Preparing for a White Christmas!

November has come and gone and we barely realized it was here due to the flurry of activities each week held.

Along with daily visits to baseball fields for one-on-one time with coaches and Bible studies with athletes, Miguel started a small group for a few of the coaches who have a thirst to go deeper than the regular outline of devotions and basic discipleship. He began with three coaches and in a month's time that number has doubled. We are so excited to see these individuals grow in their relationships with Christ and begin to apply the teaching they receive to their daily lives and the way they disciple their own families.
Another joy is the addition of two baseball players who gave their lives to Christ as a result of gleaning from the truths Miguel has been sharing and watching their coaches change as they apply those truths to their every day habits! 

We celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year. Wednesday evening with a few of our church and work friends who are American or like family to us. And Thursday afternoon with a big community of missionaries an hour away. 

Last night FCA DR had our annual staff Christmas dinner to mark the end of the work year and officially kick off vacation season. Instead of taking time off during the summer, all of our staff members get most of December through the beginning of January off to celebrate the holidays and spend valuable time with their own families while recharging for a new year. 

Every month, we marvel at how true God's grace has been to answer our personal prayers for a truly Biblically sound church to plug in to. We started attending services at our small local church right after getting married and around the same time that our pastor officially stepped into his role (the same pastor who did our premarital counseling and performed our wedding ceremony), and which now finally has a name - Abundant Grace Church. We love growing alongside our fellow believers and being involved in the changes that are happening in the community as a result. It's difficult to find churches here that are truly living and serving in the capacity that Christ has called us to as His bride. Many evangelical churches leave a sour, legalistic taste in the mouths of the communities they are established in, which results in many people (believers and non-believers alike) to hold Christians at an arm's length and not want to get involved or trust that grace and love are actually real. We are humbled to be able to be discipled as we disciple others - to be poured into as we pour out. 

Is it hard for anyone else to believe that the end of the year has begun? We're already a week into December and time has been flying by with wrapping up University finals, finalizing work stuff, and preparing for our trip to the States.
Miguel is trying to brace himself for cold weather and stave off nightmares of all the things that could go wrong on his first experience flying, and even leaving the island.
Thanks to our sister-in-law, he has a thick winter coat custom made waiting for him as soon as we arrive. :D

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers during Miguel's residency visa process. They were all answered!
On Nov. 27 we headed to the U.S. embassy for a 9 AM interview appointment. That morning, there was a problem with their computer system and our appointment was delayed for another hour and a half. But once we got in, the entire interview took less than 10 minutes and we were on the road again within half an hour! We are so excited to be able to take time to travel to the States for the Christmas season - and be together this time! Last year, we had plans to spend the season together here in the DR, but my youngest brother, Anthony, died in a car accident on December 11, and the unexpected trip to Michigan extended through Christmas. It was not easy when we had planned to celebrate together and instead mourned apart.
God's grace has continued to pour over our lives this past year, even in the darkest moments. While it will be difficult to spend this holiday season with a gaping hole in our family, it will not be without hope. Through the tears, we will be celebrating the joy and wonder of knowing Anthony is living with our Savior - that he is truly celebrating the reason we have Christmas.
We'll also get to celebrate a new addition to our family - this time in the form of a sister-in-law. My younger brother, Lewis, is getting married Jan. 6, '18 and we are thrilled!

Below is an outline of our schedule for this trip. We know it's a busy time of year for most people so we've carved out several days before and after the busiest time to be able to travel a little.

• St. Johns, MI - Dec.17-23 - we are open to traveling an hour or two to see you (or you can come see us!)
• Dec. 24-Jan. 6 - we have this time blocked off to spend with family and local friends
• MI - Jan.7-9 - we will have a few days left for last minute get togethers before heading out
• Atlanta, GA - Jan. 10-16 - our schedule is wide open so far but it will fill up fast! We have multiple places to stay and many people who are excited to see Miguel again. Let us know where you'll be and you can help us introduce Miguel to big city USA.

Let us know when and where we'll see you!
In the meantime, Merry Christmas!

Goodbyes Are Hard. Period.

He told us he sent in his resignation letter and they're moving to Tampa in December. Not only have they been some of our best friends, but he's also been our boss as the director of FCA DR for the last year.
Yet another difficult aspect of the lives of missionaries - the many goodbyes.
And while we understand their decision, fully support them as they move forward in the ministry God has for them in this season, and know that our relationship does not end here, it's difficult to prepare to say goodbye to people who've become family to us.
Goodbyes are hard. Period.
We can come up with strategies. We can look at the positive side. We can become numb to people coming in and going out of our lives. But it's still hard. Because every time we invest in lives, a little bit of our hearts are given to those lives.

FCA DR fall sports camp

The first question that comes to mind for most people is how this will affect the ministry and what it means moving forward. To answer that, first of all, this is God's ministry. Period. So our first response is to trust that He knows where to guide us. Secondly, there has been prior preparation and strategies that we'll be implementing, such as handing more responsibility to the three regional directors (Miguel and two other staff members) and working more toward a Dominican run ministry. At the same time, our founder, who lives in the US, will continue with fundraising for the ministry as a whole. (We still fundraise for my personal salary and expenses.) So, as a whole, there isn't a lot that will change outwardly. My job in administration stays the same with a few additional responsibilities, as does Miguel's job as regional director with a few additional responsibilities. We'll continue expanding our role as group coordinators and will be the go-to for most international communications.

Miguel and I can't help wondering what the future will bring. We're excited to see this new model for mission trips take hold and see how God will use Americans and Dominicans working side by side to demonstrate His love to the coaches and communities we serve. At the same time, more than ever, we are realizing the utmost importance of staying tuned to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide, not only this ministry, but also us.
We ask ourselves, what does God have us here in this particular city for? We see the small local church we're a part of begin to grow and flourish and wonder, what part does God have for us in this body? We see the needs of a community of street children and wonder, how can we be Jesus to them?
And for now, the answer is one step at a time. Each day, asking our Father to show us who needs His love, today. To pour out through our conversations, our work, our presence in this town.

Marriage retreat 

October has been a full month!
A generous donor gave enough to cover a weekend marriage retreat for all FCA DR staff and spouses, as well as several coaches and their wives, at a nearby resort. October 1 also marked 6 months since our wedding day, so it was the perfect way to celebrate! We thoroughly enjoyed getting away for a few days and relaxing while eating great food and participating in a wonderful couple's conference.
The first week of October brought FCA DR's fall camp. A group of Miguel's coaches and baseball players joined others to participate in the three day tournament, daily discipleship groups, and evening evangelical sessions that our staff worked hard to prepare.
October 11 marked ten months since my youngest brother died, which seemed more significant in some ways than any other month. It seems crazy how life can go on appearing unaltered while underneath, everything has changed.
October also brought with it new neighbors. Another Dominican-American couple joined the leadership staff of our local church and we are so thankful for a growing community. Cross cultural life and marriage brings its own challenges and joys and its already been a special blessing to share them with someone else.
And today marks two years since I first stepped foot on Dominican soil! So much has happened in two years that in many ways it seems much longer. Yet, I wonder how time can fly by so fast.

Daily happenings include daily discipleship and mentoring through baseball for Miguel, while he juggles the added responsibilities that mean supervising more staff in implementing long term ministry strategies. Please continue to pray for open hearts in the coaches and athletes we work with. So many don't realize how much influence they truly have in this country. The coaches spend more time with their athletes than any other adult and our prayer is to teach them how to use that influence for Jesus. Relationships and unconditional love is the key to bringing change to a culture where fatherlessness and abandoment run rampant.
I've personally been staying busy with a wide range of things including writing a ministry handbook to help steer the upcoming changes. Opportunities to translate and consult in legal and cultural topics for other ministries have been coming my way as well, and Miguel jokes that I could set up a small firm on the side! In reality, it's been a joy to be able to provide support for other members of the large body of Christ and assist in greater influential impact. This country has so many needs and I thank God for the priviledge of being used in whatever way possible. I've also loved being able to stay in touch with a few of the girls from the safe home who are now young adults and live close by. While it can be difficult to watch them make choices that aren't the wisest or the best, it's also a joy to be able to continue to invest in their lives and pray that Jesus becomes the center of the universe.


Through the many facets of ministry and missionary life, our main goal is always discipleship. And while goodbyes are tough we also know that investing in lives is the best use of our time.
Because it's what Jesus did.

New Ministry Developement

As you all know, when we got married I resigned from my role in the anti-trafficking world; I also made the decision to not get heavily involved in those efforts for at least the first year of our marriage in order to be able to take time to pour energy into building a strong foundation for our marriage and pursue the calling for ministry that we have together.

But, for someone who has a tendency to be a work-aholic, it's been harder than most people know. It's been a big adjustment to have such an open schedule. Even though I keep myself busy most of the time, sometimes I question whether or not I'm fulfilling the purpose God placed me here to fulfill. Especially because I am so passionate about anti-trafficking. When I was invited to join the board of a new bureau here in the DR planning to move forward with so many things that we had dreamed of doing last year and couldn't, I knew I had to say no, but it was a very hard struggle to give up that opportunity.
Do I regret it? No!! And there have been so many people who have encouraged us in this decision. I know that Miguel and I are so, so grateful that God has brought us down the path we are walking. And of course, Miguel is SO good at reminding me to take the extra time and spend those moments with Jesus.

Having said all that, I am so excited that we've been asked to take on roles as Mission Trips Coordinators for FCA DR! We're rolling out a new model for mission trips this upcoming year (currently receiving requests/bookings) and Miguel and I are spearheading it all. I'll do what I love to do in coordinating behind the scenes, as well as working with the groups when needed, while Miguel does what he loves to do - connect people to Jesus through baseball.
Our projects will be focused on the coaches. This may mean pouring a concrete floor for a coach and his family, building an outdoor block bathroom, repairing leaking tin roofs, or painting several coaches' homes in a week. Whatever it is, we'll take the talents of the visiting group and pair it with a need of a coach dirctly influenced by the staff of FCA DR.

Spread the word! Become a part of going into the world and "making disciples of all nations."

Hurricane Season and Other Fun Stuff

*Note: there are lots of pictures below ;)

In the northern part of the U.S. where I grew up, September was the beginning of my favorite season - autumn! (I'm used to calling it "fall" but "autumn" has a nicer ring to it ;)
Trees' leaves would change colors, sometimes overnight, from green into brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. Apple cider and all things pumpkin spice were on the menu at every chilli cook-off thrown to enjoy the last of the long evenings.

Cutting down a dead tree in preparation for the strong winds coming our way.

Here where we live in the DR, September is the heart of hurricane season.
Technically, we have two seasons, hurricane (June-November) and non-hurricane (the other 6 months). I also call the seasons hot and hotter. A lot of people not used to living in hurricane country freak out when they hear "the H word" but mostly it just consists of a lot rainstorms. Hurricane season begins as the hotter part of the year sets in and the rains are what makes living through those months bearable.  Late August to early November is when we see more probabilities of larger hurricanes that actually cause damage. This year has held nothing less than an interesting season.

I'm sure all of you have heard of Irma, the hurricane that hit Florida very shortly after Harvey hit Texas. The Dominican Republic had been in her path but she turned north the night before making landfall; many people praised God that the DR never got a direct eye-wall hit. There are a few regions in the northern part of the island where relief efforts are being carried out, but as a whole, the damage was minimal in comparison to what we were preparing for.

While all this was happening, my flight from ND back home got delayed since the airport closest to to where we live was shut down in preparation for the storm. My family laughed at me as my mind seemed to be scattered all over the place. Miguel was preparing for whatever might happen and I was a little disapointed to not be in on the action (which in the end proved to be barely anything more than a tiny palm tree next to our house blowing over. Thankfully our mango trees went unscathed!).
Well, as Miguel told me yesterday, it looks like I may get a little action afterall! Enter hurricane Maria - a category 4-5 storm set to hit our side of the island, and on to the northern part again, on Thursday. (Hurricane hint: category 3 and above are the ones to keep your eyes on.) This one doesn't seem to have anywhere to move to without bringing damage to someone else.

We know prayer can bring changes. But this past Sunday at early morning Sunday-school, the interesting question came up of, why do some natural disasters avoid certain places and not others? Were people not praying hard enough in those areas like Barbuda and St. Martin? The conclusion we came to is that when looking at that question Biblically, the point isn't necessarily are people praying hard enough or not. The better question is, while not excusing a lack of prayer, come what may - how do we respond?

I've asked myself that question during Irma and again while preparing for Maria - how would I have responded had Irma hit us as hard as predicted? How will I respond if Maria doesn't veer away either? Either way, our response as Christ-followers needs to be one of glorifying God. I've been learning this through my brother's death last December. Grace in the suffereing becomes sweeter somehow. Good or bad, full of laughter or heart-wrenching difficulty, how are we glorifying God in our response?

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My trip to the States was amazing! I can't even begin to thank everyone who made this trip possible. From opening up their homes to giving me their cars to use, and buying me lots of yummy food (way too much food!), I was overwhelmed with their kindness and generosity (you all know who you are). 


I was in Atlanta, GA for 5 days -

Full of first times and new experiences with people who are becoming very near and dear to our hearts!

To the utter surprise of my southern friends, this was my first-ever taste of Chick-fi-A. Miguel was pretty jealous since he's heard so much about this famous fast-food place.  

Also my first ever, almost full eclipse. I've never actually done the whole eclipse experience in any way, shape, or form, so that was cool. The shadows were my absolute, all-time favorite thing!

These two! Talk about people near and dear to our hearts. Phil and Kim have adopted us as their kids and aren't letting anyone else say anything otherwise! I spent 5 hours at their place and it felt like 15 minutes. 

The pictures says it all!

I couldn't resist catching a pic of this delivery truck with Spanish lettering back when Coca-Cola was making its appearance in Latin America. 

It was hard to pick just a few of the many fun details to share. 

In St. Johns, MI for 6 days,

We had a fun-filled evening with a bunch of friends and family at an open-house type meet and greet at my parents' place. I also loved catching up with more people one-on-one at several brunches, meet my little month-old niece, and go thrift shopping with my sisters for some much needed clothes (I think I'm set for another two years now ;)

Little Nikkita Rae Miller has everyone wrapped around her chubby fingers! We video-called her uncle Miguel and she just stared at him while he talked to her :D 

And in Minot, ND for 7 (oops, sorry, that changed with the flight delay to 9) days.

Sharing on Sunday morning at my sending church, Northland Harvest, in Minot was definitely one of the highlights. It's always such a blessing and encouragement to be part of a group of Christ-followers who are so intentional with becoming a part of Jesus' commission to share His love with the world.
North Dakota is always my rejuvenating place, where I have the most time and space to just relax and connect with God in a more intentional way. It's easy to become so busy on fundraising trips and come back home more exhausted than ever, but my family in ND always makes sure to take a day (or few) to just have fun together. Of course, by the end of that week, I was missing my husband a LOT and was happy for some distraction as well :D

I lived with my sister and brother-in-law's family for several months before moving to the DR and they always inspire me so much! That day, we checked out the Prairie Museum located in the town that is the geographical center of North America. Then went on our own fun country drive and found a cool house to take a picture in front of.

He reminded me of Miguel - kind of ;)

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Since getting back, another niece has been welcomed to the Bontrager family!
Becky Jolene Bontrager made her appearance a few weeks earlier than expected but nobody seems to mind :D

As always, stay tuned for futher updates! And don't forget to check out our Contact & Support page to subscribe to our newsletters and stay in touch on how to get involved with "making disciples of all nations."

Marly's Story

It was Saturday!

My husband usually has university classes all day Fridays and Saturday mornings in the capital city, a litte over two hours from where we live. He stays at his mom's house overnight, since she lives in one of the "suburbs." We try to schedule it so that every other weekend I go along and stay back on the alternating weekends. Normally, he has to leave Thursday afternoon to keep a few engagements and on the weekends I don't go along, I don't see him again until Saturday late afternoon since the bus trip takes longer.

But this weekend, oh wonder of wonders, he was able to skip Saturday classes and make it home for lunch!
He was exhausted from a whole bunch of "work/ministry/life stuff" and really needed to take the afternoon off. We've only gone out on a date twice since getting married because, when we do have those days or afternoons off, we can usually be found catching up on sleep or just being home.
So this weekend, this Saturday, we had it all planned out!
He came home early, took Saturday afternoon to catch up on sleep and mentally disconnect from all the normal demands of life, then we went to the movies and grabbed dinner afterward. We live within walking distance of the mall where the theater is located, and this was the first time we've gone to see a movie in the three months since we've moved to Higuey.

We dressed up a little (I put on heels) and even though we got there a bit late, the movie was fun and didn't disappoint.
A year and a half ago, the week we met, we had gone to the movies as a group and somehow Miguel ended up sitting next to me. The laughter and reactions of the crowd (Dominicans in theaters are not usually quiet ;) reminded me of that first time we'd gone to the movies together and that in itself brought a smile to my face.
After it ended, we ordered some take-out from the food court since everything was crowded with more people doing what we were doing - taking Saturday evening to relax, go out, and enjoy each other's company. While we were waiting for our food order to be filled, Miguel motions to someone behind me and says "She's asking us for money." I hadn't heard her because of all the noise, so I took a quick glance behind me and saw a young Haitian girl standing there waiting.

It's not uncommon to see street kids begging here. And this particular mall seems to be a hotspot in the evenings since there are so many stores, banks, and restaurants here - all meaning more people and more hope of getting a few coins.
As a habit, we don't give out money. I could explain the many reasons behind that, but it's not the point of Marly's Story. However, we didn't want to do nothing and she was still there waiting. So my husband gave me our food ticket, which was supposed to be ready any minute, while he went to order some food for her at a nearby stand that was ready-made and much faster. As we waited for a few minutes, I quietly observed the girl. She had on a dirty red shirt and old black leggings. She looked pre-adolescent, maybe middle school age. My husband came back with a tray of food for her at the same time that our ticket was called, so I handed him our bag of food, while I crouched down next to her where she sat at the small white table with her food and soft drink in front of her.

Will she ever know a life filled with color? 

I asked her what her name was. "Marly"
How old are you?: 11
Who do you live with?: My 8 year old sister
Marly said her mom had been sent back to Haiti by the immigration police and she never knew her father. I asked a few more questions, trying to establish a personal connection with her. She didn't pull away or wince when I place my hand on her shoulder, but she was constantly looking around her nervously and never touched her food.
I expected her to get up and leave at any time - but she didn't. Every question I asked her, Marly answered. We talked a little bit about child services and how maybe they could help her find a place to live. She didn't seem scared at the idea but said they did have a place to live where they paid rent every month.
She didn't have a phone, but I scribbled my name and number on a card and told her to call me if she ever needed help or a place to go. Before getting up to leave, I asked her if she could remember my name, and she turned to me with a big smile on her face and said "You're Rosy." It was the only time she voluntarily made eye contact with me or smiled.

We left to head back home for dinner. On the ride home, and through most of dinner, we talked about the probabilities of Marly's life.
My husband is pretty sure her mother is around and using her daughter as a resource for money. If the mother did get sent back to Haiti, which is also possible, Marly and her 8 yr. old sister are on the streets fending for themselves.  Marly said she'd heard of God, but she didn't know who He was or what He does. I told her that He loved her and that He was there to protect her. But what does that mean to Marly? In times like this, I am so, so, very thankful for the contacts I have to be able to offer some options. But at the same time my heart breaks because, there is no guarantee of seeing her again. Without a phone, I can't meet up with her if she never calls me. Our only optoin is to go back to the mall around the same time in the evenings and hope we spot her.

This is Marly's Story, and I hope and pray it does not end here.

The thing is, Marly is only one of so many children who find themselves in the same or similar situation. It may be more prevalent here in the DR, but I'm sure you wouldn't have to drive very far the next time you're at the movies to spot another child in a different neighborhood of another country speaking a different language but living the same life. One day at a time. Sometimes, not even that. Living in a world that is bleak and without color. Not knowing laughter or security. Never understanding true love.


What are we doing about the Marlys in our world? Because I can guarantee you they are in yours too, even when you don't want to see them.

Travel Plans For August and September 2017

Come prepared to enjoy an afternoon and evening full of laughter and making memories! We will be sharing our wedding video and story of how God has been guiding us in our journey together. We ask that local Michiganders bring a dish to pass, Soups and Salads of any kind, so there is enough food for everyone to eat! Desserts are very welcome ;) When you RSVP, let the Bontragers know what you're planning to bring. We also ask that any additional gifts would be monetary so as to save on luggage space when we fly back home to the DR.

TRAVEL PLANS UPDATE

For those of you who read our blog or have been in contact with us, you've heard that we're planning a trip to the States in September. It will be Miguel's first time to visit the U.S. and to meet most of my extended family and friends (only immediate family came to our wedding in April.) We have a few updates and prayer requests to share, so please pass this on! No. 1 - MIGUEL'S VISITOR'S VISA APPROVAL. Miguel has an interview appointment at the U.S. embassy on July 26th where they will let us know whether or not his visitor's visa application will be approved. If his visa is denied, I'll be spending the 3 week trip by myself, so prayers are appreciated for favor from the officials, and most of all, God's will to be done. No. 2 - SUPER IMPORTANT TO KNOW! We've updated our travel dates to AUGUST 19th through SEPTEMBER 7th. Originally, we planned a ten-day trip for the first and second week of September, but with Miguel's university semester break being the last weekend of August, we want to take advantage of the extra time that gives us. No. 3 - WHERE WE'LL BE. ~Atlanta, GA area AUG 20-23 - Friends and family from The Bridge church, we're coming your way! Please be praying for good flight options so that we get to see you all Sunday morning of the 20th. ~Lansing, MI area AUG 24-31 - Rose's parents will be hosting a wedding reception at their place Sunday afternoon of the 27th! Be sure to read the information included below the above invitation and mark your calendars - everyone is invited! ~Minot, ND area SEPT 2-6 - Northland Harvest Church, we will be sharing our ministry updates on Sunday the 3rd. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone and spending the week catching up with people personally. No. 4 - ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE US Whether you want to have us share with a group or at your church, meet personally to catch up over a meal or coffee, or hear about what's happening here in the DR in general during the above dates, PLEASE MESSAGE US. We want to see you! We have a lot more time because of the change in schedule, so don't hesitate to reach out. We are so excited for this trip and what God has in store! Stay tuned for more! And as always, thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Openhearted

"Sometimes it doesn't seem fair. Other people get to go home, but I have multiple homes and it seems like I'm always gonna miss one of them." - this while sobbing in my husband's arms.

How I love these people!

I had spent a flying weekend to celebrate my best friend's marriage to my cousin, and Miguel hadn't been able to go along.  I LOVED being with my extended family and so many other people I love and miss and just don't get to see enough, but there just wasn't enough time to spend with everyone. It was like taking a sip of the most delicious, steaming chicken noodle soup on a freezing winter day, and then having the cup yanked out of my hands before the warm brew had even reached my empty stomach. And at the same time, I missed my husband so badly. We spend some weekends apart while he's in university, but this was a life-changing event for two of my favorite people and he wasn't there to celebrate with me. 
About every 4-6 months, there are a few days or a week or more that this dreaded feeling of mis-placement and insignificance and void settle in. It's times like those that I can't help but wish that I could be in two (or three or five!) places at once. One of the largest sacrifices as a missionary is family. It does cause us to treasure every minute with them more. 

That same weekend marked 6 months since my youngest brother's death. As I stood over his grave for the first time since the funeral, it finally seemed to kick in that I'm never going to see him again this side of heaven. It was tough - but also good. Living life away and slightly disconnected from everything that keeps on going in the U.S makes it easier to ignore or push aside the grief. The most recent learning curve God has been taking me on is the necessity and ability to be open-hearted. In this case, to allow the grief of the loss of my brother and the sadness of missing family and friends to have a part in my heart.

How I miss his goofy self :'(

Our natural tendency is to block, ignore, or get rid of anything that impedes our happiness. But there is a reason that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn..." why? "Because they will be comforted." The comfort and peace in allowing God to take our tears and wash our broken hearts in His presence has a way of drawing us nearer to His heart. 

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Ministry takes all the time and energy and effort as a business, but instead of dealing with a product, we're dealing with souls.

I'm a light-skinned American woman in a dark-skinned world, which is as good as having the words "WATCH ME" written across my forehead. Miguel, at 6 feet, 8 inches tall is about a head (and shoulder) taller than anyone around him, which seems to be cause for complete 

Miguel is one of the most Christ-like
people I have ever known. I'm usually
the one needing to learn these lessons ;)

strangers to stop him in the street and ask to take a picture with him! Anywhere we go, there are eyes on us. Whether in the presence of complete strangers, in a group of adolescents, or in a conversation with a coach at our dinner table, there's always an intrigue and question of why we are here when we could be living in a country with a lot more conveniences and an easier way of life, why we do what we're doing instead of seeking material success. It opens the doors to many great conversations and opportunities to share Christ's love - but it also gets emotionally draining. 
Again, God has been teaching me the necessity of open-heartedness. It's so easy to give someone the "death stare" when I hear my husband called the equivalent of a gold digger (being white automatically means I must have money, therefore the reason Miguel married me is for a way to get to the U.S. so he can make money).

Precious souls - everyone needs
the love of Christ!

Or to make a snide, sarcastic remark when someone wants to charge me $100 for a used bookshelf when I know where I can get new one for half that price (again, because being white must mean I have a lot of money). It's become normal for me to wait in the car while Miguel goes and grabs fresh produce from a road-side stand because of how coomon the above response is. 
But each one of those people has a soul. Every one needs Christ. I can either ignore everyone who treats us unfairly or in any other discriminating way, OR I can use that opportunity to share a smile, kind word, and reflect the love of Christ in the simple ways through these small daily opportunities. 

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"The whole earth
is full of His glory"

On Saturday we finally purchased the last piece of furniture for our house!
After almost two months, the bookshelf will allow me to finally unpack that last suitcase full of books and add the final touches to turning our house into a home. 
We've been so blessed by this little two bedroom place. It has a cherry tree which keeps us well supplied and few big mango trees in the back with mangos the size of a paper plate. There is patio space for some raised beds once we finally get around to making them :D Our dog has enough space to run around and there's always shade that helps the fans keep the inside cooled down. These things seem so simple, but for a country girl who's lived in apartments for the past two years, it was a welcome option! We hung a windchime on our front gate and can hear it during the night, a constant reminder of how close God is. 

One of the many ministry steps we've been taking as we've been finally settling into more of a routine, is more one-on-one time with the coaches. Beginning this week, Monday evenings are our hosting nights. Last night, we sat around the dinner table until 11:00, the last half hour with only a flashlight since the electricity went out, discussing the awesomeness of grace. I always marvel at how God uses us as His mouthpiece!

We loved the chance to hang out with
"my" girls and get to do a beach day
with them recently

I am also making it a priority to take one day a week to spend some time at the safe home where I used to work full-time. There are currently seven girls in our care and each one is so special! It's an immense privilege to be able to continue to play a small part in the incredible work the team continues to carry out. Please be praying for them and for more staff to come. The core team is strong but they do need more help to be able to go deeper without running into so much burnout. 


A huge prayer request that you'll probably hear repeated several times in the next few months is for the approval of a visitor's visa for Miguel. We are planning a 10 day trip to the U.S. in September to visit, hopefully, many of you! The visa application is submitted and paid for and his interview appointment is set for two weeks before our tentative departure date. On this trip we are planning to travel to several states to share more ministry insights AND have a wedding reception in MI for our friends and family stateside. The tentative date for the reception is Sept. 8th, although we are still keeping the 9th open (it will depend on flight availabilities). By the next blog post, I'll have an itinerary completed for that trip, so that you all know where we'll be. We want to see as many of you as possible!! And if you are interested in an official invitation for the wedding reception, let us know. I will post a general invitation soon! 

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Don't forget to head over to our Contact & Support page to get in touch with us and get involved with the ministry God has called us to. 

Changes - Coming Soon

First of all, my apologies for being so quiet in the recent months. 
In past blogs, I talked about big changes that have been happening, including getting married!
Those changes are most of the reasons for being so silent. It's been a crazy transition time, but things are finally getting settled and the updates will resume!

Change no. 1 - I got married. 
Yes, yes, I keep saying that! But other than that being a very exciting thing and me loving to say it, it's a key element to all the ensuing changes. 

Change no. 2 - I switched jobs. 
Everyone who knows me, knows that God has created me with the innate need to give everything in me to what I'm doing. After many tears, prayers, more tears, questions, conversations, and many more prayers, Miguel and I reached the conclusion that the wisest decision for our marriage was for me to leave my position with Destiny Rescue. I have poured my heart and soul into the project here and it didn't take much to realize that, if I continued for much longer while trying to give as much attention and focus to my marriage and husband as needed, something would have to give.  For a while I felt like a mother bird might feel while watching her children fly on their own. I was concerned that my "baby" (the project and all the people in it) would fall and not make it, but it's been a true delight to rejoice in seeing her fly. The month of April was transition month and one of my prayers was to leave the safe home with a fully equipped staff. Through a lot of small and some large changes, I was able to walk away knowing that the team there is growing stronger and the girls are doing amazingly well in their journeys of healing thanks to those wonderful people. 

While we were contemplating this decision, I received several offers for other positions, both in the DR and in the USA. One of those offers was an administrative position with Fellowship of Christian Athletes here in the Dominican Republic (see the DR specific website here). Human trafficking to sports related ministry is a huge leap, but the administration is what I love doing. Above anything, though, the factor that made it an easy decision to accept the position is that fact that this is the ministry Miguel works with and early on in our relationship, our deepest desire was to be able to do ministry together. May has been full of adapting to a new organization, role, and expectations. 

Change no 3 - We moved.
No, not out of the Dominican Republic. We moved from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom house with a yard, to the town of Higuey, 45 minutes away, which is where most of Miguel's work is (he travels to different baseball fields, discipling coaches and athletes in the Word of God). Once a week, he works in the area I lived before getting married, so it works out for me to hop along and spend time and stay in touch/involved with the staff and girls at the Destiny Rescue home. The move has been an exciting one, especially since it means being able to attend the church of the pastor who married us and having a strong community to plug into. Miguel still studies in the university on the weekends close to where he has lived most of his life (1 1/2 hours away). Most of the other FCA staff also work closer to his original hometown, so when we had teams this month, it meant a lot of traveling for us. Between the moving and traveling for teams and university, plus an impromptu specialist visit for a severe infection I was hit with this week, we've been gone more than we've been home this month. We're looking forward to being able to finally settle into a routine soon (hopefully). 

Change no. 4 - Blog overhaul (sorta)
Pretty soon, you'll see new changes to the blog, including revamped newsletter option, as well as an option for supporting financially. The look and content may slightly change (although the layout will still be the same) to tweak it to more of an "us" blog instead of a "me" blog. Stay tuned!


Prayer requests -
1. That our internet would get installed quickly. Like I said, we've been on the road a LOT and this means that it's been hard to schedule stuff, like internet installation, that didn't get done the week of moving. Internet is vital for my job and for us to be able to stay connected with everyone. It's one of the main reasons why I've been sluggish in getting the new updates done. 
2. For our marriage. That sounds weird - no, we're not having marriage problems ;) But with all the change and new adjustments added to new married life in general, we beg for your prayers in keeping our hearts open to continue allowing God to take control in every area of our lives (even if that means forever living without routine!). We desire to have a marriage that honors God and inspires others - nothing mediocre for us. And we realize that this can only be done through lots of prayers and intentional choices. 
3. Finances. As a missionary, I still don't receive a paycheck, and with the change of job, I'll need to double fundraising efforts. Please pray for wisdom as we pursue open doors for this. 


Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 
~Matt. 28:19

Beginning of Forever ~ Terreros ~ April 1, 2017