Dominican Republic Mission Field Update July 09

Special news from

the mission field:

• 150 children attend

VBS in Las Americas

Confirmands gathered • 1st confirmation

for a Baptism Retreat, class in Palmar
July 15th Arriba close to
finishing their studies

• New worker joins

Palmar Arriba Mission Update • Pastor Walter Ries Jr. mission team
On July 15th, we celebrated a day-long Catechism retreat on
Baptism at a retreat centre with a pool. No, nobody was immersed
through baptism, but plenty of the youth were dunked! Eighteen of “Oh give thanks to
us attended the retreat in preparation to confirm our first young the Lord, for He is
people from Palmar Arriba at the end of August. Lord-willing, 10 of
these youth will be confirmed - our first confirmands at this mission! good! For His mercy
endures forever!”
The mission in Palmar Arriba continues to grow with an Psalm 136
average attendance of 60-80 children, youth and adults in
Wednesday night worship services. The majority of those who attend
this service are teenagers and children at this point but we are
beginning to see adults as well.

Other activities during the week include:

 On Tuesdays, there is a group of ladies that meet, forming an
Altar Guild under the direction of Danelle Putnam.
 On Wednesdays and Fridays, the pastors give a devotional at
a baseball camp to some 60 young men. We are taking them
through the catechism.
 Every other Friday, a bunch of the youth from the mission cram
into our vehicles and we visit the disabled children at CONANI
to sing, tell Bible stories and play games with them.
 On Saturdays, 10 youth meet with Pastor Walter and Ana Ries
Jr. for a Bible study series on the life of Jesus.
 On Sunday mornings there is a Sunday school that fluctuates
between 30-50 children. In the evenings, the adult
confirmation class meets.

We give thanks to our Lord for these people and pray that their
thirst for the Word would continue to grow!

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Las Americas Mission Update • Pastor Ted Krey
On July 5th, the first baptisms
took place in the mission in Las
Americas. Vicar Willy and Santa
Gaspar’s two daughters were received
by water and the Word into Christ’s
kingdom and two other
neighbourhood children as well. More
than 80 people attended our worship
service held in the Gaspar’s newly
painted garage.
Their Sunday school continues to
meet with an average of 30-40
children being led by Santa and a
team of neighbourhood mothers and
youth that are forming around her. We
hope by late August or early
September to begin confirmation
classes here as well.
“Jesus loves me”! Song-time at VBS, Las Americas
LCMS World Mission ● Dominican Republic ● drlutheranmission@gmail.com
Mission Field Update July 09
Estefani Gaspar
being received
by the water’s of
baptism into the
family of Christ!
Mid-July also saw the visit of a
volunteer missionary team of 17 youth
from Florida. This was the second year
in a row that they came and held a
double VBS. In the mornings, they went
to a home for disabled children, sang
songs and colored bible stories with the
80 residents of this home.
In the afternoons, they went to
Youth performing a drama on the
Vicar Willy
crucifixion of and
ChristSanta
for the Gaspar’s home
children at VBS
and held another VBS for three days in
the evening (after the heat of the
day!!!) More than 150 children came
and heard the Good News of Jesus
Christ through our Vicar, his wife, many
parents and the Florida group!!!
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 Mission Field Update July 09

Work with the Developmentally Disabled

• Danelle Putnam

We have some good news about our

expanding work with people with disabilities. This
month, we offered a job to Marisol to work with us in
the area of disabilities and help us to begin a
foundation which would permit us to expand our work
with children, youth and adults with disabilities around
the country.
The foundation would also give us recognition
with the government and Lord-willing permit us to
enter into an agreement with the government to de-
institutionalize the two homes that the government has
and put these youth into Christ-centred group homes.
We are awaiting an answer from the
government arm of disabilities, CONANI, as to whether
or not they will approve a one year pilot project of a
group home located literally alongside one of our
missions.
Marisol visiting with a child at CONANI Please pray for these young people in these
group homes and that the Lord would permit us to
care for them in body and soul.

Prayer Requests
For the current catechumens and the confirmation classes. Also that there may be
opportunities to encourage other potential students to be gathered around the Word.

Thanksgiving for the VBS in Las Americas in the home of Vicar Willy and Santa, July 20-24th,
and for the team from Florida who helped with the VBS.

For the children baptized in Las Americas, July 5th, in the home of Vicar Willy and Santa.

For the continued outreach to the baseball players in the community of Palmar Arriba.

For the developmental disability ministry in CONANI, Amigos de Jesus and a projected
group home and hiring of Marisol to work with our mission team.

For the upcoming confirmation of 10 youth on August 30th.

Thanksgiving for the health of Danelle who is recovering from dengue.

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