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Fall 2019 – News from Your Missionaries Mitch & Debbie Martinez

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As the Holidays approach, we want to give thanks to the many who so faithfully have prayed and given towards the work that is being carried out here in the Dominican Republic. We cannot fully express the joy we feel in knowing that your hearts are with us. After 27 years we still count it a very special privilege to have you as friends and partners in this ministry. It is God working through you that has helped us to touch so many lives here. May the Lord richly bless you!

Debbie translating for a medical volunteer with Caring Partners
Debbie translating for a medical volunteer with Caring Partners

It was exciting to have a visit this November from Caring Partners, an international ministry focusing on people’s medical needs and sharing the Gospel. Working with Pastor Gemuel Delgado in the Rieles area, and Pastor Roberto Hernandez at La Vega Christian School, they examined 930 patients at the respective church locations in four days. The pastors and volunteers also prayed with over 70 people to receive Christ into their hearts. What a blessing to partner with them that week.

 

 

It was so nice to have a visit from our good friends from South Carolina here last month. Calvin and Barbara Fortner came with Sharon Gossett and Grace M. Bell. It is always a blessing to show first hand the progress being made in the ministry. They have been supporting this work for many years

Pastor Leomar Sirit and his daughter Daniela

Rose of Sharon – Sunday October 27th we had 30 attending, our best turnout yet for the morning service. This is a struggling new church plant in a poor community where we had filled in as pastors the past year and we still attend. It needs prayer. We been blessed with a new Pastor Leomar Sirit who is committed to this congregation. He is an answer to prayers!

PROJECT UPDATES:

Cutupu – Church and school: Walls are up to bondbeam height (Top of windows) and columns have been poured. The next step is to lay three lines of block above the bondbeam and start on the roof. We have funds on hand for the roof and are looking for help with the floor, windows, and doors. Later comes plumbing. electrical, and kitchen. 130 children are truly needing this new building. $8000.00 still needed.

Sabaneta (Pastor Alex) – The school wing is almost complete. We are finishing up the kitchen and the electrical work still needs to be done. The new bathrooms and kitchen are functioning. The cook gave me the biggest smile for her new kitchen. Previously the director’s office had been the kitchen for the 70+ children. $ 1200.00 for electrical.

 Limoncito – This school is functioning great with 45 children. Pastor Pettit Techner has moved into the parsonage and is leading the congregation. The next stage for this project is to move the sanctuary to the 2d floor, and leave the school on the first floor. The slab is already in place for the new sancturay, we anticipate $15,000.00 needed to complete this 2d phase. This is a great project for a missions minded church (hint).

Ranchito – Sunday School Addition This church has a great sanctuary but no classroom facilities for Sunday School. They have been using the Sanctuary for four makeshift classrooms every week for the past six years but conditions are tough as only blackboards divide the classroom spaces. We need $5000.00 to start this project. This is for the foundation of the new wing.

For Info on how you can give, call us at 863-248-1119. Your gifts are tax-deductible.

 

Summer 2019 – News from Your Missionaries Mitch & Debbie Martinez

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Summer short term missions teams continue to have a great impact in local churches with outreaches and construction help.  Special thanks to Living Water Fellowship, Kissimmee, FL, Greenville First, SC, and to New LIfe AG, Grand Ledge, MI.  Also in May, a team from the Univ. of Maine (Augusta Campus) kicked off our summer.

Health Awareness Talks.  The University team from Augusta, Maine, did an outstanding job helping children in various schools understand the importance of dental hygiene and other health issues.  They were well received by the parents and school staff attending. It was their first visit to the Dominican Republic, we hope they will visit again.

 

New Life A/G worked in Villa Altagracia where they dedicated their time to the construction needs of the House of Prayer Church.  They were responsible for adding the 2d story to the administrative wing of this church. They did some heavy work under very hot conditions.

Crew hard at work

They also teamed up with a  Dominican construction crew to put in all the divisions in cement block for the office and bathroom areas of the church on the 2nd story.  We so appreciated New Life’s positive attitude and strong work ethic.  It was great to see the results after a hard week of work.  And they also ministered in area churches while in the country.

 

The Living Water Fellowship Team was on here for the end of the year party for the 14 Haitian education programs.  There were 700 children at this event.   Debbie was so happy to have this team with their servant attitude assist her. They also ministered in area churches, and put on work gloves and helped with the foundation work of the Cutupu church mentioned on our header above. It was hot grueling work and they never complained.  Thank you Living Water!

 

Greenville First conducted Vacation Bible School at various local churches and also helped with construction needs.   There are many churches in this country that cannot afford a special summer program for the children.It is a great blessing to help the kids learn the Bible lessons that they can apply in their own lives.  We encourage churches to come and host the VBS programs here in the Dominican Republic. The team also poured the floor for the Good News Haitian Church in Sabaneta, and helped with the foundation work of the Cutupu church.

Volunteers will be missed!
The Palmer family returned to the United States after serving the Haitian Schools and the International Church for two years.  They will be greatly missed.

We will also miss Sallie Wham who faithfully worked with the English program at La Vega Christian School, and also worked with the Children’s program at Rose of Sharon Church in Barrio Inco.  Debbie will surely miss her help in that program.

La Vega Christian School (LVCS) is always on the look out for volunteers willing to give a year or more of their life teaching English in a Christian environment. At  LVCS they have freedom to impart spiritual truth as they teach.  Our volunteers don’t have to speak Spanish to teach here.  If you are interested in applying for a short term mission at LVCS contact us today.

Short term missions teams are encouraged to network with us to impact local churches, schools, and communities! We cannot overemphasize the impact that church teams have had on our ministry here in La Vega.  There are more than 40 building projects over the years that could not have been accomplished without the help of these gracious US teams.  The Cutupu project above needs help today.  If you or your church would like to help, visit our Dominican Republic short-term missions trip webpage  for practical guidelines to prepare for your visit.

 

Congrats to Pastor Aaron Rios
Aaron Rios was installed as Lead Pastor at Garden City Church in Beverly, Mass.  He is our daughter Sarah’s husband. It was great to be on hand for this event during our summer visit to the U.S.  Previously he was an associate pastor for 4 years at New Life Church in Leominster, Mass.

 

 

 

1,800 Missionaries Attending  
We found ourselves attending a world missions event in Orlando with 1,800 other missionaries.  The Assemblies of God World Missions organization said history was made as missionaries from 160 nations gathered for encouragement and edification.  Outstanding speakers such as Dick Eastman from Every Home for Christ challenged us to prayer.

Haitian School Update Spring 2019

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Dear Haitian School Sponsors,

Haitian Student working diligently!
MORE PHOTOS BELOW!

I wish you were here to see the joy and excitement on the faces of these children! In spite of difficult circumstances, crowded classrooms, hard benches, and long walks, the kids love to be in school. They are happy to have friends and a safe place to learn. And they love to eat, too!

At one school we visited this week I saw a lady with one leg, on crutches, with a basket on her head. The director told me she lost her leg in the earthquake in Haiti. She brings snacks for the kids to buy, and then cleans up the playground afterwards. I wish I had taken her photo, but I was too choked up. My ankle is still bothering me, and it’s hard to walk, so I can understand her discomfort and admire her initiative. That school does not have a sponsor. We are praying about helping the director with $480 a month to pay the teachers.

When the Calvary Academy students were here last month we visited several schools, where the students performed skits and songs, and did crafts with the kids. They loved it! They also painted Alex’s school and church in Sabaneta, and came for an evening service. They were so moved when the Haitian congregation prayed for them. They couldn’t understand all the words but they knew the Spirit was there.

In Barranca the students painted decorations that Pastor Frantz wanted. The new computer lab is finished and the new classrooms are painted. The students there were so happy with the toys the Calvary students brought. Such joy all around!

We hadn’t visited the Ciudad Universitaria school in a while. They meet in the afternoons. The students did a program on the basketball court and then they did their crafts. It just takes a little bit to make a huge impact in the lives of these children.

We had a big disappointment last week when we went to fence in the new property in Cutupu. A lawyer was waiting for us, claiming that the property belonged to her grandfather’s inheritors, and she was going to bring a lawsuit against the people selling to us. That was a shock! We spent more days looking, and God willing, will close this week on a much bigger property with space for the church, school, a soccer field and garden. Please pray for the funds needed to complete the building.

Thank you for your sponsorship, which makes it possible for over 800 children to receive a Christian education and nutritious food. We are honored to be your missionaries.

See below for photos.

God bless,

Debbie and Mitch Martinez

100% of donations go directly to pay school expenses for the children. Your tax-deductible offering may be sent to:

TMCI

PO BOX 1761

Columbia, SC 29202-1761

or call about automatic drafts. 803-799-0502

Reaching Towards the Future in 2019 | Missions in La Vega Dominican Republic

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With your help, the year 2018 was one of the busiest and most fruitful years of ministry for us in La Vega, and 2019 looks to be no different.

Below you can see the plans that have been drawn up for the new Cutupu Church/School. We are so excited about this! The facility will help educate 130 children that are currently meeting in a very poor and inadequate rented facility (seen below the plans). We are believing for the church and classrooms to be built in 2019, we will need $29,000.00 for the construction of the facility.

Some students study under a tarp at the current Cutupu facilities

In El Cafe (in the mountains of Constanza), a new sanctuary is awaiting doors and windows for it’s inauguration.   Funds are already coming in for these two projects. Meanwhile, the “Raising the Rieles” Project is still waiting for the resolution of the land title before construction can begin to re-locate flood zone families. Please pray with us for this! Seventy to a hundred families will be affected positively for the Kingdom of God.

The Rose of Sharon Church in Barrio Inco

For the past year we have been serving as interim pastors in this church. How wonderful it was to be able to baptize six new believers! We are still a young congregation but we have a faithful nucleus hungry for the Lord.

La Vega Christian School Celebrates 20 Years of Service

With 350 children the school celebrated it’s 20th anniversary with a special service recognizing so many of those who have helped in the formation of this school. So many short-term mission teams from so many U.S. churches came and donated labor and finances to make this school a reality. Local pastors and church families have contributed and supported the school over the years. This year we will graduate our largest class with 35 seniors.

Reaching out to bless 14 Haitian Education Centers

Through the Haitian education centers 795 children are receiving an education that they would not receive otherwise. As donations are received the salaries for all the teachers in these centers are being paid. As funds permit, either snacks or a meals are served in each center. If you are interested in helping to support this outreach please contact Debbie at 1-863-248-1119, or her cell at 1-809-696-9928. Her email is lavegaschool@gmail.com. For $25.00 a month you can invest in the future of a needy child, and “change a life forever!  Learn more about becoming a sponsor here.

Sunday School in Rose of Sharon – Dominican Republic

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Today was a fantastic day for our Sunday school class, which usually runs from 6-12 children ages 5-13. The children did everything in the service today. Laysa, 12, opened the service in prayer. Arvelis, 13, prepared a worship song for us, and then Laysa had another powerful song. Little Alvin, 5, sang along with a soundtrack, Jesus is my Superhero. Then Arvelis asked for the prayer requests and prayed. Afterwards Mario, 5, prayed for the offering and sang Hay Libertad en la Casa de Dios, There’s Liberty in the House of God. Those kids are anointed! Three boys didn’t show today; I think they were afraid to participate.

Right before we broke for Sunday School 4 new children came in with their grandmother. I found out after the service that these kids, plus two more of her grandkids who showed up a little later, go to a Compassion program in town and they are required to go to church. She asked me to write a letter next week certifying that the children are attending. As these kids were new to our Sunday School, it was a little hectic getting them to sit and listen to the story, but soon they were mesmerized by the flannel graph figures of Peter in prison. They retreated to the corner to play as soon as the story ended, but the older kids had good Biblical principles to derive from the lesson based on Acts 12. “This lesson teaches us to have faith!” It shows that God answers prayer!” “It proves that God listens to us when we pray and gets us out of trouble.” When I announced that we were going to draw a picture with markers and crayons the kids in the corner jumped up and ran to the tables. Such enthusiasm!

As soon as their interest waned I brought out the crackers and peanut butter. The older girls agreed that we should serve the visitors first and while two of them worked on their drawings, one of the newer girls helped me serve the snack. Although I had forgotten to bring the juice no one complained. They were hungry.

On the way out, one of the new boys, Ramoncito, 8, gave me a big hug when I invited him to come again. Outside I opened the van for my Sunday School bags and to load up the wheelbarrow, shovels and rake we had brought over earlier in the week to spread gravel on the playground. Ramoncito jumped in and told me he wanted to go home with me!

After they left, one of the moms told me Ramoncito’s family lives near her. “We have to pray for that family. They are always yelling and screaming bad words and hitting the kids.” I suggested a cell group in her house but she thinks we should pray about that first. Apparently the men in the household don’t approve of church.

One of the girls expressed concern about them coming to Sunday School. I assured her that we want them there, and that God can change their lives. I have seen it happen over and over again. I am blessed to be a missionary!

:: Debbie Martinez, Missionary to La Vega Dominican Republic

Meet Mitch & Debbie in this short video…

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