Sunday, June 27, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Dominican Republic 2010
Each mission presents a unique opportunity to learn a different characteristic about the living God we serve. In the past He has revealed and glorified himself through the manifestation of the power of prayer, the power of salvation in the Gospel and the power of laying hands on the sick. On this trip to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, love was the central theme and manifestation of God.
From the moment we arrived at the airport, we were received with the warm welcome and brotherly embrace of Pastor Lucrecio Mercado, the Senior Pastor of the Puerto Plata Church of Christ, and host of our mission. Most pleasantly, we were also received by Pastor Ana Fernandez from Casa de Oracion para Todos Los Pueblos in Clifton New Jersey, her mother Angela Urena de Brito and her nephew Felipe. Brother Felipe works at the airport and was instrumental in helping us to clear the medications through customs without much difficulty.
The Doctors in Christ missionary team stayed at the Fun Royale-Tropicale inside the hotel complex Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata. The grounds of this hotel is surrounded by mountains and ocean. The glory of creation was evident daily. Mr. Marcos Legreaux is the General Manager of this hotel as well as the Puerto Plata Village. I mention this only to demonstrate how the love and the grace of God was with us and expressed through this Christian family. Pastor Ana Fernandez has several family members working in this hotel including her sister Lucy, the hotel's Concierge and her sister Angie who is married to Mr. Legreaux. As you can imagine, God used this family to bless us and accommodate us like never before. Our missionary team received special treatment from the moment we arrived. Outstanding hospitality was extended to us with details such as especial assignment of personnel to insure our health, safety and security. The preparation of meals were supervised to make sure we would not become sick as is customary in foreign travel. Dinning room hours were extended just to accommodate us upon returning late from any mission site. Everything was available to us upon request because we were serving the Lord. The management at the Fun Royale-Tropicale and the Puerto Plata Village has pledged to extend similar hospitality, discount prices and excellent services to any missionary group, church, or Christian ministry seeking to perform Kingdom work in the Dominican Republic. We prayed for this hotel to become a missionary center hosting groups from abroad. It already caters to many local Christian organizations.
Our missionary team was comprised of brothers Fred Soltau, Dale Wright, Jack Saud, Jorge and Danny Gomez and sisters Esperanza Saud, Catalina Sierra, Carmen Martinez, Elena and Lynette Gomez. We had the privilege to be accompanied by several pastors from different churches and denominations. Pastors Ismael Fernandez and Pastor Izaguirre are from Primera Iglesia Bautista Maranatha located in Hialeah, Florida. As mentioned, we also had Pastor Ana Fernandez from Casa de Oracion Para Todos Los Pueblos in New Jersey. This is the first time in our missionary history that Doctors in Christ is accompanied by pastors outside our congregation. I am convicted that this is an important sign of growth and legitimacy for our ministry. God is undoubtedly weaving a fabric of interconnected strands of ministries for His purpose and Glory. All the pastors involved in this mission, including Pastor Lucrecio, are strong missionary pastors with a heart and passion for sharing the Gospel. They demonstrated this by leading us in the evangelism of hundreds of patients.
Our medical mission took place in the Montellano Distric of Puerto Plata. On day one we were supported by Iglesia de Cristo de Tamarindo (Pastor Etienne Idonel). Dr. Wright, Nurse Catalina and I saw patients daily. We worked with the Haitian population of the Bateys. This is the poorest of the poor with no access to medical care or money to purchase medicines. Mothers would come with 4-5 children at a time. There were many wounds tended and dressed. The second day was hosted by Escuela Mano a Mano in El Saman. The third day was hosted by Iglesia Cristiana Reformada in Pancho Mateo. Each day we saw anywhere from 125-150 patients. Many more received over the counter medications and anti parasitic medication. I am sure the Lord will give a especial blessing to all the doctors and nurses that left their homes and families to render services to the poor and needy in the name of Jesus. Esperanza, Jack and Danny set up, managed and dispensed all prescriptions and medications from the pharmacy. I would like to thank them for the extremely complex and hard work the preformed under difficult conditions. I would also like to thank all the translators that made this mission possible including Lynette that translated to English for Dr. Wright and Brothers Etienne and Edmond who translated French into either English or Spanish to the rest of the team. Outstanding job and may all of you receive a blessing from God.
Sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the most important task of Doctors in Christ. All pastors and missionaries not involved in medical care were sharing the Gospel either individually or in small groups. On day one, Pastors Ismael and Izaguirre were also going door to door evangelizing the community. On day two, Pastor Izaguirre was kind enough to lend additional support in triaging the large numbers of patients arriving each day. All other pastors stayed near the patients to evangelize them after their medical care. All missionaries including brother Fred and sisters Elena and Carmen were relentless in sharing the Gospel as well as laying hands and praying for the sick. Blessing from the Lord for a job well done!
I will close by saying to God be all the glory and praise. We lived and remained in the love of the Father, we went to fulfil the great commission in the name of His beloved Son Jesus and we were empowered, equipped and led by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that prepared the fields for the harvest, guided us in the smallest of details and made it possible for us to overcome all obstacles and difficulties. We came face to face with the Glory of God. In John 15:12 Jesus said " My command is this: Love one another as I loved you." On behalf of the missionary team of Doctors in Christ I wish to thank all of those who made this mission possible and were not mentioned. Blessing to all of those brothers and sisters who prayed. Blessing to all those brothers and sisters who donated money and clothing in support of this mission. Blessing to all churches that support Doctors in Christ including Puerto Plata Iglesia de Cristo, Casa de Oracion para Todos Los Pueblos, Maranatha and Ministerio Cristiano Compartiendo Con Cristo and to Pastor King at Life Gate Christian Center for your unwavering support of this ministry. Thanks to the people of the Dominican Republic and may the Lord bless your land. Special thanks to Pastor Lucrecio Mercado, Pastor Ana Fernandez, her mother Angela and the entire Brito family for teaching us to love like Christ.
Remain in His love,
Jorge W. Gomez MD
Pictures will follow. Next mission is Jamaica 2010, November 9-13. See you there!
From the moment we arrived at the airport, we were received with the warm welcome and brotherly embrace of Pastor Lucrecio Mercado, the Senior Pastor of the Puerto Plata Church of Christ, and host of our mission. Most pleasantly, we were also received by Pastor Ana Fernandez from Casa de Oracion para Todos Los Pueblos in Clifton New Jersey, her mother Angela Urena de Brito and her nephew Felipe. Brother Felipe works at the airport and was instrumental in helping us to clear the medications through customs without much difficulty.
The Doctors in Christ missionary team stayed at the Fun Royale-Tropicale inside the hotel complex Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata. The grounds of this hotel is surrounded by mountains and ocean. The glory of creation was evident daily. Mr. Marcos Legreaux is the General Manager of this hotel as well as the Puerto Plata Village. I mention this only to demonstrate how the love and the grace of God was with us and expressed through this Christian family. Pastor Ana Fernandez has several family members working in this hotel including her sister Lucy, the hotel's Concierge and her sister Angie who is married to Mr. Legreaux. As you can imagine, God used this family to bless us and accommodate us like never before. Our missionary team received special treatment from the moment we arrived. Outstanding hospitality was extended to us with details such as especial assignment of personnel to insure our health, safety and security. The preparation of meals were supervised to make sure we would not become sick as is customary in foreign travel. Dinning room hours were extended just to accommodate us upon returning late from any mission site. Everything was available to us upon request because we were serving the Lord. The management at the Fun Royale-Tropicale and the Puerto Plata Village has pledged to extend similar hospitality, discount prices and excellent services to any missionary group, church, or Christian ministry seeking to perform Kingdom work in the Dominican Republic. We prayed for this hotel to become a missionary center hosting groups from abroad. It already caters to many local Christian organizations.
Our missionary team was comprised of brothers Fred Soltau, Dale Wright, Jack Saud, Jorge and Danny Gomez and sisters Esperanza Saud, Catalina Sierra, Carmen Martinez, Elena and Lynette Gomez. We had the privilege to be accompanied by several pastors from different churches and denominations. Pastors Ismael Fernandez and Pastor Izaguirre are from Primera Iglesia Bautista Maranatha located in Hialeah, Florida. As mentioned, we also had Pastor Ana Fernandez from Casa de Oracion Para Todos Los Pueblos in New Jersey. This is the first time in our missionary history that Doctors in Christ is accompanied by pastors outside our congregation. I am convicted that this is an important sign of growth and legitimacy for our ministry. God is undoubtedly weaving a fabric of interconnected strands of ministries for His purpose and Glory. All the pastors involved in this mission, including Pastor Lucrecio, are strong missionary pastors with a heart and passion for sharing the Gospel. They demonstrated this by leading us in the evangelism of hundreds of patients.
Our medical mission took place in the Montellano Distric of Puerto Plata. On day one we were supported by Iglesia de Cristo de Tamarindo (Pastor Etienne Idonel). Dr. Wright, Nurse Catalina and I saw patients daily. We worked with the Haitian population of the Bateys. This is the poorest of the poor with no access to medical care or money to purchase medicines. Mothers would come with 4-5 children at a time. There were many wounds tended and dressed. The second day was hosted by Escuela Mano a Mano in El Saman. The third day was hosted by Iglesia Cristiana Reformada in Pancho Mateo. Each day we saw anywhere from 125-150 patients. Many more received over the counter medications and anti parasitic medication. I am sure the Lord will give a especial blessing to all the doctors and nurses that left their homes and families to render services to the poor and needy in the name of Jesus. Esperanza, Jack and Danny set up, managed and dispensed all prescriptions and medications from the pharmacy. I would like to thank them for the extremely complex and hard work the preformed under difficult conditions. I would also like to thank all the translators that made this mission possible including Lynette that translated to English for Dr. Wright and Brothers Etienne and Edmond who translated French into either English or Spanish to the rest of the team. Outstanding job and may all of you receive a blessing from God.
Sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the most important task of Doctors in Christ. All pastors and missionaries not involved in medical care were sharing the Gospel either individually or in small groups. On day one, Pastors Ismael and Izaguirre were also going door to door evangelizing the community. On day two, Pastor Izaguirre was kind enough to lend additional support in triaging the large numbers of patients arriving each day. All other pastors stayed near the patients to evangelize them after their medical care. All missionaries including brother Fred and sisters Elena and Carmen were relentless in sharing the Gospel as well as laying hands and praying for the sick. Blessing from the Lord for a job well done!
I will close by saying to God be all the glory and praise. We lived and remained in the love of the Father, we went to fulfil the great commission in the name of His beloved Son Jesus and we were empowered, equipped and led by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that prepared the fields for the harvest, guided us in the smallest of details and made it possible for us to overcome all obstacles and difficulties. We came face to face with the Glory of God. In John 15:12 Jesus said " My command is this: Love one another as I loved you." On behalf of the missionary team of Doctors in Christ I wish to thank all of those who made this mission possible and were not mentioned. Blessing to all of those brothers and sisters who prayed. Blessing to all those brothers and sisters who donated money and clothing in support of this mission. Blessing to all churches that support Doctors in Christ including Puerto Plata Iglesia de Cristo, Casa de Oracion para Todos Los Pueblos, Maranatha and Ministerio Cristiano Compartiendo Con Cristo and to Pastor King at Life Gate Christian Center for your unwavering support of this ministry. Thanks to the people of the Dominican Republic and may the Lord bless your land. Special thanks to Pastor Lucrecio Mercado, Pastor Ana Fernandez, her mother Angela and the entire Brito family for teaching us to love like Christ.
Remain in His love,
Jorge W. Gomez MD
Pictures will follow. Next mission is Jamaica 2010, November 9-13. See you there!
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