Why We Do What We Do! Why do we do what we do? Of course, it is because this is what we feel like God has asked us to do. But beyond that.....why do we do what we do? Why do we endure the non-stop heat, the lack of water, the abundance of bugs, the lonely separation from friends and family, and so much more?
We do it because of stories like you will see below. We can not influence the whole world. We can not solve all of the world's problems. But we can influence others to see that their destiny is to solve the problems of the world.
Missions and mission trips is one of the best ways, in my opinion, to see that God wants to use everyone. Not just the "super called", if that even exists but God wants to use YOU and me and everyone. We all have a part to play in this great commission to see the gospel shared around the world and to make this world that we temporarily live in better. We all need to help bring an end to the injustices of this world.
So when we are hot, tired, lonely, bug bitten and just plain "done"; it is encouraging to read what others have said and to realize that we have had a part in their story. This makes our story bigger. When we all work together, things get accomplished. When we work together, people come to the realization that they have value in Christ and that they too have a part to play in seeing the great commission fulfilled.
Will you consider coming on a short-term trip with us sometime in the future?
| | |  | | July 2014
the Crossings church team doing their cardboard testimonies at a church service
Read Mikayla's story here:
Mikayla
| | |  | | July 2015
YWAM Orlando EQ youth team
Read Kadesh's testimony here:
Kadesh
| | | | | Mikayla came with her Grandma on a family trip from the Crossings church. She knew about Jesus but when it came down to writing a simple testimony of her life before and after receiving Jesus, she didn't know how. Right then and there she accepted Jesus into her heart. She is now studying abroad in Slovakia and in her story above you can read how, "After a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with her grandmother and her own life circumstances, Mikayla said she wants to be able to help other children through less than favorable situations."
Kadesh came with the youth team from YWAM Orlando this summer and was super excited to get to serve here. Read in her story how she began to doubt that God could use her. Doubting our purpose happens to us all and it is something that being used in a very specific way can help us to overcome. God did use her and in her words, "I'm so thankful God used me, even when I wasn't sure I wanted to be there. He spoke, we obeyed, and now we have a new brother in Christ!"
| | | We are enjoying serving at YWAM Azua. Ministries here at YWAM Azua range from Bible studies in local churches, to overseeing a school with 140 students, to hosting teams, to praying with the local law enforcement weekly, to a wedding ministry that helps show the importance of marriage, to encouraging the staff that work along side of us to follow their dreams and callings; these are all things that we play a small part in as well as other things and Ned running the accounting department and the office and Debbie homeschooling Hannah and Jesse and overseeing communications.
We are very much looking forward to a stateside trip from Nov 16th to Jan 12th. We are still planning so if you would like a visit please let us know.
We are still in need of a vehicle to use for part of this time and would appreciate your prayers for the extra funds needed for this needed time home. | | | | |
Churches and Voodoo bracelets So many of the churches here are full of young moms. Not like 20 something year old moms but like teenage moms trying to raise babies while they themselves are still babies in many ways. Many of the people here in the small villages are very wrapped up in voodoo. Everyone wants what is best for their babies so they will go to both the church and the voodoo priest. While the YWAM Orlando youth team was here, we were able to do 4 different VBS's in some of the local villages. The pastor at one asked us to pray for a baby and dedicate it to the Lord. We had the dad on the team prayer over the baby and were able to explain to the aunt and mom that God was able to protect the baby and they removed the voodoo anklet. We were able to pray and educate quite a few moms at these little churches in the villages.
Praying for babies here has a lot more spiritual significance than we realize. We love holding babies and praying over them! This is one of the greatest privileges that we have here. And it also gives Mom a short break! | | | |  | | Dale praying over this sweet baby and dedicating him to the Lord. Hannah had put him to sleep....one of the things she does well. | | |  | | This is a very typical voodoo anklet that the voodoo priest will put on a baby when they go see them. Please pray that we can educate more moms and that more of these will be removed and that parents will trust the Lord. | | |  | | Little things like holding and loving on a baby while Mom enjoys the service is often the thing that helps us be able to speak truth into the lives of those here. | | | | |  | | Family Update:
Ned is working in the office here most days and enjoying it. Debbie is over communications here now. If you are interested in coming for a visit or bringing a group, please email her at:
YWAMAzuaOutreach@gmail.com. Jesse and Hannah are enjoying a summer break from school. The biggest news is that Sammi is headed to NY on Aug 8th to work with All-Access Productions and then to Bethany Global Univ in MN in January. Check out her info at http://FaithfulJane.com. Sad to see her go but trusting God with her future. Please pray for our family during this changing time.
| | |  | Christmas in July!
We are excited to see friends and family this fall/winter. We need to make a trip home for a visa change, church visits, a short break and holidays with our family and friends. We will have been in the DR for 2 1/2 years without a trip home and we have not spent Christmas in Indiana in 20 years. WOW! The kids are praying they get to see snow for the first time.
Want a visit? Email us and we will see what we can do.
Can you help make this happen? We still need to find a way from Florida to Indiana. Also, gift cards for gas or restaurants would be appreciated too. We will need some extra funds to make this trip a reality. Please pray about helping toward our furlough time in the states.
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Life lessons from water and about balance Everyday we must keep an eye on our water supply. We only get water from INAPA, the water company, every 7 to 10 days. So we really have to watch how much we use and that we don't run the cistern dry and mess up the pump. We get very little rain as we are close enough to the beach that the sea breeze blows the rains away. We watch the sky cloud up and the rains come over the inland mountains and even hear the thunder many days... and then the breeze blows it away. We live in a desert area where watering of essential plants is needed. Water is essential to our bodies as well.
Water is also only a good thing when it goes where it is meant to go. The balance of having water but having it IN the pipes and in the toilets etc...not the imbalance of having water run down the hallway or all over the bathroom or kitchen floors or out of the tanico onto the ground outside. Balance is needed.
The Bible describes Jesus as the Living Water and we need to check every day how our "water" supply is. Are we spending time with Him? Unlike with our water supplies and rain here, we are in control of how much He comes into our lives. We also need to have a balance in our lives. If I spend every waking moment in the church, who will tend to my children? We need to balance having a constant flow of Jesus in our lives as we go about our daily tasks. Keeping Him always in our minds and on our tongues. Always sharing Him with others whether this comes from giving a hug or giving a cold glass of water or by showing someone where in the Bible it says that God loves them and sent His Son for them.
Learning these life lessons and sharing them with the people of the Dominican Republic are part of what we do here. Balance is a big deal here with Christians. They don't always see that you can play baseball and be a Christian. Many churches here require their members to be in church 7 days a week. Learning to keep Jesus forefront in your life inside and outside of the church building is a lesson we are working on to model and to teach to others.
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| | | |  | | Thank you so much for your support in order to live and purchase needed items. This "moto" and the car in the background are very needed for us here in Azua where we drive 40 mins to the nearest grocery that has safe meat. Thank you!
The "moto" is much cheaper to drive for local errands and ministry so we use it more often plus it is a great way to cool off..
| | |  | | Ned doing what he does well. Ned is working a lot in the office here. Their accountant left after his 2 year commitment about 2 weeks after our arrival so Ned is filling a much needed spot here on staff. | | |  | | New Mailing Address!
Walker Family
Agape Flights
DMG 27519
100 Airport Ave
Venice, FL 34285
We love mail and are also not able to get things as readily and cost effectively here. If you would like to purchase a needed/wanted item and send it to us, please send me a message. We have some items that could be purchased at Walmart for as little as $5 but are unavailable or too expensive here. | | | | |  | | Life here at YWAM Azua is much different from the city of Santiago. It is more of a frontier town, much like an outpost town between two cities or areas. We are about halfway between Santo Domingo and the Haiti border on the south coast of the Dom Rep. The local stores are about the size of a local convenience store and sell about the same items with similar pricing.
It is small town in which almost everyone knows everyone or is related to them. The town pretty much knows that the white people live down the road to the beach, though some think we are German because we own a German Shepherd dog. So it is a nice town with nice people who need discipleship and need the love of Jesus. What a privilege to show them God's love. | | |  | | Meet Jürgens and D'Joudy!
They are a sweet young Haitian couple who just got married in March. We have started mentoring them in their marriage. We in no way have all the answers about marriage but walking through the adventure of life and marriage knowing that you have a couple who may have walked through it before and who will pray with you is a blessing. We are excited about this new chapter in our lives. Marriage is something that takes a lot of work and commitment but mainly takes a lot of prayer. Please pray for us as we help them walk together in marriage. And if you have any great marriage resources, please share.
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What are the Walkers doing right now?
We are moving!!
The last week of August, our family will be moving long-term to Santiago, Dominican Republic. We will be working with YWAM Santiago and the Martin Family! We are super excited about this transition. But also praying for wisdom as we figure out visa's, residency, what to do with our things, etc...
As always, we are praying that the Lord will use us wherever we are!
Lord, help us not to miss the things you have prepared for us to do!
