If you build it...they will come

Hey gang!  I hope things are going great wherever you are, and you are enjoying this special time of anticipation for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I know J, Aubrey and I are looking forward to coming back to the States in December to see everyone and get some food.  I must admit that we are missing the fast food and the Mexican and all the unhealthy food we used to eat.  :)  I cannot wait to get myself a big 'ol Whataburger with cheese! Mmmmm....  I know, I know... one wouldn't think it's the food you miss, but you do.  I love rice and beans and chicken (basically a staple here in the DR) and I must say J has become even more creative at trying to make some of our favorite meals from back home (chicken fried rice, Chuy's burritos with hatch sauce...) but it's not quite the same. 

We are still moving along here.  Again, I keep meaning to blog and something comes up in the evening and it's basically been a week again.  So, I'm just going to give you a run down on what's been going on...

*ESL is still going strong.  Our last classes for this semester are actually next week!  I cannot believe we are basically finished with the semester.  We still have new people joining almost every week which is great.  God reaches people in so many ways, and we pray He uses this to bring "just one more" to Christ! 

*J still meets Monday evenings with our AIM staff to discuss upcoming items and plans and needs.  It is going great and it is amazing to witness the growth in our guys.  They are beginning to plan ahead (Praise the Lord!!) which is quite the advance and anticipate needs and ideas.

*This past Saturday was another clean up event in Cangrejo.  Again, we are trying to raise up the communities in the area by literally cleaning them and showing them what the love of Christ looks like.  Here are some pictures of the day...

*J got to attend a new site with our volleyball guys on Tuesday to discuss who AIM is (what it does, what it believes...) and add them to our areas.  This is very exciting because as of 4 years ago, there were hardly any girls playing volleyball in Sosua.  Today, there are over 300 girls playing in leagues!  What a blessing as these 300+ girls get to hear the Word preached weekly.  Gloria a Dios!!  It is so exciting to see Christ at work.

*Yesterday was the Canadian missionaries last health clinic and the three of us helped out there.  Again, it is something I enjoy as it reminds me of the love I have for medicine.  They leave tomorrow but we have several new friends and contacts and am so excited to continue to work alongside one another even if from a distance.

*Today we are visiting several outlying areas where we had camp this past Summer.  Ultimately we want to remain in touch with the coaches and areas and lift them up in whatever way we can.  (J actually preached at an outlying site last Tuesday to about 100 older teenagers.  He said it went great and reminded them to not be so focused on the one blessing they want that they miss the far greater blessings God has for them.  i.e.  Most of these boys big dreams are to get signed to the major leagues.  J wanted to remind them that even if that doesn't happen, God has something bigger and better planned for them!)

*And for some exciting news... some missionaries visited Cangrejo and provided the funds to build (rebuild) the basketball court!!!  Here are some pictures from the construction and a final picture of the court.  It looks beautiful and is very exciting for the community.  Also, maybe we will be able to add another sport to Cangrejo this year??!!  :)

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 1 John 4:16b-17