NEW DIGS!!!!!

So I got a new house!!!! And by "got" I mean I'm renting, and by "new" I mean well used but new to me!!! As I said in my last post me and Jone had a short amount of time to search and we feel really blessed to have found such a nice house in such a nice neighbor hood here are some pics.

It is in a really cool are of La Romana called Meliza

Pretty cool huh!!! Even a place for my truck all nice and secure

A nice little front porch!

with a garden full of trees in the front

view from through the front door

view from the dinning room to the living room and front door

it has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths

a nice size kitchen (with a crazy yellow wall!?!)

the dinning room and back door to the backyard

a concrete backyard with some fruit trees!!

and a well!!!

 All that for just 11,000 pesos a month, which is about $290 dollars!! I feel like I'm taking advantage of someone when I think about all the space I have!!! I know it's a lot of space for just me but there is nothing wrong with planning for the future. Also we will be able to help with housing people from the work teams when they come!!

But one of the problems is that there is no power and only water when I turn on the generator (and then it's not that strong). And the only furniture that I have to put in the house is what was given to me from another missionary couple (which I love), but it isn't sufficient if I'm going to be able to help host teams and keep people in my house. And believe it or not things are expensive here! So this is what I want to do...

I don't have any fancy name or gimmick here to help sell this idea, just a good description, hopefully. What I would like to do is give you all a list of things that I need in order to give you a nice place to stay when you and/or your group come to visit. With this list I will include the prices of these items here in the DR. Hopefully this will give you a picture to what you are giving toward. which will help me give you all a good experience when you come. Think of it as a virtual house warming party if you will. Everyone is invited all it takes is a small donation and you are free to come visit anytime you would like!!! Just kidding...sort of!!

If you would like a home cooked meal while you are here a stove here costs $210-$315
Or a ice cold beverage a fridge here costs $526-$657
If you would like a hot shower after your day of work a water heater costs about $105
If you would like a bed to sleep in during your stay bunk beds run about $200
If you would like a chance to wash your clothes washers run about $500

As you can see this list adds up quick. And all of these items are not top of the line items. Most are much smaller than there state side counterparts, and a brand name that might not be that common state side either. So as always whatever you can give will help and if you want to give more than the price listed feel free it will still go to that item. Just send your checks to:

Eastern Dominican Christian Mission
379 Venus DR
Prescott AZ 86301

Or to the address listed on the page titled How You Can Help!!! Thanks for all your help and prayers they are always welcome and needed!!!!

Sorry it's been so long...

Yeah it has been awhile since I last updated you all, I'm sorry about that! I don't want you to think that I take you for granted or that your prayers and help don't mean the world to me. In fact without your prayers and help I wouldn't have much to write about, but because you all have been so helpful I have been able to do a good bit of living in the past month. So here is the Readers Digest version of what has happened since my last post.

Part of what was stolen when I was robbed was Decembers grocery and gas money. Because of that loss I had to use other money, that I had saved for a flight to Costa Rica to spend Christmas with Jone and her family, to live. Which of course really depressed me and Jone both. But, due to the generosity of one of my supporters, I was given the money that had been stolen and was able to buy a last minute ticket to CR and celebrate that time of year with Jone and her family. Her family is huge by the way!!!! Both her father and mother have 9 siblings. Also on both sides are around 30 cousins. Which makes 78 or so names that I'm going to have to learn!!! We both had a great time and are still extremely great full for God's provision!!!!

We also had 2 great work teams come during this past month and a half. With the teams from Danville and Cincinnati Christian University we were able to get a bunch of work done on the multipurpose building in Punta Cana, and fix some electrical issues in the church buildings in Higuey and La Romana, and hold a 4 day pastors conference for the pastors of all the Christian churches here in the DR. It was work much needed and well received.

Now during all this activity and travel I found out that I had to move residences. After the robbery of my apartment the same gentlemen decided to return a couple days later and break in to the house above my apartment. Since I wasn't sleeping all that well I heard the footsteps above and woke up and turned on the lights. When I did so, I heard what sounded like someone jumping off the balcony and running away. They left in such a hurry that they left one of the cell phones that they stole from me on their previous visit (my state side cell phone, honestly the more important of the two). Because of this second robbery in the same fashion as the first my friends above decided to move somewhere a bit more secure, which left me without a place (unless I wanted to pay around $400 a month instead of $150 for the same space).

So I started looking for a new place to live when Jone came to visit on January 9th. It was a race from the beginning and I was crazy stressed about it. I didn't have time to start looking until the 9th and had to be out of my apartment by the 20th. That doesn't leave much time to let the wheels move here in the DR. We found a place rather easily, but we had to fight to move in quickly and I'm still fighting to get the power turned on. And "lucky" for me no power means no water either. I do have a well that is full of water, but it is a bit weird having to get your own water and reading by oil lamp. All in all it has worked out pretty well and I am happy with how things are going in life and work.

Here's to getting lights sometime soon!!!