Supporting Missions First-hand
We often get requests to support ministries and missions by mail, email or telephone.
We have had an opportunity to help send one of our own on a short term missions trip. Jeremiah Montanez is a member of House of Blessings and is a senior at Harrisburg Christian School. Each year the senior class goes on a missions trip to further their education and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in another country. This month they will be travelling to the Dominican Republic to minister to children in an orphanage, conduct basketball and soccer clinics and speak with Dominican students of all ages. They will also be visiting a sugar cane village where they hope to bring financial help for poor families. fifteen dollars will feed a family of 4 for 4 days.
Each student was responsible for raising their own support through friends, family and church. Jeremiah was successful in raising his needed support - thanks to the generosity of people like you. Thank you for your support.
The trip is April 10 - 17, 2019 and a running account of their activities is listed below:
Sent to us by Sarai Montanez
Good Morning:
Here is the first update from the group in the Dominican Republic
Day 1: The Journey . . . Not according to Plan
(Written by Micah Kimball and Katie Gesswein)
4 am. Too early. Do we need to say anymore?
We drove to BWI and arrived there safely. That was the last time we stuck to the plan. After boarding the plane, we sat on the runway for an hour, wondering why we were not taking off. (Katie) I was super scared--I hate taking off--so the anticipation was slightly horrible. We were told something was wrong with an exit on the plane, and then we de-boarded, and waited…and waited…then finally, waited some more. 7 hours to be exact. We were fed, and then told the exciting news that though we had missed our NEXT flight, we would DEFINITLY make it to at LEAST JFK airport. Upon arrival, we were greeted with the news that not all of us would make it—we needed to lighten the load—some would be left behind. Seven of us were chosen (by DELTA) to carry on the mission at hand. These seven consisted of: Micah, Katie, Isaac, Isaac, Gabby, Anna, and Mama Hen. The fourteen others stayed in NY in a hotel, while the other seven of us journeyed on through the night, to the Dominican Republic. Don’t feel bad for them. They had NY Style Pizza for dinner.
We made it. After landing at 12:45 am Thursday morning, we got to the baggage claim, and there we realized our next challenge. Out of 12 total boxes of supplies (which were needed later on in the morning), 2 arrived. Wow. One was full of chunky salsa with mild heat, canned chicken (YUM), and a good old box of corn flakes (Micah’s favorite). We prayed before we opened the next box, knowing that a field day with 220 young children would not be an easy task with 7 people, never mind no supplies. We opened the second box and a gold light revealed the joy on our faces when we saw the supplies that would be helpful for the field day. Then we got through customs, drove a while (we don’t know how long--both of us fell asleep while planning the field day…oops) and arrived at Score International Hotel. Then we slept for a glorious 3ish hours.
Day 2- 7 vs 220 (oof)
(Written by Micah Kimball and Katie Gesswein)
Crack of dawn, the seven awoke. Running on lots of (filtered) water, 3ish hours of sleep, and a few eggs, we ventured out to Las Palmas Christian School, to put on a field day. We didn’t know what to expect, but we were ready!
First, we toured the school, and got an overview of the history that has brought it to where it is today. Las Palmas is actually bigger than HCS (425ish kids) and they have a beautiful campus. Next, for field day, we entertained 220 kids ranging from 1st to 6thgrade with the following: kickball, soccer, wiffleball, tag, hide and seek, four square, lots of bubbles and chalk, and bean bag relay races (lots of those). Balloons were involved as well…naturally.
From the very beginning of the day, everyone had a big smile on their face. No matter if they had just traveled for way too long, or were sitting through their last day of school before spring break (the students we were working with), we all enjoyed every moment and made some beautiful, lasting memories. 4.5 hours later, the field day was done. Our hearts were extremely full, even though our bodies were extremely sun burned and tired (operating a seesaw with 7 little girls on it is pretty exhausting-Katie). We went back to the hotel. Our classmates arrived around 3 PM and we spent that afternoon together in the pool and the late afternoon/early evening at the beach. We concluded our evening with a time of worship and reflection on the beach. Pretty cool.
Day 3 – Sugarcane Soccer and Gospel Stories (Written by Andrew Puleo)
In the first sugarcane village, we attempted to run a soccer camp which went very well, until we had to rotate stations. From there on it fell apart. This was not a problem, as the group was able to play kickball, soccer, and run around with little kids on their shoulders. I personally was able to play soccer with a little boy named Arro’. I was able to teach him some soccer skills. At the end of the day, I was able to share what God has done in my life through my knee injury. I explained how in hard times, God has a plan. We are to worship Him with our talents as well. After I shared and Katie did as well, the group was able to pass out shoes, socks, and shirts. This was a bitter-sweet experience as I was able to give Arro’ a pair of shoes and socks, but then had to leave.
In the second sugarcane village, there was a lot of basketball (I mean a lot), baseball, races, chalk, and other activities. In the end, the major highlight for me was presenting food to some of the families. After Micah and Anna shared their testimonies, we passed out food and prayed for each family individually. I prayed for a family in English while the mother prayed in Spanish. This really put the power of the gospel in perspective. It was amazing to see barriers being broken down by God not just here, but all over.
Day 4 – A Ride and Raft of a Lifetime(Written by Isaac Matsko and Sean Powell)
On day four we headed to the northern part of the island to white water raft (over a “waterfall”) or to horseback ride (to a waterfall).
White Water Rafting: We definitely are not in Ohiopyle anymore Toto. These rapids are larger, more intense, and without guides are definitely harder to understand this time around. However, the simple commands of forward, backward, and “DOWN!” (our favorite command) easily transcended language. For this adventure, we faced several obstacles in our three separate rafts, each having four members from our group. Those obstacles included rapids in “The Devil’s Canyon” and the 9-foot waterfall that was called Mike Tyson (because it certainly packed a “punch”). At the end of the trip no rafts flipped over unless intentionally done so by the raft guides and with only a few scrapes on legs, we made it through one of the first of our Dominican Republic adventures
Horseback riding: something few do, but the courageous attempt. When we saw the horses, we knew we were in for a treat, and a treat is what we got. I (Sean) was understandably nervous, as I had never ridden a horse before on an actual trip. I should have known something was in store for me. We saddled up our different horses, and started our ride.
We would quickly discover the personas of our horses. One was an old horse who could not keep up with the young stallions, while the younger horses trotted freely and with reckless abandon. We traveled along the path, which was a beautiful scenery of fields and streams, and mostly enjoyed the time of a lifetime. Then, I fell. This came after I had lost my right foot’s security, and the horse sped up. Suddenly, and admittedly hilariously, I found myself leaning to the left and holding on for dear life. Within the next few moments, I was on the ground with minor wounds of my left arm and side. Thereafter we, totaling about eight people, trekked to a gorgeous waterfall and used it’s ambiance for photos and swimming. After the waterfall, we saddled up our same horses, and made our way back to camp – this time with no casualty. The group all agreed on this: it was the ride of a lifetime.
Day 5 – Worship Transcends Culture(Written by Anna Cardillo)
On Sunday morning, we went to a beautiful church in San Pedro. The sermon was in Spanish, and I, and a couple of my classmates, were fortunate to be able to comprehend most of the pastor’s message. The pastor talked about the love Jesus has for us and the sacrifice He made for us. The pastor emphasized the message that Jesus died for all of us and that His love and sacrifice for us is wonderful and amazing. At this church service, Gabby and I were able to see a girl named Chloe that we had previously met at the Las Palmas school. We were able to talk with her and learn more about her life. God allowed my classmates and I to have a wonderful Church service, as well as being able to make connections with people from a previous time in our trip.
A highlight was we were able to be joined by Jeremiah, one of our classmates, Dominican family. As I have been told, this has been many years coming.
This Church service was one of my favorite services I have ever been to. The pastor was full of energy, the congregation full of love for Jesus, and the people full of hospitality towards my classmates and me. I will always remember this church, and hope to one day come back and attend another service.
Day 6 – History Remembered and History Forgotten (Santo Domingo and Girls Orphanage)
Monday was a day of experiencing the history and culture of the Dominican Republic and in experiencing the restorative grace of God.
The morning was full of touring Old Town Santo Domingo. We walked through the first church in the Western Hemisphere. It was beautiful to think we were worshiping in the same building as early European Settlers. It was not lost on us the fragile nature of our history as we toured this building on the same day the Cathedral at Notre Dame in Paris caught fire.
For lunch we went to El Conuco, a traditional Dominican Restaurant. The food was delicious and the dancing was entertaining. We concluded our mid-afternoon with a trip to the “straw market” where we employed our bartering skills in order to bring by souvenirs for our loved ones.
Following an unexpectedly long pursuit for some coffee, we went to a girls’ orphanage. They welcomed us to their home by singing the song “Trading Sorrows”. The impact could not be felt more as we heard these girls, many coming from difficult backgrounds, singing these words, “I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord”. If these girls can sing this and live by this, so must we.
Day 7 – Catalina Island and Church Planting Support Dinner(Written by Sara Trout)
Our last day in the Dominican Republic was to me the most beautiful and the best way to end our experience. We took a boat ride to Catalina Island, a small uninhabited island south of La Romana. When we first stepped on the Catalina Island we were amazed by how clear and blue the ocean was. The resort we landed on was so beautiful. The first thing we did when we arrived was obviously swam in the beautiful clear water. Then we went to the little gift shop and to the stand where they served water and soda. We then went back into the water, this time equipped with snorkel gear, and enjoyed watching the little fish swimming underneath our feet. There were so many different kinds of fish, some big, some small, some with stripes, others with spots. After snorkeling, we went cliff jumping. Yes, cliff jumping. The cliff was about 15-20 feet above water. We did some flips, dives, and cannon balls until it was time to leave. Lastly on the island we hopped back into the water for our last swim. We took some pictures and left.
When we got back to the hotel, we had some time to relax, and we were served by missionaries who raise funds to support their church planting ministry. Their food is honestly the one of the biggest thing I’m going to miss about this trip because every meal we were fed was amazing. After the meal, we were given testimonies of the missionaries of how they came to know Christ. It was a beautiful experience and I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to come!
Day 8 – Travel Home
What can we say here. We leave the Score Complex at 3 AM with the goal of arriving back to HCS around 6 PM. There is a plan. The only assurance we have is a God who loves us and is sovereign over all things.
We often get requests to support ministries and missions by mail, email or telephone.
We have had an opportunity to help send one of our own on a short term missions trip. Jeremiah Montanez is a member of House of Blessings and is a senior at Harrisburg Christian School. Each year the senior class goes on a missions trip to further their education and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in another country. This month they will be travelling to the Dominican Republic to minister to children in an orphanage, conduct basketball and soccer clinics and speak with Dominican students of all ages. They will also be visiting a sugar cane village where they hope to bring financial help for poor families. fifteen dollars will feed a family of 4 for 4 days.
Each student was responsible for raising their own support through friends, family and church. Jeremiah was successful in raising his needed support - thanks to the generosity of people like you. Thank you for your support.
The trip is April 10 - 17, 2019 and a running account of their activities is listed below:
Sent to us by Sarai Montanez
Good Morning:
Here is the first update from the group in the Dominican Republic
Day 1: The Journey . . . Not according to Plan
(Written by Micah Kimball and Katie Gesswein)
4 am. Too early. Do we need to say anymore?
We drove to BWI and arrived there safely. That was the last time we stuck to the plan. After boarding the plane, we sat on the runway for an hour, wondering why we were not taking off. (Katie) I was super scared--I hate taking off--so the anticipation was slightly horrible. We were told something was wrong with an exit on the plane, and then we de-boarded, and waited…and waited…then finally, waited some more. 7 hours to be exact. We were fed, and then told the exciting news that though we had missed our NEXT flight, we would DEFINITLY make it to at LEAST JFK airport. Upon arrival, we were greeted with the news that not all of us would make it—we needed to lighten the load—some would be left behind. Seven of us were chosen (by DELTA) to carry on the mission at hand. These seven consisted of: Micah, Katie, Isaac, Isaac, Gabby, Anna, and Mama Hen. The fourteen others stayed in NY in a hotel, while the other seven of us journeyed on through the night, to the Dominican Republic. Don’t feel bad for them. They had NY Style Pizza for dinner.
We made it. After landing at 12:45 am Thursday morning, we got to the baggage claim, and there we realized our next challenge. Out of 12 total boxes of supplies (which were needed later on in the morning), 2 arrived. Wow. One was full of chunky salsa with mild heat, canned chicken (YUM), and a good old box of corn flakes (Micah’s favorite). We prayed before we opened the next box, knowing that a field day with 220 young children would not be an easy task with 7 people, never mind no supplies. We opened the second box and a gold light revealed the joy on our faces when we saw the supplies that would be helpful for the field day. Then we got through customs, drove a while (we don’t know how long--both of us fell asleep while planning the field day…oops) and arrived at Score International Hotel. Then we slept for a glorious 3ish hours.
Day 2- 7 vs 220 (oof)
(Written by Micah Kimball and Katie Gesswein)
Crack of dawn, the seven awoke. Running on lots of (filtered) water, 3ish hours of sleep, and a few eggs, we ventured out to Las Palmas Christian School, to put on a field day. We didn’t know what to expect, but we were ready!
First, we toured the school, and got an overview of the history that has brought it to where it is today. Las Palmas is actually bigger than HCS (425ish kids) and they have a beautiful campus. Next, for field day, we entertained 220 kids ranging from 1st to 6thgrade with the following: kickball, soccer, wiffleball, tag, hide and seek, four square, lots of bubbles and chalk, and bean bag relay races (lots of those). Balloons were involved as well…naturally.
From the very beginning of the day, everyone had a big smile on their face. No matter if they had just traveled for way too long, or were sitting through their last day of school before spring break (the students we were working with), we all enjoyed every moment and made some beautiful, lasting memories. 4.5 hours later, the field day was done. Our hearts were extremely full, even though our bodies were extremely sun burned and tired (operating a seesaw with 7 little girls on it is pretty exhausting-Katie). We went back to the hotel. Our classmates arrived around 3 PM and we spent that afternoon together in the pool and the late afternoon/early evening at the beach. We concluded our evening with a time of worship and reflection on the beach. Pretty cool.
Day 3 – Sugarcane Soccer and Gospel Stories (Written by Andrew Puleo)
In the first sugarcane village, we attempted to run a soccer camp which went very well, until we had to rotate stations. From there on it fell apart. This was not a problem, as the group was able to play kickball, soccer, and run around with little kids on their shoulders. I personally was able to play soccer with a little boy named Arro’. I was able to teach him some soccer skills. At the end of the day, I was able to share what God has done in my life through my knee injury. I explained how in hard times, God has a plan. We are to worship Him with our talents as well. After I shared and Katie did as well, the group was able to pass out shoes, socks, and shirts. This was a bitter-sweet experience as I was able to give Arro’ a pair of shoes and socks, but then had to leave.
In the second sugarcane village, there was a lot of basketball (I mean a lot), baseball, races, chalk, and other activities. In the end, the major highlight for me was presenting food to some of the families. After Micah and Anna shared their testimonies, we passed out food and prayed for each family individually. I prayed for a family in English while the mother prayed in Spanish. This really put the power of the gospel in perspective. It was amazing to see barriers being broken down by God not just here, but all over.
Day 4 – A Ride and Raft of a Lifetime(Written by Isaac Matsko and Sean Powell)
On day four we headed to the northern part of the island to white water raft (over a “waterfall”) or to horseback ride (to a waterfall).
White Water Rafting: We definitely are not in Ohiopyle anymore Toto. These rapids are larger, more intense, and without guides are definitely harder to understand this time around. However, the simple commands of forward, backward, and “DOWN!” (our favorite command) easily transcended language. For this adventure, we faced several obstacles in our three separate rafts, each having four members from our group. Those obstacles included rapids in “The Devil’s Canyon” and the 9-foot waterfall that was called Mike Tyson (because it certainly packed a “punch”). At the end of the trip no rafts flipped over unless intentionally done so by the raft guides and with only a few scrapes on legs, we made it through one of the first of our Dominican Republic adventures
Horseback riding: something few do, but the courageous attempt. When we saw the horses, we knew we were in for a treat, and a treat is what we got. I (Sean) was understandably nervous, as I had never ridden a horse before on an actual trip. I should have known something was in store for me. We saddled up our different horses, and started our ride.
We would quickly discover the personas of our horses. One was an old horse who could not keep up with the young stallions, while the younger horses trotted freely and with reckless abandon. We traveled along the path, which was a beautiful scenery of fields and streams, and mostly enjoyed the time of a lifetime. Then, I fell. This came after I had lost my right foot’s security, and the horse sped up. Suddenly, and admittedly hilariously, I found myself leaning to the left and holding on for dear life. Within the next few moments, I was on the ground with minor wounds of my left arm and side. Thereafter we, totaling about eight people, trekked to a gorgeous waterfall and used it’s ambiance for photos and swimming. After the waterfall, we saddled up our same horses, and made our way back to camp – this time with no casualty. The group all agreed on this: it was the ride of a lifetime.
Day 5 – Worship Transcends Culture(Written by Anna Cardillo)
On Sunday morning, we went to a beautiful church in San Pedro. The sermon was in Spanish, and I, and a couple of my classmates, were fortunate to be able to comprehend most of the pastor’s message. The pastor talked about the love Jesus has for us and the sacrifice He made for us. The pastor emphasized the message that Jesus died for all of us and that His love and sacrifice for us is wonderful and amazing. At this church service, Gabby and I were able to see a girl named Chloe that we had previously met at the Las Palmas school. We were able to talk with her and learn more about her life. God allowed my classmates and I to have a wonderful Church service, as well as being able to make connections with people from a previous time in our trip.
A highlight was we were able to be joined by Jeremiah, one of our classmates, Dominican family. As I have been told, this has been many years coming.
This Church service was one of my favorite services I have ever been to. The pastor was full of energy, the congregation full of love for Jesus, and the people full of hospitality towards my classmates and me. I will always remember this church, and hope to one day come back and attend another service.
Day 6 – History Remembered and History Forgotten (Santo Domingo and Girls Orphanage)
Monday was a day of experiencing the history and culture of the Dominican Republic and in experiencing the restorative grace of God.
The morning was full of touring Old Town Santo Domingo. We walked through the first church in the Western Hemisphere. It was beautiful to think we were worshiping in the same building as early European Settlers. It was not lost on us the fragile nature of our history as we toured this building on the same day the Cathedral at Notre Dame in Paris caught fire.
For lunch we went to El Conuco, a traditional Dominican Restaurant. The food was delicious and the dancing was entertaining. We concluded our mid-afternoon with a trip to the “straw market” where we employed our bartering skills in order to bring by souvenirs for our loved ones.
Following an unexpectedly long pursuit for some coffee, we went to a girls’ orphanage. They welcomed us to their home by singing the song “Trading Sorrows”. The impact could not be felt more as we heard these girls, many coming from difficult backgrounds, singing these words, “I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord”. If these girls can sing this and live by this, so must we.
Day 7 – Catalina Island and Church Planting Support Dinner(Written by Sara Trout)
Our last day in the Dominican Republic was to me the most beautiful and the best way to end our experience. We took a boat ride to Catalina Island, a small uninhabited island south of La Romana. When we first stepped on the Catalina Island we were amazed by how clear and blue the ocean was. The resort we landed on was so beautiful. The first thing we did when we arrived was obviously swam in the beautiful clear water. Then we went to the little gift shop and to the stand where they served water and soda. We then went back into the water, this time equipped with snorkel gear, and enjoyed watching the little fish swimming underneath our feet. There were so many different kinds of fish, some big, some small, some with stripes, others with spots. After snorkeling, we went cliff jumping. Yes, cliff jumping. The cliff was about 15-20 feet above water. We did some flips, dives, and cannon balls until it was time to leave. Lastly on the island we hopped back into the water for our last swim. We took some pictures and left.
When we got back to the hotel, we had some time to relax, and we were served by missionaries who raise funds to support their church planting ministry. Their food is honestly the one of the biggest thing I’m going to miss about this trip because every meal we were fed was amazing. After the meal, we were given testimonies of the missionaries of how they came to know Christ. It was a beautiful experience and I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to come!
Day 8 – Travel Home
What can we say here. We leave the Score Complex at 3 AM with the goal of arriving back to HCS around 6 PM. There is a plan. The only assurance we have is a God who loves us and is sovereign over all things.