Yesterday morning we were blessed to be able to attend a beautiful Easter service at Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva (New Life Baptist Church) here in Santiago that was focused on Christ’s amazing love and then share a wonderful Easter dinner with some friends who attend there and also teach at Santiago Christian School!

During the service, a choir sang and actors presented the scene outside of the tomb that first Easter morning over 2000 years ago, and we were reminded that even in the midst of overwhelming pain and sadness, such as what was experienced by Christ on the cross and the women visiting the tomb, God has a plan that He is fulfilling, and it is all because of His incomprehensible love for us! Sharing a meal and time of fun and fellowship afterward with part of our new “family” here allowed us to experience that love in a tangible way, and as we drove home, we were spiritually, emotionally, and physically “full”! We hope your Easter was just as blessed and you were reminded of His amazing love for you as well!

This last week has been Semana Santa here in the DR, or “Holy Week,” and it is a time when schools are on Spring Break, and from Thursday afternoon through Sunday, just about the whole country shuts down. Many people go to the beach to relax and have some fun, but unfortunately, the Sunday that ends Semana Santa is better known for the number of injuries and deaths that occur as a result of drinking and drug use at all the “fiestas” than as the day to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Because of all the travelling and parties, traditionally, Easter Sunday services are some of the least attended of the year – a very different statistic than in the US. That is another reason we were blessed to be a part of the congregation at Vida Nueva this Easter Sunday as it was a full house with standing room only! We were encouraged and inspired by their ministry and outreach!

We hope that one day the seeds we are sowing today in our ministry will have long reaching results as well, and we are so grateful to be able to be a part of little by little bringing about positive change here in the DR! As Amaury puts it, the main problem in the DR is that the people only think of taking care of themselves and their own daily survival, which for some can be an overwhelming challenge – as education is limited for most and jobs are scarce for those who lack a formal education. But this problem not only affects the 80% of the population who live in poverty, making an average of $6000 (US) per year – it also affects the 20% who are wealthy as well. It is very easy to live a sheltered life here if there is money to provide it – gated communities, private schools, chauffeurs and servants can all serve to “protect” the wealthy from seeing what is reality for the majority of their fellow Dominicans.

Taking the blinders off of the wealthy and giving hope to the poor is what we are working to achieve through our Teaching Ministry, and little by little, we know that God will use our efforts to accomplish His purposes. The only way to bring about true change is to share Christ and His love using the talents God has given us and let Him do the rest – He will complete what He started – that is the promise of the Resurrection!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

Below are some pictures from our ministry over the last two months. We hope you enjoy them and will pray for those you see pictured – they have all blessed us and we hope to have been a blessing to them as well!

Thank you for all you do to support our ministry!

Dios les bendiga! God bless you!

With love in Christ,
Catherine and Amaury

Protocol and Etiquette class praying together and learning how to fold napkins for a formal place setting ...

Drama Group members practicing mirroring and team work as they try to undo human "knots" ...

Family lunch in Palo Alto at the church where Amaury's dad is the pastor - Amaury preached and after lunch I shared my testimony ...

Santiago Christian School service trip to the children's hospital during Spiritual Emphasis Week ...

Thank you for your prayers for this week - they were definitely felt by students and faculty!