Running For His Glory!

Alan and I have the opportunity to live in the Dominican Republic with our twin daughters and have a chance to see a beautiful glimpse of humanity being restored here across the island through our work with G.O. Ministries.  To say it is a “blessing” would not come close in describing the thankfulness we have in our hearts and the hope we believe in that God will and is changing lives through the Nationals here on the island. It is simply overwhelming.

Thanksgiving in the DR, we have so much to be thankful for!

We are both training for our 2^nd running event to raise funds and awareness for the Kingdom and our work here in Hispaniola. We will be running on a 4 person relay team on Saturday April 30 in the Kentucky Derby Marathon. Alan will be running a little over 12 miles and I will be running the 10k portion. 

Alan getting ready to head out for a run

After our first 1/2 marathon for our team

All of us missionaries with G.O. Ministries are committed to raising 100% of our funds for living and for the ongoing ministry on the island.  Through the work of the ministry here, G.O. is opening our 10^th nutrition center on April 7, 2011.  We are building schools, churches, homes, and nutrition centers where many people’s basic needs are being met and hope is found.  Nearly 50 short-term teams come from the US each year to help expand God’s Kingdom. Free Medical Clinics are held in some of the poorest communities in Hispaniola. There is ongoing education for pastors to equip them and empower them to preach God’s word to their communities. God’s glory is all around us! And that is why we run! For His Glory!

Alan and I hold various roles with the ministry and participate in leading short-term teams when they are here, working in sports ministry reaching out to high-risk youth, teaching English to the Dominican sports staff, and overseeing the coordination of all of our short-term teams.

Alan teaching kids at a sports camp

Jackie with Yahaira at the nutrition center in The Hole

We are incredibly passionate about what we do and we would like to invite you into an opportunity to join alongside of us and advance the ministry with G.O. By supporting us on our run. Please let us know simply by emailing me at jackie(dot)perez(at)go(dash)ministries(dot)org and letting me know the amount you would like to pledge. You can make either a one-time gift or through a per-mile amount.

If you would like to support us, you can do so by sending a check to:

G.O. Ministries, Inc.

11501 Plantside Dr. Suite 14

Louisville, KY 40299

PLEASE remember to put “PEREZ RUNNING” in the memo line so we receive the credit for the donation.

Or you can give electronically through the side bar on our blog!

By supporting us you will be making a big impact in the lives of those living in Hispaniola!!

Running For His Glory,

Alan and Jackie Perez

Spring is Here!

Where has the time gone? Having 2 small children, it literally feels like the days and nights run together and we've just completed one long day lasting 9 1/2 months! Just yesterday, someone asked me the date, to which I replied, "I don't know, I think it might be the 9th or 10th maybe," it was the 12th.

All that being said, it has been a wonderful winter/spring season and we've had much ministry happening each day and we want to give you a little update on where we are right now!

Alan's role.

Alan's role has recently expanded. He works with the Sports Ministry and within that group of 10 guys, each of them have a very defined and specific area of ministry. Alan is the Director of Education for the Sports Ministry. He helps coordinate and lead their weekly Bible Studies and recently he just began an English class two nights a week. It has been such a joy watching Alan prepare throughout the week for what he will be teaching the other men in the sports ministry, making copies of handouts, composing sentences on the whiteboard before his class for them to work on, and typically he is leaving for class with a big smile on his face.

Alan with the sports Crew during English Class

His role with teams has expanded as well. He now works with most of our short-term North-American teams facilitating their trip and leading them into a deeper relationship with Christ. He works side-by-side with them, drives, and translates as well.

Jackie's role.

My role continues to be very fluid! Adding two babies to the mix has brought some interesting challenges but it has been refreshing over the last few months as I've had some great time for reflection, friendships, and to see the fruit of our work being lived out on the island. I moved into the Director of Teams over a year ago, but it really wasn't until the babies arrived that I had the opportunity to move into more leadership and less of the actual day-to-day coordinating. I oversee two of G.O. Missionaries (Audrey and Sunshine) and they are both very good friends.

Audrey and I now work together as she takes care of the day-to-day logistics which allows me time to build relationships with our team leaders. I am very thankful for how God has gifted her; she LOVES the logistics and coordinating. This really allows me to be able to do what I love too! I get to dream with team leaders about what they hope to accomplish on their trips, how they can encourage their National partners in ministry, and pray for and encourage them. I am still trying to figure out how to do this better and how to honor God with this (and I think once the girls get a little older, I will have more time to grow this!) More and more I see God's plan unfolding and the gift he is giving me to pour into others, as so many have poured into me (and many still are!).

Jackie, Sunshine, and Audrey

We feel so blessed to be working and living in the Dominican Republic that it really is hard calling it "work."  We feel so blessed to have a wonderful group of friends and family stateside encouraging and praying and financially contributing to us. We just want to say THANK YOU! God is so good and we feel and know that each day.

We will be coming stateside in just under 2 months and will be in Louisville, KY, Chattanooga, TN, Haughton, LA (yes, Louisiana folks!!) and Las Vegas, NV. We would love very much to visit, share, and thank you for the ministry you are helping allow us to do here! Let us know if there is an opportunity to visit with you!

Love,
The Perez Family