Matthew and I have started doing this beautiful thing at the church at CMA- potlucks. The strange thing about where Caribbean Mountain Academy is located is that here in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, there are probably at least 8-10 other Christian, North American (can't disclude our Canadian friends!) ministries here in town. Which means, there are a LOT of N. Americans that live here. This is not a proven statistic, but I would almost bet that per capita there are more N. Americans here in Jarabacoa than in any other city on the rest of the island. It is truly a phenomenon. OR, better yet, God has very special plans for this city.
The goal behind the potlucks is to bring unity to these various ministries by inviting everyone to come together and share a meal. Each month we highlight a ministry in town, so someone from that ministry will give the message during the service and share about what God has been doing in their ministry. We pray for that ministry specifically and then after church we all enjoy a meal!
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| Today's service: everyone getting seated |
Today, we had our third monthly potluck. We had the best turn out yet. We actually filled up EVERY seat in the chapel (praise God!). It was truly an encouragement to see the place packed out by various missionaries representing almost all of the ministries here in town. Matthew has the privelege of pastoring the only English-speaking church in Jarabacoa (that we know of). Which gives us a really unique role in the lives of all these English-speaking missionaries (including our own staff and students). We are still praying about exactly what that may look like, but it seems like these monthly potlucks are a great start.
Sometimes it seems ironic that the Lord would call us to another country to mainly minister to people of our own country. At times, it has been easy to be discouraged, thinking we are not "real missionaries" for this reason. Yet verses from 1 Corinthians 12 (see below) came up several times today, affirming me and where God has placed us right now.
Verses 15-20 read, "15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
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| Recent day at the park with my guys! |
These verses are a great reminder to all of us: Embrace where God has placed you. Whether the pinky toe or the heart of the body, the rest of the body cannot function properly unless we are all doing what we are called to do, right where we are, right now. Pray for Matthew and I as we strive to do the same! And for Gabe, because even though he is just being his cute little self, God has a special purpose for him too, here at CMA. He daily impacts students and staff here with his contagious smile and his adventurous spirit.
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Recent painting by a student, who is color-blind,
by the way ( you wouldn't know it from the painting!) |
Join us in praising God for providing 100% of our financial goal for this next year in the DR, 100% funding for the art program (that continues to be going great, by the way!!), and for filling 100% of the seats today at church. Our God is a God of 100%'s and "abundantly more", so we will not close our hands to any blessing he wants to pour out, but rather expectantly trust in his abundant provision for every need!
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)
Much love and many blessings!
Jamie
