Tuesday, February 16, 2010

More details from the DR

It's been a busy few days for the DR team! Here are some bullet points of some of the things we've seen, experienced, and learned:

  • We joined small groups in San Fransisco.
  • After a brief change of plans, we went to a local museum called the Museum of the Butterflies. The Butterflies were 3 revolutionary sisters that rebelled against a tyrannical dictatorship here in the 1950s and 1960s. The sisters were brutally murdered by the regime in 1962. They had a 4th sister - the last survivor. TO our amazement, that sister was at the museum! Pastor Gabriel and our bus driver (ELVIS!) were amazed to have met a living Dominican legend. She sat down with us, answered questions and told us personal anecdotes about her legendary sisters and her ongoing struggle for the freedoms many Dominicans enjoy today. It was truly an honor!
  • Has a homemade Dominican lunch at one of our girls families home! IT was awesome to establish some personal contacts as well as share Christ in a personal way.
  • We helped to set up, participated in and worshipped with our Dominican brothers and sisters in their Valentine's Day service. We were able to talk about God's love and relationships- and then able to share with our new family at their youth pastor's birthday party!
  • We worshipped with Iglesia Bautista San Fransisco de Marcoris while half our team helped to lead their Children's Sunday School in song, crafts and Bible stories.
  • Then we traveled to the Capital to worship in a small garage church in the country side. Our students were amazed to sing about our Savior who can move the mountains as we were surrounded by the lush green mountains of the DR!
  • From there we've traveled 3.5 hours away to Barahona - the southwestern tip of the DR about 45 minutes from Haiti. We've been prayerwalking, actively sharing the Gospel with Dominicans and Haitians in a town called Duverge where the local pastor, Pastor Franklin, is being called to begin small group Bible studies and eventually a church. We are honored to be a part of some of the pioneer work God is doing in this city!
  • Today we are continuing to prayerwalk, share the Gospel, and do brief Bible studies in the homes we visited yesterday.
  • We are learning about seeing God everywhere we go and becoming aware of how we can be applying Biblical truths to our lives to reflect Christ and the Gospel- it's been amazing and truly humbling.

Thank you for the comments, encouragement, scripture and most of all prayers! We miss you very much- some have even said they missed the snow! LOCOS! It's been a very nice changed and a great chance to see and appreciate God's diversity in weather!

Hasta la proxima!

Quest DR

22 comments:

rparkhouse said...

Greetings from snowy CT. Hope all is well. Just letting you know that you are on our hearts and in our prayers. Mary & I remember you both as we do our QT each morning. Look forward to seeing you soon ~ Roger

Work Husband said...

Hi Ms. E,
We're glad to hear that everything is going well with you and your group in the DR. We miss you. Please come back soon, hahaha.

Diane Belfiore said...

Hey, Josh...Everything you and the whole team are doing is so awesome! I love reading the blog about everything thats happening. Mike prays for you guys every night. I miss you. ha, Anastasia forgot for a second today that you were away and asked when you would be home...I think she is missing you too. :-) I love you! Say hi to Bradley! Love Mom

Noah Belfiore said...

Dear Josh...This week I went to the movie theater and saw Percie Jackson and the Olympians. I went there with Anastasia and Mark and Josiah. I miss you. Sincerely, Love, Noah

Anonymous said...

hello everyone, Marithe te extranamos muchisiimo. cuidate y que Dios te bendiga .. besos

Anonymous said...

este mensaje fue de tu mami y tu flia. ok besos de nuevo

Anonymous said...

Hey Bradley!!
So glad to hear about all the neat things y'all are doing in the DR!
I love reading about what is happening with y'all there. When I told Grandpapa that you are in the DR, he said, "Will the DR ever be the same?!" He is so excited you are there and proud of you.
Praying for y'all. Love you!!!
Mama

Sean said...

Hey Josh and Bradley! We miss you guys a lot. Sounds like you're having an awesome and meaningful time. We miss you here and can't wait till you guys are back, but make the most of the rest of this trip. The last few days fly by! Love you guys.

Sean

Anonymous said...

Hey Marithe and Rob and all the rest of the DR Team, I am glad to hear that you are doing well. Justin seems to be just as well, although their blogging is a lot shorter than yours. God works in amazing ways. It's not everyday you meet a legend, that must have been amazing. I am down in South Carolina, and though the weather is not as snowy as CT or as warm as the DR, it is comfortable considering they had a good 5 inches of snow and were able to build a snowman down here over the last week, which included a snow day from school, I thought it was pretty funny. My uncle is originally from Maine and he retired down here to get away from the snow - I told him that God has a wicked sense of humor sometimes. Anyway, I am praying for all of you, and I can't wait to see you back in Massachusettes this comming Saturday. Through Christ, Beans' Mom

Cordelia said...

I just found out that there's a book and movie based on those legendary sisters. It's called, "In the Time of the Butterflies." We'll definitely have to read that one!

Meghann, I miss you so much! I know you are having an awesome time and learning so much about yourself, your team, the people in the D.R., and most importantly, God. I can't wait to hear everything about your experiences and the story God is writing in your life through them.
I also can't wait to hug you again!
Much love,
Mom

Lisa said...

Hey Rob, Marithe and D.R. Team,

I am so happy to read the good things that have been happening. God is sure using you guys in a mighty way. We got 8" of snow yesterday --- I bet you are really missing us now --- LOL! Can't wait for your return and stories.

Don S said...

Keeping you in my prayers that God would give you much fruit. The opportunities of this trip will prepare you for what lies ahead.
By the way, enjoy the warmth as it is looking more like New England in the winter is supposed to look. Rob, I think there will be snow for you to plow not long after you get home.

rparkhouse said...

Rob ~ Looking forward to Overflow tonight. Pretty well set with the Bible Quiz & Lesson. It was Galatians 2...right! :) Just kidding. Hope all is well. Can't wait to hear all about your trip. God Bless ~ Roger

Dan Tobin said...

To all,
It is great to see things are going well and that the team is out there working on a daily basis. We are praying for all of you (and the other teams) on a daily basis. we hope the rest of the week will continue to go well.

On a side note to Chris Tobin: We were also away and could not send any "hello" note prior to today.
We hope you are doing well and that you are eating. Mama sends her love, Michael not so much. Work hard, put your self out there (talk, sing, trust) and stand up straight.

See you all in a few days...

In Christ,

Dan Tobin

Nina and Angel said...

God bless you guys. Wow to actually meet the sister of the Mariposas. That is awesome. Marithe and Rob you are truly missed.Nina and I (Angel) are praying for all the Questies. We love you and see you soon.
In Christ,
Nina and Angel/

rparkhouse said...

As your time in DR winds down thought I'd let you know that things went well "up here" on Wednesday night. I think I messed up Heather as she was trying to get the words to the songs on the screen...so we had to skip singing. The lesson on Philippians 2 went well. We learned a little geography as well. Everyone was excited to see a city named Philadelphia on the map from 50AD! Angel added that the Eagles have been in the NFL for 2000 years and still don't have a Super Bowl win! Looking forward to your return. We all prayed for you again last night and trust that God is blessing all your time and effort to bring the Good News to the DR. See you soon ~ Roger

Anonymous said...

Hola desde Worcester
Its nice to hear everything is going well for you guys. Our prayers r w/ you all. Los quiero mucho and can't wait to sit down hear all of the many stories and experiences God had blessed you guys w/. =) ~ Edwan

Missy said...

DR team..what an awesome trip to read about... praying for safe travels. Ita your "work" friends are doing well...Rob we enjoyed 2 days with your awesome fam...can't wait to hear more about your journey.

Fravi said...

Josh, your mama misses you. I guess that says something about you being a good son? Or is she just that kind of mama? lol. We all miss you here dude. Cross culture wasn't the same w/o you. Keep up the good work out there. In all things bring glory to God. Thinking of you guys often (though I just got the blog site from your mama).

Word. I'm sure you're having too much fun to read this...if so just remember that this isn't about fun...its about serious hard work that is going to leave you wicked tired...oooor you could have a little fun. I talked to your folks...I don't think they remember you. I expect if you got your brothers abilities in language then you should be speaking fluently when you get back...if so, you should have gone years ago so you could have gotten me through college!

Have fun guys...see you when you get back.

Frank

Bryce said...

Rob, Marithe, looking forward to seeing you guys in Church Sunday, tyna and i have been keeping you guys in prayer. can't wait to hear more about the trip!

Anonymous said...

HI GUYS. I'M GLAD THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING VERY WELL. AND I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS BACK, ESPECIALLY TO MY SON ANTHONY....I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCHO, MUCHO. SEE YOU SOON AND MY REGARDS TO ITAMAR.
HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT YOU GUYS.

TONY (PAPI)

to zachary from marie said...

hi zachary, i hope your still having fun serving God. See you sunday =) josh and craig say hi too
~marie