Sunday…The Lord’s day. We worshipped with our brother and sisters in the church of Consuelito. Consuelito is a sugar cane village owned by the government. Two years ago they stopped the production of sugar cane which left the residents with no means of income. The travel to the village was challenging. The roads are spotted with craters and wildlife, which is not easy to maneuver around and the heavy rains will make the roads impossible to travel at times. However, these conditions do not stop residents of the surrounding villages from walking 2-3 miles for service. The church is a simple building made of blocks, wood and a few fans powered by a generator.

We were so blessed when they applauded our welcome and offered their hymnbooks so we could sing along. As we listened to them worship, you felt their heart as they sang with passion and great joy to our Lord. Amazing when you consider how some of these families will go days without food because of the conditions of where they live and the limitations of resources. Despite their poverty, they were filled with the love and the joy of the Lord and it radiated through their smiles. On the wall of the church was painted the words of John 17:17:

 “Sanctify them by your truth, Your Word is truth”

A perfect application for people who must trust daily for the Lord’s provision and a great reminder that God’s Word are promises that He’s given to each of us. God has been faithful to provide for them through various means.

Some of the team assisted with children’s church and one of the girls (Eden) volunteered to teach them a worship song in English and the other kids stood up and taught a few worship songs in English also. After service, we all gathered for a time of fellowship and games with the kids before heading back to SCORE.

In the afternoon, the team had their first experience at the JUMBO! Jumbo is a decent size supermarket that offers many products. We purchased huge bags of rice, beans, coffee, sugar, eggs, spaghetti and other dry goods to bring to the nursing home located in the town of Monte Cristo. It was awesome to here how they had been praying for some food as supplies were running low and the Lord provided through the team.

Upon our arrival, we received from Pastor Difrene the bad news of the deaths of four elderly people at the nursing home due to health reasons, but the good news of their salvation! Gerald Difrene is a the pastor who ministers to the village of Monte Cristo and a man who emphasizes on the faithfulness of God to answer prayers.

Pastor Difrene shared the amazing testimony of how God raised up this nursing home. He had a heart for the elderly who were no longer able to work in the sugar cane villages- elderly without families or a place to live, sleeping in the fields. They originally started with 13 elderly in a nearby town with no home to care for them. After much prayer God provided a house, which currently houses 39 elderly people. 

 A church was erected next to the home, which provides a place of worship for the elderly and the community. The Lord also provided a medical clinic across the road that has never lacked medicine since it’s opening. Pastor Difrene shared with us how this nursing home, church and medical clinic are a witness to the community of what God can do when we pray.

When he was made aware the elderly were getting sick from the contaminated well water, he prayed for a solution and the Lord provided a filtration system from through some visiting missionaries.  He is now praying for a 1200 galloon tank that will be housed in a structure that is currently under construction. A structure that he began building without funds trusting the Lord will provide the means. The filtered water will be used not only for the elderly but also for the whole community. A community which consist of 387 families composed of 3,500 people.

It was a blessing to see the team interacting with our elderly brothers and sisters. There was worship and praying for the needs and we visited those who could not get out of bed and prayed for them. We were also able to provide a little gift bag full of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other essentials. 

Looking forward to what the Lord has for us tomorrow as we visit the girl’s orphanage in La Romana. Blessings to all!

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the people of Consuelito, for the continuation oftheir daily bread.
  
• Pray for the health and well being of the elderly in thenursing home.
  
• Pray for Pastor Difrene and for the funds needed to purchasethe water tank and completion of the structure to house it.