Super Sunday

Here's a little Video they showed at Runnymede Community Church this past Sunday:
http://youtu.be/17EzoZBpX7k

Sunday was the kind of day we call "super Sunday at Runnymede"

I (Mike) love to talk about "church without walls - ie. taking the ministries of the church to the people outside the church - but New Life takes the "without walls" part literally!  We worshiped here Sunday morning

After lunch we met with Pastor Joel of the Esperanza to Introduce the Alpha Course and let him know that it is our goal to bless him and the church.  Pastor Joel, his elders and some other leaders/pastors may even be doing the Alpha course on Sunday afternoons with us!  God is multiplying opportunities and opening mucho doors!  We really felt God's blessing and Spirit of unity in this meeting.  Elmond also brought three other interpreters Maria & Darline to help with the women & Billy to help with the men. 

We had a great meeting took a photo & then everyone in the photo (minus Pam) piled into our little Hyundai! Yes, 8 fit in!

Most got out at the main road But I drove Abuela Maria into Sosua, and then to Ascension, stopping for a funeral procession, and then back with Darline to Montellano to pick up her daughter, a longer wait for the funeral & back to Sosua Abajo!

 The day ended with a reality check.  Rafael (on the left) is a skilled worker(our Dominican neighbour) who helped the whole neighbourhood restore the water supply(since we again woke up with none) and then restore electricity to us and others.  When I paid him a typical days wage, he said his family hadn't eaten today so of course when Mike returned, I invited them to supper, and conversed in Spanglish.  Belkis is the mom who has helped me tremendously with cooking Dominican food, and shopping. I don't quite know how to wrap my head around this other than to find opportunities to hire/find work for a hardworking honest family who aren't looking for handouts but a job!  Dios.. Dios...!

It rained hard all night so we thought that we couldn't get to Esperanza in our little car this morning.  It was a Good thing, because we found our neighbours Belkis and Rafael heading out to a town 2hrs away because she had word that her 20 year-old son had died.  We were able to pray with them as they left.  We got word this evening that he is not dead, but in a coma.  There is still hope, but things are pretty grim.

 

We received a text that the river wasn't too high & it was worth the try to get to the village!  Our little car did make it and we were there in time to see Claire present work visas to 6 men who can now find legal employment! Phillipe and Cholo (Dave and Sandy's friends are 2 of them). Gracious a Dios!! We'll tell more about |Mikenson later).

We spent the rest of the day Talking with leaders about Alpha, praying for people - some who are sick, some who are healing, and some recently bereaved.  Pam was able to work with Alejandra and Argentina to put together a list of young people for the ESL class & we start on Wednesday!  Back home to do Alpha training with Elmond & Maria, drive the kids to and from Youth Group & get a few pics up on the Blog - maybe it was a Super Monday as well!