people that give to God, but may we be extravagant givers, always giving our very best of all we are and what we have to Him.

Well, it has been such a while since I have blogged! So let me give you a summary of what has happened:

• Dedicated our ministry house in Nagua as a centre for pastoral training/intercession/ fellowship. We invited out all the neighbours and fed them dinner after a brief service of worship and prayer. Over 120 people were in attendance - and it did not rain, praise the Lord!
• We held two nights of outreach in a town called El Factor - more than 40 young people gave their hearts to the Lord. Praise God!!
• We held a service in a church in Río San Juan and saw around 12 people give their hearts to the Lord.
• God has provided the money for a mission truck through the gracious donation of a supporter! Praise Jesus!!

There are many other things that we have been involved with - visiting churches and pastors - it is awesome! Over the next few weeks, we will connecting with many pastors in three new areas - two of these areas are Santiago and San Francisco de Macorís, the second and third largest cities in the country. Very cool. Please continue to pray for us as we walk in the vision that God has given us, to equip, empower and encourage local pastors and their churches so that the body of Christ will be all that the Lord intends: a movement that will shake the globe for Jesus.

On a slightly humourous note... I ran out of gas for the second time yesterday. Well, kind of. My bike has a reserve switch, but I didn't switch over to the reserve soon enough, so I puttered (is that a word?) to a stop just outside of Payita, a town a good 15-20 kilometers outside of Nagua. My reserve would get me another 10 kilometers maybe? Praise the Lord there was a gas station right there in town. But... my wallet was not with me I had left with Adrian and Sharon who were driving out to Río San Juan in the opposite direction. I had no money, yea, not even a peso to pay for gas. My reserve would get me part of the way, but I needed gas. So I resorted to asking a kind Dominican man for 20 pesos, thinking that should be enough to sputter into Nagua. Sure enough, without any questions he hands me 20 pesos. God bless him. And the story had a good ending - I made it back to Nagua with some gas left. (Albeit soaking wet and dirty from the ditch we were digging in the mountains and the downpour of rain we received while travelled.) But I wonder how often that happens out here - a white guy pulling up in a bike and asking a Dominican for the equivalent of about US$0.60 worth of gas because he ran out and didn't have his wallet. Had to be there. :)

God is good. Keep up the good fight brothers and sisters. Remember that as children of God we have the victory in every circumstance through Christ.

Peace and Grace,

Ryan