From Rev. Walter Ries and Danelle Putnam in the Dominican Republic

Mon, Sep 28, 2009

Good News from the Field, International, Latin America

“On August 1, we celebrated our very first service in our newest mission in Cutupu with 15 people present. Currently, three men are studying the book of Genesis in this small agricultural community. Lord-willing, we hope to begin confirmation classes in this community sometime in October, as well as a Sunday Bible school that would initially meet every other week. Ramon, who is a confirmed Lutheran, wants his whole family and surrounding neighbors to study along with him. Please pray for him as he struggles to find the time and understand what his role is as a leader in the church. Thanks be to God for this beginning—our sixth mission site here in the Dominican Republic!

“For the past three to four months in Palmar Arriba, we have been collecting an offering during the service and then using that money for someone in the community who needs help. At the end of July, the youth decided to gather monies to help others who didn’t have any opportunity to buy basic school supplies. So, the offering was taken for three weeks and enough money was gathered to assist 65 children.

“Each child received a notebook, pencil, eraser, and lollipop. The youth and adults gathered together and made a list of children in need within their community. Then two of the adults accompanied Danelle to buy the school supplies. The youth divided the supplies into little kits and then went around to different homes in this poor town distributing the kits to their own neighbors. We are proud of how these youth are seeing opportunities all around them and are continuing to care in a merciful manner for their neighbors with the love of Christ.”