Alan and Jackie

Yet.

2012-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Phaeton (pronounced F-eye-ay-tone) is a small community literally in the midst of nowhere. You drive and drive through miles of dirt road and cactus wall until you enter through the red, white, and blue posts welcoming you to the village, and as we began to enter I began to imagine it all over again.

My first trip to Haiti was in 2005. It had just become safe to travel there again after Aristide had been removed from power. How strange and different this dusty place was, I thought. Haitian men and women passed along both sides of us wheeling wheel barrows of chickens, eggs, and other goods. Men carried stacks of plastic chairs on their heads to sell in Haiti. The children, many wearing nothing, danced along the dirt roads alongside of us shouting and pointing "blan, blan," which meant "white, white." Missions was foreign to me, but the Lord spoke deeply and quietly in my heart, during my several hours there and I knew this was it.

I began a journey of much prayer and joined G.O. in 2007. My first summer I traveled to Haiti several times. Each time I crossed the bridge, over the Massacre River into the Dominican Republic, my heart longed to return to a place I thought of as home... And then, nothing. For three years I waited to return to Haiti, but never did. Until last January, during our staff trip. I had never been to Phaeton. This was brand new for me and oddly, I found myself anxious, and not wanting to go. Much in my life had changed since my last trip and I thought I would be left to deal with feelings of remorse and mourning that my life's path did not appear to be leading me to Haiti permanently anytime soon. Oh, how my sweet Savior surprised me. It was an incredible trip! Instead of mourning and sadness I was filled with joy and praise for what he was doing in this tiny fishing community on the northern coast. You can read more about that experience here.

This year, as our team waited at the border to cross into Haiti while swarms of Haitians passed by carrying their goods to sell during market day, I breathed out a sigh of relief... I was once again for 5 days, in the place my heart knew as home.

I heard the familiar calls from a little girl named "Woodsline" as she ran up and took my hand in hers. This place is special. And G.O. is going to do mighty things here!

One of the purposes of our trip was to dig! We dug two trenches on the property where someday a ministry building will stand. It will be a church for the community, a nutrition center to feed the children, and dorms to house visiting short-term teams. Their will also be community gardens and an agricultural piece to the project.

The thing that gets me though, is that even if we didn't do all of this and we had no grand project for this place, the work of the Lord is still very active and present in this place! Without G.O.! He has chosen us to partner with Him in this great work to bring glory to His name and point others in Phaeton to the work He is doing. I read a great book (Velvet Elvis) that talked about missionaries using the term "taking Jesus to..." as if he wasn't already present there. We are not taking Jesus to Phaeton. We are pointing people to where he is already alive and present in Phaeton doing a might work through the local pastor, Lucner!

I've recently began meeting with another G.O. Staff member and we've been reading a Psalm a week. We meet, dissect it, pray about it, and discuss how it applies to our lives. It was no coincidence that during my week in Haiti we read Psalm 43.

¹ Vindicate me, my God,
   and plead my cause
   against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
   deceitful and wicked.
² You are God my stronghold.
   Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
   oppressed by the enemy?
³ Send me your light and your faithful care,
   let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
   to the place where you dwell.
⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,
   to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
   O God, my God.
⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

The word that spoke to me the most is that 3 letter word in the middle of verse 5. Yet. "Put your hope in God," it says "for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

I find myself praying for the Lord to answer my prayers so that I may praise Him. That word "yet" hit me so hard as I looked around and saw a people who suffered in so many ways in a town that lacked every basic vital necessity for survival and yet praised him.

Oh how I long to have a faith like our Haitian brothers and sisters who praise even yet!

It was an incredible trip and time of seeing Lucner pastor his community and care for the many needs of others with such love and kindness. Lucner is an incredibly humble guy who shepherds his flock with true humility and kindness for the people in the community, continually looking to meet their many needs. We partner with Lucner and 6 other pastors located in the mountains of Haiti. We are grateful for Northeast Church who partner with Lucner and Phaeton.

Lucner and his wife Marie

It was also a blessing to work with our staff in purpose and unity as we were literally "in the trenches" together and I am certainly looking forward to 2013 in Phaeton.

Enjoy some pictures taken from our trip in Phaeton by Amanda Braisted, our ministry photographer!

Our construction work project

Me, digging.

The sun setting over the remnants of the old sisal rope factory

A typical house

My friend Goody. She is pretty incredible and I am thankful and humbled to know her

This is where all the meals are cooked for the kids in the nutrition center currently feeding kids in the church

Children sat on tarps and ate their meal at the nutrition center, outdoor

Look at those eyes

I am a shrimp! We're inside the prison at the Citadel.

Team photo (minus Jen) at the Citadel

Kids meet and have school classes in the church

All ready for school

Many thanks to our many faithful supporters and prayer warriors! We would not be able to do this ministry without your partnership with us!

Love,
Jackie

Jesus, I am yours; a decade of knowing Him.

2011-11-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

This month I am celebrating ten years of knowing my Savior. As I reflect on ten years, there is much for me to be thankful for- this is my story.

I grew up in Las Vegas. From what I can remember I had a great childhood. I spent many Saturdays riding bikes all day with my dad at the park. I played outside until it was dark with friends. We took family vacations to places like Disneyland. We camped, we fished, we were happy.

And then we moved.
And then my parents got a divorce.
And then I turned 12.

While my childhood was seemingly perfect, my early adolescence was anything but perfect. At twelve I lacked skills to cope with my emotions. I was so raw and hurt and couldn't understand that it had nothing to do with me or my brother. I started drinking at school in the bathrooms. I felt alive, doing things I knew I shouldn't. We partied a lot, too and I dabbled in drugs when they were available to me.

As high school approached, I thought I could use a fresh start. I auditioned for a performing arts high school and was accepted. Change was coming and I was excited, but on the second day of school, a girl in the bathroom offered me crystal methamphetamine, and I was helpless against her persuasions.

Unable to cope with my own emotions and feelings of rejection, I began to resonate with those that used substances to cope with their pain. We hardly showed up for school and cared more about scoring a taste than scoring a good grade on a test. When you are addicted to something, you do whatever it takes to get it. I had little money, and I quickly learned if you don't have money the easiest way to score is to date the dealer. You get free drugs that way.

I don't remember a lot of the details from my high school years and I believe the Lord protected me from remembering some things I was involved in. Every now and then I remember a memory I hadn't been able to remember before, but now I am able to move beyond them and find healing.

I moved around a lot. I ran away when I was 15 and lived with several different relatives and in and out of my mom's house.

I experimented with many different ways of coping with pain.

Drugs.
Alcohol.
Sex.
Cutting.

I barely graduated high school. Not because I wasn't smart, but because I refused to apply myself, or show up. I was 18 and nearing rock bottom, but it would still be a couple years and a lot more pain before I would get there. I started dating a local deal dealer, and we dealt together. We lived together too. At first we just dealt marijuana but then it turned to cocaine and things much worse. After a year of dating he asked me to marry him and I said yes.

And then it hit me.

I was 19 and planning a wedding. I had convinced myself I was getting "the life," but I wasn't. We lived in fear of being raided all the time. We lived a lie to my whole family, pretending we were clean. We weren't. I couldn't take it anymore. I was almost 20 and I wanted to die. I remember thinking that if this was any indication of how my life was going to turn out, I should just kill myself, and I knew something had to change. I had to change.

I broke up with my fiancee. (He was later killed by his younger brother who also dealt drugs and who had lived with us for two years. It took me many years to heal from that). I stopped doing drugs, and I was trying to get my life in order.

I barely spoke to my brother, who was four years younger than me. I heard he was going to church and he was going to be baptized. He invited me and on a whim I decided to go. The pastor who baptized my brother asked him if he wanted anyone to get in the water with them. I knew he was going to choose me, and he did. I didn't realize it then, but it wasn't just my brother choosing me, Jesus was choosing me too. I entered into the water and stood next to my brother and felt something come over me. Peace. It was the first time since I was twelve that I could remember feeling peace.

I had gotten a job working for my mom at her health food store and the pastor who baptized my brother came in regularly to study and prepare his sermons. My mom also hired the pastor's wife, who was the Children's Ministry Director at the church. They talked to me a lot about Jesus.

One day I decided to go to church. I called my brother and asked him to take me. I remember that everyone seemed really happy. Peaceful. I wanted it.

I went to church on and off for several months. I was trying to stay clean and trying to change my life and one morning I woke up, it was November 6, 2001 and I had this overwhelming feeling to get face down on the floor. I remember thinking I was really weird. I didn't know what to say, so I just laid there at first and said-

"Jesus, I am yours."

I have been so weak at times, I don't know how I could go on. I have been in what felt like the pit of death. I have seen things kids should not. I have experienced such emotional pain it physically hurts. I have hurt myself and have caused many others a great deal of pain and I believe He allowed me to go through what I needed to experience for me to get to the place of needing him, thirsting for Him, hungering for Him. I have experienced his joy, and his peace, and his love. Parts of me that I thought were forever damaged have been healed. He has put back together all of my broken pieces but made me into something new.

What more can I say, except "Jesus, I am yours."

Ten years of worship. Of following Him, where He has led. I have known Him for a decade, though He has known me my whole life. I am looking forward to many more decades with my sweet Savior.

The first verse I memorized was 1 Peter 1:24-25. I was in a coffee shop when I found it.

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

He is the Word, and He endures forever. The pain and the shame and the guilt of this world do not. The scars of my past do not. The hurts of tomorrow do not. Only He endures forever.

Today I am one blessed wife and mother and so incredibly thankful for the new life He has given me!

I am forever indebted to Him.

Jesus, I am yours.

Where are we?

2011-10-20T06:05:00.001-07:00

An Invitation to Change a Life...

2011-08-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

We want to introduce you to Yasmin.

She had my heart the moment I laid eyes on her.

She is 16 months old and has the most beautiful blue/grey eyes. She doesn't smile often, but when I caught the smile on her lips and the twinkle in her eyes I had to choke back the tears.

She isn't like most 16 month old little girls. She was born with a hole in the roof of her mouth making it almost impossible for her to eat, drink, sometimes even breathe. She weighs a mere 11 pounds putting her in the 0% for her age.

The little food her mom is able to give her, often comes out her nose as she is choking and gagging. Little is retained. Because she is so weak, she cannot sit up on her own, walk or even crawl. She has no muscle mass, likened to an 11 pound sack of potatoes.

There are other complications as well. She is severely anemic. She has fluid in her brain and in her lungs. She has not been given much longer to live.

"There are nights," her mom tells me "I walk into her room, and look at her body lying there barely breathing and think, this is it, she has died."

However, amidst all of this tragedy in her brief 16 months of life, there is much hope. An organization called Operation Smile, located in Santo Domingo has agreed to begin the preliminary evaluations to see if she qualifies for a cleft pallet surgery. If she qualifies, the surgery will be free.

We need your help. Aside from a free surgery, there will be many trips to Santo Domingo, over night stays in the capital city, medicine, and other essential costs that will occur outside of the surgery. We are asking you to pray and give sacrificially to help change this little girl's life. We need about $1000 for the additional costs.

$1000 will radically change this little girl's life. Forever.

Yasmin and mom Carina

If you would like to give towards her medical care, please respond to this email and let Jackie know at what cost you would be willing to donate.

Checks can be made out directly to G.O. Ministries, Inc. and in the memo line please write "Perez/Yasmin medical care." Please mail them to our G.O. Office at:

11501 Plantside Drive, Suite 14

Louisville, KY 40299

Check out South Hills in the DR!

2011-07-23T05:54:00.001-07:00

South Hills 2011 from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.

Thank you South Hills!

2011-07-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2nd Peter 3:18

South Hills Mission Team

I am humbled to think we have this fleeting moment here on earth to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My heart yearns to know Him more and more in intimate ways. My soul longs to spend unending time studying His word, talking about His life and the way he lived and did ministry on earth. I am beyond unworthy to spend all of eternity with him, but humbled by the good news of a great joy that is for all peoples. That is for me. That is for you.

It's most of why I am here in the Dominican Republic serving Him. I am learning countless lessons all the time through community with other missionaries and through ministering to Nationals on the Island.

We have the greatest joy when we are able to contextualize our love for Jesus and the love he has for the least of these when we can share and expose North American Believers and churches to what the Lord is doing amongst his people in Hispaniola. We have been so blessed by the many teams who have come and served as Jesus' hands and feet to the people here. It brings tears to my eyes to see lives being changed.

The teams who come and serve with us catch a glimpse of what is going on here and I am convinced sometimes all it takes is just that glimpse for a revolution in our own hearts, souls, and minds to take place. We call it mutual transformation. Teams come to the DR to serve and change lives and through their time serving, Jesus has changed their hearts and their lives. Forever.

I had the greatest priviledge to see this happen amongst a team of 11. A small, intimate team from Las Vegas, NV. My home church. South Hills.

November 6 of this year I celebrate 10 years of knowing Jesus. 10 years of Him penetrating my heart and changing me more and more into His image. 10 years of laying down my own pride, selfish ambitions and desires in my feeble attempts to become His image bearer. I haven't always (and mostly) done it well, but His grace covers me and I am humbled by that.

10 years ago, I walked into a church, fearful of my future and where I was headed and today I stand a changed person because of that church in Las Vegas and those who took great care in teaching and leading me.

10 years later, it was an honor for them to come to the DR to serve alongside Alan and me and the work we are doing through G.O. Ministries in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

It was an incredible week. From the beginning they were humble and patient. They arrived in the afternoon and we wasted no time in taking them to the mother of all projects for G.O. Ministries. The Leadership Development Complex (or LDC as we have termed it). The LDC will be a wellspring of life and knowledge for the many men and women who serve there. It is a facility that will have a sports complex with basketball courts, soccer fields,baseball fields and almost every other kind of sport you can think of. Teams will participate in sports camps year round and the Dominican & Haitian sports team (including Alan) will be the forefront of all the ministry that happens there. A seminary will also be on the grounds, termed, Seminary of the Americas and will train up teams of pastors and Christian leaders to plant churches in communities all over Latin America and finally, Kingdom Businesses will line the property- over 40 acres that will provide jobs and sustainable income for the ministry.

We stood on what now is just over grown land and dreamed about what this place could look like... someday. I love what one team member, Diana said "The Lord told me to take off my shoes, we were standing on Holy Ground." Yes, we are standing on Holy Ground.

Talking to the team about the future LDC

Throughout the week, wherever they served they served cheerfully, without complaint and always looking for a way to bless those around them. Brandon, began putting up the brick facade on the front of the Central Church. The Central Church project is huge for our ministry and must be complete before the LDC so we can begin the Seminary training at the church. The church is one of the first of it's kind in the DR- it has age appropriate classrooms for children's ministry, and a common meeting/eating area, along with a kitchen and dorms to house teams. The plan is for the church to meet up top on the 2nd level, but it's not finished, so everything happens on the first floor and we are packed every Sunday.

Brandon and Alan using a water level to measure up the side of the building

Mixing up some concrete

The team spent 3 days working on the Central Church project as well as two houses we are building for Rene and his family and Luis and his family. They both lead our construction crew, who work tirelessly to continue building churches, nutrition centers, and houses all over the island. They have each worked for the ministry for over 10 years. It's a great blessing to give these houses to them for their service in ministry.

The team works on the roof of Rene's house

South Hills helped us paint a few walls in our house and prepare the backyard for grass. The joke is that we outgrew out house the day I found out I was pregnant. Last year we moved to a bigger house, only to be broken into and we had to move back to our old house. We've been ready to move ever since, but learning that it's God's timing and not ours. In the meantime, we wanted to create a place where our girls could play and have more space. It was lovely being blessed by the team in this way.

The "before" shot! Thanks Bruce for working so hard to get that palm moved!

The "after" shot! Grass installed!

Jose painting the inside of our home

Towards the end of the week, we made a trek to Phaeton, Haiti. A rural community lost in the middle of nowhere setting along the coast. It is said that someday Haiti will be in the ocean. Until then, we are committed to the vision God has set upon this ministry to redeem people, renew communities, and restore Creation. Our total time in Haiti was a little over 4 hours. No matter how much time I spend in Haiti, my world is always rocked by what I see there. I am grateful that the Lord is using G.O. to restore dignity and hope to a long forgotten people... though the world may have lost sight of them, the Lord has not forgotten them.

A typical home in Phaeton

Molly feeding a sweet child in the nutrition center

Sandra loves on the kids in the nutrition center

Jared was so tall all the kids wanted a ride on his shoulders

We were so encouraged by the team. After long days they would go to Alan's English Class that he teaches to support him and the Bible study he is a part of.

Alan teaching English class

On the last night they were here, Jose, a team member came to me and asked me if I would be present when he talked to a girl about 13 years old who had been helping cook the meals for the team. With tears in my eyes, I listened as he shared about his own family and how he had a daughter about her age, pure and kind. He told her Jesus loved her, and someday soon boys would come if they hadn't already and try to sway her, but their promises could never match that of Jesus and His promises for us. He encouraged her to stay strong in her faith and to wait until marriage no matter what any boy said to her. I was overwhelmed at Jose's kindness to share with her fatherly love. To be Jesus and speak his words. Overwhelmed.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2nd Peter 3:18

We have been changed by our week with South Hills and we want you to know how incredibly thankful we are for your partnership, continued love and encouragement to us, and for pointing people to Jesus and His truth while serving with us! We are giving the Lord all the glory for the many amazing things done in His name and for His glory.

We are so thankful to Brandon and Amy! Thank you for who you are in our lives!

We love you South Hills and continue to pray for you all!

Alan and Jackie Perez

The summer... so far and openings for 2012

2011-07-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

Our summer has been rich with service. Many lives are being transformed, Dominican, Haitian, and North-American.

Here's a quick picture of our June teams! I recently began taking over the task of booking teams that would like to come and serve in the DR & Haiti, and we have almost 20 teams on the calendar for 2012!

Summer 2012 is filling fast- if you are interested in bringing a team, please let me know asap! You can email me at jackie (dot) perez (at) go (dash) ministries (dot) org.

Peace,
J

Oh the Love of Books! {an opportunity to give}

2011-06-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

For our girls' first birthday we chose to do something a little different. Instead of gifts for Amelia and Stella we asked guests to consider making a contribution to a fund we would use to buy books in their name for kids in the DR and Haiti.

Alan and I both love to read and hope to pass that love onto our girls. There is nothing quite like curling up on a rainy day with a good book. I love the smell of the print on the pages, the sound the paper makes as it turns... one after another. I love the feel of the book in my hand, the older the better. There is something timeless about a book. I love shopping for old books with fancy titles. I'll read almost anything. We have bought our girls many books. They are stocked up! They love to play with them (and especially chew on them!). Soon we hope they will love to read them with us.

In Haiti they estimate only 52% of children over the age of 15 can read or write (87% in the DR). We hope these books will help little kids learn to read and have a love for it. We are so grateful for the beautiful gift and ability to read that God has given us. Many children all over the world have never even owned a book or perhaps seen a book.

Help us change that! If you would like to donate towards Stella and Amelia's book fund for Hispaniola email me at jackie (dot) perez (at) go (dash) ministries (dot) org. We'll be ordering books soon... that's where the fun comes- choosing books! We've raised over $100 so far!

picture courtesy of: www.wolfeyebrows.files.wordpress.com

Stats courtesy of: www.cia.gov

1 Day. 2 Events. 1 Purpose. To Bring Him Glory!

2011-05-02T11:26:00.001-07:00

We are so grateful for the support and encouragement we received from our races this past weekend. It was an incredible day filled with so many blessings as me, my mom, Alan, and Mark ran in the Kentucky Derby Marathon Relay team while Rebekkah Gathright ran in the Nashville Music City 1/2 Marathon.

It is an honor for us to do this for His glory. We love being able to share the vision of G.O. and what God is doing to redeem people, renew communities, and restore creation. HE IS GOOD!!!!!

"Running this half marathon was a great experience for me. During the race I focused on all the reasons why I run for His glory! There are too many to name. The only bad part was that the race ended too soon! I had a blast and finished with a time of 2:16! Being a part of this ministry has blessed me."

Rebekkah Gathright, I Run For His Glory team member

Alan, Jackie, Sheila, Mark: I Run For His Glory team members

You can still give by clicking on the "Financially contribute" tab at the top of the blog.

Peace,

Alan and Jackie

1 day. 2 events. 1 purpose. To bring Him glory.

2011-04-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to Sponsor Our Team!

Please pray for an injury free and energetic run for Rebekkah, Sheila, Mark, Alan and Jackie as they run to bring HIM glory in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. You can donate online (click the link above) or send a check made payable to:

G.O. Ministries, Inc.
11501 Plantside Dr. Suite 14
Louisville, KY 40299
Please put "PEREZ RUNNING" in the memo

Peace!
Perez Running Team

Repost Sunday: Dreams

2011-04-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

I wrote this post originally Jan. 6th, 2007, just two months before I left for KY and five months before I moved to the Dominican Republic. These pics are incredibly dear to my heart and are from Haiti, Moises Jean's church and the community of Hato del Yaque. God is doing big things through and in this ministry and I am humbled to be a part of this dream.

________________________________________________________________________

"Dreams rise out of humility not humanity."

Some of my favorite pictures I have taken of kids in the DR & in Haiti. It humbles me beyond anything I can describe to be on this journey. To return to a place that, to me, is home. I often feel like I am being changed and touched more than I could ever change or touch one life in the DR & Haiti. It is special. And magical. And I am humbled to be a part of this. In my heart of hearts I know true peace here. Thanks for your support and prayers.

"Oh for you, I sing and dance. I rejoice in this divine romance. Lift my heart and my hands to show my love, to show my love" Phil Wickham.

Thank you CPC & CWAM!

2011-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

We are so grateful to Central Peninsula Church for their continued partnership with G.O. Ministries and with our family.

Each year they host this incredible faire called "Christmas with a Mission," and people can buy artisan creations and make donations towards missions. We have been fortunate enough to be included for the last two years.

We were incredibly blessed by CPC this year and with the CWAM donations we were able to purchase enough food for a nutrition center to feed 80 kids for one month! We also were able to replace our stolen computers and still have funds to purchase books and Bibles in Spanish and Creole for children living in the DR & Haiti.

Gracias CPC for helping us continue the work God has called us to do. We are both humbled and blessed by your partnership! Thank you for allowing us to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need.

Repost Sunday: Could I Be Free

2011-04-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

As I was reading through past blog entries it was incredible to read about the ministry that has occurred on the island through G.O. since I moved here to the D.R. almost 4 years ago! I thought for the next month or so, I would repost one of those entries each Sunday as a way to look back and praise God for the things he has done. We've recently evolved our vision at G.O. and I will be sharing about that in coming posts.

This post [Could I Be Free] was written July 27, 2007. I had been living in the DR for 2 months.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Let me tell you about the Bateys. There are approximately 14 Bateys, located in the Southwestern part of the Dominican Republic. This is where they harvest sugar cane. Most of these Bateys and sugarcane fields are owned by companies outside of the D.R. They have machines to harvest the sugarcane, but they refuse to bring them to the bateys because the cost of paying a Haitian to harvest the cane is far less.

Haitians are told that they could come to the Dominican and make up to $25 US a week. In Haiti the average Haitian makes $250 US a year. You can imagine how any Haitian would jump at the chance to make up to 4 times as much as they could living in Haiti. Once they arrive in the D.R. the guards tear up there papers, and many simply no longer "exist" to the world. With out any sort of birth certificate or official papers, they are nothing. They cannot leave. They make about $10 a week, and they suffer from extremely harsh conditions in the sugar cane fields. They cut the cane with machetes, and injuries are common. Boys may begin harvesting cane with their parents at early ages as well. They settled in these camps and many generations live here together. While the conditions here are better than that in Haiti, they are some of the worst in the Dominican Republic.

On this particular visit, we brought down a team of 18, which included 1 doctor, and two nurses. The team would provide medical care over the course of 2 days in Batey Cuchillo (pronounced coo-chee-yo). Many here have never seen a Doctor. We brought thousands and thousands of dollars in medications. Many of the people were patient and waited, understanding we were here to help. One woman, came in who believed she was pregnant, but she had bled for two months, and now here belly was no longer growing. Family is very important here, their kids are all they have. They were desperate to recieve care, knowing this may be there only chance to recieve help for their kids and family.

I met one man in his early twenties. He asked me for a Bible. I spoke to the Pastor, and it turns out he was a believer but did not have a Bible. I brought one to him and he was truly grateful. I continued on the day working alongside the team to meet the physical needs of our patients.

As the week drew to a close we had seen and treated almost 900 patients, held two VBS's, evangelized to Batey nueve and cuchillo, led 8 people to Christ, broke ground on the foundation of Pastor William's new church, and participated in the daily feeding of over 100 kids in the nutrition center.

So many things were accomplished that week for the LORD, and on the final night- we had a despidida (good bye party) for the Americans to say goodbye to the nationals they had worked alongside of all week long. There were over 100 people there, many had walked from Batey cuchillo, 30 minutes away, by foot. There are no street lights, just fields. Many stood up and thanked eachother, prayed for one another, and we worshipped as one body. Standing outside after the despidida, I caught sight of the boy who had asked me for a Bible. When he saw me, a huge smile came over his face, I saw a joy in him that was from our LORD. I walked up to him and said "Tu tienes la Biblia? Translated: do you have the Bible?" "Si, si" he replied and as he pulled out the Bible, he opened it to the back cover of the book, where the words had been written after I gave him the Bible "Dios te Bendiga" (God bless you) and his name! As I looked at his name poorly scribbled in his Bible, I thought how much the LORD knows each one of us by name, and I am reminded of this verse:

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:7.

The LORD not only loves me & you, but each of our precious brothers and sisters in the Bateys, and all over the world, those who believe in the LORD, and those who do not yet, the LORD, has not forgotten one single person. He knew that that boy was to recieve a Bible from me that day in Batey Cuchillo. Please pray for him.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 3-10

Thank you all so much for going before the LORD on my behalf, and on the behalf of the many more who do not yet know Christ and those who need strength to keep fighting the fight.

Running For His Glory!

2011-03-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-03-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

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

Haiti; Land That I Love

2011-02-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

2004. My first trip to Haiti.

I left forever changed. Haiti, a country that I could not point out on a map had indescribably and inexplicably forever changed my life and my heart. I left Haiti fully knowing my life would never be the same. God had postured himself in such a way that I knew I had no other choice but to serve and to follow. Haiti changed how I love. Haiti was undeniably engraved on the palms of my hands; in the walls of my brain, as if the blood of the country coursed through my very veins.

I joined G.O. in 2007 and moved to the Dominican Republic. I traveled back and forth from the DR to Haiti many times. I was full and very satisfied.

And then nothing.

3 1/2 years passed and the land that I loved remained nothing more than a figure in my dreams. Photos on my computer. In 3 1/2 years I had gotten married and had twins. A lot of changes. My heart was full in a new way. But that longing remained.

In January of 2011 Alan and I had the chance to return to work in a fishing community on the Northern coast of Haiti known as Phaeton.

This guy didn't leave Alan's side

hand in hand

There are no paved roads, no electricity, no showers (unless you count 2 pieces of tin and a bucket full of water a shower) and only outhouses. Dusty children lined the streets running up and down shouting at the "blans" (white people) to come and play. The ran as hard as they could pulling each other in an old broken suitcase, laughing so contagiously that it was hard for them to stay upright while others were busy trying to fly a kite made from a trash bag. Not far from them, a group of men sat hovering over a dominoes board with clothes pins hanging from their faces signifying how many times they lost the game. While still, women were busy washing clothes, preparing food, fish lay drying out in the sun on the cacti walls which served as perimeter walls for their mud hut houses.

And I breathed. Deeply. A sigh of relief.

I was home.

This is Phaeton, Haiti.

Pastor Lucner and Marie

Typical houses in the community

the day's catch drying out in the sun

Not sure where they are going... someone said it was possible they were trying to sail to the US... I doubt it though.

a sweet boy down by the docks

Fishermen, making their nets

bringing in the catch at sunrise

Phaeton will launch our new hub of ministry in Haiti. We have built a temporary church that is filled to the brim with worshippers and many others standing outside of the church and peering in through the windows listening intently to the message.

The temporary church (the tin structure on the right was the building project we completed while there)

In addition to a church that proclaims the gospel and frees from oppression, we have a feeding center which feeds the neediest of children one day a week. Our goal is to have the nutrition center running 6 days a week breaking the chains of malnutrition and the diseases that go hand in hand with it.

Feeding beauties like this one.

G.O. is in the process of acquiring land that will serve as the site for a dormitory, new church and nutrition center, local farm, and it will have a well on site able to distribute fresh and clean water to the community.

Watering hole where we went to get water to mix concrete for our construction project

We spent 4 days in Phaeton as a staff, building showers for teams that will come and work here and digging a hole for a toilet (that may even flush, the first and only flushing toilet in the community). We host so many teams in the Dominican Republic and we are so used to leading, it is often hard to remember what it feels like to go to a foreign land where you don't speak the language and are drinking in everything as you go. It was a great experience to share with friends and co-workers.

Our team

Alan mixing concrete

They were heavy buckets :)

Shoveling together

God is at work in Phaeton. Once a vibrant community known for it's rope manufacturing it seems all but deserted now as their are only the broken walls of what once remained. Hope would seem fleeting, but just as Haiti was engraved in heart, how much more would our heavenly father know the pains and anguish of His people. Being engraved on the palms of our Father is an eternal promise to save. The broken walls of this small fishing community are ever before Him and He is mighty to save.

The once functioning smoke stack

Ruins from the rope factory

Haiti needs our Lord, and we need YOU! Yes, we need you. We need you to pray for the people of this land. To pray for an awakening of the gospel in this place.

We need you to GIVE. Financially, you can help make a difference in the lives of kids, men and women. The battle against Cholera is raging in Haiti and a donation of 12 cents could save a life.

We need you to GO. We invite you to come and see the great work that is being done in Haiti through G.O. There are so many ways to serve and "spend your lives for the poor."

We say at G.O. that 100% of what you give goes towards where you give it. I had a chance to personally see that happen while in Haiti. I blogged here about sending Amelia and Stella's clothes to Haiti as an offering to those without. The first night in Phaeton at church I caught a glimpse of this little one...

She is wearing one of the girls' dresses

She was a doll

And the next day at the job site she came to visit donning another of the girls' dresses.

Over the course of our time there I realized she only wore our girls' clothes. I was incredibly thankful to see God's love in action. When you partner with G.O. you partner with our Lord and have the opportunity to witness His love in action.

Haiti is waiting for you. How will YOU respond?

"My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm." Isaiah 51:5

**My camera was broken in Haiti so I wanted to give the photo credits to Amanda Braisted, our ministry photographer!!

Calico Half Marathon- January 8, 2011

2011-01-30T07:01:00.000-08:00

Running a half marathon was incredible. It was both exhilarating and challenging. We had so many obstacles during our training including my foot injury that really it wasn't until 2 days before the race that I decided to run it. I am so glad I did.

We run for His glory. We run to tell the stories of those who cannot. We run because He first loved us. We run to inspire others to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

I could give a mile by mile playback, but really the only thing that matters is that God was glorified! Each mile we clung to Him to bring us through the completion of the race, and I couldn't help but wonder why I don't live everyday that way.

It was a very spiritual time for me and I learned a lot from the experience.

We are so grateful for the love and support we received for our race. In total, we received close to $1000 for the race and Sheila's race in December raised around $500.

We plan on continuing to run for His glory and invite you to join us. You can join our running team and help us raise funds or sponsor us financially.

Please continue to pray for us and the ministry we are a part of!

Much peace,
Alan and Jackie

Here are a few race day pics!

Jackie at about Mile 8

Alan heading up to Mile 8

Alan about to cross the finish line

Jackie coming to the finish line

After the race, barely standing!!

With our good friend Valarie, fellow team-mate and photographer! (Thanks Val!)

Save a Life In Haiti This Christmas!

2010-12-13T10:01:00.001-08:00

Save a Life in HAITI

2010-12-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

“Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and hold us responsible to act.”

Proverbs 24:12

Right now, as I type, many are being infected with Cholera, and many more are dying in Haiti. Following the deadly earthquake in January It was just a matter of time before an outbreak like this occurred. It spreads in areas with untreated sewage, contaminated water, and people living in close proximity. It also spreads amongst those ill or malnourished. That’s what the reports online say. “ill or malnourished.” Does that strike a cord within you? Probably not. It doesn’t really with me and I live on the same island and visit with the “ill and malnourished,” that they describe.

How about this instead… As I type these words, and as many Americans are busy checking the internet for the best deals at Target, Best buy or where ever else we think we can get the cheapest gifts for our kids and loved ones, thousands of helpless children who had no choice as to where they would be born or spend their days on this earth are faced with the sinking reality that their only meal for the day (if you could call it a meal) is eating dirt. Dirt cookies. Dirt infested with parasites and other sickness. Dirt that locals mix with oil bake on top of their tin roofs in the sweltering heat to provide the swollen malnourished bellies of their children some relief from the pains that must torment them. My eyes are filled with tears at the thought of these children begging for something to eat, crying out in their pain. In their agony. They have no rice, they have not a vegetable, or a piece of fruit. They have dirt. Dirt that is killing them.

Infected water that is killing them. They bathe in water filled with waste. Think of the smell, think of the stench that must fill their nostrils. What do you think they feel? What must be going through their minds? Are they cursing God? Are they crying out to Him for help? Do they think everyone must live like this? Have they heard of America?

Do you know how Cholera takes a life? Immediately a person (or child or baby... think of yours) falls ill with diarhea. Violent diarhea. Fever. Vomiting. They lose GALLONS of fluids in a day. They become dehydrated. Their heart rate falls. Lack of potassium causes cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.

Now go look in the eyes of your child and imagine that terribly horrific reality as if it were for them… do they still need the PS3 or the new Ipad or latest cell phone or could we instead spare some of the gobs of Christmas money we as Americans shell out each year on crap to save the life of a man, like our husbands, or a woman like our mothers or sisters, or a child like our own children. The ones we would live or die for? The ones we spent countless hours comforting, rocking, feeding, drying tears and celebrating all their milestones with.

Do you know how much of that Christmas money you would need to spare to save a life from the deadly Cholera outbreak? 12¢. 12 lousy cents. Does that even seem right to you or fare? People are dying over 12 freaking cents.

Here’s what would save their lives: a mixture of salt, sugar, and clean water. And it costs 12¢.

You could save his life.

Or her life.

What if it were these girls who needed you?

12 ¢.

That. Is. All. It. Takes.

A matter of life and death over 12 cents. It’s not right and it’s not fair. But you and I are called to this. As human beings we are called to this and as followers of Jesus we are called to this, and rightfully so, will be judged for how we respond.

“Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and hold us responsible to act.”

Proverbs 24:12

We will be held responsible.

Please please, I am begging you to save a life and donate now.

So, how do you do it?

Several ways- text GOHAITI to 85944 and you will be making a $10 donation. Enough for 80 treatments!

Send a check to G.O. Ministries, Inc. and mail it to:

11501 Plantside Dr.

Suite 14

Louisville, KY 40299

In the memo write “Haiti/Cholera”

For more posts on Haiti visit here, & here. Also, if you look in the archives of our blog in January and february you can read about the many things G.O. did to save lives after the earthquake.

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

2010-12-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Help Bring the Cholera Epidemic To an End in Haiti!

2010-12-02T05:32:00.001-08:00

Sports in the Bateys

2010-11-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Every year the Sports Ministry plans a mission trip of our own. Throughout the year North-Americans travel to my country to serve the people here, and all year long we are blessed by their service. This is our way to give back to our country. This year we went to Batey Nueve in Barahona.

prayer time in the Bateys

G.O. has been working in the Bateys for a long time and this was the first place we went to for our own mission trip in 2007 so it was awesome to return here after 3 years of being away.

Houses in the Bateys. The blue building is an outhouse. There are no indoor bathrooms

Sugar cane fields. many men find their work here

I have to say, I was a little nervous about leaving Jackie and the babies alone for 4 days, but I have learned that when God wants to teach us something He will provide the way to do it. My mother-in-law and father-in-law were here visiting us the week prior to the trip on vacation and watching the babies for us so we could be at our yearly staff retreat. Sheila offered to stay an extra week to help Jackie so I could be a part of the mission trip.

Our time in the Bateys was amazing. God really spoke to me about waiting and about living our lives honoring God and to really look and find His blessings which are all around us.

putting up nets at the court in Batey 9

We used sports as a tool to speak truth into the lives of the kids living in the Bateys. It is a great responsibility for us, to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. To tell the story of the boy who sleeps on the floor at night, or the girl who eats once a day thanks to the G.O. Nutrition Center in Batey Nueve. We can share God with them and let them know that even though they may have struggles now, they can have more in this life and God has a great plan for them. A plan that we can't even imagine, it's so big and only possible with God.

Our team with kids from the camp

In my own life I realized that I must be more grateful to God for the many blessings He has given me and Jackie. We have been blessed to both be involved in raising and caring for our girls. I am going back to school full-time next year to finish my degree and will be working with short-term teams so I am trying to really enjoy these moments with my family before the busy season comes and to really thank God for each day He has given us with them!

Here's a short video of Alan teaching and leading the devotions for the sports team. Enjoy!

-Alan

Jackie loves spending time with the people in the Bateys though it's been over 2 years since she's last been back. You can read about her last visit to the bateys here, here, and here

and we give thanks.

2010-11-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

Today we are celebrating! We have so much to be thankful for this year. I will admit, this year has taken the proverbial cake when it comes to personal trials. Having my daughters has been my greatest joy and at times my greatest sacrifice. I am learning how to live and breath and do life all over again. It is a new life. A new way of doing things. A new way of loving.

2010 began for me unlike any other. I found myself basking in the freedom of Christ in a way that I had not experienced. He was my living water and I could not get enough to drink. The climb to the mountaintop was long and painstaking and Christ so gently shed light into so many hidden dark places in my life that needed healing only He could give. I found myself in an almost euphoric state. But alas, we cannot live on the mountaintop and now in the closing of 2010 I am finding myself back in the familiar territory- the valley of the foot of the Cross. Desperately seeking Him, desiring to be His servant, and so needing His healing touch. It truly never ends, this process of holy sanctification. I am forever His and He is mine. Oh how my heart rejoices in such a simple and yet mind-blowing, radical truth.

I know you must be thinking this was supposed to be about celebration and thankfulness and at 2am, I have to tell you amidst my own personal pain and struggles this year has brought I am triumphantly celebrating the Lord's goodness! He has blessed us with two amazingly unique and special little girls.

What a fascinatingly long 9 month journey God took me on as He began preparing my heart to care for two little sweet babes.

Celebrating 2 amazing little treasures being knitted together

When I look in their eyes it is as if I am gazing into the heart of Christ and get a special glimpse of the awe and wonder that awaits us in Heaven. It is magical.

Amelia Grayce

Stella Natalia

Alan was granted a medical visa to be there for the birth of the girls. That alone is an amazing testament of His power to meet our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Read that story here.

A proud papi

Adding to our family, May 25, 2010

We are so very blessed

We have been working for months now to get Alan's permanent residency to the states and Nov. 18 we got it! Another huge answer to prayers. Our family can now travel back and forth freely to the US without worry.

We stayed at this little hotel across the street from the US Embassy. Our girls stayed in Santiago with Alan's parents. It was a wonderfully refreshing time for Alan and I to reconnect and of course, to sleep!

Even amidst our house being broken into, God was so faithful to protect me and the girls. God has used what was meant to harm and destroy us to bring us closer to Him. Our faith has deepened. The love between Alan and I has been deepened (something uniquely fierce and primal happens when someone you love is in potential danger)

If I could put a theme to 2010 it would be faithfulness. He is so good and faithful.
When we doubt, He is faithful.
When we fear, He is still faithful.
When we are unfaithful, He is faithful yet.

He has been so faithful to me through a very difficult season, I confess, in my soul I do love these times of clinging to Him as if my very life depended on it. We are climbing that mountain together and will one day be back on top- only to look right back down into the valley where He will once again lead me... Oh how I love my sweet Jesus.

For this, I am so thankful on Thanksgiving. For this, we will celebrate.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

In the States!

2010-11-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

I (Jackie) will be traveling to the US in the early part of December to fundraise and share the vision God has given us for ministry in the DR & Haiti. Please let me know if you'd like to meet with me!

Pray for our Residency appt. on Monday for Alan to be able to come to the states with us!

Home. Invaded.

2010-11-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family,

We have recently had our home broken into. I wanted to take a moment and share our story of what happened and how you can help us.

Alan and I had been looking for a new home to move to when we returned to the DR with our girls. Our little two bedroom house just wasn’t cutting it anymore. We had 2 goals in mind: 1. To be closer to those we minister to in Hoya del Caimito and 2. To have a third bedroom to be able to host friends, family and visitors. We found a house within walking distance that we’ve believed achieved those two goals. We thought it was perfect. Too perfect. It seemed like everything we wanted, yet, I always had this unsure certainty about moving there. For one thing, there was a giant field to our left and the wall was only about 5 ft. high. The owners promised to raise the wall for us 5 more feet to make it secure. Also, the street was eerily dark at night with limited street lights and many wanderers passing by. However, I thought it was just my nerves and maybe we’d need a dog.

So, we moved. And we lived in the house for 2 weeks. 2 weeks that never felt quite like home. 2 weeks of fighting with the owners to raise the wall we paid them to raise. (they claimed they ran out of money after we paid them close to $1000 in security deposits and 2 months rent upfront to raise the wall) 2 weeks of constantly feeling like we were being watched.

And then it happened.

Last Friday I awoke to a grayish black sky dropping buckets of rain on us. It was the height of Tropical Storm Tomas. The wind was howling and nobody was passing in the streets. Fanny, Alan’s sister was helping me watch the girls. Alan left for the capital to pick up some papers for his upcoming residency appt. He was 2 ½ hours away. Despite the rain, lots of people were in and out of the house. Alan’s parents stopped by to finally see the new house, and Fanny’s kids all came over (3 total) after school was over. The house was filled with laughter.

At around 2pm after Alan’s parents had left I told Fanny and her kids I’d drive them home since it was raining so hard. Fanny cleans our house on Fridays and I was so happy to have a clean home for the weekend. We picked up the last little things around the house, locked it up good, and then packed up our kids and headed to her house. Due to the rain it was a slow drive. We made a stop to pick up some killer ant dust for the new house and finally arrived at her house about 20 minutes later. We chatted some and then I decided not to go to Pricemart to pick up formula but instead go home and take a nap while the girls sleep and wait for Alan to get home.

I was gone for a total of about 30-40 minutes. When I got home I opened the big gate and pulled the truck in. Leaving the girls in the running car, I went to open the front door before lugging them in the car seats inside, but I couldn’t get in. I unlocked the door fine, but it had seemed as if the top latch (you know like what you have on apt. doors or in hotels) was caught and not allowing me to get inside. I tried and tried pushing with all my body against the door to get it open but it wouldn’t budge. Now my girls were starting to fuss and I HAD to get inside. It was time for them to eat. I thanked God I had all the different keys for the 3 gates I had to go through to get to our side patio and was able to push the window above the kitchen sink open enough to push the piece of wood out of the window seal and made my climb through the kitchen window. My grocery bag holder was in the middle of the floor and completely empty. I went to the front door and as I went to open it, I realized the latch was completely slid across the door and pushed down. It was no “catch.” This lock had been locked from the inside. The entertainment cabinet was open and all that was inside was strewn in front of it. I looked to my office area and noticed our passports thrown on the floor along with my checks. I quickly opened the front door, ran to the car (without looking in the bedrooms) and quickly got away from the house and drove down the street to a fellow missionary’s house. He called the cops and went to the house in case anyone was inside. It had occurred to me that when I pulled up to the house I saw a flash of white, like a t-shirt, in the field towards the back of our alley. As if someone had just jumped the fence or was checking.

The pipe used to break the bars on the window

I returned to the house with the police and after entering the house again it was clear that more than one person had been inside. They jumped the puny 5 ft. wall and took a 4 ft. steel pole that was supposed to be used to raise our side wall and pried a piece of rebar up on the girls’ bedroom window. They climbed inside Stella’s crib leaving mud on the sheets and tore her mosquito net and then began rummaging through the house looking for electronics and other goods to sell.

This is where they entered. You can see the space they came in was very very small!

We believe they either heard me pull up and left quickly or they could have still been inside when I came in, as their were things in the crib in my grocery bags that they hadn’t been able to get out with. Either way, I interrupted them.

I stayed at Tim’s house until Alan came home at 8:30pm. We talked and decided in the morning we’d call the owners of our previous house, which had not been rented to see if we could move back. It was a smaller house, but nothing was more important that our security.

Sleeping in that house that night was restless. We put the girls on our bed and we slept at the foot of it on a futon matress with the machete and a steel pole (and one eye open of course)

The next day in less than 4 hours and with the help of over 20 Dominicans, Haitians and North Americans we were sitting back in our old house along with everything we owned. I was stunned by the way the Body of Christ worked to help get us back into a secure place.

All in all the took both of our laptops, our Ipod, the DVD player, about $100 in US cash and they tried to steal our sense of security and hope and replace it with doubt and fear. We also don't know if the owners will pay us back the $1000 we gave them when we moved. They've lied to us so much it's hard to believe anything they say, and to a certain degree I hold them a little responsible since they failed to make the house secure in the way they said they would. Thankfully we have a secure God who covers us when we and others fall short.

We are so thankful that God protected us and allowed us a way to get out of a potentially dangerous situation. I believe God was protecting us by letting us move back to our old house from future situations as well. We later learned the house had been broken into at least once before we had moved in.

We have realized the urgent need this brings about for us. We need to replace our stolen items and think to the future for our family as well. We still desire to live closer to those we minister with and to (right now we are about a 3 minute drive away). Living in a 3rd world country amongst those less financially secure brings us into danger nearly always. As a North American, it is assumed that I am "rich" and that we always have things (that many would like to take from us). Basically, we walk around with targets on our backs. While we trust in God for our protection, we need do our part to live in a secure house and to take the neccesary precautions to raise our family in a safe place free from fear.

We would like to ask for 3 things from you.

1. Please pray for us. Daily, we need prayer for protection and for our safety.

2. Please give towards our immediate need. We need to raise an additional 3,000 to replace the stolen goods. And perhaps even the $1000 the owners will likely never repay.

3. Please give to our ongoing needs. Our budget needs to be raised an additional $1000 a month for us to live and do ministry in the Dominican Republic factoring in the cost for rent of a house in the future that will accomplish our goals of living and doing life with those we work/minister with.

If you’d like to help us cover the costs of replacing the electronics or with our general needs, please email me at Jackie.perez@go-minisries.org or you can directly send a check to G.O. Ministries, Inc. 11501 Plantside Dr. Suite 14, Louisville, KY 40299 and put “Alan and Jackie electronics” in the memo line if it's to help in that area. If it's a general donation please mark "Jackie and Alan" in the memo. As always, all gifts are tax-deductible.

We love you guys and are grateful for your support and prayers for our family.

Blessed. by Alan Perez

2010-09-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

On July 22, a Thursday we arrived home to the Dominican Republic. We had a great welcoming from my family, who cleaned and organized our home and even made a sign with balloons welcoming Amelia and Stella home. Our G.O. family pitched in and put together a basket of food for us. We were blessed!

It was a great feeling to arrive home (around 10pm), but shortly after we got there we started to realize that many things in our house were not working- phone, car battery, our backup battery inverter, water pump, cable, and we had no propane for our stove. After traveling since 4am (and moving an army of bags!!) we were thinking once we get home to just throw everything inside and go to sleep, but I finally went to sleep around 5am after calling people and fixing things in our house.

It would be just 6 hours later at 11am that I was going to have my first basketball practice with my team for our sports ministries summer basketball league. Honestly, I was thinking to cancel my practice, but I talked to a friend of mine who also is a coach and he said that my team was so excited that I was going to be their coach and they were looking forward to spending time with me.

Friday at 9:30am I woke up and while I was going to practice I was praying for God to not let my lack of sleep or how tired I felt not let me stop to give 100% to those kids and to help them find truth about Him through my time with them. I wanted God to show me things about myself too and my relationship with Him and my family.

After spending 3 weeks with my team God showed me that we all have different needs, dreams, and emotions. Every Friday after practice I spent time sharing with the team about how I spent my childhood. I shared with them things that brought tears to my eyes and joy at the same time. I got to know them better and to understand that each one of us have different needs. I tried to put myself in their situation and show them sympathy and mercy in the same ways God shows me when I fail.

Being a new dad of twins, God has shown me something new. I have to make every moment that I spend with my wife and daughters special and to try and understand my wife's heart and to always let them know that they can fail 100 times and I will always be there for them the way God has been their for me and for each of us. It is a big blessing to be learning these things from God and to serve Him and my family in this way.

3,782 Thanks

2010-08-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

August 15, 2010

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now

Philippians 1:3-5

We have been blessed by our partnership with Central Peninsula Church from San Francisco, CA.

Alan and Jackie with Cathy & Rob McIlvoy (Youth Pastor/Team leader for CPC)

Throughout the last 2 years they have not only began financially supporting us, but they have a team of warriors who sustain us through their prayers, and they have sent down 3 teams to encourage us in our work on the island.

CPC in the DR; Summer 2009

In June they sent down their 3rd team, however we weren't able to be here due to being in the states having our babies. As a way to bless us, the church did a diaper drive and little did we know they brought not only a bunch of stuff for our girls that we sent them, but they also brought down diapers... 3,782 of them to be exact.

This is just a small part of what they did when they came to the DR. Not only do they partner with us, but they partner with Medina, a pastor in a poor community in the city. He has big dreams for this dark dark place and members from CPC have come alongside of him to encourage and pray for these dreams to be realized. A very sweet bond has formed between Rob (the youth pastor/team leader) and Medina.

Pastor Medina and Pastor Rob

Throughout their week they brought light to dark places. They were the light of Christ on the construction site, building a church that proclaims truth.

They were the light of Christ feeding sweet children in the Hole, a landfill rundown with drugs, prostitution, and alcohol. They were the light of Christ singing songs and teaching children the ways of the Lord.

They were the light of Christ working to repaint a rundown basketball court in Medina's community- a place that Medina hopes will reach out to the youth and offer an alternate extracurricular activity aside from succumbing to drugs and alcohol.

Seeing CPC in action is so inspiring. It pushes us forward and gives us strength to persevere.

We have been so blessed by their partnership and by their love for us. We constantly feel encouraged by them and it has filled us so that we may encourage others... Isn't that how the Christian life is meant to be lived?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

CPC praying for Medina and his church

Thank you CPC- 3,782 Thank you's from us and from our girls... & just in case you were wondering what 3,782 diapers look like...

Thank you CPC for blessing us with a year's worth of diapers!

Check out their video of their week serving in the DR!

Central Peninsula Church 2010 from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.

Home

2010-08-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

After 4 months in the states waiting and delivering our girls we have finally made our way back to our home in the DR. It has been a strange transition going from just Alan and I to a family of 4. We are relearning everything (as if we didn't have enough to learn only being married for 15 months!!). Learning how to find time to be with God, learning how to do life as a family, learning new ministry roles, learning how to be parents... we are in a never-ending process of trying to figure things out.

We plan on updating you over the next few weeks little-by-little on everything we've been up to in the last 4 months and everything we are looking forward to. Alan has jumped back into ministry while my ministry role seems to be ever-changing and I am challenged to find ways of bringing the "glorious" into the mundane everyday mommy tasks (like diaper changing!!) so be sure to keep checking with us!

And of course we want to extend a BIG thank you for your prayers. Every step of the way we have felt led by God and sustained by your prayers!

If you haven't checked it out, you can read our birth story HERE!

Much love,
Alan and Jackie

Our Visa Story

2010-04-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2-8

James has always been one of my favorite books. When I first gave my life to Christ, I had trouble knowing where to "start." A mentor of mine had said to read James. I fell in love with the practicality, the bluntness, and yet the incredible promises and grace strewn throughout the short 5 chapters of this book. I am all about practicality. I was in a bit of a highlighting craze and if you'd look at the book of James in my first study Bible, you'd see the entire book highlighted and underlined with red... Let's just say it's stayed with me.

Alan and I have been on this journey to parenthood for the last 8 months and pretty early on we'd made the decision together that I would have the babies in the states (especially after my stay in the Dominican hospital). We knew that I would receive higher quality medical care for our twins should complications arise and the paperwork to make them American Citizens is automatic if they are born in the states (just need to wait for birth certs and passports) as opposed to the months and months of paperwork, lawyer fees, and trips to Santo Domingo (the Capital) to get the right paperwork approved for our girls to travel to the states with us... There were so many positives to me going to Las Vegas to have the babies... except one...

Alan would not be going.

This broke my heart and for a long time I wouldn't even admit that I was considering going to the states because that would mean somehow I didn't think he was important enough, eventhough he had made peace with the decision. I still struggled on. Finally, we came to the mutual decision that ultimately the health of our little ones that God has entrusted to us must take precedence and there are times where we have to make sacrifices. This certainly felt like one of them. I had no idea how I was going to do it without Alan for the first 2 months of the babies lives.

Our new mantra was "it's only 4 months... then we'll have the rest of our lives to be together as family." We truly believed this, prayed for peace with it, accepted it, and claimed it! In the last months and weeks leading up to me leaving for the states believing that was what helped me stay focused on doing what we had to do for our girls.

Several weeks before I left for the states a friend and lawyer emailed me and asked if we had planned on applying for a visa. We hadn't planned on it. Everyone we knew who had applied (Americans married to Dominicans) had been denied. She said if ever we had a case to win, this would be it. We prayed and thought why not, let's give it a shot, knowing the liklihood that we'd be denied. We gathered all the letters needed, filled out the paperwork, and applied for an appointment. Alan's date was set, but it was after I had booked my ticket to the states... so I had to leave and we said we'd see each other in 4 months.

My first week in the states I was in shock still. I couldn't believe that I was going to be here for 4 months alone without Alan. His appointment was scheduled for March 31 at 9am. I don't think I slept at all the night before. Alan was armed with all of his paperwork and letters along with letters I had had written by Senator Harry Reid, Congressman John Ensign and Congresswoman Shelly Berkley. We felt confident that we'd done all we could. We were surrounded by a ton of people praying for us. Alan's appt. lasted a record breaking 50 minutes, but ultimately he was denied in the end due to a "lack of ties" to the DR. Simply put, they did not believe we had intentions to return to the DR after our babies were born.

We were crushed, but not detroyed. We both cried and mourned and decided that the Lord had answered our prayers, though not how we had wanted, He had heard them and answered. We knew there was reason for this (though we didn't know the exact reason). We knew He would teach us (though we didn't know exactly what He wanted to teach us). We knew that we had to be open and committed to trusting HIS ways and HIS timing and to not doubt it like the waves of the sea tossing and turning about.

We turned our prayer focus towards having super healthy little girls so I could go home with them and they could meet their daddy as soon as possible.

I have to admit it was hard retelling the story to all of our prayer warriors when all I wanted to do was cry and ask God why, but I knew He would, in time, provide the answer. I so desperately wanted to see what God was doing in this situation, and I wanted others to see it too.

That's when the phone call came.

April 12th Alan called me and wanted to know if I had called the US Embassy and asked them to reconsider the case. I was a little stunned by his questioning, but told him "no," and reminded him that we had decided together that we weren't going to do that... there was a long pause and then he said

"because they called me."

He went on to tell me that they'd been attempting to contact him because they wanted to reconsider his case as soon as possible. He had a new scheduled appointment on April 15th at 2pm.

The praying began again. I kept wondering what in the world was God trying to teach us. The scripture from James kept rolling around in my head... Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. We so wanted to persevere through this, we really had no other option. It was as if God was taking us on this crazy ride and all we had to do was buckle up and believe... and we did. We believed without doubt.

Several hours later Alan called me to tell me the news "So??????" I asked him... (long pause)... and then he began... "They said no, I couldn't stay in the Dominican and had to go be with my wife and babies in the states."

I couldn't believe it. His appointment didn't last long. He was interviewed by the same woman who denied him the first time and after asking for the supervisor and speaking with him for a few minutes he was granted a visa. There are so many speculations as to why this happened...

Was it because the letters from the Senators and Congressman hadn't made it in time for his first appointment? Maybe.

Was it because I was in process to become a Dominican Citizen and Alan had the papers with him to prove it (which the Supervisor did take to verify before granting a Visa). Probably.

But I think this might be one of those magical moments that not even a non-believer could explain away. We have a mighty God who works in mysterious ways, and we are eternally grateful for what He has done for us, for our girls, for our family, and for all the people surrounding us who can also witness this beautiful miracle.

A week later Alan recieved his Dominican passport back with a 3 month Visa to the states.

Alan flys April 28th, this Wednesday to be with his girls!

Thanks be to God!

Restoration for Haiti

2010-04-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

For over 20 years G.O. Ministries has been working in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and we are committed to bringing change and restoration to the Haitian people in the wake of the January earthquake.

How will YOU respond?

We are committed to long term work in Haiti and would like to offer this opportunity for you to partner in our plans. Currently, we are starting with a plan to meet the most basic of needs in the communities that we serve. What we are asking is for you to partner with us in one of these areas. Today, I am specifically asking individuals to commit one of the following options: supporting nutritional needs, funding water purification or funding sanitary systems. As little as $50 could pay a cook for one month. $500 could feed 50 kids every month. All aid will be initiated by the local pastor who also needs support. $500 a month would provide his salary and the operating expenses for his ministry plus a contribution to an emergency fund. We see this as the first step in a larger vision for Haiti. Future opportunities will exist in education but we wish to start with feeding the people.

At G.O. Ministries, we support the work of Nationals and seek to develop Partnerships of Ministry to provide much needed encouragement and support through spiritual, physical and financial needs. In order to create a blueprint for future work, we have put together an outline for development in these communities. We do not see G.O. Ministries as the agency for the entire plan but wish to communicate to your our vision for increased opportunities in Haiti. This plan was developed to serve 250 people in a sustainable community and foster the local economy. We plan to implement this in stages, building upon the previous step. We are ready to begin, but want to communicate how this work fits into the bigger vision of partnership with the people of Haiti.

This is only the beginning of meeting the needs in Haiti. Please contact me, Josanne Johnson or any of the office staff at 502-493-9846 to make your pledge of support. Please accept this challenge to meet these most basic of needs.

G.O. plan for Restoration in Haiti

Phase I
Initially, basic needs must be met. In order to do this, our plan is to build a multi-purpose building whose function will change over the life of this plan. This building will allow for development of a feeding program for the community as well as being a focus for the development of water purification and sewage systems. These systems will most likely be developed through our partner agencies. Our aim to assist the Haitian community in the most efficient manor. Housing for extended families will be developed in league with community leaders. In order to lessen dependence upon transported/donated food, an agricultural program will begin to encourage people to work to feed themselves. Agricultural land will need to be obtained and reclamation may also be necessary due to the problem of deforestation and erosion in the country. Animal husbandry will also be developed for feeding community members. The hope is that these efforts will expand into a business opportunity for the members of the community. Community health will be developed through clinic services and the education of individuals in basic first aid and disease prevention. These members of the community will be employed to care for basic needs between doctor’s visits and triage more serious illness to the closest appropriate medical facility. Educational needs will be met through the establish of a school or support and/or improvement of an already existing school.

Phase II
Phase II will consist of the support of education and economic development. Local business will be given the opportunity to grow into regional or national endeavors. Opportunities for adult education and advanced vocational training will be provided. Higher education opportunities will be encouraged. This could be in the form of scholarships to existing schools or partnering to develop institutions such as a teacher training school, nursing school, or physical and occupational therapy school. A medical school is already in the planning stages. Pursuit of the arts will be encouraged by supporting instruction in music, visual and performing arts and language arts.

This is a long term plan and we are committed to working in these areas. We cannot say how long accomplishing these goals will take, but we are dedicated to making progress. But we cannot proceed partners. Only those projects with definite support can proceed. Would you please continue to support Haiti by stepping up in this way?

Special Prayer Request

2010-03-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:6

Alan has received his Visa Appointment to come to the United States for the birth of our girls. His appointment is March 31st at 8:30am EST... TOMORROW MORNING! Please pray that the US Consulate will grant him a visa so he can fly to Las Vegas to be with our family for the birth of our girls. The US Consulate will make a decision on the spot as to whether or not they will grant a visa. We have many letters from Doctors, mental healthcare professionals, even Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelly Berkley petitioning for his Visa, but ultimately the decision will lie with the person interviewing Alan.

Today will you take some time to pray for his appointment tomorrow? Tomorrow morning will you spend time in prayer asking God for favor in this decision?

We truly believe that God will use the decision made tomorrow to His glory and His purpose. We thank all of you who stand beside us in this. You are our family, our friends, our brothers and sisters. Many many thanks to each of you as you walk alongside of us in this journey.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Sharing in God delight in missions,
Alan & Jackie Perez
G.O. Ministries, Inc.
Serving in the Dominican Republic

The Hole on Primetime

2010-03-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

We have a news anchor from Louisville, KY here in the Dominican with us featuring our work in Haiti. Before he flew to Haiti though he spent the day seeing ministry in the Dominican Republic. Check out the video below.

G.O. Working in Mongolia!

2010-03-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

"We have this hope as an anchor in our soul, firm and secure..." Hebrews 6:19

G.O. Ministries not only works in the Dominican Republic and Haiti but we work in Colombia, Mongolia, and Inner-City Louisville.

In Mongolia we partner with John Kholer who works amongst some of the most forgotten people to Mongolia; alcoholics, drug addicts, and prostitutes. We have hope that although the world may have forgotten them; God has certainly not forgotten them and we are so thankful to partner with John in his work.

When you partner with Alan and I through G.O. Ministries you are touching lives around the world even in Mongolia! A portion of what we raise is dedicated to the ministry in Colombia, Mongolia, and the Inner-City of Louisville. Please pray for John and the work G.O. is doing in Mongolia and see his update below!

Before I left, Boka, the young Kazak man living with me got baptized. That was a great day as we also had 5 other men get baptized!

5 men to be baptized

I got back last Thursday night and on Saturday I had a very mixed day. First we celebrated with Oyuna (our first Lady to leave that way of life) and Zorga, one of the men who came to us last year, whom the Lord has changed,in their wedding ceremony! I have included some pictures for you. It was a tremendous day of celebration for them. They are our first wedding of anyone from the project, so we were quite excited. They both have gotten counseling and taken this marriage very seriously. We are excited for them and ask that you continue to keep them in prayer. Zorga is a very hard worker but has had difficulty finding consistent employment.

John (left) with Zorga, Oyuna, and Boka

Then I went to visit Nomin. She had been sent home from the hospital in her home town of Nalaih, and told that there was nothing more they could do for her and that she would probably die soon, that there was no hope for her. A nurse friend and a few of us went to visit her. A Hospice in UB said she could come there, but Nomin said she just wanted to just be with her family before she died. She was quite pale and weak. We had brought an IV but Nomin refused it saying the doctors had told her there was no hope so why take any more medicine. I was really angry inside as it was obvious to the nurse and myself she was dehydrated and though she has some other difficulties, hopeless was not the word that come to our minds, in need of an IV and fluids, some good medical attention, but not hopeless. So we talked and prayed with Nomin and later she allowed us to give her an IV of fluids which when done of course had a profound effect on her color and her body. She is praying about coming back to UB for some medical treatment. Please pray that she listens to the Lord and allows us to help her get some good medical help. Well God answers quickly! As I was writing this my one staff called to tell me that Nomin is on her way to Hope Hospice in UB! Now please pray that we can get her the medical treatment she needs and a place to stay here in UB for continuing treatment.

We have two new Ladies who are coming almost daily and are very open to the Lord. They both were at Oyuna’s wedding and the one is now coming weekly to church. They both have left their old way of making money but again here comes the difficult part, finding them new work. Please pray for us for real wisdom on how to help when Ladies leave their old lifestyle. We have not been very successful as of yet with job creation. One of our women is barely making a living through jewelry making and our attempts at teaching sewing have been a bust, so please pray for us in this area. The same can be said about the men’s project also, we have not been successful with job creation. Please pray that God would send us someone that has a passion and the experience to help us in this area.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers, we can not do this with out you!

1 month since the quake

2010-02-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

A short 3 minute video to mark the one month that has passed since the Haiti quake killing over 200,000.

G.O. Ministries- Responding to the Haiti Earthquake Jan. 12 from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

Yesterday marks 1 month since we sat in our house, felt the earth quake, and began to watch the devastation unfold in Haiti before our eyes. Just hours after the quake, and with little information, I was interviewed for the local news- if only we had known then the story of hope we know now. Days after the quake I still found myself asking God, where was His glory... and surely enough, He has shown me that it is all around us.

What a tragedy that so many should die for the world to wake-up and see the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters. A country which many could not locate on the map has become a launching pad for Christians and humanitarians alike to stand together and say "We're not going to leave you stranded."

I am amazed at the work G.O. has been able to be a part of. While the larger aid organizations fought through red tape & bottlenecking at the Port-au-Prince airport to get supplies and aid in, G.O. received volunteer pilots and planes daily showing up at the Santiago airport in the Dominican Republic looking to fly in supplies into areas cut off from the main lines. Just days after the earthquake and we were flying in supplies into over 6 cities, even cutting down trees to make a runway where drug dealers used to fly into.

Just one month after the quake and we've sent over 1/2 million lbs of water, food, medical supplies, doctors, tents into devastated areas. The first supplies received in Jacmel came on a 20 ft. boat sent by G.O.

Amidst all this great tragedy, we see Haitians singing (and mourning) but singing praises to Jesus, relying on one another, and on our Heavenly Father. What a big God we serve.

Sometimes it takes a devastation to unite God's people... We cannot wait until tomorrow. Let us stand in unity and fight for Haiti. What a gift we've been given! Join us in this fight! www.gohelphaiti.org

May the God who gives you endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6

Drew Moore Responds to the Haiti Quake

2010-01-27T04:56:00.000-08:00

We have been so blessed to have Drew from Eastview Christian Church with us in the DR for the past week working hard with us in efforts to bring aid to Haiti. Since we began flights to Haiti January 17 we have put 194,969 lbs of medical supplies, food, water, shelter into the hands of the people needing it most.

Please watch this video- How Will YOU Respond?

G.O. Help Haiti- Drew Moore Responds to the Haiti Earthquake from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

You can continue to give through the G.O. Website or you can go to our Relief site specially set up to keep you up to date with what's going on in Haiti and how you can be a part of what God is doing through G.O. to get help to our brothers and sisters so badly in need.

G.O. Website

Haiti Relief Website

G.O. Help Haiti- Responding to the January 12, 2010 quake

2010-01-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

I am so honored and humbled to be working with G.O. Many God honoring things have happened since the tragic quake. We, the Church, have been given an opportunity to care and look after Haiti in it's time of need. How will you respond?

Check out this clip I made, told from the perspective of a friend and fellow G.O. Missionary, Ken George. Ken has tirelessly worked around the clock sun up to sun down managing the pilots, planes, and cargo that is bringing help and hope to Haiti.

No amount of thanks would be sufficient Ken!

G.O. Ministries- Responding to the Jan. 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

G.O. Help Haiti- A Pilot's Tale II

2010-01-25T05:25:00.000-08:00

G.O. has been responding to the earthquake in Haiti for 13 days now, ever since the quake hit January 12, 2010. Watch this clip of Andrew, a pilot, working with G.O. as he tells his story of chopping down trees to make a runway in a town cutoff from supplies!

Please keep giving generously through www.go-ministries.org

Andrew Wollett- A Pilot's Tale II from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

G.O. Help Haiti- Rescuing Stranded Missions Teams

2010-01-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

One of the first ways we responded to the Haiti quake was to begin rescuing missions teams stranded in Haiti, which opened the doors for our Relief work in Jacmel!

Check out my good friend & fellow G.O. Missionary Tim's story of rescuing one of those teams!

Please continue to give to our Relief work through our web. www.go-ministries.org

G.O. Help Haiti- Rescuing Missions Teams, Tim's Account from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

G.O. Help Haiti- An EMT's story

2010-01-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

G.O. housed several EMT's and first responders- some of whom we found transportation into Haiti to help rescue and treat our brothers and sisters there!

I interviewed Josh who was returning home after a traumatic week in Port-au-Prince.

Check out his story here, and please continue to give to the Relief efforts at www.go-ministries.org

Josh Getts, EMT Responding in Port-au-Prince from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

G.O. Help Haiti- A Pilot's Tale

2010-01-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

G.O. Ministries is working with 9 pilots and 5 planes to get much needed supplies into Haitian's in need in Jacmel, Port-de-Paix, Pignon, Leogane, and Port-au-Prince! Check out this short video I made interviewing one of the pilots and here his God story!

Please continue to support the work G.O. is doing! Go to www.go-ministries.org to give!

Scott Martin, A Pilot's Tale from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

Haiti Update

2010-01-21T13:20:00.001-08:00

I am so honored to report the following day by day events since the earthquake and how God has used G.O. Ministries to bring help to several communities in Haiti.

Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010, a 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti. G.O. Ministries happened to have a team in Santiago at the time. Here is a video clip of what it felt like: Moment of Earthquake You see people laughing because it was an unusual occurrence. As news reports came in, we began to realize how serious the situation was and began to prepare to help. God can do immeasurably more than we can imagine, and we never imagined this past week! But God is good and gave us the opportunity to aid in relief of this tragedy. Several of our staff members were featured on their local news. Michael Jeff and Wilby

Wednesday 13 Jan 2010, we began to understand the extent of the devastation. People immediately began to call and offer their help. Brook Brotzman, President of G.O. Ministries in the US, was already scheduled to travel to the DR that day. After he was on the ground in Santiago, we began to analyze how we could help. We were contacted by several short-term mission teams that were stranded in various locations in Haiti. A group from Eastview Christian Church had been in Pilatre, trying to get home to Normal, IL. Their flight, which would have placed them in Port-au-Prince at the time of the quake, had been cancelled. They were able to get a bus to the border between the Dominican and Haiti, where Tim Krauss, one of our full-time staff members in Santiago, was able to meet them. We then gave them overnight accommodations and got them on a flight Thursday morning. Another group was stranded at a orphanage in Jacmel, southwest of Port-au-Prince, but closer to the epicenter of the quake. To get to them, we found a boat from the Dominican town of Pedernales to the coastal town of Jacmel. The boat was very small but we crammed in as many supplies as would fit and sent Tim to go retreive them. Due to engine problems on the boat, the team returned across the border the next day by land. We were also taking supplies in via the border town of Jimani when possible. In total, we helped 5 different mission teams evacuate from Haiti. Here in the office, we set up ways for people to help by donating and with their prayers. Here is a video with Tim and John preparing to depart: www.vimeo.com/8754211

We obtained warehouse space in the hanger at the Santiago airport in order to store supplies. We used five five small planes to fly supplies in and out of Jacmel and Leogane daily to drop relief supplies. We continued with boat trips as well. We were able to recruit several pilots in order to keep flights going into Jacmel non-stop. You should check out the view of the airport on Google Earth. It is just a runway with a place to turn around. Landing Strip

Friday 15 Jan 2010, Romano and Wilby, G.O. partnering Haitian pastors, headed out to Port-au-Prince separately. Here is a video that Jeff made of Romano prior to his departure: http://www.vimeo.com/8754093 They left to search for family they had not been able to reach. Wilby found his family members alive but Romano learned that his brother is dead. He leaves behind 9 children. We continue to pray for the orphans created the day of the quake.
Over the weekend, the opportunities to help did not stop. Our staff in Santiago helped assist a UN peacekeeper and his team of volunteers who stayed in our dorm. They were stranded on their way to Port-au-Prince. They assisted us in setting up our relief efforts. We were able to use our warehouse and the hangar space we obtained at the Santiago airport to collect supplies.

We have some pictures of our staff buying supplies and the planes. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gohelphaiti We also helped a reporter from the Wall Street Journal with lodging and helped him into Jacmel to report on the conditions there.

Monday 18 Jan 2010, we began to realize that supplies on the island of Hispaniola were running out. We now need to collect the needed supplies here in the US for transportation to Haiti via the DR. A friend, who is the director of a Haitian orphanage, asked how would she distribute the baby formula she had available? It could mean the difference between life and death. My heart breaks that anyone would find themselves in that position. We are working to get needed supplies as quickly as we can to alleviate the desperate need on the ground in Haiti.

Tuesday 19 Jan 2010, we began to organize collection of supplies. We have obtained warehouse space in Louisville at 7325 New LaGrange Road. We are contacting the churches in this area to begin collection of needed supplies. We are arranging cargo plane transport to take these items to Santiago for distribution into Haiti. It takes 100,000 lbs. to fill the plane. We are again asking God to provide in a big way through His people.

Medical supplies are an immediate and overwhelming need. There are doctors on the ground who cannot treat those sick and injured because they have no supplies. If you are able to secure a donation of medical items, especially orthopedic supplies such as casting materials, contact us right away. We would also be able to purchase these items if a large donation were made.
Your donation has made an immediate difference to the people of Haiti. Please continue to keep the people of Haiti and GO Ministries as we assist in the relief effort in your prayers. We have spent every donation as quickly as they have come in. As of yesterday, we had received over $150,000 in donations. We are spending the money as quickly as it comes in. Please consider giving again or passing this information on to other people who may be interested in what we are doing here.

Much peace and prayers to you!!!
Alan and Jackie

G.O. Help Haiti

2010-01-14T04:54:00.000-08:00

Our hearts are very heavy this morning. Parts of Haiti lay in total destruction. The death tolls continue to rise.

Fear grips our brothers and sisters as they continue to sleep outdoors for fear of sleeping in what remains of their houses as the threat of aftershocks continue.

I was in my house sitting at my computer, much like I am now, when Alan asked if I could feel the ground shaking. At first I felt nothing and then a slow rocking and then the jingling of our light hanging in the kitchen as it began to sway back and forth... it lasted about 30-45 seconds. We had no idea the tragedy that was unfolding.

We sit here feeling helpless continuing to follow news reports, some of us have been interviewed by our home town news stations and the emails and phone calls continue to pour in.

On a good day in Haiti, (one that hasn't been rocked by a major earthquake) the people scrape by with whatever they can. The average income in Haiti is around $560 US dollars YEARLY. That means they live and feed their families on about $1.50 per day. They mass produce "dirt cookies," which are made from salt, oil and the dirt from the ground people walk on. They mix the ingedients and bake them on roof tops in the sun, all in efforts to stave off the hunger pains. This is a good day...

How do we reconcile this, how do we cope with such tragedies in the world? We see atrocities everyday all across the world. Wars, starvation, children forced into slavery or turned into child soldiers, rape, hate crimes.

We reconcile this through the hope we have through our Creator and our Maker. That He, who knows every hair on every Haitian man, woman, and child's head will redeem His people and take something so terrible and devastating and make it glorious. I believe He is doing this right now, through His people, through surrounding countries, through The Church. I am told the news is covering every inch of this in the States and I am greatful for the awareness it is bringing to a country many Americans couldn't locate on a map (I couldn't before I came on my first mission trip here).

I believe this section of scripture helps paint a picture of what is happening now and for what is to come.

Romans 8:18-27

I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing with the glory

that will be revealed in us.

The creation waits in eager expectation

for the sons of God to be revealed.

For the creation was subjected to frustration,

not by its own choice, but by the will of the one

who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself

will be liberated from its bondage to decay and

brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has

been groaning as in the pains of childbirth

right up to the present time. Not only so,

but we ourselves, who have the

firstfruits of the Spirit,

groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our

adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved.

But hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what he already has?

But if we hope for what we do not yet have,

we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit

helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us

with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the

mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes

for the saints in accordance with God's will.

We have an opportunity here... No, not an opportunity. We have a responsibility to be The Church. To care after the orphans and the widows. To step in, in Haiti's great time of need and be a voice of hope. To be the hands and feet of a Christ who loved us so much He shed His bled and died for us. How can we ever begin to repay? Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you to fall to your knees in ferverent prayer for Haiti. I urge you to financially give to help our (mine and yours) brothers and sisters suffering in Haiti. They need us in such a time as this.

G.O. Ministries has set up an online relief fund and we will be working with several organizations on the ground in Haiti distributing 100% of what we can raise to help aid the relief efforts. http://www.go-ministries.org/ on the front page is more information on how you can give.

I posted this section of scripture and pictures from Haiti a few weeks ago on my last post about Haiti. http://alanandjackie.blogspot.com/2009/12/pictures-worth-thousand-words.html

Grieving and Praying for Haiti.

Alan and Jackie

Momentum Christian Church

2010-01-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

Alan and I were blessed to work with Momentum Christian Church out of San Diego, CA this past week. They are a brand new church plant just celebrating their year anniversary and it was so fresh and exciting to hear about the ministry they are a part of and the hunger and desire they have to share Christ in San Diego and throughout the Nations.

One thing Chris Hornbrook, lead pastor kept reiterating was the importance of building missions into the very fabric and DNA of who they are as a church. They get missions. And we were inspired by their hearts to see the world changed through Christ. It's moments (weeks) like these that I take a step back and am in awe of what God has allowed us to be a part of in the Dominican Republic.

Thank you for sharing in this work with us!

Check out this video of Momentum's week in the DR...

Momentum Christian Church in the Dominican Republic 2010 from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

2009 Ministry in the DR

2009-12-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

We are so very blessed to have such faithful partners in ministry. Please enjoy our Christmas video as we look back at ministry in the DR for 2009!

Merry Christmas from the Perez's from Jackie Perez on Vimeo.

Pictures worth a thousand words

2009-12-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

Jackie and a little girl named Guilland, an orphan... she stole my heart!

In March of 2007 I joined G.O. Ministries and upon arriving to the Dominican Republic I found my first week working with teams that I would be in Haiti. I was elated. Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me knows my heart is in Haiti. From the first time I stepped across the border in 2005 and crossed the bridge over the Massacre River I peered out and looked at the tiny kids bathing in the water, pressing onward through the crowded steets of Haitians desperate to make a buck on market day to the churches made from coconut bark filled with the kind of worship that would make you want to cry... I found my home there... and when I left, my heart remained. So when I was able to stay for that week in 2007 I was... well no words really describe it.

I was looking through my computer and found some old pictures and thought I would share them with you and let them tell the story of hope, of desperation, of love, and of our Savior who has not forsaken His people. G.O. partners with churches, pastors, Christian schools, and nutrition centers in 6 communities in the mountain regions of Haiti. Through your generous giving you too support the work that is helping to free our Haitian brothers and sisters from the chains of poverty giving them Hope.

A little girl eating a mango; possibly her only food source for the day

I think he knows something about life that I don't

A girl with her broom in the market; what joy she has!

Typical work for a Haitian man. He's selling bags of ice.

A woman rides her donkey into town. What you can't see are the bags of carbon she is selling, which is a type of coal used for cooking that is made from trees, part of the major deforestation problem in Haiti.

Boys bathing in the Massacre River

A man resting outside of his house

A Haitian sunrise
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed meto bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations.
Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards.
You will be called priests of the Lord,
ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
and boast in their riches.
Instead of shame and dishonor,
you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
“For I, the Lord, love justice.
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be recognized
and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
the Lord has blessed.”
Isaiah 61: 1-9

...Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed...

Much peace to you!

Alan and Jackie

We're Pregnant!

2009-12-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to let you all know that we've officially created a "family blog" to keep you updated on our pregnancy with twins!

http://www.perezjourney.blogspot.com/

Much love to you all!
Alan and Jackie

2009-10-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hi! It's been a while since we've posted a blog and there has been a lot that has gone on since our last post in August!

Just to give a quick update on the "Save a Sole" fundraiser, the CPC Youth Group raised over 1000 pairs of shoes to bring to the Dominican on their next trip in 2010! We are so thankful for their hearts to serve the King and their compassion to look out after His children! What a blessing they have been to the Dominicans, our staff, and Alan and me personally! THANK YOU CPC!

I (Jackie) traveled to the states for a quick trip to work on some legal paperwork and also to be trained in Celebrate Recovery in hopes to start a group with young girls in impoverished communities here in the D.R. It was a great couple of days. Please pray for me as I work through the curriculum with several other G.O. staff ladies.

Alan has been busy with a crazy school schedule so he can graduate with an engineering degree next year. Please pray for him to be able to balance school, ministry, and us!

We want to thank all you who wrote us notes of encouragement for our annual fall staff retreat. We feel so loved and encouraged by your notes and we are humbled to work alongside of you guys!
We promise to keep you guys more updated on the things going on in our lives here in the D.R.! We know this post is short, we just wanted to give a quick update, but expect more to come in the following weeks!

PLEASE BECOME A FOLLOWER OF OUR BLOG!! Click on the "Followers" tab on the left hand side of the screen!

Much love and peace,
Alan and Jackie

Save a Sole Shoe Drive by CPC Youth

2009-08-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

We are so exciting to pump up this shoe drive headed up by Brooke Jory and some youth who visited G.O. in the DR this summer. Brooke is from one of our supporting churches, Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco bay area.

After the youth group left in June, I received an email from Brooke asking if she could do a shoe drive for the kids in the DR... She had seen many children living in an area called the Hole... literally the lowest point in Santiago; a garbage dump, home to over 600 families. Many children living without something as basic as a pair of shoes.

A sweet little girl living in "The Hole"

Small children cross the destroyed bridge over the river through "The Hole"

a mother and her child approach the running river

houses sit perched ready to fall at the next heavy rainfall

Weighing heavily on several members of CPC youth, they decided to put their faith in action, and now here we are with one week left in the drive and they have raised close to 500 pairs of shoes and expect that number to double!

Alan and I are deeply encouraged by the CPC youth. They are putting their faith in action and taking a stand to make a difference in some incredibly impoverished areas!

Brooke Jory loving on a little girl in "The Hole"

Mucha paz,

Alan and Jackie

Check them out: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107847790417&ref=ts

"Time to Learn" by Alan Perez

2009-08-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

On July 4th of this summer, our Sports Team got together to have a meeting about our summer basketball League. This is our 4th year putting the league together which proceeds our 11th annual G.O. Basketball Camp. For the last 3 years I have coached the oldest group of guys (NBA League). We had won 2 championships and a second place medal, however the month prior to the meeting, I had felt God speaking deep in my heart to coach the youngest age group.

This summer has been one of the most intense for our Sports Ministry continually working with American teams to share Christ with kids through sports. Many of you know that Jackie and I were married in May and this summer was also a time for us to begin setting up our lives together. Working with the oldest guys in the previous leagues was something easy for me. I teach them the basics of Christ and basketball. I enjoyed working with these guys very much, and they were all good players!!! I knew however, Christ wanted me to start at “ground zero.” That I would need to invest more of my time, more of my energy, and it would also force me to grow in my own faith, searching for ways to explain the ways of Christ to kids.

Knowing that this may take time away from my wife and the time I spend with her at home, I knew I was called to follow Him where he led, and trust that He would teach me along the way.

To be honest, the first two practices and games were terrible. My team was a mess in their practices; nobody did what I told them and in the games the other teams killed us! In one game we were more than 20 points down. I got to the point of thinking what a stupid decision I made. I had only been married to Jackie for two months and this was taking time away from her, but instead of being upset with me, she was all the time telling me what a great chance God has given me to invest in the lives of kids; to reach them when they most need a role model… She encouraged me to spend more time coaching and hanging out with them than what I was already doing!

We never start a game without prayer first

Pre-game coaching

An intense game!

Alan and his assistant coach celebrating a win!

God began to change my heart by the third week of practice. We began focusing on discipline, to never give up, to have a relationship with Christ, and to enjoy this time with friends that could result in bonds that will last forever. I realized that I needed to be more than a coach to these kids. They needed a friend and a mentor, and I would need to rely on our ultimate friend and mentor- Christ. They needed somebody that could support them and encourage them as they grow up to be men; not better basketball players, but better Christians.

I am so thankful to God that he spoke to my heart and challenged me in this process. He used those kids to teach me a great lesson in love and responsibility and modeling God’s truth to others. He used my wife to show me the sacrifices we make whether it is time, energy, money to share God with others and she has been a great example to me this summer. Not only was I able to coach kids this summer, but my faith was changed and deepened by those little guys.

The team- back row, left to right: Helmer, Joel, Willy

Front row, left to right: Kevin, Victor Garcia, Victor Manuel (aka Chicky)

Jackie and I learned so much during this summer, as newlyweds and missionaries and kids of Christ called to share his truth with others. We are so glad for all the people He has put in our lives. Thanks for your prayers and support and all that you give through us so that we can make a difference in the Dominican Republic.

By the way, our summer league ended August 15^th, and my team won the championship for our Division- Thanks to God!

Celebrating after practice one day because the kids had memorized their Bible verses for the week--- nothing says incentive like Dominos Pizza!!

Hamilton Life Church Video

2009-08-06T13:37:00.001-07:00

Hamilton Life Church from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.

Central Peninsula Church Video!

2009-08-06T13:35:00.001-07:00

Central Peninsula Church from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.

CPC Hits the Island!

2009-06-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Central Peninsula Church sent their second team this year to the Dominican Republic to support the ongoing work of Nationals and to encourage Alan and me as their missionaries. With a group of 30 students and 5 adults this team was amazing. (not unlike their February Family team!) We could not have felt more encouraged and uplifted as brothers and sisters in Christ with CPC!

They spent three days tying rebar cages and the floor grid to pour the second floor on Rene and Luis' houses in Hoya del Caimito.

They put on a football camp to reach the youth and as a way to share Christ with kids!

They did children's ministry at Pastor Medina's and also at Los Guandules.

The work they accomplished was great, but not a meaningful or as beautiful as the relationships that were built. That is what G.O. Ministries is all about!

In February when the team came to the DR our hope was that they would begin to support the work of Felix Medina. Medina is a cop and a pastor. He has been working in the police force most of his adult life and has failed to be swayed by the corruption of the police force. To be a cop and a Christian is a rare find.

Dorka's home where they hold church service

Medina grew up as an orphan. He would sometimes receive shoes or clothes for cleaning the orphanage from the woman who ran it. Medina found the Lord and has dedicated his life to serving him. He is a humble man who lives quite modestly with his wife and 4 kids. They live out in the country in a two room house. The first room is split in half which serves as a living room and a small kitchen. The back room is partitioned into two rooms- one that sleeps Medina, Magalis (his wife), and their one year old girl. In the other room sleeps their 4 yr. old son, 6 yr. old daughter, and 13 yr. old son. They are an amazing family.

Medina's church is one of the hardest neighborhood's in Santiago. It is located in the "lower" part of the Inner-City. Someone from the team described it as the "tenderloin" of San Fransisco. Bluntly put, you don't go there alone. No one actually goes there to live, many just end up there.

His church meets in Dorka's house. She is a founding member of the church. The congregation is small, about 20, but their dream for reaching this area is huge! Medina is actively leading people to Christ and spends each day commuting by motorcycle to disciple young and old believers in their faith.

The team gathered inside Medina's home to pray for his family

As we toured the community by foot after our children's ministry one day, we walked lower and lower down and the stench grew and grew until it was almost unbearable. We came to a piece of property filled with rumble and a few pieces of tin pieced together at the back property walls with people hovering under it. Medina explained this was once a building filled with drug dealers, squatters, & prostitutes. It got so bad the government came in and tore the building down. The people under the tin were drug dealers refusing to leave... and then he went on to describe this piece of property as his dream to buy it and build a church on it. A place where people who once came to escape their lives would be able to find hope in a Savior! It gave me chills just to think about what it could be!

Medina has big dreams and because of the help of CPC, and individuals, he is able to begin realizing them. One woman on the February team was so moved by Medina's living conditions she sent in a donation to help by them a refrigerator, a stove, washing machine, sheets for the beds, household items and 100 lb. bag of rice! What a blessing. Through both of these teams we have almost raised all of Medina's support for him to be able to do ministry full-time. To his faithful supporters, it is more than financial help. They are an extension of their families, committed to pray for one another and support one another. Though language may be a barrier love never is. The bond of Christ and of believers runs deep and I am always amazed at how the Lord connects us.

Thank you CPC for loving Medina, Magalis, Naaman, Aslin, Moises, and Merlin as your own. Alan and I are blessed to watch this partnership bloom. We are blessed by your friendships, love, support and prayers.

The McIlvoy's and Medina's- together a beautiful picture of partnership

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-5

Alan, Jackie, Cathy, and Rob

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 2:8

More Wedding Photos

2009-06-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

"What God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:6

2009-06-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

On May 17th, just a little over a month ago, we were married on the beach in Sosua. As I reflect on that verse... "What God has joined together, let man not separate," I think of all the ways "man" tries to separate that which God has joined together--- a beautiful union of two souls, hearts, and minds into one to glorify and honor Him! As we begin this new journey together, one that is sure to be filled with speed bumps (policia acostada) and road blocks we ask for your prayers to navigate through them with kindness, love, and honesty.

We are so thankful for each of you and the role you play in our lives. We will be posting frequently of the journeys and adventures ahead of us and invite to join with us!!

Con amor de Cristo,

Alan and Jackie