Team #616

Team # 616, our first 2008 relief team, served in the DR from June 7—17. The team consisted of five 20-somethings: two sisters from Colorado Springs, both in the military, a woman from Seattle and a couple from northern Minnesota.

STEM Team Leader, Katia pictured with team

They got off to a great start, digging holes and laying the foundation for a communal latrine, despite heavy rain that turned everywhere to mud. They replaced dirt floors with concrete in two homes, and held a kids’ club in the same very poor community. They also held a street outreach in a neighborhood near the host church in Sabana Perdida.



STEM's Team Leader, Katia writes:

"I'm really happy for the first team. We had a truly awesome and
extreme time! The Lord really used, taught, guided and changed us in
many ways!

Even though I thought we wouldn't have many opportunities for
evangelism, God gave us many opportunities where we were stretched in
our faith and obedience. The first Sunday I was asked to preach (on
the spot, I found out just when the pastor was giving the
announcement!) but God is faithful and with His help and an outline I
had from the last Sunday I shared at church, it all worked out great!


On Tuesday night we were asked to prepare an outreach program, and even
thought it was not at all what we thought it would be, what the team
called a "street concert" was a powerful evagelizing time. More than 60
people heard a clear gospel message and a few came to Christ! Most of
the time the team was shocked and afraid and really stretched out of
our comfort zones, but the Lord was faithful and the community really
enjoyed it! It was like the widows offering in Mark 12.41-44. Even
though we didn't feel we had much to offer, the Lord was delighted in
our willingness to follow Him!

So the next times we were asked to do something we didn't plan for, at
least our hearts were a little more prepared! We could see Christ's
faithfulness as He transformed us into His image! Praise the Lord!

Construction was hard work also! Especially with the rain and the mud,
it was harder to continue but the Lord gave us endurance 'till the
end! We were able to lay concrete floors on 2 houses and the porch of
one, we dug the hole for the chapel's latrine, laid brick and concrete
in the hole, and laid the foundation for the walls! At times we
couldn't work a lot because of the rain, but that gave us
opportunities to share with the village people and children, another
blessing!


Last Sunday we had Kid's club in the community La Antonia, where we
expected 40 to 50 kids, and ended up with about 75! Thank God the
message was also clear and the pastor told me with excitement, "Heaven
will be full of children!" It's amazing what the Lord can do when we
are willing!

And, God in His faithfulness answered our prayers. the team was really
working in one heart and mind, we were united so people could see His
love and His blessing! That helped with the communion with the church
here. We truly had great relationship with each other and with the
church members, what a blessing!


There's so much the Lord did! I am very thankful for your prayers.

Please continue to pray for:
- the team members' re-entry
- the Lord will continue to accomplish the good work that has been started in them
- their passion and vision will increase & they will never be the same again
- ask that they will never settle for less than what the Lord ask of them. (and me!)"

Summer DR Teams...

This is an exciting week for STEM -- the first of our relief teams will arrive in the Dominican Republic!

Katia Alvarado flew into Santo Domingo from Mexico on June 3 and will spend the summer in the DR leading these teams. She's the ideal person as she's bilingual in English and Spanish, and knows STEM well -- she worked in our office while a student at Bethany College of Missions and led a number of teams for us.

Now that she’s graduated, Katya and some friends are setting up an evangelistic coffee shop in Guadalajara. Her church has released her to work with STEM for the summer, and we’re very grateful to have her!

In February Katya traveled to the DR with Jim and Cherie Levin to set up plans for the summer relief teams. We’ll be working with a church-plant from a church we’ve already partnered with in Sabana Perdida on the edge of Santo Domingo. The daughter church is in a very poor community. As usual it’s the poorest who are hardest hit by disasters like hurricanes. The goal is to build them some much-needed latrines, at the same time as building up God’s church. (Can you imagine a place without even this basic necessity of life?)

Watch this space for more news of our summer relief teams to the DR!