Marty: Home, Sweet Home?

No Place to Call Home

Have you ever considered what it would be like to not have a home? I don't mean a house - a physical shelter in which we live. I'm talking about a homeland. That place where we claim our earthly citizenship. For me, my homeland is the United States. I am the son of two US citizens, so my citizenship in the US was automatic. Many people today become 'naturalized' US citizens by following the steps outlined in our laws.

But what if you were told today that you were no longer considered a citizen in your 'homeland'? That, even though you were born in the country in which you live, your citizenship there is being taken away?

This is the plight of thousands of descendents of Haitian immigrants born in the Dominican Republic since 1929, following a Dominican court ruling in September. Deportations of citizens of Haitian descent have already begun, sometimes improperly, due to police not understanding the ruling completely.

Many of the people who fall into this group are those we will be working with in the DR. We'll be working in villages, or bateys, inhabited by descendents of Haitian immigrants, brought over to work in the sugar cane fields. People who are recognized as citizens of neither the Dominican Republic - where most of them were born - nor of Haiti.

In a positive move, the Dominican government has agreed to resume talks with Haiti over the ruling, mediated by Venezuela. Please pray for a positive outcome of these talks.

Vexed by Visas

With tomorrow being January 1st, we have just less than four months until our intended departure time for the DR. One thing we'll need, since we plan to be there for an extended time, is visas. Lisa has been researching this topic, and it gets complicated. Initially, we were planning to apply for a residency visa. However, Lisa was told by someone at the DR Embassy that residency visas are no longer being granted to missionaries. She was advised to apply for a business visa. This visa is valid for one year, and is renewable. One requirement is that we have to leave the country every two months, however, there is apparently no minimum time that we must be out of the country.

We have heard a few stories of missionaries who have encountered much difficulty in obtaining their visas. We can, fortunately, learn from some of what they have experienced. Please specifically pray for minimal difficulty in obtaining our visas, as we will formally begin the process in January.

Good News!

Thanks to efforts from Least of These board members and Jessica, you may now donate to our support fund online! Navigate to our blog site servinghopedr.blogspot.com, and you'll see a gold 'Donate' button near the top of the page, on the right side. When you click that button, you'll be taken to a secure PayPal site where you can submit a one-time or recurring donation. Donations submitted via this link go directly to a Least of These Ministries account for our support.

Our thanks to each one of you for your prayers, words of encouragement, and financial support, as we continue toward embarking on this incredible journey! May God bless you and your families abundantly in 2014!

Lisa: "The Last Time..."

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope your day was filled with many blessings and of course lots of good food.  Our Thanksgiving was spent as usual--eating food, playing games, planning our attack for the Black Friday shopping trip, eating more food and lots of laughter with our family.  Our day was also spent in unusual ways--skyping Erin from India and hearing of her Thanksgiving Dinner from KFC, taking pictures with cardboard Erin and hearing many times throughout the day--"you have to do this, because this will be your last family Thanksgiving in who knows how long."  It got to be a joke as the day wore on but in thinking about it, the truth is that our holidays, as we know them, will never be the same.  Or at least not for a time, to be determined by God's calling and timing in our life.

Confession time--I love watching made-for-TV Christmas movies.  You know the ones--the story line is always the same to include someone falling in love with someone unexpected, realizing the true meaning of Christmas or a reconciliation before someone moves or passes away.  Why would you spend several hours watching something you can predict from the beginning?  I find peace and comfort in watching these feel good movies--even if the rest of my family makes fun of me!  Last night's movie was no different.  But the take away message from this one was important to where I am right now.  I need to live each day, enjoying that day, not worrying about what happened yesterday or what tomorrow may bring. I am not saying we should not plan for the future and remember the fun of yesterday.  I am guilty sometimes of missing the today with my family and friends because of the yesterdays and tomorrows.  I am saying we should live each day always appreciating what God has given us for that day.

We leave in less than 5 months.  We have started sorting through things and deciding what we are taking, storing, selling or giving away.  There are so many of you that we want to see and spend time with before we move.  I pray that we will live each day, excited to experience all that God has blessed us with and to be faithful to our task for that day.  While it is true that this will be "the last time" for many things and there will be many goodbyes, it is also true that we are about to experience "the first time" for many things too!  How exciting is that!  God has many great things planned for you and me, and I am looking forward to hearing about where God is working in your life. 

We would love to be praying for all of you as you pray for us.  Let us know of any prayer concerns you may have because we are going to have a prayer journal for the requests as well as the answers to prayers.  It will be our blessing to pray for all of you and your needs and to see how God is working.  Have an amazing Christmas season and remember to always live and appreciate this day.  Be mindful of the things that may be "the last time" as well as "the first time".  All can be exciting and will make life blessed beyond our imagination!

Jessica: Lessons From a Breakfast Sandwich

As we have been speaking to different churches and groups about our upcoming ministry in the Dominican, a common (and legitimate) question usually surfaces from the crowd: so, what exactly are you going to be doing there?

Of course we won't know exactly what God has in store for us when we move there, but we do have the vision and calling He has given each of us: to demonstrate God's love to the Dominican people and help them create sustainable, self-sufficient solutions to the problems in their communities.  But as I think about my plans more and more, I think of the main goals I want to accomplish while I'm there, and one of the main messages I want to share with these people is the message of God's unconditional grace.  This has been a lesson I have had to learn throughout my life, even in the past few years, and it's a powerful lesson that I want to share.  God's grace is the most beautiful thing we humans can experience, and it is the job of every Christian to try to share that grace with those who don't know what they're missing.

Every Friday at work, I get a Sausage McMuffin (bear with me, this relates I promise).  A lady I work with buys a bunch of them and hands them out to some of the employees.  The first time I received one she had asked me if I had helped set up the store for her, and upon confirmation she proudly handed me my first Sausage McMuffin.  It was a glorious day, and I thought I had learned the system: help Bonnie set up the store, receive food.  But the next week I didn't get the chance to help her, and she still handed me my very own McMuffin.  Then I was confused; how could I thank her for this breakfast treat?  Should I help her keep the store stocked throughout the day?  Should I be extra nice to her, compliment her outfit, comment on her new haircut?  But no, she didn't want anything in return.  She just wanted to show me love because she cared about me.  There was nothing I could do to deserve that Sausage McMuffin, but she still thought I was worth the effort of giving me one.  God's grace is the same; we can't do anything to deserve it, and yet He delights in showing us His grace, because He cares about us.

Let's rewind a year or so.  I made a mistake and hurt a dear friend in a way I never thought I could.  It broke my heart, and I couldn't do anything to fix it.  I did the only thing I was capable of doing: I asked him to forgive me.  It was hard, but the thought of him remaining hurt was even harder to face.  I'm not sure what I expected, but the answer I received truly surprised me-complete forgiveness, no strings attached, no lecture about how badly I screwed up, no list of penalties or things I had to do to make up for my mistake.  He showed me complete grace even when he saw me at my worst.  It's not that I didn't expect him to forgive me, because I knew his character enough to know that he would.  But something deep inside of me still felt like I had to earn his forgiveness, that I wasn't worth his forgiveness unless I did something for him in return.  But the thing about grace is, it really has nothing to do with who you are and what you do.  It has everything to do with the character and actions of the person bestowing it.  And that's why God's grace is so powerful: because it comes from such a good and powerful God.

Let's go back to the Sausage McMuffin for a bit.  I never deserved it, but every Friday I began to expect it.  I knew that every Friday I could walk into the store and Bonnie would faithfully hand me my breakfast with a smile.  God's grace is the same: He is just waiting for us to come into His presence and receive the gift He has for us.

So what am I going to do in the DR?  Well, the thing I am most looking forward to is the day when I can sit down with my Dominican friends, hand them a Sausage McMuffin (or the Dominican equivalent), and tell them about God's grace and how it can transform their lives, just like it did mine.  And that when they enter into the presence of God, they can come expectant.

And leave forgiven.

Marty: What Are We Equipped For?

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

- Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

I'm a big proponent of looking back on your life to see where God has taught you or caused you to grow through situations, life events, joyful times, difficult times, blessings, and tragedies. We don't usually fully understand the significance of an experience when we are in the middle of it. If we are honest with ourselves, there are times when we may not want to acknowledge that God can use a set of circumstances to teach us something. Yet, when we reflect on our life, God's activity can become very clear. As we go through this brief life on earth, He who gave us that very life molds us and shapes us. Something we experienced a few years ago may have prepared us for what we are doing today. And today's experiences are preparing us for something to come.

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers..."

My pastor used a passage from Paul's letter to the Ephesians in his teaching this morning. While it was only a small part of his message, it gave me a new perspective on a familiar text. First point here is that the experiences and circumstances through which God shapes us include learning from the apostles and prophets through His word, and evangelists, pastors, and teachers whom we encounter. And Paul tells us here, that Christ himself gave these people to us.

"...to equip his people.."

That's right - Paul tells us that Christ gave us the apostles and prophets, and evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip us. Our pastors aren't in church Sunday morning to make us feel good about our upcoming week. And those dedicated bible study teachers we take for granted aren't just doing their preparation so you can learn the cultural background of bible stories. Nope. Paul says they are to "equip" us.

Equip us for what?

Paul says these folks - these gifts to us from Christ - are given "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." 

Wow! So God has placed in our lives people specifically charged to equip us for tasks that He will call us to, with His goal being to build up the Body of Christ in unity and maturity!

I don't know about you, but that takes a lot of pressure off me. I don't need to worry about what God is going to call me to do - He'll make that clear to me. And then I don't have to fret about how I am going to do it, because I know - I trust - that He will have prepared me in advance to do that which He has called me to do.

What are you being equipped for?

Lisa: What about my frozen yogurt?

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night with a crazy thought in your head and wondered "where did that come from?"  To those who know me it is no secret that I love frozen yogurt.  I guess I never realized how much until I thought to myself--"They don't have frozen yogurt in the DR and that is not something anyone can bring me when they visit" and then that thought leads to other thoughts and soon you have been awake for an hour and you figure well I might as well get up and go to the bathroom--haha!

I am not a worrier by nature and in fact scripture tells us not to worry about anything--God has this world and He is in control of everything and nothing happens that doesn't first go through His hands.  That is such a comfort for me as we prepare for this amazing adventure that we have been called too.  Can you imagine what your day and even your life would look like if we always remembered that our God is in control and loves us more than anything?  He rejoices with us, laughs with us and cries with us as we make this journey through life. In my heart lately God has placed the desire to spend more time with Him, learning His word and really listening to Him and what he wants from me.  There are times when I get so excited about the plans that "I" have for our time in the DR that I forget that God's thoughts and ways are not like mine.  I need to always be seeking His will for my life and our time serving in the DR.   I need to realize that my plan may be totally different that what God has in store for me.  He sees the bigger picture and only asks that I go along and be His hands and feet--that does make me excited!

My prayer for this week is that I will listen to God and spend more time with Him.  I pray that my will may be aligned with His and I walk with the Lord--not in front of Him--thinking that I am telling Him how things are gonna be.  I realize that my waking in the middle of the night thinking of the yogurt means a few things--God wanted me awake to realize He is calling me to a closer walk with Him, God wants me to seek His will and go with His plans and not tell Him mine and maybe that I haven't had frozen yogurt in awhile and He knows I love it!

Jessica: "If It Doesn't Break Your Heart, It Isn't Love"

You don't know.

You don't know how much I love you.

Or how much I want you to meet the glorious God I serve.

Or how desperately I try to show you His splendor through my words and deeds.

You will never know.

You will never know the amount of time I have spent fighting for you in the spiritual war for your life.

Or that while you are eating, I am on my knees begging God to reveal Himself to you.

Or that while you are sleeping, my tears are spilling onto my pillow because I know you are hurting, and I know you are lost.

You will never know about the letters I wanted to send, the phone calls I wanted to make, the words I wanted to speak, but never could. 

Would it matter?

I wonder if it would make a difference if you knew.

If you knew that God was seeking after you.

If you knew that He loves you infinitely more than I ever could.

I wonder if I could do something more.  
        If I just prayed harder, loved deeper, spoke louder.  Would it matter?  Would you finally believe?

With each passing day my love for you grows deeper, and so does my heartbreak.  My heart is screaming out, but I find no words to say.

God, please show them the truth.  My friends, my beloved ones, need you.

Marty: What I Brought Home from Africa

Many of you know that Lisa and I traveled to Kenya earlier this month to join Erin and some of her squad-mates and their parents for a week of ministry there. What a magnificent time we had in such a beautiful country with a great group of people! Lisa's last post inspired me to share what I brought back with me.

First, an impression of the work that God is doing in and through the lives of Erin and her squad-mates on The World Race. This group of young people demonstrates such love, faith, and trust in Jesus! They readily seek His direction when making decisions, and readily give Him credit for all that is done. They unselfishly share His love with the people they meet: caring attention given to a local teenager, friendly conversation with a mom while holding and playing with her baby, fun banter with a safari tour guide, and so on. We have no way of knowing how these young adults have impacted the specific people whom Jesus has sent them to, but it is clear how Jesus has impacted them through those same people.

Second, an impression of the work that God is doing through the missionaries we met and worked with in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. Matt, Kelli, John, Dorcas, Jason, Fred, and Joyce operate a ministry called "61 Project" that reaches out to young people in their community to teach them and share the gospel with them. Matt and Kelli first worked in Kenya while on assignments with Adventures in Mission. They both felt called to return to this area to minister to the youth there.

And finally, an impression of the effectiveness of leaders who have a passion for sharing Jesus' salvation message with as many people as possible, and doing so with intentionality. Our hosts on the trip were a staff member of Adventures in Mission (AIM) and a Board member of AIM. These men love Jesus and love His people! The interest they showed in our adult children, in us, and in the local people they met was authentic and clearly God-led.

In summary, my experience in Africa made it clear to me how each member of the Body of Christ can make such a significant impact for Jesus in the world. All it takes is for us to surrender our will and seek and follow His will. He'll take it from there!

In Christ,

Marty 

Lisa: Something I learned in Africa

It's been awhile since I sat down to write to you.  Lots of life has happened since we last chatted.  Marty and I went went to Africa to see Erin and some of her team, Marty brought back a piece of Africa with him that landed him in the hospital for a few days, catching up on work since coming home is always fun and then just the day to day stuff--laundry, cleaning and eating.  Of course my healthy food habits and exercise took a back burner the last 3 weeks but hey, tomorrow is Monday so I can start anew--haha!

We had a great time in Africa visiting Erin and catching up on all her stories and hearing some of her adventures that God has taken her on.  He has taken her to amazing places and she has met some incredible people along the way.  She made a comment on the trip that she has probably forgotten about since we were there but it has remained in my mind since she said it to me.  One of the great perks--or not so great, depending on how you think--of her trip is the time she spends everyday with her team, living in community.  She has enjoyed hanging out with her team and doing life together.  We were talking one day about her time with her team and she mentioned that they "speak life with each other every day" as well as lifting each other up to be more like Jesus.  Can you even imagine how your life would be if each day people were speaking life to you and encouraging you to be more Christ-like?  That is exactly what Jesus and his disciples did the 3 years they were together in ministry on this earth, what a great example of friendship and love!  Not all of life speaking, if you will, is pleasant.  Sometimes we are called to share the good and the bad about ourselves with others and listen to what they tell us in love.  Sometimes we are called to share things we see in others that can help them in their walk. Not something we usually are encouraged to do. Speaking life to someone is not on the top of most people's to-do list.  It is easier to go through the day and not do this to be honest.

What I learned in Africa (besides the obvious--don't drink the water, watch out for hippos and you can shower in a single stream on cold water) is how important it is to surround yourself with people who love you and people who will not be afraid to speak the truth in love over you and with you, even if it is hard to hear. What a great gift we can give each other--to encourage to be more like Christ.  I am excited to see who the Lord will place in my community when we are in the DR.  I pray that we will be able to love each other and show Christ's love to each other and those we will be serving.  I pray that all of you reading this will find yourself sharing life with us in the DR sometime in the future. We would love to have you stay with us and share the journey God has called us on.  May God help us to be bold with each other, love one another and share the easy and the not so easy together.  God bless all of you!  Lots of love!

Lisa

Jessica: Live in the Moment

I have been a Christian ever since I could walk myself into a Sunday School classroom.  I was called to be a missionary when I was 15 and have known where God was sending me since I was 16.  I have a bachelor's degree in missions and have been involved in so much volunteer work I can't even keep track anymore.  And yet I am still learning the most basic lessons on how to be Christ to other people.

The lesson I have been learning lately is this: live in the moment.  Show God's love to the people He puts around you.  Sounds simple, right?  But think about it-I have been in love with the Dominican Republic for 5 years, and I can honestly say that not a day goes by when I don't think about the country and the people I love there.  How can I live in the moment when my mind and my heart are so far away? 

And we get so busy.  How can I show God's love when I have so much work to do, errands to run, people to please?  I have always loved serving others, but I so often forget about the people standing right in front of me.  Instead I go to another country, or travel to a homeless shelter a half hour away to be Christ's hands.  I'm not saying those are bad things to do, and I would encourage everyone to go on a mission trip and become involved in their community.  But we can't forget about the people that God puts in our lives day in and day out. 

I am just now learning the joy of intentionally investing in the people that I see every day.  Don't get me wrong, I will cherish the time I spent at Asbury forever, but I think during my time in a small Christian school I forgot how beautiful it is to live in community with people who are different from you, people who don't know God personally and who need an encouraging light in their life. 

I have been working at an orchard this summer, and this has given me the opportunity to be around many people who have different views than I do, even people who come from very different cultures.  I used to just think of it as a job; now I realize that God called me to the orchard just as much as He called me to the Dominican.  And as soon as I realized that, my relationships with people changed.  God gave me a deep and powerful love for the people I interact with, and now I pray almost daily that I can be an encouragement to someone and point them to God through my work.

During this time at home I have developed relationships with people who don't know God.  They frequently comment on my character and integrity.  I wish they could see that everything good in me that they so admire comes from God.  I wish they knew that every carefree smile I give and encouraging word I offer comes from nothing less than my relationship with Christ and the encouragement that He has given me.  And I wish more than anything that I had the words to explain this to them.  I hope and pray that in the coming months they will come to know the truth.

And I pray for you as well, that you will embrace the people around you and show them the same love that God has shown you. 

Marty: "Be Still...."

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

- Psalm 46:10a

I have difficulty being still. Sure, I like to kick back and relax. But sometimes it's a struggle for me to slow down to a point where I can relax. There's so much to do, after all: responsibilities with church, trying to get 'caught up' at work, spending time with family, meeting with my small group, tending to the dog, the myriad tasks that are ever-present at home; all that plus making preparations to move to the DR in April. No, being still just doesn't fit in.

I'm reading a book in preparation for an upcoming mission trip (The Art of Listening Prayer, by Seth Barnes). For the benefit of those who know me well, it's assigned reading, and I probably won't finish the assignment before the trip. Very early on in this book, it became very clear to me that in order for me to benefit from the concepts presented, I need to seriously work on this 'stillness' thing.

Ever since hearing Luke's account of Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-42), I've identified more with Martha. She's the 'take charge' person who gets things done. She makes sure everyone is fed, and cleans up after dinner. I suspect that while dinner was cooking, she took care of feeding and watering the visitors' donkeys. Naturally, she had to keep the house tidy since visitors came pretty regularly. Every home or workplace needs a Martha, right?

And then there's Mary. While Martha is busy getting everything done, Mary just hangs out with Jesus, getting up to date with all His ministry work, and learning as He teaches her lessons of supreme importance. That was probably just fine early in the day. After all, it kept Jesus busy so Martha could do what needed to be done. But later on - when the dishes needed to be done - Martha has had enough, and tries to get Jesus to make Mary do some work. (We've all been there, haven't we? Ok... well, I've been there!).

This is one of those accounts where Jesus lays out some instruction that is undeniably clear. Black and white. He's not speaking in parables here. “'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:41-42, emphasis added).

It's clear that I frequently choose to spend my time on what is less important. And the fact that they seem more important to me tells me I need to allow the Holy Spirit to do some prioritizing work in my life.How about you? Are you choosing the 'better' thing?

- Marty

Lisa--What will life look like?

Over the past few months I have gotten asked that question quite often.  What do you think your life will look like once you are in the Dominican?  The questions have been varied--for example--
                       *what will you eat?
                      * what will you do all day?
                      *won't you miss what you have here?
                      *won't you miss your family and friends?

And I could write so many more.  The truth is I don't have all the answers to those questions. I pretty much know what I will eat and I am very grateful I like rice and beans.  There is a wonderful market in town where we will be able to get fresh fruits and veges and the freshest chickens around--prepared as we wait, if you know what I mean--haha!  I'm not sure how I will fill my day except to say that I hope to be serving the people of the DR whether in the clinic or in the bateys or in our home.  Only God knows how the picture will be painted.  And the truth is I will very much miss my home, my family and my friends.   I am sure I will cry at the goodbyes and maybe even question "really God, this is what you are calling me to do?"

But in my heart the Lord has placed this amazing calling on my life and I have answered yes to Him!  How exciting to serve the Creator of the Universe and how humbling that He has called my family in this way.  God has not given me all the answers to what the future will look like and He has given me no guarantees of comfort or safety.  What He has given me is a spirit of obedience to Him and the promise of an amazing ride if I choose to follow Him.  God has left this decision up to me.  The decision to join Him in His work in the DR.  God has a plan and a purpose for all of our lives and all he wants is a yes to His plan and He promises to never leave or forsake us in this life as we live out our purpose-- whatever that may be.

My prayer is that you will join me in saying yes to God for your life and may you feel the same joy and anticipation that I feel about the next step in this journey.  Life was meant to be experienced and enjoyed, with laughter, smiles and each other.  Please know that we would welcome any and all of you to come see us in the DR and work along side of us.  The place is beautiful and the people are more beautiful.  Let me know if you would like any information about a trip to the DR, whether just you or a group from your work or church.  This journey was meant to be shared together as we spread the love of Jesus to all the corners of the earth.  Thanks for you prayers and keep those questions coming--one day soon I will be able to blog about the answers!  Love you all!

                

There's an Army Rising Up

Eight months.

I remember when the countdown started (at least for me) five years ago.  At the time God had only given me a deep love for the people of the Dominican and a vision for long-lasting, dramatic change in their lives.  As the days have melted away He has revealed more and more of what His plans are for me and my parents there, and every moment I am more excited, more scared, and more filled with love for the Dominicans than I ever thought I was capable of.  There are reminders of my friends and loved ones everywhere, and while my heart aches that I can't be there with them right now, God has continued to bless my family as we continue to make preparations.

We have been in the process over the last few weeks of sending out support letters.  This is our official start of fundraising.  A lot of people seem to have anxiety and stress about raising money, but for me it has actually been one of the biggest blessings in my life.  Yes, it is a little hard; when I extend an invitation to join me in my ministry, it is a very vulnerable position.  It is me explaining my passion and vision, and baring my heart for everyone to see.  But that's why each response I have received has been so mind-blowingly beautiful.  Just knowing that someone, like me, believes in what God is doing in the DR and wants to join me in this ministry is beyond humbling.  It's almost too humbling to bear. 

I have never doubted that God would provide for everything my family needs on the mission field, but I am so glad that He has allowed the provisions to come from amazing people like you.  In one of my favorite worship songs there's a line that says, "There's an army rising up, to break every chain."  It gives me chills every time, and I think of the powerful support team that is being raised up even as I write this.  With our time, money, and prayers, we are gearing up for the battles we will be facing in the Dominican Republic.  And with God as our leader, this army is going to change that country forever.  I have already seen what God is doing there; I can't wait to see what more He has in store.

Keep praying.  Keep preparing.  Because God has already started His work, and in eight months this army will be more than ready to join Him.

Marty: Mission Work? Really?

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  -John 15:5

Since Lisa, my dear wife, mentioned me in her recent post (read it here), I feel compelled to tell a little more of the story to which she alluded.  First, though, a little more about my family and me. Lisa and I will celebrate 29 years of marriage (and around 35 years of friendship) in just a few months. She is my best friend and has been instrumental in my Christian walk. We have one son, Stephen, and two daughters, Erin & Jessica.

So back to Lisa's post. I pretty much "grew up in the church," but never really took God seriously. After all, I believed in Him and dutifully attended church most Sundays, so what more could He want from me? Well, He got my attention on a retreat I attended in 1993. It was then that I first understood that Jesus wanted a full-time relationship with me - not just a standing appointment on Sunday mornings. I learned more, and grew, and started serving and sharing what I was learning. And the longer I walked with Jesus, the more I was unsatisfied with my vocational life.

That brings us to that fateful conversation about eight years ago. I can vaguely recall that we were on a family vacation at the beach, talking about where God may be leading us in the future. Lisa told me about her missionary leanings, and I told her about wanting to open a business. Somehow, the business idea happened (she was right - I wasn't ready for the whole mission-work business; I had to change that direction quick!). 

In July of the following year, The Coffee Table was born. God had allowed me to realize a near-lifelong dream to open a cafe! The business was short-lived, as it closed just four years later. That process was a tough one, but I would not have traded the full experience - from planning to opening to operating to closing -for anything. I personally learned much and grew in faith through it all, and as a family, we had many positive experiences and met many great folks!

Since then, I have served on a church staff for about eight months, and am now serving on staff at the Frederick Rescue Mission. If you asked me 20 years ago if any of this would have been in my future, I would have said, "no way!". But, as I look back, I can see how God has used each of my experiences to build on the next, and to prepare me for future assignments. And this is the reason I am able to now say I am ready for this mission-work business! Because I know that He has prepared me for the next step, and will continue to teach me as I remain in Him!

-Marty

On another topic, we've heard from a couple of people that it has been difficult to post comments. We've changed the settings so you may post a comment using only your name (choose the 'Name/URL' selection) or anonymously. Thanks for your words of encouragement!

Lisa: And so it begins...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."     Jeremiah 29:11


Little did I know when I first heard that verse how different the Lord's plans were for me compared to what I thought they would be.  My future was going to go like this:  graduate college, get married, have children, be the room mother for my kid's classes, go to church, work as a nurse, watch my kids grow up to be happy and graduate college and then sit back, wait for the grandchildren to come, retire and live a quiet life with my husband.  Sounds like a normal dream, right?  Nothing out of the ordinary with a happy ending. 

Wow!  Does God have a great sense of humor!  Never tell God your plans because I think he just sat back and laughed and said--"My plans are so much better than anything you can ever imagine. Lisa, listen to me and be obedient."  It was about 8 years ago when God placed the desire in my heart to be a missionary.  I think I ignored this calling on my life because I knew I would never go without Marty and this is something that I knew Marty was not ready to do. It was also a great excuse to not pursue the plan God had for me.  Fast forward to last year--God was speaking to me daily and telling me to be obedient and trust Him.  So I prayed about the move, talked with Marty and here we are--planning on downsizing (that is probably an understatement) and moving to the Dominican to serve God and the people there.

To say that I am excited is an understatement.  We are leaving in April 2014, only 8 1/2 more months!  I am so excited to be sharing this time with all of you and hope that as we blog about our adventures we will be able to share God's love for us and for you and for the people of the DR we will be working with.  I know the stories will be exciting as we look for a place to live and prepare to move. 

We hope you will join with us on our journey and we plan on weekly updates so you all know what is happening in the lives of the Hogans!  Marty, Jess and I will be moving to the DR; Erin is still on her World Race and God is speaking to her in each country about where He wants her to serve.  Stephen is staying in the states but I know will visit and help us in many ways!  Stephen is waiting to see if we have water and electricity before he will make a commitment to visit--haha!  Know that all of you are welcome to come and serve with us anytime--I'm sure we can find you a place in our casa.  Thanks for all your love and support!

God Bless You!

Lisa

New Blog for New Adventures!

Well hey!  I just wanted to let everyone know that my family and I have decided to create one blog for all of us (my parents and me) to give you updates on our next adventure in the Dominican Republic.  The new address is servinghopedr.blogspot.com.  One of us will keep you updated as we count down to the big move and afterwards as we discover how God wants to use us individually and as a team in the DR.  With only 9 months left until the big move we are getting very excited.  We appreciate all of your prayers and support that you have so graciously offered, and we are looking forward to joining with you in this ministry.

You Are Not Small.

Hey everyone!  In case you haven't heard, I'm back in the States from Honduras.  It was a beautiful, amazing, life-changing trip.  And though it pains me to leave all of the precious people I have had the privilege to work with, my heart can't help but be excited for everything God has in store for me in this next part of my life.  There is less than a year until I move to the Dominican Republic.  Can that be right?  I have a lot to do to prepare, and I couldn't be more excited.

The reason for this update is just to share something that God taught me toward the end of my trip through one of my best friends in Honduras, Leslie's five-year-old son Osman David.  He is one of the greatest kids I have ever met-smart, funny, adorable.  He goes out of his way to show others how much he loves them, and frequently gives up what he wants so others can be happy.

That being said, Osman has a big problem with self-esteem.  At times he thinks he is ugly, stupid, and an all-around bad kid.  On my last day in Honduras, Shelby and I chased him down as he walked away from us sobbing.  The three of us sat on the sidewalk and we asked him what was wrong.

"I can't do anything," he confessed finally.

"What do you mean you can't do anything?" I asked him.  We were about to make cakes for our good-bye party that evening and he had wanted to help, but then he suddenly changed his mind and ran away.

"I can't do anything because I'm too small," he answered.  He could hardly speak because he was crying so hard.  This seemed a strange thing to be upset about, so Shelby and I took turns comforting him and telling him that we needed his help and wanted him to come with us.  After a while he cut us off and shouted, "I'm an ant!"  My eyes immediately welled with tears and I struggled to choke them back.  How could this amazing little boy consider himself as worthless as an ant?  I'm sure parents can relate to this feeling if their children were ever down on themselves.  This boy, whom I love dearly, has so much potential and already excels in what he does, and yet he couldn't see or believe any of that.

With the help of his mom we eventually got him calmed down and he ended up being a great help to us, but as I was reflecting on this incident the next day, a thought hit me: I wonder if that's what God feels like whenever his children think they are unworthy?  I looked back on the countless times in my life when I was crying and shouting because I didn't feel good enough, and I felt too small to do the job I was asked to do.  I could picture God in the same position I was, crying and wondering how his creation didn't realize how beautiful and important she was. 

With that being said, I'm not claiming that I'm some amazing person that can do anything she wants.  What I am saying is that I am a valuable daughter of God, and with his help I am not small.  I am important, not because of anything I did, but because God made me and designed me for a purpose in this world.  And whenever I forget this truth, I truly think that it breaks his heart. 

You are not small.  You have a big God on your side who loves you and sees you for who you really are.  So let's stop having such a terrible opinion about ourselves and instead look to the one who deserves all the glory.  Stop listening to the lies and start looking to your Father, who cries out for you when you feel alone and worthless, and who swells with joy when you decide to follow him.  In him you are big, and can do everything he calls you to do.

Snapshots

So much has happened here I don't even know where to start!  I will try to give you some of the best highlights:

Shelby and I sang in church a couple weeks ago.  We performed a song in English ("Your Great Name") but not before I broke the piano stool and wiped out in front of the congregation.

Two more interns came to El Sembrador for the summer.  Ryan will be working on the farm, and Steven in the English classes in the high school.  They have already been a great addition to the El Sembrador team, and I know God will use them in big ways.

                                          The El Sembrador interns taking a break at the pool

We were invited to go to a church service one evening at a drug rehab center.  All of the churches in the surrounding town were invited to come and participate in the service through song, dance, and preaching.  It was a great night, and was inspiring to witness such diverse churches coming together to lift up their brothers who were recovering from addiction.

Enoch's daughter Tatiana finally came home from the hospital!  If you remember, she broke her leg and had surgery the day that I got here, which was four and a half weeks ago.  She is still in a cast and has to stay in bed for another six weeks.  This has been a difficult time for their family, so it is such a blessing that they are all back home together.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for her, and please continue to be in prayer for her healing.

 A mission team came last week and did a lot of great things around El Sembrador, including VBS, dental and medical work, and a mural inside the boy's dorm.  I helped interpret for Bible School and met some of the most precious kids in the world.  They were so excited to get to know us and learn about God.  We had a competition every day to see if the kids could recite the memory verse, and it blew me away every time how many kids ran up to the front to recite it.

                                                     The theme of the week was fish

                                                          

                                                         The mural in the student center

Don't worry, we have had plenty of fiestas, including a good-bye dinner for Rhonda Harmless (a newly retired missionary), a surprise birthday party for Enoch, a tie-dye party with the boys, and a farewell party for Leah, the first intern to leave El Sembrador this summer.  Although I only have a few days left here, we still have a few more parties planned yet!

                                                             Enoch with his birthday cake

                                                    It wouldn't be a party without Uno!

                                                          Dinner out with the team

We had a chance to volunteer at some English classes in Catacamas, the town where El Sembrador is.  To be honest I never really wanted to go; I have so many people I love in El Sembrador, and I didn't want to leave and take time away from them.  But I have realized what a blessing it has been for us and for the people we are helping.  Not everyone in the English classes were Christian, so when they began asking us the simple questions of "Why are you here?"  "What are you doing?" we were able to share with them about the work we are doing here for God.  Tonight we were invited to one of the student's houses (for a party of course) and we talked about everything, from politics to my call as a missionary to which country in Latin America spoke the best Spanish (the final decision was Honduras-I think I will stay neutral).  I hope these last few weeks have been a good witness to these students.

I think the most exciting news I want to share with you is that one of my best friends just got sponsored by two women who were on the mission team last week!  I was able to be there when they met for the first time-it was one of the most beautiful moments in my life.  Nefy is such a great kid, and this is his first year in El Sembrador.  He is in 10th grade, and has a huge heart for God.  I thank God for people who are willing to invest in people like Nefy, and for people like Nefy, who are such a light for God.  This world is filled with amazing people that are so worth getting to know.  I hope everyone is taking the time to get to know the beautiful people around them.

                                                     Nefy with Leah at her good-bye party


I leave here on Monday, and while it will be hard just like always, I know I have work to do when I get home.  I am moving to the Dominican Republic in about 10 months, and there is plenty to prepare for before I leave!  Thank you for all the prayers and support, and please continue praying for the two ministries that have captured my heart forever-the students and staff at El Sembrador, and the people in the Dominican Republic that are served by the Least of These Ministries.  And never forget how much God continues to move all around the world.
                                                       

Dear Sponsor

Hey from Honduras!  This is my first update since I came to Honduras a week ago.  A feel a little bit like a slacker, but I will blame this one on the spotty Internet we have been having.

If you remember, I came to Honduras last summer for my missions internship. This year I came back to the same place, El Sembrador, a high school for underprivileged boys.  I am doing much the same work as I did last year, and that includes many hours and days translating letters from the students to their sponsors.  Not everyone at El Sembrador has a sponsor, but basically all of them need one.  This school is top-of-the-line in education, but with that comes a pretty high tuition.  I have been so blessed to be able to read the letters from the students that I wanted to give you some of the highlights.  Here are some actual (translated of course) quotes from some of the boys' letters to their sponsors:

Dear Sponsor,

"Thank you for sponsoring me.  I know that it is a great sacrifice to support me."

"I also thank you for the support you have offered me, because if it weren't for you I wouldn't be in this place."

"I am working very hard to be a successful person with a profession to help my family."

"I hope I can see you this year or the next so we can sing songs together."

"I am hoping that you are well, and I am praying for you each night in a prayer group.  We meet as a group of 25 people at 8:00 P.M. every night."

"Thank you, because the world needs people like you, and I won't let you down."

For those of you who have a sponsor child somewhere in the world-I know that sometimes it seems like you are sending money into thin air and that it doesn't have any impact.  But I want to tell you that it does.  I have had the privilege to witness lives changing first-hand because of the support that people like you are so faithfully sending.  And it's not just about the money; the kids mostly just care about the relationship they are forming with you.  So please, don't stop writing letters or sending pictures.  Five minutes and a short note goes such a long way.

For those of you who don't have a sponsor child-if something like this interests you at all, I know sometimes it's hard to find an upstanding organization that really does what it says with the money you send.  So here is my shameless plug-look into El Sembrador.  I know everyone says this, but this school is home to some of the nicest, smartest, and most enthusiastic young men I have ever met.  They are craving education, and they need help.  If you feel God calling you to make a sacrifice in this way, please check out this website: sponsorship.escuelaelsembrador.org.  We are changing Honduras, one student at a time.

De Ga Je

It's been about three months since I announced that I was moving to the Dominican Republic to work with the Least of These Ministries, and from that time I have begun to experience some of the typical issues that most missionaries have to deal with.  One of the biggest "problems" is the one nobody really likes to talk about: fundraising. As the past youth group leaders' daughter, I have grown up fundraising for this event and that trip, and it is no different now that I am entering the mission field.  God has raised up some supporters for me already which is amazing, but it has proven harder than I thought it would be to begin partnerships with people and churches.

But it's not just raising funds that has made me worry these past few months.  For a while my mind was racing with things I never thought about before:

How do I pay taxes overseas?

What do I do about health insurance?

What's the best way to keep in touch with supporters?

Where will I find a place to live?

How do I get a visa?

What if the people in the Dominican don't like me?

What if I fail?

I just turned 21 yesterday, and I have never felt less grown up.  With just a couple months until graduation, I don't have much time to figure out how the real world works.

But last week I had the chance to meet an amazing missionary family, the Kelleys, who are working with Harvest Field Ministries in Haiti.  Since they are the first full-time missionaries with Harvest Field they are dealing with a lot of the issues that I will be facing very soon.  Shannon Kelley told me about a saying they have in Haiti: "De ga je," which means "Make it work."  You are picking up a team from the airport and your van broke down?  Make it work.  You want to make improvements to the community but don't have a lot of funds?  Make it work.

I wish I could say I knew exactly what I was doing, but in reality the more I learn the more I realize I hardly know anything.  But I finally realized something else: that's ok!  This isn't my ministry; it's God's.  And I trust that He knows what He's doing.  There are a lot of things I need to take care of before I leave for the Dominican, but I know it will all work out the way God wants it to.  There will always be problems in life; when they come up, de ga je!  Make it work.

Here is a picture of the Kelley family-Shannon, Lena, and Brad.  Check out their blog at shannon-kelley.com/blog.  They are doing amazing things in Haiti, and God is really moving through their ministry!

End of the Beginning

It seems so surreal to be writing this post.  I have been dreaming about it for years, and now the day has come.  Are you ready for some big news?

I, Jessica Hogan, am the official missionary of the Least of These Ministries!

Let me backtrack a little bit to refresh everyone of the whole story.  When I was fifteen God called me to be a missionary in Latin America.  When I was sixteen He showed me the Dominican Republic, and I knew almost immediately that this beautiful country would soon be my home.  But the next few years weren't easy.  I spent a lot of time and a lot of frustrated tears waiting impatiently for the day I could move down there and begin my full-time ministry. 

But now, five years later, I can see why God had me wait.  I wasn't ready spiritually or emotionally for the task He has given me.  There were people I needed to meet, and things I needed to learn.  And I still have a lot to learn!  But it's time.  I can feel it in my bones and I know it in my heart.  And just a couple of weeks ago, I signed on to be the first ever full-time missionary for the Least of These, a ministry in the Dominican Republic that serves the forgotten people in the bateyes (very impoverished villages) with physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment.  It is my dream and my calling to work together with my brothers and sisters in the Dominican to make a lasting change in their communities.

Of course, this doesn't mean I am buying a ticket and flying down there tomorrow (although if I had it my way I would!).  I still have one more semester of college left, and a few things to take care of here before I pack up and leave.  So why am I announcing this now?  Well, to be honest, I am looking for partners; I am looking for people who believe in this cause as much as I do and are willing to support it, whether for a short time or on a long-term basis.  As a missionary I will have no means to provide for myself, meaning I will be completely dependent on God's faithfulness-and the faithfulness of my supporters-for my living and ministry expenses.  God has called me to go, and I will go with a childlike faith that He will provide for all of my needs.  I know it won't always be easy, but God has used these past five years to strengthen me and prepare me for what is coming.  The beginning of my journey is ending, and the next step is the biggest I have ever taken, and I couldn't be more excited.  Maybe you have felt a calling on your heart to support a cause.  I would be honored to have your support in this next chapter in my life, whether through prayer or financial support.

If you want to be a part of this ministry, the next step is easy!  All you need to do is make a check out to the Least of These Ministries with my name in the memo line, and send it to 170 Airport Dr.
Westminster, MD 21157.  It will go directly to support my ministry (and it's tax deductible too!).

If you would like to know more about my ministry or the Least of These Ministries in general, I would love to get in touch with you!  My email is jessica.hogan18@gmail.com, and my phone number is 240-285-3078.  Feel free to contact me any time.

I am looking forward to seeing how God works throughout the next year as I prepare to move to the Dominican.  Thank you so much for your support, and be looking for the next update!