Marialisa & Leurisa
The feeding center in Santiago, Club Samuel, which is supported by Arden Road Baptist Church in Amarillo, just had a special program for their parents. We were very proud of how hard the kids worked and almost all the parents and or guardians came. Best of all a clear presentation of the gospel was presented and several accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Please pray for this ministry and for the children that have received Christ to continue to be a witness to their unsaved parents.
In January, Kelview Heights Baptist church in Midland invited our family to their missions conference and Boston Baptist College asked Tom to teach a concentrated 2 week philosophy of mission course to 31 students. We accepted and seized the opportunity to visit family. Grandma and great-grandma were able to enjoy grandkids and meet their new grandbaby, JuliAnna, who was born in the Dominican Republic 1 year ago. We’re glad to be back home but thank God for allowing us to serve the churches and college and at the same time for allowing us to refresh.
Rains have been non- stop for several weeks and have continued bringing mudslides and flooding. Our city Tamboril, has been among the worst affected areas in the country. The constant rains damaged 100 homes with the root of the problem being a sand mine that resulted in an enormous hole that filled with water and caused a landslide that destroyed 60 homes, two schools and a church. The town of Carlos Diaz about 4 miles from our location has been completely deserted due to the waters and landslides. The President of the country Leon Fernandez was here in Tamboril for several days directing recovery efforts. Spiritually, we are standing in the gap passing out tracks and taking the opportunity to pray and encourage those affected by the disaster. David (man pictured above) and I figure that there is close to 1000 people living in a gym (with only 4 bathrooms) just a few blocks from the church. There were so many affected, we decided to strike up a friendship with one family and help them the best we can. This is Glenis Santana with her sons Samuel, Wesley and daughter Wenifer. Glenis’s husband is a mechanic and was out doing odd jobs while we were there. They have lost everything and currently have two mattress’s between the five of them. It is a crazy situation in the gym, not a really good place for kids. Please pray that our church will be able to learn quickly the blessing of giving when so many around are in need of receiving. We want the people in our church to understand and practice that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Heading to the frozen tundra of Boston for this warm-blooded island dweller is always a challenge. One – its cold. Did I say cold? Wait – let me add an adjective - freezing cold. Second - How do you keep 31 inquiring minds from all over the globe engaged in a Philosophy of missions class for 5 hours a day – two weeks running? Well, keep it simple, fun and pump in huge doses of faith. After all when good effective ministry that lasts is done on the mission field it is always accompanied by extreme faith. What an honor to share and challenge students with every inspired missiological nugget I could gather. It’s a sacred trust and I pray I can see them again down this road called ministry. C.T. Studd said "Some want to live within the sound of chapel bells but that he’d rather run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." I feel some of these students have the same desire and I have high expectations for each one of them.
For JuliAnna's 1st birthday we bought cake, ice cream and presents. Big Mama, Big Daddy and family gathered around with camera's ready to catch that once in a lifetime shot where she's allowed to freely dig her hands into her first and very own cake with no interference. The camera's rolled and clicked; however, they didn't capture dirty hands playing and licking icing, that was just a bit too yucky and gooey for JuliAnna, way better to just think cleaner and neater and eat the cake face first. What fun!
We have had so much fun starting this church. At first we were a bit embarrassed with the facility and dove into remodeling it so as to have an adequate place to meet. During this process, our neighbors saw us working up a sweat and began to inquire what we were up to. We happily introduced ourselves and shared with them our plans to start a Baptist church. To take advantage of their curiosity we told them to come to church Sunday morning. Without flyers, fanfare or even a sign, people started to come and we have seen a steady stream of visitors motivated by the love and curiosity our neighbors have to know more about us and the Lord. Several have accepted Christ and discipleships have begun. Tyler and I are holding down the Sunday School while Tom does the preaching, music ect. We really are a army of one family now but pray this Christmas God will give us some Sunday School helpers that want to grow in their relationship with the Lord through service.
A big thank you to Lynn and Randy Brown for sending boxes and boxes of clothes and toys from Play House Day Care in Amarillo, Texas. Our partnership with Agape Missionary flights has bridged the gap between home and field. Yamarka and her courageous family are wonderful people attending Congregacion Bautista here in Santiago and really needed help this Thanksgiving. We were all very thankful that we got to meet Yamarka's mother who has been in Haiti - she is a very very sweet person. SHE GAVE ME A BEAR HUG AND BIG KISS (which is something I normally try and avoid unless it comes from one of my girls) BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO ESCAPE (Trust Me)!! Helping those less fortunate during this time is well - unforgettable - it was a honor and privilege to be a part of this and we felt very used. Please pray that this couple stays faithful to church and will stay together no matter the storms that come their way.
Church Needs
Open Doors
been out campaigning for the presidential elections two weeks from now. Thanks to a few friends, a great lawyer, a good judge and the Lord we prevailed and now Believe it or Not, JuliAnna is JuliAnna Truth Franklin Barnes - that is quite a handle. We had our appointment at the U.S. embassy 3 weeks ago and this week her passport and U.S. Birth certificate arrived making her a dual citizen. God is good.
God is Great. We are so thankful for each and every supporting church and individual that has given money for purchasing land for church property here in Santiago. We are setting up casa cultos "house services" for prayer and Bible study very similar to what we did in Cuba throughout the week. Bro. Herb Rawlings purchased a tent for the church that will hold between 200-300 people. Our plans are to meet on Sunday's in the tent and in homes throughout the week until we can raise all the money needed for the property. Please pray for us. Recently, Dr. Ariel Mend
oza from a nearby medical clinic came and scandalously threatened Tom in public to do everything in his power to stop the church. Tom had never met the Dr. before and really had no idea what his problem was, due to his aggressive nature. Tom kept his testimony and after Dr. Mendoza left, those that remained told Tom that the Dr. was also interested in the property 
but desired to steal it. Greed, it's amazing how it works in the third world. Living on an island with over 9 million people, every bit of land is precious and we are thankful that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
to watch a educational video with approximately 15-20 dangerous driving situations. The Problem? The dangerous driving scenarios were presented but we never got to the part where they teach you what to do! I'm still wondering what to do when my tires lock up in the snow!!! After this, I got into our diesel truck (Gasoline is now over $5.50 a gallon) and waited to be examined. When the examiner got in, I backed up, drove about two feet, and my examiner (man) excitedly proclaimed - "You know how to drive a truck? Manually?" - You Pass! I don't know if he was impressed or nervous. I wish they would have made the paper work, taxes and waiting part that easy.
The quiet peace of Sunday afternoon was shattered yesterday when tornadoes swept through our valley. Hundreds of people were forced to seek temporary shelter when three separate tornadoes destroyed 140 homes, toppled power lines, injured 18 people and killed several others. One 64-year-old woman died after winds blew a telephone antenna tower on top of her house. Power is still being restored and the roads are littered with trees, light posts and broken glass. Officials are reporting major loss's to crops, including pineapple, rice and the plantain field. Unfortunately, this is only going to make the high prices on food go higher. So far this year we have suffered hurricanes Noel (Here is a video from Agape Missionary Flights - they bring in our mail) and Olga, the Tavera-Bao Dam debacle (someone out of fear opened the flood gates to the dam releasing more than 5,000 cubic meters a second into Santiago) that destroyed several thousand homes and now - three tornadoes.
"The Before"
Tom, Wilson, Juan, Fermin & Thelma
