Early on in our planning for this trip, Pastor John DeVries talked about mission trips and how they need to be more than just a vacation with a work project. Mission trips are a special gift from God. A time to leave our comfort zones, leave our everyday lives behind, encourage our missionaries, meet new people, maybe experience a new culture, often do physical labor that we do not do every day and to grow spiritually. Looking back on the 5 trips we have made to the Dominican Republic(DR) it is easy to see that they have been more than just vacation trips with a work project. If you are looking for a nice warm place to vacation, during a cold Michigan February, the DR is highly recommended. But the 5 previous teams have followed God's calling to more than a vacation, they went to make a difference in the DR. They have completed construction projects, made great friends, encouraged our missionaries, studied God's word and have enjoyed spiritual growth. Spiritual growth thru the study of God's word is what separates a mission trip from a vacation with a work project.
Our study of God's word this year will be centered on:
John 15:1&2, I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
We will begin each morning with a time of personal devotions during which we will read verses from God's word that we will claim as God's promises to us for that day. During our group prayer times during the day, we will be reminded of those promises and we will gather every night to share how God fulfilled his promises to us during the day. A mission trip is a good time for God's pruning. We are away from our everyday lives, we are doing God's work and enjoying his special protection. It is easier to see what God needs to prune from our lives while we are away. God's pruning is easier on us when we are working with him.
Often when we return from a mission trip to our everyday lives, we enjoy a spiritual high from being used by God and our study of his word. During this time it is easy to keep what has been pruned from our lives from regrowing. Eventually we come off from that high as the everyday pressures of our everyday lives get to us. As we let the pressures and business of our everyday lives interfere with our study of God's word, it becomes easier for what has been pruned to creep back into our lives again. We are so grateful that God is a patient, loving, caring Vinedresser, who "cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit".
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
- Some project information.
One of our projects will be to build the pastor of this church a house.
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Click on picture to see full size photo.
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- Early team photo.
Team photo from our "At the Hop" fund raiser. A fun group to spend 10 days in the Dominican Republic with.
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Click on picture to see full size photo.
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- Thank You!!!
We would like to thank all of our supporters. Without your help, in so many ways, this trip would not have been possible. God has truly blessed us thru you. God, thru you, has made this trip "Mission Possible".
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- Purpose
This blog is set up to allow the DR Trip 2009 team a chance to post pictures and notes about our experiences working in the Dominican Republic. Look for updates and pictures about our preparations before we leave Feb. 13. Then watch for notes and pictures about our activities and work in the DR.
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