In a year life can build up to be very full. Naturally an overachieving people-pleaser, God's worked a lot in my character in that I can & do say "no." Needless to say, due to many different factors, life right now is very full. Good, but full. Much of what is going on right now has been mentioned on the News page, but let me focus that info as well in the form of requests that I would ask you to join with us in prayer:

*Personally - I'm reminded time & time again at my utter need for Jesus. I can't be who I want to or should be without Him! I want to "see His glory" more & more like I was sharing on the News page & desire continual hunger & thirst to be in prayer & His Word. Please be in prayer as well for my time in the States. Pray for relationships --fellowship-- here as I'll be away for six weeks & in the States & the in-person catch-up of all that's happened in the last year. May God have "diving appointments" beyond what I could ever ask or imagine.

*Escuela D'Arte - There have been so many exciting things happening at the Art School this last year! Pray that as God is taking us to the next level, that we would be faithful & diligent in each little & big step. Pray for the Dominican art students. We've had a lot of new students start in the last couple months since changing locations & it is very exciting to see a lot of natural talent walk through the doors. Pray that Fran & I would be able to build good relationships with the students & as we also desire to get to know their families & visit homes. May the difference that God is in each of our lives shine to our students & may God use whatever He desires to draw those who don't know Him to the Truth. Pray as well for the other things going on on the property & in the building (from a recording studio & violin lessons downstairs to the Art Movement that's meeting in the location some evenings & weekends, two staff who are living in the apartment behind the main building, & all that is possibility in the works). May it all be for His glory & may those who don't know Him come to know Him!

*My Dominican Family - Pray for Francisco & Yeimi & the kids. God is always faithful, but may their be no hindrances in the ways which He desires to provide for all their needs. Pray for Vinicio & Martina (Yeimi's parents) & the family as well. It's been a hard couple months for everyone the way things are right now. My prayer is that my dear Dominican family may experience the abundant blessings of Jehovah Jireh (God who provides) in whatever way He has for their faith to be worked out.

*My Family - Some of you may know of my grandparents failing health on my dad's side. My grandma is stable but not in a condition of great quality of life. My grandpa is experiencing some dimentia due to Parkinson's & the doctors are currently seeking to find the right medications so that he may be in the clearest state possible. Pray that God may have His way & be glorified.

*Fraternidad Cristiana Amor a Quisqueya (My Church here) - Pray that God would continue to bless this body of believers as well as the other Christian churches in Jarabacoa & the DR. Pray that the leadership would continually be seeking after the Lord & following where He leads. Pray for the maturing of new believers, that they might not fall away. Pray for the discipleship program in which I & about 30 people from church are currently involved in. Pray for the worship ministry. I am starting to be involved with the worship team, but the vision & what is in Pastor Popin, Joan (the music director) & my heart is not simply for me to sing & be involved but in the developing of a program to train voices for His glory. Pray for wisdom in looking at how to develop this program. Pray for the young people (the largest population in the church). This weekend there is a retreat for the adolescents which some of the young adults will be helping supervise & I may do some transl ating. Pray for lives that may be radically devoted to Kingdom work.

Thank you for your prayers! My prayer for each of you is that the Lord's face may shine upon you & that you may recognize His blessing in your lives. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, a holiday not celebrated here; may we all learn to be thankful each & everyday for His faithfulness day after day to all generations. Thank you for your prayers! I'm utterly dependent on Jesus, but also dependent on the Body of Christ, you my brothers & sisters, & need your love & prayer & support & am thankful for it! (Ephesians 3:20-21) Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be given glory in the church & in Christ Jesus forever & ever through endless ages. Amen.