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.