Happy New Year from the DR!

We're HERE! Well, I suppose from your perspective we should say... We're THERE! There/Here being Santiago, Dominican Republic, in a neighborhood known as "Las Americas." Our bodies are pretty much adjusted to the time, climate, and diet change and there's plenty of work ahead of us. We've attached some pictures below of the new project site.

Here's a brief synopsis of all that's going on.

Casa de Dios Puerta al Cielo & the New Project:Every week there's a Service on Tuesday and Sunday. There's a Bible Study on Thursday and a youth service on Saturday Nights. We will be attending all events and helping in the music worship (i.e. singing, guitar, percussion). Also we will be heavily involved with the youth of this church, preaching, doing devotionals, and coordinating and planning events and activities. The new property for the new facility has been bought and paid for in full. After coming home from their day jobs, members of the church have cooked meat and made clothes to sell in order to raise funds for the property they now have. However this is a small property of 300 square meters and will only fit the first building which will be a 2 story worship center/educational facility. Next to the property is another lot that is for sale by the same owner and measures approximately 1800 square meters. This lot has a price tag of 1.2 million pesos (or 36 thousand US Dollars). The money that many of you donated will be going toward the construction of the first building, and then will go toward the purchase of the next property. In the mean time, the church is and has been growing strong spiritually and numerically.

Centro Cristiano de Adoracion y Restauracion:In the letter we sent out to many of you we called this church Centro de Alabanza y Adoracion, but this church has just recently changed its name to the above heading. The main church service is on Sunday mornings. A bible study is held on Wednesday Night, and Friday nights they have a church fellowship time. At this church we are also participating in the music and attending all services. At Centro Cristiano, the music school has been very productive. They already have over 20 piano graduates, 5 guitar graduates, and 6 drumset graduates. In addition to the music school, Pastor DeLeon has bought a set of high quality professional sewing machines to begin teaching members a valuable vocational skill and also producing goods to raise funds for church activities and for the building project at Casa de Dios.

We miss you guys! Please keep in touch by e-mailing us and/or calling us!

1.809.570.3217 (Dial it just like calling an American number... but they still charge you internationally)
ckseals@yahoo.com