WyldLife Camp!

Last month we got to be a part of a weekend where we could see the Lord's hand moving in big ways.

"People always told me about Jesus, but this weekend the speaker showed me Jesus."  One WyldLife student said.

These words were said by one but echoed by many.  Four students made first time decisions to follow Christ.  Many other students recommitted their lives to Christ this weekend.

This is why we do what we do.  Kids' lives are being changed by the power of Christ, and we have been able to stand by and watch God's handiwork in action.  It is truly a priveldge to be able to witness God moving in incredible yet tangible ways!

Choosing Joy!

As we embark on a new year, many of us sit down and take some time to think of our hopes and goals for the year.  If I, Katie, write my goals down for the world to see, perhaps I will be more likely to not let them go to the wayside come February…

Here are my goals:

1. Finish reading the One-Year Bible (that I started a year and a half ago…)
2. Update our blog once a month 
3. Move to Jarabacoa

However, Aldo's and my main goal is to live 2012 by the motto “Today I Will Choose Joy.” 

To choose joy when life brings lemons (or limes for the DR folk). ;)

To choose joy even when life brings rotten lemons.

Being joyful is a choice.   Sometimes, a difficult choice to make.  But as Nehemiah put so well, 

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” 

Nehemiah 8:10b

"Doble Doble"

"Doble Doble" - This is our crazy new plan for ministry in the Dominican Republic.  The plan is to double clubs, area, students involved, time in prayer, time in the Word, and double it all again, in seven years.  Upon first hearing this plan, we thought that it was crazy.  And then we realized that is crazy...  However, we are convinced that there is no possible way for us humans to make this happen on our own, and therefore know that it will only come to fruition if the Lord is 100% behind this plan.  To read more about this plan, check out the Newsletter Archives page.

We had a wine tasting benefit last weekend to kick-off this plan, but it is just the beginning.  We still need lots of prayers and support.  We want to invite you to prayerfully consider "doble doble-ing" with us.

• Would you consider doubling your prayers for our ministry?
• Would you prayerfully consider giving a one-time or year-end gift to help us get started with this plan?
• Would you prayerfully consider giving a monthly gift to keep "doble doble" possible?

Here is where we are currently:

If you are interested in investing in Young Life Dominican Republic, check out the 

Partner with Aldo and Katie page.  Join us in this ministry to make "doble doble" possible!

Investing in the lives of youth together with you!

Camp-tastic!

Loco!  That's what our summer was:  Crazy!  We had some tough times this summer with the sudden deaths of two important family members, but were amazed with how the Lord can work through tough situations to bring good to people!  However, both of these deaths have brought people to their knees, realizing that our days are counted, and that we must choose now to live for the Lord.

We also completed our summer camping season, seeing the Lord work in magnificent ways!  Of the 232 kids that went to Pico Escondido for summer camp this summer, 218 dedicated or recommitted their lives to the Lord!   Let us share one example of how the Lord was faithful, and worked in the life of a young teenage girl at Vida Joven camp this summer.

Meet Gloria:

"I was so excited to go to camp this summer that I had packed my bags months ahead of time.  On top of that, my experience at camp was much better than I even could have even expected.  I was overwhelmed when I saw the camp, the people, and even more so when they spoke about Jesus Christ.  My life didn’t make sense prior to going to camp but now I feel as though I have direction.  My mom is happy that I went to camp; as I left the “bad” Gloria at camp, as I am now a new person.  Camp has been the best thing that has happened to me in my life.  Jesus lives in me and now I have peace and direction in my life!"

Please pray with us for our upcoming camps this month. We are hoping to bring everyone that made decisions at summer camp back to give them an opportunity to deepen their faith and get answers to some of the questions they have been asking as new believers.  Please pray with us that the Lord will continue to mold the hearts of these new believers as they make steps towards deepening their relationship with Jesus!

Celebration at Camp!

Zurdo went to camp a few years ago where he met the Lord and changed his life.  He is a new creation, and now wants to give others the same opportunity he had.  Here he shares his story.

This past Saturday we celebrated with our friends the inauguration of the new cabin.  This new cabin will hold 32 people, which will double to 64 when the second dorm is complete.  This means people like Zurdo will get to bring more friends to camp this summer!!  Here we are inaugurating the new cabin.

Praying a blessing on the new dorm.

 Celebrating Dominican style.

Thankful for a great day and thankful for what's to come!!!

Ready or not... Summer is here!

Summer has officially made it to the Dominican!  School is out and we are in the process of gearing up for our summer outreach camps.

Last Wednesday we sat on the balcony at camp and overlooked a beautiful, peaceful place as we prayed for and talked details about this upcoming summer.  This summer we will have three one-week camps where kids are already signing up, looking forward to the following:

• cooler weather up in the mountains
• a quieter place where car alarms, motorcycles, and other loud noises   don't pollute the air
• pool, climbing wall, challenge course, basketball and volleyball courts, whiffle ball field, plus more
• running, hot water
• 3 full excellent hot meals a day
• "club" every night, with crazy games, skits, songs, and most importantly a talk that ends with a challenge to turn their eyes and hearts to God.

What they are not aware of is how this could be the best week of their life, as they will be challenged to give their lives to Jesus.  Many teens will walk away from their week at camp a new creation; they will leave camp with their hearts filled of the love of Jesus and will have a fervor to follow Him!  If you want to give a kid the opportunity to have the best week of their life, click here.

Camp begins July 14, will run three weeks straight, and we hope to see as many as 300 youth this summer, as our newly constructed cabins have allowed for an increase in numbers.  Please join us in prayer for these camps: for hearts to be moldable, for safety, and for energy and patience for the leaders.  We are very excited for this upcoming summer!

And here are a few pictures looking back at this last month...

 Aldo and I met my parents for a long weekend of R&R in Puerto Rico in May.

We celebrated the end of the year of WyldLife by having a pool party!

Rosi and Sara and our end of the year WyldLife pool party

Thanks for continuing to make ministry possible in the Dominican Republic!

What we've been up to...

Aldo has been discipling his friend and co-worker, Emilio:

Meet Emilio:  Emilio's father left his mother, when Emilio was very young, to pursue other women.  This greatly impacted Emilio's childhood and adolescence and left him feeling lonely and rejected.  He tried to fill that empty void with many things: alcohol, media, girls, etc, but he still felt an emptiness in his heart.  Emilio was invited to Vida Joven camp where he meet the Lord, and is now one of our strongest student leaders.  

Emilio's brother was killed last September and now his family is trying to deal with the loss as life goes on.  The Lord has given Emilio strength to be a great support for his family as they all deal with the loss.  He is radiating Jesus to them during this tough time.  Please pray with us for Emilio and his family for strength and comfort in Jesus.

We both recently finished our yearly training camp event:

Aldo did an excellent job on organizing and putting together our annual training camp.  We had 157 leaders attend who are all passionate about developing relationships with youth and sharing Christ's love with them.  Praise Jesus for an excellent Spirit-led weekend!  Check out the video from Training camp under our photos and videos page. 

Katie has been practicing her superhero skills by night:

This picture is from our WyldLife Superhero club!  While our numbers have been low this past semester, we have been blessed to be able to pour deeply into a few students. Please continue to pray for the WyldLife ministry, as Katie disciples Rosi and Kasandra that went to camp in February.  Pray that they will continue to love the Lord and seek Him during the summer months when they are on summer vacation. 

And in our free time: 

We've been teaching our friends how to play Just Dance 2!

 Thanks for your continual investment in the lives of youth in the Dominican Republic!