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.