DOMINCIAN REPUBLIC REPORT:

In January, Bishop Thomas and Rev. Angela Solomon, Connie Kesner, and my wife Ginny and I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic (DR).  We saw first-hand how God continues to move in the DR using Mitch and Debbie Martinez to facilitate many activities.
Mitch and Debbie Martinez
You may remember in November and December the relief effort for the flood victims at the Village Rieles.  The people told us that mud and water were 3 feet high in the houses. You could see the mounds of mud that were shoveled out of the houses. Mitch and Debbie were praising God for all the help TMCI people gave during this crisis. They were able to buy 50 mattresses for the people, and help to feed them after the flood had passed.

Although we lost the church building in the flood, God has raise up a new church in the area. They now have two adult Bible studies and a children's program.

                      
The church's location in Rieles, now only river • Mud shoveled out of houses • Debbie showing us the area

Bible Study. The young man on the left said that he had not become a Christian. I took his picture and said I would pray for him until he did. Two weeks ago he accepted Christ as Savior. Praise God!

Mitch and Debbie are helping Pastor Joselo Toribio in Ranchito to build a new church building and school. Pastor Joselo has outgrown his present building. At the present location he has a school during the day, and during some of the evenings and Sunday it is a church.

Ranchito is a town of about 15,000 people that is about a half-hour's drive from La Vega. Mitch and Debbie are helping them to purchase some land to build a church and school.  They have a three-year land contract for $17,000. They are in the process of trying to raise this money.  They need to pay the land contract off in three years or the interest rate will go up to 20%. Once the land is paid for, they will start building the church and school, which will cost an estimated $35,000. 

If you are interested in donating to the project, you can send your donation to the TMCI office, and note Ranchito on it. One hundred percent of monies receive will go to the project.  
                                                  
Pastor Joselo Toribio and family                               Pastor Joselo's school

                                           
Pastor Joselo presents the church             The new site for the future church and school
   and school building        

The team praying over the land for God to use it to His glory, and that many souls would be saved through this ministry.

We also visited a church in a village call Suarez. This village is about 10-15 minutes from La Vega. Pastor Ambioris Sanchez has ministered in the village for about six years.  He has purchased some land, and has cement slabs and wooden poles with a tin-roof structure on it. He would like to have a building so the elements and the mosquitoes would not hinder services. TMCI was able to give them $2000 for the footing of the church, but they need an additional $7000 to complete the building.

If you are interested in contributing to this project, you can send your donation to the TMCI office, and mark your donations Suarez. One hundred percent of monies received will go to this project.

Pastor Ambioris's Church

God is still doing miraculous things at the La Vega Christian School that Mitch and Debbie founded. They now have 425 Students. They need more space, so they are in the process of raising money for four more classrooms. The cost of the four classrooms is $14,000 per room for a total of $56,000 for the four rooms. The good news is that a church had donated $18000 to start the footings.

If you are interested in contributing to this project, you can send your donation the TMCI office, and mark your donations La Vega School. One hundred percent of monies received will go to this project
                                      
      Mitch at the School                                                     Students at recess

While there, the team had opportunity to minister in many churches and outdoor revivals. We had over 80 people accept Christ as their Savior, and many healed, and one delivered. It was a great time in the Lord.

Lastly, I would like to share about Earl and Shirley Featsent. They are TMCI missionaries that went to help Mitch and Debbie. Earl does a lot of maintenance at the La Vega School and is a blessing to Mitch and Debbie.
Shirley ministers at a church in Camelita where she teaches adults English. At the same church in Camelita, Shirley and Earl are helping a school that minister to underprivileged children.  many are from Haitian families. The school gets no outside funds. The school needs fund to pay for teachers' salaries, utilities, busing for the 21 children. The cost of busing the children is 400 pesos or $12 a month. It does not sound like much, but it is a lot when you do not have it.  The Featsents would also like to start a feeding program for the children. Therefore they are starting a child-sponsorship program of $25 per month.

If you are interested, you can contact the Featsents at earl4jc@gmail.com, or you can mail your donations to Earl & Shirley Featsent, Your Missionary Outreach, P.O. Box 1761, Columbia, SC 29202
                                 
  Shirley teaching English                                 Students at the Camelita School
                                                                               
        Earl Featsent                                           Students at the Camelita School

Ginny and I have been going to the DR since the early 90s, and are always amazed at the way God has blessed the work there.

Praise the Lord!
Bishop Bob Coulter