Going to church

Most people get up Sunday morning dress up and get in their cars and drive 5-10 min. to church. This last Sunday Caitlin and I had a much different expirience. We have a group in for the next couple of weeks called Mercy Ships. They are an organzation that sends a ship around Africa with missionaries that minister mostly in medical areas. They have been coming to the DR to train their new ship crew members for the last 8 years. The same leaders come with new recruits every 6 months. They are a huge blessing each time they come. They have partnered with a church in Puerto Plata who have connections with a tiny mountain community in the middle of the country. The road ends at the foot of the mountain and you begin your couple mile hike that crosses the river 4 times. It was absolutely beautiful at the top. It's just a small community of about 4 houses and they hold humble gatherings every Sunday. The host family is a sweet little old couple in their middle 70's who have huge servant hearts. Our feet were caked with mud from the hike and our hostess humbly washed Caitlin's feet. They live off their land, and have fruit trees that they harvest and have their grandchildren ride down the mountain on a mule to sell in the near towns. A little different from the "normal" church services held in our "normal" million dollar facilities.

Please Read

Dear Friends and family,
I write to you as hopefully a humble servant of Christ trying to meet the needs of the Body. Many of you know after just 2 weeks of being here my life was changed. God continues to break down walls, walls of pride, selfishness and greed. I have still yet to fully understand, and for that matter not sure if I ever will, how to live my life in light of my brothers and sisters suffering immensely all around me. Words cannot explain the confusing feelings of my rich American heritage and life, and my best friends and family here in the DR that live so far away from the poorest I will ever be. Why was I so blind to the rest of the world for so long? Why was I not taught the injustices of our one sided wealthy society? Why was I not told that I was in the top 2% in the world’s wealth? And that most of the rest of the world lives closer to the way our friends here who live and work in the garbage dump? And how do I harness my righteous anger and passion to break down those walls and open the flood gates of reality so that my family, future children, friends and American church body not only can see, but can be moved, as we are demanded to in scripture, to do something about it?
Ruben and his wife Juvie are very special people to Caitlin and I. If you have read our blog, or heard us talk you know how precious they are, to not only us but to the school we labor in each day. Ruben’s house is located near the river. Land and homes near the river are very cheap and very poor. Ruben lives in a house framed with tree branches and covered with scrap metal. His House floods and his belongings are ruined every time the river rises. Even right now as I write this we are praying that the weeks rain doesn’t flood his house. It’s rained for about 5 days strait and the river rises every day.
The Spirit heavily convicted me to do something about Ruben’s house situation. The house they live in is about the same as the living conditions of the children we rescue. Our most important teacher needs to be taken care of. Rueben is a very rare kind of Dominican in that he is giving up money for the service of God, and we want to make sure he is taken care of and remains as a prominent figure in our school for many years to come. I say with great boldness that our school WOULD NOT function without his leadership and service. We have seen God already bless in a huge way through many of you giving and praying over this. We were able to have many of you be a blessing in helping out with the work this summer. Rubens house is not only under way, but almost finished!! It’s still so hard to believe that in no time at all Ruben and his wife will have a beautiful home that they will be able to raise the family they want so badly.
Right now family, I humbly plea with you to join with me to pull together, and meet the need that is at hand. Ruben’s house is almost finished and so close to them moving in, but right we are at a stand still. We have a floor, walls and roof, and are only lacking the finishing touches. I have estimated about $3500 to finish and get Ruben and his wife in the house. Please join with us as we strive to help a friend, teacher, husband, leader, and fellow believer in Christ. Ruben is someone I would die for, let alone serve. Please help me serve Christ as I seek to better the life of my friend, his wife, future family and the children of the school. Please pray that God’s provisions would overwhelm all of us involved and only draw nearer to him. You can email me if you would like to help out at laynebeller@hotmail.com. Please help…
-layne