"Here I am anyway"

I heard a song today by Josh Wilson, and I knew God was reaffirming His call on our life.  We can get caught up in the "what ifs" and the fear, but we must remember that our God is powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, loving...  Why would we not trust our lives with Him?  I hope this song speaks to all of you as it did to me this morning.  You can listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJeBFxIKgyQ

(Verse 1)
I'm like Moses in the desert
When that bush went up in flames.
You said, "Go and tell your story."
He said, "God, what will I say?
I'm so scared, unprepared
What difference will I make?"
Sometimes I feel the same.

[Chorus]
If it's weakness that You want,
I've got more than enough.
But some days I am so afraid
To show this fragile love.
But I'll give You all of me
And my insecurities.
God I don't have what it takes,
But here I am anyway.
Here I am anyway.

(Verse 2)
God, I've got so many questions,
Wonder why You placed me here.
You have given me these passions,
But they come with so much fear.
Sometimes it don't make sense at all
But I guess if I was brave
Then I wouldn't walk by faith.

[Chorus]

(Bridge)
If You say go (If You say go, if You say go)
I won't say no (I won't say no, I won't say no)
If You say go (If You say go, if You say go)
I won't say no (I won't say no, I won't say no)

Cause it's weakness that You want,
That's how You show Your love.
Your power is made perfect,
When we are not enough.

[Chorus]

Here I am anyway, anyway.
Here I am anyway, anyway.

¿Por que la Dominicana?

Why the Dominican?

Many of you are aware of the journey we have been on for the past few years.  Soon after we were married, we both felt a call to ministry outside of the United States.  We had no idea where or when, what it would look like, or how that might come to pass.  What we did know was God was moving in our lives and preparing us for a journey. 

In 2009, we were introduced to Fred Billings (President of AIM).  Jaime (J’s father) came to us and said he’d been working with a guy on his baseball team who had been on a “baseball” mission trip to the Dominican Republic.  When we met Fred, he quickly told us the story of their first trip and began his pitch for us to join him in the summer of 2010.  Although Candace was unable to make the trip due to being in nursing school, my dad and I decided we would go and scope it out for the girls.  It was clear from the start we were in over our heads.  We were trying to run a baseball camp for 200+ Dominican boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 16 with only a few leaders, a few Spanish speakers, and a whole bunch of chaos.  Initially, my dad and I struggled as we tried to run the camp ourselves in our own way (the way we would run a baseball practice in the states), but we finally realized God would do all the work if we would simply allow Him to take over. 

The following summer, Candace and I both made the trip to the Dominican.   J initially resumed work with the same community and many of the same kids from the previous year.  Candace, on the other hand being a first-timer, began her week with a plan of attack in one of the poorest communities.  She only thought she knew exactly what was going to happen and when it would happen; however, her introduction to the campsite began when close to 150 children (majority of them under the age of 5) began running down the hill toward the baseball field.  (Imagine an ant pile…) After the first day, Candace learned the lesson my father and I learned the previous year.  Yet, she returned each day and gained a new vision for these people and their children.  Between jump roping, singing, games of red rover, arm wrestling, and countless other games, Candace fell in love with the Dominicans.  In addition to the games and loving on the children, Candace served on a medical mission team.  She was able to reach out to the community by helping teach basic hygiene and sanitation, administering vitamins to children, and holding a one day clinic which
treated a variety of ailments and wounds. 

When we came home after that week, we told our story to anyone who would listen.  Everything we talked about included the island, the culture, and most importantly the people- their love, their passion, their complete trust in the Lord.  That was when we began to recognize something we didn’t expect, our bodies were “home” but we had left our hearts in Sosua.  We quickly realized God was moving in our hearts and lives for something foreign and new.  He was preparing us for a journey that begins with the Dominican Republic...

We are so excited about the work God is doing in the Dominican and the work He has chosen to do through us!  The only way I can possibly describe our excitement is from the children's song:

 

"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart. 

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart to stay!"

We pray you are all experiencing joy today!

 

 

Our Journey Begins

Family and Friends,

We have exciting news!  We are moving to the Dominican Republic as missionaries with Athletic International Missions (AIM)!!  We have prayed about this decision for some time now and are thrilled to be able to take the next big step.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.  Can you imagine a love so great that it forgives every sin and mishap?  Can you imagine a love so great that it would consume us and shine through us to those around us?  As it says in Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  How amazing is this love!!!  Nothing, NOTHING can turn His love away from us.  It continually refreshes and replenishes our soul.  It continually feeds us and nourishes us.  And it is FREE!  Jesus Christ died for us so that we may receive this love.   Our prayer is that we can reach “just one more” Dominican with this knowledge of love.  A love like no other.  A love that reaches to the ends of the Earth.

So what exactly are we doing in the Dominican?  J will assist the coaches in setting up a baseball league.  Part of the work in this league will be to nurture the relationship between the league coaches and the local pastors and to train up the coaches in God’s Word.  The athletes in these leagues will be blessed as the coaches are equipped to disciple them and their communities.  Candace will be taking care of Aubrey first while building relationships within the community.  This may include teaching ESL to the coaches and teachers, assisting with the progression of the medical outreach and even possibly implementing a women’s outreach.  Aubrey will be learning Spanish as well as being loved on Dominican style.  (They are a very touchy, huggy culture.)

We cannot do this work on our own.  We need you to be a part of our team!  First, please pray for God’s work in the Dominican and for the coaches, pastors and children.  We ask you would pray God would prepare our hearts for the work ahead, and He would be glorified through everything we do.  If you will commit to praying for us, please send an email to jjaime83@hotmail.com with the subject "pray for DR" so we can send you prayer and praise updates throughout our time.  The second way you can help us is by investing in our work with these people.  We are already 15% of the way to our goal!!  Any support you can give as a one-time donation or on a monthly basis is greatly appreciated.  If you are willing to help, please make your checks payable to Athletic International Missions and send them to:

Fred Billings

15102 Easton Park

Houston, TX 77095

To find out more about AIM, please visit http://aimissions.net/

Thank you for your love, prayers and support!

J., Candace and Aubrey

 

 

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Matthew 28:19-20