Republica Dominicana

The 29 students and 6 staff from the 32^nd semester of LIFT arrived yesterday, Monday afternoon (11/3/2014), in the Dominican Republic to partner with the missionaries from Students International (SI) (www.stint.com) in the small city and surrounding mountain villages of Jarabacoa.

It has been raining a lot since we arrived and looks to be more of the same for the upcoming days, but the students are beaming with joy and enthusiasm after all their preparation for being here.  It is good to be reunited with the missionaries that LIFT staff has developed a strong relationship with over the past three years.

We had orientation sessions this morning to help us prepare how to more effectively serve in this culture.  This afternoon all the students and staff visited their site with the missionary they will be working with for the duration of their time here.  Even though our main focus is the missional work here with SI, the LIFT program continues with classes, spiritual and physical training, and a weekly excursion and leadership experience.  Tyler Nelson will be teaching a Bible and Theology class this afternoon and Tim and Liam will co-teach the Missions Practicum class tomorrow evening.  Everyone will be studying Philippians each morning during their quiet time and continue to memorize the book of James.

The following items are things you can support us in prayer over the next two weeks:

1. Humility to learn from the missionaries and Dominican people with a balance of boldly and lovingly sharing their faith.
2. Health for the team members, especially from gastrointestinal illness which is common.  One student already is not feeling well.
3. That LIFT students and staff can be an encouragement to the SI staff working long term in ministry here.

You can keep up with things through this blog which will be updated by LIFT students every other day as well as on the “LIFT Discipleship Program” Facebook page.  Also be sure to check out the interviews of LIFTers that will soon be posted by the SI media staff (Clint and Amy) on the “SI-Republica Dominicana” Facebook page.

Tim