Day 13: the last day.

A Sunday of encounter, restoration and hope.

We started our day early to go to Pastor Wilness' Haitian church. The meeting began with a Bible study on Nehemiah, in which we reflected together on the importance of being alert to whom you give access to the temple, and so also to your heart. The message touched on how a lack of spiritual watchfulness can make you miss the provision God wants to give.

Then the service began in French, but thankfully it was translated for us. Alexander spoke about the love of the Father: that Jesus came to restore the broken-hearted and to restore the image of God as Father.
Just before that, Marien had spoken a prophecy over the pastor's son. We did not know yet that he had recently lost a child and was wrestling with many questions. But he was deeply touched by both the message and the prophecy: a visible moment of encouragement and touch.

During the service five new church members who want to be baptised were introduced. They were welcomed by the whole church with warm hugs. We were able to prophesy over these people, and later we heard back that the words shared had been remarkably accurate.
We also prayed for the sick. One of them was a woman with severe pain and a crooked back. During the prayer the pain disappeared, but her back remained visibly crooked. After the service we were invited to Pastor Wilness' house for a delicious meal. There we saw the same woman again, and to our amazement she was now walking completely upright! What an encouragement to see: we begin to pray in faith, and God carries on.

At the end of the service there was also a special moment of humility: people washed one another's feet. Then communion was celebrated together, a beautiful moment of remembering Jesus, who washes the feet and then institutes the Lord's Supper.

Looking back on the trip.
Even before the trip began, one of us was given a text from Acts 16:6–10 and 15-18. The first part is about Paul, who is stopped several times by the Holy Spirit on his route, until in a dream he receives a call for help that leads him in the right direction.
Marien too sensed beforehand that the Holy Spirit was making it clear to him that this trip would change something, although at the time it was not yet clear what. Now, looking back, we see the picture becoming clearer and clearer.
Some doors closed. But new doors opened.
Someone on the team received a prophetic picture of a motorway: the old road with high speed bumps is being replaced by a new, free passage. Someone also received that God is unblocking an old shower tap full of limescale, and that the renewed shower will be a powerful blessing to everyone who turns it on. During the trip we also saw the promise of Habakkuk 2:2: the picture of a believer who hung God's promise on the wall, and that God will reward this believer many times over. For God is faithful, and better than we can imagine.
The new doors that opened included the meetings with pastors and regional leaders. We were able to encourage them personally in their homes, pray for them and speak healing. These were moments of deep connection and confirmation. These relationships form a stronger foundation for the work already going on there, and carry the promise of fruit in the future.

Marien and Marjan have been asked to hold conferences for pastors in three regions on the gifts of the Spirit, so that leaders are equipped to activate their churches for the harvest that must be brought in. The aim: that the spirit of poverty comes to an end, and that God's Kingdom becomes ever more visible in the Dominican Republic.

Thank you all for your prayers and gifts. The impact of your gifts is greater than you may think: the roof of the children's church is now finished.

GOD's rich blessing to you all!