August 7, 2013

Dear Family and Friends: Please accept my apology for the tardiness of this letter. It has been a month in the making; as we have settled back into our routines, the children have started school, and the real impact of our trip is still sinking in. Our week in the Dominican Republic was absolutely amazing! Im not sure where to begin because our family and our team were all touched beyond anything that could have prepared us. We did a bible study called Prepare Your Heart in the weeks preceding our trip and we took some wonde rful lessons from that study. But what God did in us, through us, and among us was an incredible thing to witness. It sounds so clich to tell someone, Go on a Mission Trip..it will change your life Forever." BUT IT WILL.... AND IT DID! I do want to put a word in for the amazing organization YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Please visit http://ywamsanpedro.org. They sponsor missionaries all over the world and their vision is to bring transformation through the expression of God's love throughout the nations. In the Dominican alone, they have a multitude of projects from building homes, clean water projects, street ministries, family counseling, educational ministries and so much more! Our specific team was involved in something called Mission Adventures. We spent the first couple of days being trained by the young missionaries who live there (some American and some Dominican). We were taught to communicate with simple phrases in Spanish, learned bible verses in Spanish, learned dances, games and songs and about the culture and history of the people. Each morning we had chores and a devotional time led by their staff. Each day we used this VBS style ministry in various communities throughout the San Pedro area. Then every evening we worshiped together through scripture, testimony, and song! Our first full day was Sunday and we had the priviledge of attending a local church. I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit the minute we entered the church and engaged in worship. The language barrier didnt matter, because Gods presence was as thick as the air was heavy. The music, the testimony, and the Word of God filled my heart. The sermon was translated, but the rest of the service was all in Spanish. When it came time for the offering, the people gave generously from their hearts. They sang and danced their way to the alter, gladly throwing into the offering box what could have been their last peso. At the end of the service, we witnessed three, sometimes four people climb onto a single MoPed to leave. " Dios Te Bendiga!" .we were taught to say, which means, "May God Bless You!" They would answer with."Amen!" I remember the first day our team climbed on the old bus driven by Papito, a local Dominican with a small stature and no shoes. He was our driver for the week and his huge smile, crazy driving antics, and generous heart touched ours from day one. Prepared with our backpacks, water bottles and supplies, we looked like children on our first day of school, wide eyed and filled with nervous anticipation. Would we be able to communicate? Would they like us? How would God use us? All of those questions were soon answered. As we turned down the dusty road leading to the community church, children began running along side the bus waving and cheering, "Ola"! We looked like a bunch of tourists as we piled out of the bus, but soon felt like celebrities as we entered the church. This small, humble structure, with dirt floors and old wooden pews, was filled with around 100 children clapping and cheering as they touched our hands and our hearts. Their expressions were that of children on Christmas morning; with wonder in their eyes, love in their hearts, and smiles as big as Texas! All the questions and nervousness melted away as we played games, danced and sang, recited bible verses, and made sheep faces out of paper plates and cotton balls. It was the most overwhelming, joyous, yet humbling feeling I have ever known!

Four hours later, sweaty and exhausted, we didnt want to leave. But with tears in our eyes and longing in our hearts, we were off to another church in another town to give and to receive the love of Christ!

In all, we visited 5 different communities, including an orphanage, Nuestros Pequeos Hermanos , which means Our Little Brothers and Sisters ( http://www.nph.org). We were also involved in a street ministry called the Malecon Project, where we fed and witnessed to a group of children that make the streets of this coastal town their home. We prayed with them and over them and we even had a young boy tell us how he felt through an interpreter. He described the Holy Spirit moving in and around him and that he felt swimmy headed as we were praying. These children are street smart and range in age from about 8 to 14. They come from abused, neglected, or abandoned homes and they make their living washing windows, shining shoes, and who knows what else. That night, I felt like we made a difference in someones life. I was fearful, but God worked through that, and I became a witness for Christ, as did so many of our youth and team leaders. Because of that experience, several of us are heading up a mission project at our church to provide Christmas presents for these children. I am also working with one of the missionaries to provide clothes, school supplies, and bus fare for the 4 children she tutors....as their poverty is the only thing keeping them from receiving an education. Please contact me at michelle.marlowehood@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping support any of these projects. Speaking for myself, I know that my life will never be the same because of this trip. I also know that something God began to stir in me over 10 years ago has been awakened and that missions is part of my calling and purpose. Speaking for Edrick, Will, and Madison, I have heard each one of them say how greatly this experience has impacted their hearts; to see first hand just a small sampling of "the least of these" that Jesus calls us to serve in Mathew 25. It does something inside of you to see such poverty; where basic care, such as housing, clothing, food, clean water, and medical attention are not readily available. But the amazing and humbling part of it all, is that in the midst of our team witnessing through a VBS type ministry and tangibly feeling drawn to care for and love these people.....in the midst of all of that......we were ministered to, by them. There was a purity in the joy and love we felt from them; something I, personally, have never seen or known. They were not blessed in life with what we, as Americans, feel to be important. But they carried the love of God inside of them, and THAT was beautfiul to see! Our family cannot properly express with mere words, our gratitude for your prayers, encouragement, and/or financial support. We do, however, want you to know that without your partnership, our mission trip would not have been possible. Thank you for investing in our family and for believing that God would make a difference through us and our team. I know that God wants me to be bolder about sharing my faith not just in the Dominican Republic, but right here in Central Georgia. May the Lord bless you and your family for blessing us and being a part of Gods transformation and impact in so many lives! Please dont stop praying for the Dominican people. Although a lot of them have heard the Word of God and believe it, there are still many who do not follow a lifestyle of Christ. Sounds alot like us, doesn't it? The conditions they live in are so poor, and although work is being done, work goes unfinished everywhere. The history of the island and their split from Haiti is something I want to learn more about because their beliefs are very different. Please pray that they would continue to hear and accept the gospel. Pray also for the pastors of these communities, that they would be blessed financially to build churches, and spread the love of Christ in tangible ways such as provision in housing and shelter, food, school, and community services. Everyone is not called to be a missionary in another part of the world, but everyone can help by supporting organizations like YWAM, World Vision, and so many other projects that assist in the plight of God's people. Pray for the missionaries that have been placed there, for their strength and endurance and commitment to serving the Dominican people. Thank you for blessing

us in this journey and I pray that Gods Glory would continue to be made known among His people throughout the world! Love in Christ, Michelle, Edrick, Will, and Madision See our pictures @ Facebook.com/michelle.hood.5070 (click on photos, then albums, then DR Trip 2013)