Happy 15th Anniversary, Mission Emanuel!

Hi all!

We have just wrapped up the October trip, celebrating Mission Emanuel's 15th Anniversary in Cielo, Dominican Republic. Mission Emanuel had events in the states in September in Florida and North Carolina and finished off its birthday last Sunday with a Quinceañera attended by 500 people from Cielo and Nazaret. At the celebration we worshipped together, the mission handed out awards to key people involved in Mission Emanuel's success, and showed a video recapping the mission's 15 years in Bayona.

worshipping together

The Pastor's Wife and I, post-ceremony

Mission Emanuel over its 15 year tenure has built 2 schools and a Haitian education program, a Dominican and a Haitian church, a medical center that includes a pediatric clinic, dental clinic, physical therapy program and community health program, a water purification plant and a children's sponsorship program as well as a women's cooperative, various bible studies and outreach events. Mission Emanuel has also built over 40 homes in the community, a baseball field, basketball courts, and youth center. Each year over 500 short-term missionaries come into the community from the U.S. to give of their time and resources to bless Cielo and Nazaret.

Here's to 15 more years!

Miracles

Some people say that miracles only happened way back when. That they don't exist today. I've never subscribed to that theory ever. But in the case that I ever had any doubts, they have all been erased, as I was able to witness miracles last week.

For those of you who have been following my blog, you might remember Mari Rosa, the woman in the community with 5 children who was diagnosed with cancer last year. Mari has received extensive therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which have both made her very sick. Her children and her husband as well as her neighbors have watched as Mari has gone through bouts of sickness, nausea, vomiting and fatigue with her treatment. They've observed as her faith, which was all but absent when she was diagnosed with cancer, has grown day by day even though she has been faced with a dire prognosis. They have joined with her in her struggles and sorrows and last Monday they were able to join her in her joy. Her doctors reported that Mari is cancer free! A miracle that we know came from God. Mari shared her good news with me and the staff of the mission and later that evening gave her testimony that night in women's church.

Mari Rosa

I am so thankful for a God who does miracles. A God who is with us in the big and the small struggles. One who will never forsake us, the only one who will never forsake us. He is a God that has done many miracles, is doing many miracles and will do many miracles until the end. And He allows us to see and be a part of these miracles so that we can remember that He is a God and loving God. So that when we pass through trials, temptation and fire we do not despair for we know that the same God who was with us before, is with us now and will never leave us.

Blessings,

Anna

U.S. Visit and M.E. Anniversary

As my first week back to the DR ends, I wanted to write a quick update on how my trip back to the states went.

I had a great time in Maryland with my parents and my brother and sister. My brother came home for 3 weeks to visit and it was wonderful to see him as we hadn't seen him in over a year! I also was able to visit with aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends.

Mom and Dad :)

Mrs. W, a family friend, and me

my aunt and my brother

Towards the end of my trip, I went to North Carolina to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Mission Emanuel. Many people spoke about the way in which Mission Emanuel had touched their lives over the years. It was a reminder of just how important the work we are doing is for Americans and Dominicans alike.

Mission Emanuel staff and friends