Redeemer Team to DR 2010

Yesterday morning I looked out at the Caribbean Sea and said my "goodbye’s" to the Dominican Republic before the long trek home. Every time I return to the D.R. I am more grateful. It takes time for trust to build. It takes time to be told and then hold people's stories. It takes time to invest in other's spiritual journeys. And each year the rewards of being present grow.

In the D.R. I feel like a mother to a host of young women who are in ministry -- and who don't have the benefit of older role models. One woman greeted me with "Hello Mom, I'm glad you are here."

Let me give you and idea of what comes up during these times of pastoral care:
* past issues of abuse and their impact today
* past and present addictions to drugs, alcohol and porn
* working relationships-- people worship, work, and play together and it can get complicated
* marriage struggles
* lack of resources and lack of opportunity
* issues of singleness
* burn out and workaholism
* issues of guilt and self-hate
* how to change

Every meal, every break, every time there is not a teaching session conversations travel to deep places. And when I think, "I don't know what to say. I don't know where to begin." the Holy Spirit seems to supply what is needed. I wonder -- where did that come from? It goes to show that God is willing to use anyone -- even me-- for the good of the Body.

I feel the privilege of this work. I realize that God takes us down there to fuel, resource, love, and equip ministers and ministry leaders. But while we are there, God gets at me. He shows me what it means to risk and let go of what makes me comfortable. And then when I get home, the possibility of continuing to let go remains.

What happens in the D.R. happens because we can offer the church leaders there a retreat. And that happens through you as well as us.
Thank you, thank you.
Adele

Thank you for your prayers and support for our last week in the DR. Here is our team with Eladia and Alfredo, our friends & interpreters for our stay. Please continue to pray for Alfredo and his family; his grandmother died last Wednesday night. So Alfredo missed our retreat time as did his mother Vicki who runs the kitchen for the homeless feeding program.

God's hand and help were so present all along the way. We made it safely home Wednesday evening (Pano stayed in NYC for some business meetings). On the last day and half, we rested some and talked a lot about what had happened in conversations and in our own hearts as we met with our sisters and brothers. The growing depth of relationships blessed us and challenged us as we entered more fully into their personal stories and the life of their community. We also leaned more into what our own journeys are like; the transition facing our own families; and what we saw of God in each other during our experience. The demands of this kind of trip are high, but the rewards and insights match that easily.

We look forward to opportunities to explain what the time meant for each of us. May I encourage you who know us to ask us. We will be sharing in the upcoming services and, God-willing, we will have video testimonies from the staff at ICC about how God met them during our stay together. We long for you have a taste of the fruit of your co-labors with us. There is so much more to incorporate and distill, especially how we at RCC live into our own mission right here and with the surrounding area. That is now high on our priority list and we welcome your prayers for this continuing adventure of faith & mission.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus fully envelop you this day and every day,
Doug

Monday morning and we are back in Santo Domingo. I am sitting at Robert's desk getting these pictures inputed and formatted so you can catch a glimpse of our past weekend. God answered so many of your and our prayers!! I will let the team members write more about that. For now, photo collage of the time.

Saturday Morning: Gary & Susan teaching about transitions and how their Enneagram spaces react. So many of this community are experiencing transitions. For example, Alfredo's grandmother died while he was waiting at the airport for us; Tom Yaccino's father died in August; they moved all the offices and gym; they totally renovated the preschool; and on and on.

Pano & Jan teaching about transitions and how their Enneagram spaces react.

Generating lots of discussions

Doug & Adele teaching

Communion on Sunday Morning

Sunday Evening Service--An Invitation to Participate in Your Own Healing

The DR mission team emerged from a good nights sleep after an intense, exhausting day with the ICC leadership on Saturday. Our testimonies, breakout sessions and prayer/devotional time were well received and the group's energy level seemed very high. There clearly is relationship building going on; among the teams, between couples and in one on one meetings.

Last evening we enjoyed an "drill down" session on each of the enneagram "numbers"....taking the most time on #1, of course! (Doug always confesses the most). But there was no place to hide and we exposed the weaknesses and the transformation opportunities of each point on the enneagram. A great, involving session with "on the fly" preparation by Adele and Doug.

Afterwards, we "debriefed" in the Calhoun's room with Pano, Jan, Susan, Doug, Adele, and the Yacinos: Tom and Dee. Wonderful, tired energy and reflection! Finally, Pano and I had a cigar by the pool (with a scotch of course) to reflect on the events of the day and to plan the next couple days a bit. Jan joined us and added some great insights and perspective.

WE look forward to our Sunday services, as I hope you are as well!

Until the next Blog,
Gary

Friday was a good day of doing our own fine-tuning preparations and welcoming Gary as he joined us! We got a little late start out of town for the hotel retreat some three hours away. Lots of rain storm and challenging roads, but we all arrived safely.

Our first session went from 9:00 - 10:15 pm at Pinar Dorado. There are about 30 or so team members from ICC here. Most of them are already familiar with the Enneagram and know their numbers, but it was useful to review the basics again. Then we went into a discussion of transitions. This is a congregation for whom change is common. In the last year, there have been many obvious, and not so obvious transitions. Whole buildings have altered, or been acquired. Programs have expanded, relocated and altered to meet needs and opportunities. Staff changes have been made. And on personal levels, there have been marriages, babies, deaths and disappointments. Transitions are common and a place that is real for everyone.

During the session, we made a list of some types of transitions that are being experienced. This morning, Gary and Susan, then Pano and Jan, will share some of their own experiences and invite the ICC folks to reflect as well. We pray that with the awareness of ourselves and others, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will together learn how to move through the complications of life.
Susan for team