Ned, Jeff Kenny and Wendel at the market Ned works in the office at YWAM Azua and runs errands which sometimes leads to a visit to the market. He manages the finances for the base, pays the bills, plus lots of other general office things. He is the perfect example of how important "support" staff are to any organization, family, ministry, corporation, school...you name it. Ned is very often a behind the scenes support staff and he enjoys it a lot! Often times the "support" staff can be overlooked unless they don't do their job.
One of the biggest things that Ned does is hangs out with these guys. Many of the Haitian staff do not have a good father figure in their lives. They have no older male mentors to talk to, to bring their problems to, to learn from, to use as an example to follow, to laugh with, to just be themselves with....I often see Ned filling this role. He easily encourages these guys by just being himself and helping them. He is often found helping them find information on their chicken and tilapia projects or whatever they have going on. Ned is feeding the next generation of Godly men! The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, we all need to help shape their paths in Godly ways. I am very thankful that Ned does this even when he doesn't realize or think about what he is doing. He is just helping them out or "chilling" as Jeff Kenny would say.
| | | |  | Chapel Project
Hannah and Jesse were able to travel up to Santiago and work with Casa Grande and Chapel Project on a new chapel in Pedro Garcia. The location was way up in the mountains where there was no church. What a great opportunity for them to get to serve.
| | |  | | Sammi is doing great at All Access and it is super fun getting pictures and updates from her. She just sent one out at http://www.faithfuljane.com
if you want to hear from her what is going on. Please keep praying as they finish up tour in the next 3 weeks.
We look forward to her joining us in Florida when we are stateside!
| | | | | | Debbie has been teaching weekly support raising classes. We have enjoyed learning how to write an update letter and how to advertise the tshirts, beads, crocheted hats, and other products that the staff make and sell locally and in our base store. Plus we have some great discussions on acceptable things to ask in different cultures. They have never been taught that it is impolite to ask for something when you first meet a person. Also most Haitian churches do not support missionaries that are sent out from their church. It has been quite an interesting class most weeks. | | | | Thank You! We would love to say this to you in person in a few weeks!
November 16th we will travel stateside for 8 weeks. We will be arriving in Florida and then heading to Indiana via Georgia somewhere in the middle of December.
We really want to see you!
In a week or so, I will send out another update of where we will be and when. I hope you can join us. If you would like to have us plan something in your area, a bonfire, church service, dessert get together, dinner, hang out,.....you name it and we will see what we can do.
Also please pray! We have had quite a few extra unexpected expenses here and need some extra funds for this trip.
We could use gas cards, store or restaurant gift cards, or whatever the Lord lays on your heart to help us make this a great time of refreshing and rejuvenating.
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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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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!
