Post from Lowell Toyer from the DR

This was an note from Lowell (Missionary that is in the DR).
If this is something you would be interested in please let me know.
I think it is an awesome thing to do....OR we could do this as a group from the
ladies group. As you can see ladies, sometimes we do not know who we impact on short term missions trip, but notice Lowells opening remarks....


Lowell writes

Wow I am so amazed how God has used your group to impact so many. It seems like everyday your group gets talked about in some way and it is all positive. Thanks for taking time out to extend the Kingdom.

I am sending you a copy of this so that you can take a look at it and maybe it is something you could get your church (ladies group) involved in. This is something that could really revolutionize our finances here and yet is not a big burden on anyone person. I would like you take a look at this and give me your feedback.

I am sending you a link for a new website that we have put together for our Child Sponsorship Program. The link is: WWW.SIDR.WEEBLY.COM It is not a totally finished product but it is usable. We would really like to see if a group of churches would partner with us to really help us get to a place that we are much more sustainable. We would ultimately like to find about 75 total sponsors but what we are asking is if a church (Ladies group) could help us find 10. It is $35 a month to sponsor a child and the money goes for the child's education. We do not give money to families but we do supply three meals a week. So it does help the family as well. We feel it is such a good investment in the child to give them education and at the same time instill the Word of God in them for three years minimum.

Let me know if that that is something the church may be able to help with. I am not asking the church to sponsor the kids but if we could find 10 individuals that would be willing.

Pat's take on the DR

This is Pat Kauffman's take on the DR. Pat is the 2nd lady on the left of the truck.


This trip was a dream come true for me. It was such an amazing journey. I had no idea what to expect or what would be expected of me but the Lord guided me through this trip every step of the way. The group of ladies was a most awesome group and even though I knew very few of them it was such a comfortable group to share, pray and work with. The devotions in the morning, as a group and as individuals, and the team meetings were such wonderful times. I felt such a peace during all this time.
The power of prayer spoke so loudly to me and what a difference it can make in our lives. Starting the day with the Lord also made an impact with me. Even though I already knew these things I needed to be reminded of it in a new way. I knew early on what I needed to do differently when I got home. I have picked up a Bible study book and guide to help me get started and am studying in the book of John.

At the work site, even though we could not communicate language wise our people understood the smiles, hugs, and holding their hand when the going got tough. And they beamed from ear to ear when they were presented with new baby clothes. Such simple things to do. A smile, even with people we can talk to, can make such a difference in their day. Simplifying my life is important.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to join this group of ladies and for the friendships I have made. I am making changes in my life and I know we made changes in the lives of people in the DR even though me may never see it.

Dawns take on the DR

I have been wanting to write on this blog for a long time. But, I had to wait until the words could come. I don't know about a top 10 list but here are my thoughts. God showed me He is God and I am not. He is always in control. Just as it should be. I went to the DR with such anticipation to go to the hospital and see how things were done in other countries. Meeting Fernando was a blessing. He and his family so young and with the commitment to serve the Lord. The sacrifice that he has made. The humble home and office that he has. If he was a Dr in the United State how his life would be so different. Different but not better. I saw the "politics" of the hospital there that drove him crazy just like we have here in the US. This is a man who God has given a gift to and he uses it everyday to serve others. It was awesome when Fernando would have a short time of scripture reading and prayer with his patients at the clinic before he treated them. What a comfort to his patients. Consider what our healthcare system would be different if we used this as our model. Being a doctor because you want to help and heal and not because you want to be some sort of social elite or make an enormous amount of money.(I know a lot of doctors here that are doctors because they do love people and using their gifts.)

I loved being with Pat, Pam, and Mary (from the dentist group) We all got along very well and learned from each other. Praying over a baby of 16 year old girl, giving clothes to the women at the hospital for their new babies were all blessings to us. Loving the Hatian woman who was not treated so kindly at the hospital because she was Hatian. I hope that even with the language barrier she could see the love of Jesus in us. (Even though I tried to steal her baby everyday!! HAHA)

Many of you know that Maria, my birthmother died just two months before we left for the DR. This has been hard for me. I thought I would have so many more years with her. When we went to the waterfall I kept thinking "Oh how I wish I could share this experience with Maria." Maria loved hiking and being outdoors she would have loved hearing about that experience. I guess my comment to that is never take for granted how long you will have with someone. You never know when they will not be with us any longer. Maria taught me a very important lesson, don't ever judge people. Some people are at different points in their life spiritually. We as Christians need to remember that as not to push others away from our goal, leading them to Christ our Savior.

I know you all thought I hated mornings. I really didn't I just like to stay in bed a little longer! God was good He gave us perfect lessons each day to learn more about Him. I was thankful for our quite time and starting my day with Jesus. We have had a struggle in our life for a couple of years with our son Dylan. He is trying to find his way and some of his ways are not what we would have chosen for him. Dylan and I can fight. It never used to be like that between us. I have the desperation of a mother who wants to never see him struggle. He has the desperation of a young man who just needs to figure things out. For a very long time before we left for our trip the Lord kept whispering to me, wash his feet. I am embarrassed to say I didn't. I was disobedient. When we got our packets for our early morning bible reading one of the lessons was to be on washing feet. We never did that lesson as a group.....what a lesson that was to me though. I really felt like God was confirming to me wash my sons feet. I talked with Maggie about this one night and she felt as I did, I needed to humble myself and do this to show my son forgiveness. Saturday night I told Dylan of this. He took it like I was afraid he would and he said you are not going to wash my feet. What I told him was, ok I won't physically do it but, I want you to hear that the fighting needs to stop. I want you to understand in telling you what I felt the Lord wanted me to do I am doing it with my words. I explained to him there is nothing he could or will ever do that will ever make me stop loving him. He is my child and I love him with every ounce of my soul. Isn't it funny that we do the same to Jesus? Sometimes we fight and try to do things our way. Our Lord sometimes has to sit back and be patient with us. Watch us mess up. He never stops loving us though no matter what. He loves us with His unconditional love.

Jesus has taught me from the trip that He can strip us down to look at ourselves and our lives to see what is really important. Things are just things. We can do with much less. We need to be obedient to Him. He never forgets us. He is faithful wherever we are. Jesus put some people in my life that shared their stories with me about their lives. They gave me hope that my son will find his way back to the Lord too. Now they have a story to share with a mama to give her hope.Their bumps and bruises along the way were not in vain. I am so thankful for their openness with me. I love you all.

Dawn Sturdivan

Joyce's Browns take on the DR

So you are my dear friends....here is my blog:

What an amazing journey. A journey that started out with 22 other women I didn't know but now I call my girlfriends and I love dearly.

A journey that took me to the Dominican Republic where all of us prayed together, laughted together, worked together, cried together, sang together, and worshiped our dear Lord together.

A journey where I watched God work mircacles, bring healing, and weave a group of 23 women's hearts into one with His.

A journey that allowed me to be God's hands and feet to serve His precious Dominican people and touch their lives in some small way...and in return they touched my heart.

For this journey I am humbled and my life will never be the same again.

Thank You Jesus for Such a Time as This.
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