The Ants Go Marching One by One

Whew!  What a fun day!  It actually takes me back to my marching band days... memories.  We participated in the September Opening Ceremonies for the AIM baseball tournament... ultimately we were in a parade!  And it was so much fun.  Ryann and Aubrey thoroughly enjoyed being pushed and held respectively throughout the ordeal.  Freysy (one of our AIM staff) took care of the drums so it was the real thing.  7 teams gathered to pray, receive a message from Luis Chimpin and J, march through Charamicos, then teams split into their respective divisions based on location to play.  It is truly an honor to be part of a ministry reaching so many youth in this area.  Praise God for the men and women who continue to give up their time to coach and deliver the Word throughout the year. 

I didn't get any pictures from the games, but here are some of the parade. 

What else has been going on...
J visited La Piedra this past week with Checo. (for those of you who have been here... imagine Cangrejo but poorer).  They visited one of the poorer schools and delivered some balls and tracts to them.  Here are some pictures of this:

We have been working on the applications for visas for all of our guys to get to the States in October.  And I must say this is quite the ordeal.  We have learned a ton about this process and all the ins and outs.  Please be praying as the next step is an interview to be approved for the visa.

J attended a softball game held by our bank at the Air Force Base.  As many of you know, building relationships is a key in mission work and ultimately who doesn't enjoy playing softball?  I am excited to see how God will use these new relationships for His glory and reaching the youth in this area. 

J starts Paz Financeria (Financial Peace- the Dave Ramsay one for Latin countries) this coming Monday with many of the local pastors.  Please be praying for this course as these men undergo it.  And be praying for our AIM staff as they will be assisting J in facilitating the course so they can continue it when we move.

We are living life and loving it.  I am enjoying having the "neighborhood kids" over and Aubrey and Ryann are surrounded with attention and loving Dominican style.  It is such a blessing to be surrounded by so many loving neighbors in our house and have so much family here.

As always, thank you for your support and prayers.  Every peso we spend here is because someone was willing to donate to our mission here.  If you are interested in supporting us financially or have more questions about this, please let me know!  My email is carredondo86@hotmail.com

Here are just a few pictures of the girls...

Aubrey ready to go to the grocery store!

 

And here is Ryann.  It's hard to believe she is 2 months old already.  (And everyone here calls her Jaimita "little Jaime")

 

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Philippians 2:1-3

Home Again, Home Again

We're home!!!  We arrived safely Wednesday afternoon, and I must say we are blessed to have 2 girls who are fantastic travelers... praise God.  I will admit before heading back I felt confused as to where "home" was.  Having been in the States for 2 1/2 months (to deliver Ryann and waiting for her release from Doctor), I had settled back into the luxuries we will call them and life of living in the States.  Although I was excited to come back to the Dominican, there was some anxiety in readjusting to this life and simply adjusting with an extra daughter, a newborn at that.  But as always, God paved the way!  And it has been unbelievably easy getting settled back in.  I was again reminded of the blessing it is to have running water as Wednesday our tinaco (the tank on top of the house that holds the water received from our cistern) was out of water and we had to wait for the electricity to come back on to refill it.  Of course, this took much longer than I wanted.  And of course I turned into "chicken little" (as J calls me) when the world was coming to an end because I couldn't find places for everything and I wanted to shower and I wanted to go to bed and it was hot... you get the idea.  I tend to have these "special moments" when I am very tired and stressed out.  God blessed me with an incredible husband though who is patient and calm and simply listens and helps where he can.  Eventually we had power and water was restored!!  :)  And in the shower I praised God for the blessing of running water.  It's those moments when I realize how blessed we are and how God always takes care of us. 

We have seen the majority of our Dominican family and it has been great getting to show them our new addition and how much Aubrey has grown.  We have our first official meeting since our return with our AIM staff tonight.  I am pumped to get started working as we have a ton to do, and ultimately we are excited to do it!  We are increasing the accountability of our Dominican staff with weekly log sheets and goals/objectives.  I know this will continue to grow them as they realize where and how their time is being spent and show them the organization and foresight vital to growth within AIM.  J already met with a group of pastors who are interested in completing the Paz Financeria (financial peace) course we offered to our staff in the Spring.  From our staff, it has been a major life change and encouragement in handling their money, so I am excited to see how these men can be impacted and raised up to be financial leaders in their families and communities.  The only problem is we have way more signed up and interested than books, so we are figuring out what to do there.  (I think there will be some sharing of books!) 

Thank you for your prayers throughout our transition back home.  Ryann has adjusted beautifully (J says she is probably thinking she is tired of camping and ready for air conditioning...hahaha).  But overall she has done great, and Aubrey is again loving being the center of attention among our Dominican family and the kids on our street.

Please be praying for Rafael and his daughter Gabriella.  She has sickle cell and is not doing well.  She has had many infections lately and has been in significant pain. 

Also, pray for the island as the chikungunya has been rampant here (some of our neighbors currently have it and many of our contacts have experienced it).  It is spread by mosquitoes and although we can take precautions, we simply cannot prevent every mosquito from entering the house as windows and doors are open all day to allow the breeze in.  From what I understand, it is like a flu with severe joint pain and fever.

And here is an article I found a few months ago talking about the life of a missionary.  Although a few of these don't apply to us, it is very accurate and honest. 
http://www.trinitykenya.com/10-things-missionaries-wont-tell/

Thanks for your love and support!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:7-12

Jammin'

We officially head back in just 3 days!!  We are super excited to get back to "work" if you can really call it that.  And I mean that we love what we do in the Dominican.  Loving on people, sharing Christ's love, playing with children, and pouring into the coaches and our staff while living on an island... who wouldn't want to do this?!  :)

Throughout our time in the DR and in preparation to head back, we have been asked many times why we do this and why we live there.  Ultimately the answer to this is simple... if we don't, who will?  If we don't go to pour into these people and show Christ's love, how will they know the Truth?  And yes, there are always "other missionaries" and "other people", but if we all wait for the "others" to do it, then in the end no one actually goes because we are all relying on someone else to do it.  (And believe me, I am most often in that "other" boat.  Someone else can help that homeless person, someone else will help with that flat tire, someone else will donate to the organization, someone else...) 

These past several days have been full of excitement as we prepare to head back with a sense of renewed energy to go and work for God.  In fact, we have been jammin' - yes I went there- to some new tunes of which Dara Maclean's "Set My People Free" is my favorite.  And just give it a bit to ramp up!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQha27i1uf8  I put it on super loud and feel like a sports team ramping up for a big game swaying and yelling and just being gruff.  And the lyrics are simple and demanding and perfect.  I have actually decided it's my new theme song!! (like that song that fires you up and gives you the desire to find a punching bag)

So are we ready to head back?  Yes, because I am pumped up and ready to work and pour into our Dominican brothers and sisters.  Yes, because I am ready to grow as I know God will test us and push us beyond our comfort zone.  (And yes, because I want to show off our newest addition and be with our Dominican family!) 


Matthew 28:19

What's been happening?

August already??!!  What??!!  I know it has been quite some time since our last post, and I must say quite a bit has happened since then.  For starters, we are now a healthy family of 4!  Praise God.  Ryann Nicole Arredondo (pronounced Ryan) was born 7/11/14, weighed 6 lbs 11 oz and was 20 in long. 

Now, she is a thriving 5 week old weighing in at 9 lbs 4 oz.  I believe we have done a little bit of growing since birth. :)

Aubrey is doing amazing with her little sister and absolutely adores her.  She is full of kisses, hugs, touches and just love for Ryann.  This is such a blessing as I prayed for this for many months before Ryann.  For an easy transition for all of us but especially Aubrey.

J has been quite the traveling man this Summer between the Dominican, the States, and Cuba.  After Aubrey and I left in June to come home for our new "bundle of joy", J stayed to wrap things up and prepare for our being gone until August/September.  He came back to the States in time for his 31st birthday and Aubrey's 2nd birthday (same day).  He was here for Ryann's birth and then a few days later headed back to Sosua for AIM's second summer camp.  According to J, it was a wonderful week full of love, play and even more salvations.  They had several prayer walks, crusades and lots of time spent with the youth from the Woodlands church. 

(A beautiful masterpiece from God in Sosua.)

 

J returned in time for us to drive to Amarillo and surprise my mom for her 60th birthday.  This was a great reunion with my family (my oldest brother and family flew in from Virginia and my middle brother and family live there in Amarillo). 

 

 

We returned to Houston and J left a week later for camp in Cuba.  According to J, the trip in Cuba was amazing!  "It was incredible being there with the children and teaching them about baseball, soccer, and volleyball.  More importantly though, we got to play with those kids.  And thank God for our Cuban brothers and sisters who did an amazing job of preaching and sharing their testimony.  Because of their obedience, many children prayed to receive Christ.  Cuba is a beautiful country with even more beautiful people."

 

 

 

 

We are planning on visiting my dad this coming weekend in Arizona and then looking at heading back to the DR either next week or the following week.  We have officialy received Ryann's passport in the mail, so we are ready to go according to the government.  We will await the final ok from our pediatrician, but so far she does not see any reason we shouldn't be able to go back soon. 

Other than that, we have been spending time with J's family, our donors and ultimately adjusting to 2 kids and an infant again.  I must say we are extremely blessed to have two very easygoing kids who are willing and able to travel wherever, whenever. 

We are excited and ready to get back to work in the Dominican with our brothers and sisters.  Praise God for this opportunity!

And as always, we could not do this without your prayers and support.  Thank you to each of you who have spent time in prayer for us and the work AIM is doing, and thank you to each of you who are supporting us financially.  Our being in the Dominican is only possible through your generosity.

With love!!

"Daniel said:

'Blessed be the name of God from age to age,

for wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons,

deposes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have

understanding.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and light dwells with him.

To you, O God of my ancestors,

I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and power,

and have now revealed to me what we

asked of you,

for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.'"

 

Daniel 2:20-23

Playing catch up

I have been the worst at keeping up with this over the past few weeks.  I cannot explain why other than a feeling of not having the right words or the right way to describe camp and what it meant to me.  And then it's easy to push it aside and put it off longer and longer which in turn makes it even worse.  So, here I am, weeks late with my attempt at putting into words my emotions...

Camp was amazing, passionate, stressful, indescribable!  I don't know the exact amount of kids who attended camp or those who accepted Christ, but I do know many lives were changed including most of the missionaries and definitely my own.  For me, I cannot imagine going on any type of mission trip where your heart is not affected and your life changed forever.  And although I am slightly bias towards the Dominican (maybe only slightly...haha), I cannot imagine anyone visiting who is not affected by the sweet nature of the kids, the loving and welcoming culture of the Dominicans and the overall beauty of their life.  I still remember my first time at camp and the overwhelming, confusing emotions I felt while there, and then the clear feeling of leaving my heart with the people as we boarded the airplane.  Although I know not everyone is called to the full time mission work as J and I have been, I have heard countless stories of people leaving a piece of themselves behind and I must be honest, nothing back at "home" can replace it.  This year was a very different experience for us as we were helping lead the camp rather than simply being a participant and had worked behind the "Dominican scenes" from the beginning.  (Although we led the Nagua camp in March, this was very different in numbers and people attending).  And I must say lots of growth, stretching, and some frustrations developed along the way, but as always our God led us throughout camp and was holding our hand as we grew in ways we didn't know we could.  During the week, we actually split our time between Las Terrenas and Sosua (we had 2 camps going).  Las Terrenas had a mixed team of Dominican missionaries and Americans, whereas Sosua was solely Americans.  Although we were only in Las Terrenas the first 2 days of camp, we were able to witness our team of missionaries come together as a family because of the love of Christ!  And just as in Nagua, witnessing our Dominican missionaries growth and hearts for their own people was, and I believe will always be, inspiring.  During story time on our first night as J translated the stories back and forth (English to Spanish and visa versa) God showed me the reason behind all the work and previous stresses, it was for this!  For Him to be glorified in all the work, in all the love, in all the time, in ultimately everything.  Just for the one day of camp (much less 3 more), the work and countless hours spent in all the details was all worth it.  It was a true blessing to be a part of both teams and see God's hand moving across the island at the same time.  Nothing is too big for Him to handle and we were able to intimately be a part of that.  We cannot wait for the next camp (which happens in only a few short weeks) in both Sosua and San Luis (on the South side of the island), and I cannot wait to again hear about our Dominican missionaries reaching out to their brothers and sisters!!

In other news, all 3 of us are back in the States ready and waiting on baby Ryann.  She is due July 12, but here is to hoping she comes a little earlier.  :)  Aubrey and I came back with the chartered flight after camp, and J joined us this past Friday just in time for his and Aubrey's birthdays (same day).  It was a fantastic, simple celebration with so much love poured on us.  So, we now officially have a 2 year old... eeekk! 

In prayer requests, please continue praying for the team currently in Guatemala putting on their first camp there.  From what I have heard, things are going great.

Also, please be praying for the final preparations for camp from July 15-22 in Sosua and San Luis.   

And please be praying for the camp scheduled for the beginning of August in Cuba.

I will keep you all updated on camps, baby, and all the other amazing things God continues to do in our lives.  Thank you for your love!  And thank you for your patience throughout this time of growth in my life.   Much love to all of you!

"Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful"

-Matt Redman, "Never Once"

 

(an amazing song that always reminds me of our Daddy God's love for us... He does not leave us in times of need but lifts us up and carries us through our trials) 
You should listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e02UNZRsdSQ

Cupcakes, birthdays and watermelon...oh my!

Less than 1 week until camp time... woo hoo!!  But, as I have been so neglectful at posting pictures for um, let's see, a LONG time, I wanted to catch up on some of the fun.

Just wanting everyone to know, we still eat our cupcakes and healthy items here in the Dominican.

Aubrey before church one Sunday.  I thought it was too precious not to include.  (and the dress is from Ross, so we didn't spend too much either!)

A picture of one of my birthday parties.  Yes, I had several from our Dominican family.  They were singing here (very loudly).

A picture with Rosemery and the HUGE watermelon she brought over for my birthday.

A crazy, high stress game of Candyland! :)  It's very funny to listen and watch them play because every other word is "tramposo", "noooo", "Candace"...  They always think the other one is cheating (which I'll admit I have seen my fair share of, but I'm like it's Candyland).  Haha.

Daddy and Aubrey cleaning the car.  Aubrey loves to help mix the soapy water and clean water... hahaha. 

Aubrey getting her washcloth ready to wash.

A picture of Aubrey eating the watermelon from the birthday party.  She can eat her weight in watermelon.

 



Things are still going great here, busy and great.  Super countdown mode now as we only have 6 days until our team arrives.  (But 6 days full of tying up odds and ends).  So, please keep praying for all those working countless hours behind the scenes to make this camp possible.  And pray for all the coaches, pastors, community help and youth who will be reached during camp. 

With much love!!

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

T minus 2 weeks

Sorry I have not kept you all updated on what's happening here.  It has been a great, crazy, busy few weeks.  Only 2 weeks from today until camp time!!  And with that comes lots of details and final preparations/planning.  But again, we praise God for this work because it is good work. 

Let's see what's been going on...

• Financial Peace has been fantastic and our guys seem to be really taking it in.  Every week at least one of them comes back with a story of someone they shared the information with or something they have done to change their current finances.  1 week after the first lesson, one of our guys came to show us he had paid off a credit card and had it cut up in his hands!  He was beyond excited and explained what his plan was to continue getting out of debt.  Another staff member told us about a friend he knew who recently got a job as a taxi driver and after receiving his payments for the week, his wife went to the supermercado and spent ALL of the money on food minus propane and meat (therefore this man has no money left to pay for the gas needed to work as a taxi nor money to cook the food).  Our AIM staff told us how he explained to the guy the importance of budgeting and including your wife in the finances of the household so they have an idea of how to manage the money.  It has been amazing to see some of the transformations in our staff in regards to money and how to handle it.   

• It's hard to believe we only have 2 weeks left of ESL.  But again, watching the transformations in those who have regularly attended has been a privilege.  Our class size has dwindled since we started, but I know the majority of that is attributed to the amount of work it takes to learn a second language.  Believe me, I understand the difficulty of learning another language, and I have it a bit easier as I am completely immersed in the language here in the DR.

• We visited Las Terrenas this past Thursday and Friday to confirm the hotel, restaurant and all the plans for one of our camps in June.  Although this was an exhausting trip, I cannot wait to see how God moves in this city.  The coaches and pastor are thrilled and almost giddy about the camp.  God has provided the "man of peace", the church help, the coaches with a heart for Him, and the needed sites.  This specific camp will be hosted by a mixture of Dominicans and Americans and right now we are looking to have about 750 kids in camp just in this area. 

• And other than that we have been planning and preparing for June and July camps.  Again, good work but lots of it.   We are grateful and truly blessed to be here in preparation to receive the missionaries.  Please keep praying for the camps this Summer and specifically the missionaries, the Dominicans and Americans who are working behind the scenes to pull everything together, and especially the kids/youth who will attend the camp.  Pray for their hearts and minds to be opened to the Holy Spirit and Jesus's love for each of them. 

Thanks for your love and support!!

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 
1 Corinthians 15:58