Pureza Retiro

This week I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve in a different capacity than normal.  Jess and Chelsie (leaders of Students International's women's sports site), Raul Canela (leader of our men's sport's site), Heidy (leader of our Los Higos social work site) and Jerry Cabot (youth pastor at my church) combined forces to put together a 3 day purity retreat for 60 Dominican Youth.  And so from Monday-Wednesday of this week, our base was filled with the laughter, joy and tears of youth from our communities.

Don't get me wrong, I love when we have American teens scampering around our grounds....but there was something so special about having the base filled with Dominicans.

The retreat focused on teaching the importance and value of marriage and glorifying the Lord with our minds, hearts and bodies.  The leaders got down and dirty as they tackled difficult questions and many of the youth had to confront broken images of family as marriage is not widely valued with many Dominicans.

Games were played, seminars were taught, testimonies were shared and  lastly the weekend terminated with a marriage ceremony in which we went through a mock wedding and the youth had the opportunity to "casate conmigo" or make intimate declarations of purity in front of their leaders, community and the Lord.

It was so much fun to be running behind the scenes and filling in the gaps and encouraging each participant as they took charge of such an important area of their lives that is so often overlooked in all societies.

Each girl was given a rose

The chapel at the base was all ready for a wedding!

The students signed a declaration with
various commitments

to be married with Christ :)

Raul prepping the guys for the importance of this decision

The girls all dressed up walking down the aisle

Each guy gave a girl a rose and escorted her to her seat

Waiting to walk down the aisle.  Yup that's Caroly my assistant
in the white!  She was a leader on the retreat.

Wedding Cupcakes!

60!

Heidy, Jess and Chelsie praying with each girl that
committed herself

The purity retreat was a great way to start Holy Week.  It was an amazing time to reflect the importance of giving up all of ourselves to the one who gave it all for us.

I hope and pray you have a wonderful Easter weekend and are reminded of the huge sacrifice made for all.  

Update: Milagros had her surgery (parotid gland tumor removal) in Santo Domingo yesterday.  I haven't heard how it went, but please continue to join me in praying for a safe and healthy recovery.

Patient Up Dates and Prayer Requests

I am so grateful for the prayers you send my way as I care for each and every patient.  Below is an update and further requests for four very special people that are near and dear to my heart.

Julian Hock

Julian is doing wonderfully.  He is a vibrant four year old with lots of energy, smiles and hugs.  If you remember, his mom Catalina was my Spanish teacher and is now on staff with Students International running our social work site in Los Higos.  Julian had a fractured left tibia which caused him an extreme medial deviation of that leg.  I am so excited to say that his deformity is almost completely healed after a rod was placed by missionary doctors in Santo Domingo in August 2012...only one month after my arrival to the DR!  He has a follow-up appointment in July at which point the orthopedist will determine when the rod needs to be taken out.  Please continue to pray for his healing.

Roseny

Roseny is my dear Haitian friend.  I met her over a year ago at the Haitian church I occasionally attend.  She speaks fairly decent Spanish and moved to Jarabacoa 12 years ago from Haiti to look for a better life.  She is a devout Christian and is continuously offering what little she has to her neighbors.  She volunteers her time on Wednesdays with me to translate for Haitians that do not speak Spanish, what an incredible blessing she is for me.  Roseny has 3 adorable sons and recently discovered she is yet again pregnant.  This is worrisome as she had pre-ecclampsia with her last child and has had uncontrolled Hypertension since.  She has seen a cardiologist and we are keeping a close watch on her...but she still has 7 months until her due date.  Please keep my friend close to your prayers and heart!

Milagros

We continue to pray for a miracle with Milagros as her surgery date is quickly approaching.  She continues to miss a lot of work and struggle with compliance, but we pray her diabetes and blood pressure will be controlled enough for her parotidectomy scheduled on April 14th.  Please continue to pray for her understanding and healing!

Juana

Juana's family has become my Dominican family.  She is standing next to her husband in the pink.  She has graciously opened her home to me and my students for multiple dinners.  Last year she was diagnosed with Stage 3 fatty liver disease...the stage before transplant.  This past week she has suffered a flare and was hospitalized.  We only have one gastroenterologist who comes to town once a week...I will be attending her meeting with him today.  Please pray that we are able to control the pain, bloating and fluid production that she is suffering and that she isn't progressing.


Thank you for being a part of my work in the Dominican.  Please let me know how I may better pray for each of you!