What an amazing year it has been for all of us, here in the Dominican Republic and around the world.No one at the beginning of this last year could have predicted the successes, tragedies and drawing together that 2001 has brought us.I have spent the last month or two talking with various people about their impressions of this year and what the future holds for each of us.Most people comment on how much closer everyone is; how concerned we are for our neighbors safety or how we feel the losses that families are facing, even when we don't know them directly.People are accepting and even seeking out community and togetherness.They are looking toward each other for comfort, safety, love and partnership.No one seems to want to go into this next year doing it on their own anymore.Church attendance is going up, neighbors are sharing coffee more often and visiting with each other, cities are working together instead of against each other in competition and everyone is experiencing the benefits of partnership.
Partnership, for me, is more than just working together.When you have a partner, like in a marriage, you depend on each other for loving support, assistance, comfort and camaraderie.Things are not always easy, hard decisions need to be made and many times you feel like it is all in vain.But, behind all of that, in this partnership, is the feeling like it is still the right thing to do to keep trying and keep working even if the success isn't as great as you would have imagined.You and your partner are together in this, for better or for worse.That, to me, is partnership.
Now, you may be asking yourself, what has any of this got to do with missions?So very much, my friend.Missions cannot be done without partnership.It would be impossible for any missionary to work without other people.To whom would we be ministering?Outside of that, without the partnership of other persons who give prayer support, physical aid and financial support, a missionary would be unable to function.Many missions have been closed because of the lack of these three things.All of these things have been very important to me over the last 18 months that I have been in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
I remember the special teams who come with such love and compassion for whatever God has in store for them.I remember special people in these groups like Bonnie Smith, Shirley Shuster, Bob Beck, Bev Chapman, Don Anderson, Marveen Thomas and Brendan Vigoritto.I would like to take some time, now to reflect and share with you some short memories I have of 2001 and how they have impacted my work here.
Many people know of Marveen Thomas and her inexhaustible energy!She arrived at my house last year with an agenda to help me clean, cook and relieve some of my burden.She also came to help with a medical team so was as tired as any of us at the end of the day.In spite of that, she made sure that I was comfortable in my home and brought special birthday gifts for me as well as cooking some delicious meals.We were able to share with each other the goals and projects that might be possible in the work with the Good Samaritan Hospital.We were also able to deepen our friendship and establish a stronger partnership.
Bonnie Smith and her amazing Maine medical group have been such a blessing for me to get to know.They continually remain open to the needs here and offer incredible love and support of the ministry here in the Dominican Republic.This last year, they were in the middle of the first day of medical clinics when we got word of Pastor Phanord's death.The grace and love they showed all of us during this very trying time will forever stay in my memory.They were aware of the strain it was for all of us to keep the clinics running and did all they could to ease this strain.Rick and Marcia Barnes were tireless not only in their work each day, but in their concern for my personal well-being.Thank you, my friends.
Bev Chapman and I had an opportunity to make some house calls on one of the poorer Bateyes.I did not realize, until later, that Bev was not a medical person and so invited her to come with me and see a very sick man.When we entered the room of this man, it was very obvious that he was very close to dying.He was emaciated and dehydrated.He had sores in his mouth that made it hard to eat and he was suffering from dysentery.The man had AIDS.Apart from his physical problems, though, he was suffering from a despondent spirit.Bev, my assistant, Osvaldo and myself knelt by his bed, offered him the message of Christ's love and peace and then prayed with him.He cried and said he wanted to accept Christ and be with Him soon.He knew his time was short.It was a very special day for him but also for me that I was allowed to be a part of it.
Don Anderson and his group of 40+ persons experienced how God always meets our needs, and then some.We had planned a special dinner at a nice restaurant with the entire group.Everyone was dressed up nicely and on his or her best behaviors.About 20 minutes into the meal, a gentleman that was also eating in the restaurant came over to us and wanted to meet Don.He said that he had been upset to see so many youth enter the restaurant, thinking his meal was ruined with probable noise.Then, after he saw how polite and well behaved everyone was, he became curious about why we were there.He started talking to the youth and found out they were on a mission's trip.He was so impressed with the work being done that he paid for the entire meal for all of us!He didn't want any recognition and said it would be an honor to do this for us.God touches people when we don't expect it; don't ever forget that.
There are so many more stories I could tell about how God has saved lives of people that shouldn't medically live, how members of teams who came down with their own agendas were touched by God's love and His agenda or how certain people have blessed my life in little ways.There is not enough time or space to write all of it.I just wanted to share a little of my memories of this last year and remind people that we may not always understand why or how God is working, but rest assured that He is working.As we acknowledge Him in all of our work this next year it is my prayer that more lives will be changed and touched by His love.All of the groups that come here are a part of this possibility and establish partnerships that sustain and bless the work here.Thank you to all who make the sacrifice to be a part of this ministry.
Love in Christ,
Kristy Engel, RN