Santiago Soccer Trip!

We took a road trip to support our sister Phebe Rowland at her soccer game in Santiago! It was a beautiful ride to the middle of the island and we had lots of fun doing it!

 Meriel put on a photo shoot for me! She is just so sweet.

I think Phebe loved having us there to cheer for her. Even if she didn't we would do it again! We love this family and are so thankful and glad to get to spend this year with them. What a blessing they are from the Lord.

A Birthday Like No Other

We recently got to experience something awesome yet extremely eye opening and humbling. Brad and I found out that our Haitian friend, Raynald, was having a birthday so naturally we threw him a surprise party! Everyone loves surprises! We planned an afternoon for him to come over to the Rowland's house and cook burgers and have cake and all that normal birthday stuff that you're supposed to do.

 He had mentioned to me awhile back that he did not have a bible. He is Haitian but can read and speak English pretty well so we got him a new testament English bible! 

 He loved it! I don't think it has left his side since.  It was his first bible to ever have and after opening it he began to tear up and thank us over and over.

After we finished eating cake and opening gifts and were sitting around just talking, Raynald tells us that he has never had a birthday party before... He turned 23 that day and through watery eyes he thanked us again for the 732 time and told us how special this day was and how he didnt understand how God would allow him to have such good friends and people that would do this for him.  We were blown away.  23 years old and never had a birthday party.  His parents died when he was young and he lived with a foster family that loved the Lord and showed him who God is as he began to grow. Raynald moved to the DR from Haiti about a year ago looking for an opportunity to start a better life which is the case for most of the Haitians we come into contact with only to be left with the realization that it is no better, in fact harder for them here. We got the chance to explain to him how we are able to do this for him because God first loved us and paved the way for us to receive a new birthday for ourselves when we were born again into His kingdom! Our relationship with Raynald continues to grow and not only is he apart of our men's bible study each week but we frequently spend time with him at his home or at ours.  What a picture of the love of Christ as HE rules over all nations and for reasons I may never know, this divine encounter with a brother was perfectly orchestrated and ordained for a discipleship relationship, friendship, and brotherhood.  Please pray for Raynald and that his heart is continually captured by our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

We pray that this story may spark in your hearts a thankfulness for all God has blessed you with in the same way it did ours... a simple birthday party will never be forgotten. You could say that it was a 

Birthday Party Like No Other.

Life in the Village

Spending time in Chichigua and Algedonez village with the Rowlands.  Great time getting to meet and hang out with the people. Great exposure for the kids as well and allowing them to see how much these people need and rely on our Lord! 

 Randomly passed this guy who had a Hog hat on! New friend. Wooohh Pig Sooie!

 Our friend Ollie made these chairs for us. Awesome!

Not many things in life more beautiful than a Dominican sunset! We are so blessed to have a God who cares enough about us to let us enjoy and be so impressed by the works of His hands!!!

If you want more pictures please visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/DominicanLifeUnleashed there are albums full. 

Please continue to pray for us and that the name of the Lord would be magnified among the nations!!!

Class has started! Downline DR 2012-2013

Our Downline DR class has started! We had a great turnout for the start with 58 students! With help from our translator and co-teacher, Roosevelt, we taught 9 discipleship lessons in one week. It was awesome! We have loved getting to meet the new students and hear about their stories.  We look forward to what God is going to do through these men and women and our relationships with them! 

 Dr Chris Rowland teaching the Great Commission... He is excited as you can tell! Haha

 Multiplication! Powerful and genius strategy of Jesus Christ.

As we left at the end of the week we couldn't help but smile knowing that Satan was not happy with what just happened.  There was a dangerous and endless amount of power and potential as these men and women rode, walked, or drove away back to their homes and villages.  Only God knows the potential of a seed to produce a great harvest that could fill the earth! We look forward to the continuation of teaching and training as we get to be apart of God reaching the nations!

Pray that the seed will be rooted deep in their hearts and grow and produce great fruit. 

 Disciple: World Visionary, World Impacting, Radically Committed, Follower, Learner, and Reproducer of Jesus Christ!

Ana Maria - 8/31/12

This morning was very bitter/sweet.  We received information that our dear friend Ana Maria lost her battle to liver cancer early this morning.  She left behind her very loving husband and 6 young children.  At only 42 years old she went to be with the Lord.  We rejoice because she is no longer suffering from pain in this earthly body but at the same time we shed tears for our brother and his children for their loss and the loss of a great woman on this earth. Her funeral will be tomorrow morning at 8 am. Please keep the family in your prayers.  Since her husband has exhausted all of his money on taking care of Ana Maria and the children we are going to try and help pay for her funeral.  If you feel led to help with expenses for getting this single father of 6 back on his feet and providing food for his kids we would greatly appreciate it.  If you send money to our support fund at Downline Ministries, please specify that you are giving to Ana Maria's family. Thank you.

Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways that are different than what we thought.  As we prayed for Him to heal her and take away her pain He said "Yes" and took her home to a better place where she could be pain free and worship the God of hope and healing forever and ever.  One day we will see her again and that will be a great day!

We love you, our sister in Christ.

Ana Maria - Went Home 8/31/12

Conference in Haiti

We recently got back from teaching at a discipleship conference in Haiti. Crossing the border was a great adventure in itself! Everyone wanted to see our passports and when they saw the white men they all said that they were the "boss".  Good thing Roosvelt was able to straighten things out and by Gods grace we didn't run into too many problems. One of our students from last year, Pastor Joseph actually organized the whole conference and for the first time we had 2 Haitians teaching some of the curriculum (Roosvelt, and Joseph).  It was amazing to not only get to share God's truth with these new friends of ours but also to watch native men boldly and passionately teach their Haitian brothers and sisters about discipleship!  We have many more pictures of our trip on our Facebook page (Dominican Life Unleashed) if you would like to look at them.

As you can tell we were in a very "modest" church (to put it in their words), back in a very poor and remote village, but our God has no boundaries and was so powerful and gracious to work in all of our hearts! We look forward to the day we can go back and follow up with these men and women to see the amazing things God has done and the discipleship that has already begun to take place!  It is very encouraging to see the fire in their eyes and the passion and desire to obey what the Lord has commanded all of us to do.

Matthew 28:19-20....  "And I will be with you always even to the end of the age."

Worship Has Only 1 Language

 I was blessed to get to lead worship before our friend Henry's meeting last Monday night. Songs in English, Spanish, and of course Creole.

 It was incredible to watch these Haitians cry out in praise to our Father in Creole and us white people sing in English.  Just so comforting and powerful to know that God is the same God over ALL the Earth!

This man below is Henry.  He is a Downline student from last year who has truly caught the vision for discipleship and has a great passion to teach Gods word.  We are excited about the opportunity to work along side of him and help equip these saints for the work of service and making disciples of all nations!