The Timothy Project

Please join us at the new blog site- I am "blogging" over there with updates about what is happening here in the ministry of the Timothy Project.

For many months I have been trying to figure out how to change my blog url.  While I have worked with the Macedonia Project in the past, I have for several years been working in the Timothy Project, sort of an outgrowth of what I was doing several years ago. The Macedonia Project continues to exist, it is the mission strategy of the Dominican Baptist Convention and whenever possible, I support what they are doing. My assignment from the IMB is more specific, planting churches among the urban poor of the Cibao Region, which has led me to continue with what we started, focusing on training leaders who in turn will train leaders, resulting in multiple new churches.

All that to say, I have a new blog! marshadavidson.blog.com  Please visit me there- I will be monitoring both sites- I don't want to lose any of you. I have added some new features to the other blog and my hope is that in the coming year, it will serve as a prayer guide as well as an instrument for reflective thinking on how to live out the Great Commission where ever we might be.

Remember: marshadavidson.blog.com

 

Well, 2007 is underway! Things here are still quiet. This Saturday is King's Day; in some parts of the country this is the big celebration when the children receive their presents, etc. Not so in Santiago but still we are on holiday. The kids don't go back to school until next Monday, the free zone factories are closed which means a significant portion of the population is on vacation still. So, we are off and running in the new year, but still at half power so to speak!

My nephews left this morning. It was a great time to see them and do some exploring. The motorcycle trip New Year's Day was really something- we went way out in the campos, where I had never been before. The scenery was fabulous. Those of you who have been here can imagine the driving conditions. The bikes we rented were not in the best of condition- the brakes were a little shaky as were the clutches but it just added to the flavor of the event.  Needless to say, I was very much relieved when we arrived home with no injuries!

My mom got out of the hospital New Year's Day for which we are thankful. I think she is still not feeling 100% but thrilled to be home at least. Thanks for praying for her.

So, now it is time to get to work on all those New Year's Resolutions! I haven't quite finished my list so I will be working on that in the next few days. I hope all of you have taken some time to reflect on God's goodness and His plan for your lives, and will take whatever action you need to in order to make your hopes and dreams a reality in this coming year.

Well, things are heating up for the big celebration... fireworks are being sold at every street corner, grapes and apples are also for sale, and the pigs are roasting! We will have our worship services tomorrow morning, all at 9 or 10am. I plan on visiting all of our 5 locations to visit and wish our folks a happy New Year, and allow them all to meet my nephews.

Thursday we had a great day going to the 27 waterfalls- they climbed to the top and made the big jump- it is about a 50 or 60 foot drop into a pool of water about the size of your car. They thought it was great, I wouldn't do it for all the tea in China. Today we went to Jarabacoa in hopes of doing some 4 wheeling in the moutains but we didn't exactly find what we were looking for (prices too high, no guide, etc. and not availabe today) but we did enjoy a hike into the waterfalls. Victor has arranged for us to rent 3 motorcycles for Monday and we will do some backroading up around the small villages that surround Santiago.  That should actually be better than the 4 wheeling, giving them a chance to see the real DR.  I am pretty excited about it.

Pilar and Mecho were here tonight to cook dinner. We are all stuffed as those of you who have been here know from experience. We went for a little exploration trip as we took them home, finding some spots where they are roasting pigs. Tomorrow is a big pig day so they are getting them over the fire and will stay with them all night! 

We have good news about my mom- she is feeling better and may even be released tomorrow from the hospital and for now they haven't mentioned any surgery. She had a low sodium level which was part of the reason she was so weak but she has been on IVs for a while and is getting stronger. Thanks for your prayers for her. 

I wish you all a safe new years celebration and will pray with you for an exciting and fufilling 2007! May God grant you the desires of your heart!

I discovered this morning that my mother had been hospitalized during the night. She has been very sick and uncomfortable for several days. She suffered a severe attack of diverticulitis (?) last summer and we are assuming that this is another one which could possibly mean surgery in the near future.  She will remain in the hospital through the weekend. I think she is having an upper GI done sometime soon and then Monday or Tuesday the doctor will determine the course of action. Pray for her and my father during this weekend. It is no fun to be sick, but a holiday weekend makes it even worse! Thanks for your prayers!

This week and next are quiet weeks here in the DR. The schools don't reopen until January 8th and neither do the "free zone" factories. Many others also take their vacation during this time.  So the roads are relatively quiet.  New Year's Eve promises to be a pretty LOUD celebration. Christmas eve sounded like we were at war with all the fireworks going off so I can just imagine what New Year's will bring.

Our Bible studies so far this week have gone well.  Attendance is down a little bit but that is not surprising for this time of year.

My big news is my nephews, Russell and Marshall, arrive this afternoon for a brief visit. We plan of climbing the waterfalls, going to the beach, and doing some 4 wheeling in the mountains, along with visiting our ministry sites and families.  I am always excited to have family come for a visit and it is especially nice to have them during the holidays.

I will keep updating the blog and sharing some of our upcoming plans!

It has been a great Christmas- yesterday we had three simultaneous worship celebrations (at the three churches) with over 300 people participating. Most were children yet we had at least 80 adults come to share in the celebrations.

Saturday's celebration went great in Navarette with over 100 people. Again, mostly children but there were quite a few adults present.

One experience this Christmas I hope I won't soon forget was my trip to visit a lady in Guayacanal. Victor and I were giving food baskets to our regular attenders. I hadn't been to this home before.  She has two little shacks of tin, neither one bigger than my office.  She was cooking outside over sticks when we arrived. And she is raising 5 children! When Victor and I got back in the car to leave, neither of us knew what to say.  I was back yesterday to give some gifts to folks I hadn't found earlier and stopped by her place again to give the children Christmas toys.  The whole experience made me appreciate once again the blessings I have enjoyed in my life but left me wondering why I have been so blessed and others have such a struggle.  I also have come to appreciate the humble loving act of God when he sent his Son to be born in a stable, among the animals. We have our Bible study beside the cow stable so I have become familar with the smells!  This coming year, I hope I can grow in humility and love as I serve here among the urban poor. 

Yesterday, our services were very simple: a time of praise followed by the reading of the Christmas story with the children acting out the events as shared in Luke's gospel.  What struck me this year was the fact that there was no room for Jesus to be born so he wound up being born in a barn.  Unfortunately, I still sense that there is no room for Jesus to be born in the hearts of too many people. Pray for those who heard the invitation yesterday to make room for Him, that this coming year more and more people will commit to study God's word and put it into practice.

I am thankful for all of you who pray for us here in the DR and from the bottom of my heart, I wish you the very happiest and joyful Christmas! May God bless you in a great way this coming year!

The celebration in the Hole went well yesterday. I didn't get to participate because it was my turn to work the Agape flight. Victor says they kids were pleased; he was able to share the Christmas story and had the kids pray with him as they reflected on the story of Christ's birth.

The Llambes' were able to leave for Colombia; I hadn't shared an update but when Lili and Bianca got well enough to go home, Charlie got sick and had to be admitted! When it rains, it pours! But thankfully they were healthy enough to make the trip. Continue to pray for them, that this would be a wonderful time with family and friends.

Tuesday night we had another big turnout in Navarette. Please keep this Saturday (4pm) in your prayers as we celebrate Christmas with hopefully the whole community.

Update on the fire: Pastor Ortiz called me yesterday to let me know that the immediate needs (food, clothing, etc.) were being met by the family and community with local business' chipping in. I have told him that several of you have responded with offers of help and he is helping to determine how that can be best used- probably in the near future as they get into the issue of rebuilding. Thanks for praying for this family!

We had a wonderful evening with almost 50 in attendance for the Christmas service/dinner.  We had some time to reflect on all the "logros" or achievements of the past year which were many. One thing stood out: we have more than tripled this past year and we didn't even invite the folks from our missions! I had their commitment forms from last year but there were only about 12! 

"Los Logros"

• Each church has a core group of leaders that carry on with or with out my presence.
• This past year our church leaders and membership worked with all the volunteer projects, basically without help from our exisiting church members. What this represents is a maturity of commitment and development of giftedness. We appreciate and love our exisiting church members for they are our friends and encouragers, yet it is healthy for our new church members to assume responsibilty and develop their own ministries.
• Three of our folks are studying in the seminary- nearly half-way through the 2 year program.
• Each church has their own building for the ministry of the church. In Villa de Yaque the house is on loan, but we don't have to pay rent! The other two have their own facilities.
• In Los Santos, we were able to build the front wall with hopes to finish the sides this coming year.
• The Hole now has its own house to use for the church instead of the community center and they also have a new basketball court for community use!
• The Hole has hosted two basketball tournaments, giving us an opportunity to share the Good News with a large group of young men.
• Hector is now confident to pray in public! This was a huge struggle for him but last night he had the opening prayer before a large gathering!
• Our leaders have opened up two new mission sites in Guayacanal and Navarette with the help of our mission volunteers.
• Each church is equipped to begin Sunday School in the next few weeks. A group of leaders from each church participated in various workshops with Morena to prepare themselves.
• We participated in two of the three Project Phillip workshops with the Bible League which helped our members begin to lead others to study the Bible.

So you can see we have a lot to be thankful for! And yet we have a long way to go! One area that discourages me is the slow pace of numerical growth in our churches. I was encouraged last night when I realized we have actually grown more than I realized but our church membership still is a tiny fraction of the population.  This coming year I want to focus on equipping our membership to share their faith effectively and leading others to saving faith.  We will give renewed focus to the Phillip Project as well as work on leadership training.

You might be able to think of other "logros"- please share them!  We thank you for your prayers and your help in our ministry!