2009 Ministry in the DR

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

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!

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

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

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

"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

Hamilton Life Church from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.