Surf trip/ Camp Able DR Meetings

Two meetings coming up if you’re interested in joining us on either of the two trips we have planned:

Surf trip: Wedn. Dec 9th at Panera Bread in Carlsbad California. 7:30 PM. The address is 1935 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009. If you can’t go, but still want to make the trip with us please contact me ASAP. Facebook site for more info here

Camp Able DR trip: Wedn. Dec 16th at Jenelle Nettles’ house in Tierrasanta. 7 PM. Contact me for an address. Even if you’re unable to go with us it would be rad to get everyone together. Facebook site for more info here

Back in SD!

I’m back in San Diego!! I’ll be organizing and preparing for the surf trip and the camp able trip while I’m here and raising funds. If you still want to get involved in either trips please contact me soon! Feel free to join 25 for 20 if your not interested in attending the trips, but would like to donate to the ministries financially. I’ll also be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas here before I go back Jan. 7th to visit the family in Sarasota, FL and then back to the DR. Woot Woot.

Movie Night

Last night was the first big event we had for the surf ministry down here in the Dominican Republic. There is a group of us that meet every Sunday morning on the beach for a bible study and this was the first big event that we hosted for our community of surfers.

All in all we had over 30 individuals come to the house of Chuck and Mia Gallo to watch “Beyond the Dream, The Joey Buran story.” The movie is about a local California surfer and his testimony of how he accomplished his dreams in the surfing world and was eventually led to be a strong believer in the Faith. It was a great testimony to all the surfers that were there and it was rad watching all the waves. We were able to serve pizza thanks to New Missions and were able to share the amazing story of Jesus with a community of kids that don’t experience love on a daily basis. It was truly a rad night.

Update 9/24

Feliz dia de nuestra mujer Mercedez! Today was a Dominican holiday which means no school, most shops were closed, and the beaches were packed! Definitely excellent.
I wanted to just briefly give you guys an update on some of the things that are happening or will be happening down here that I am stoked to be apart of. Firstly, there is a surf trip set up for February 7-14 to minister to the local surf ministry. Secondly, there is a Camp Able DR trip set up in order to impact the special needs community on the North Coast of the DR. There is more information on the “get involved” section of my website for both trips.
The other activity that has been keeping me busy down here in the DR is the escuelita de musica (school of music). Every Tuesday and Thursday during the week I am able to open up our music storage room at our spanish church and invite individuals and groups from the local community to learn, practice, and teach instruments such as guitar, bass guitar, drums, and piano. This has also become a practice space for a local band of high-schoolers who frequently play at our spanish church. Everything at the escuelita is free and kids that attend are expected to learn about equipment care and assist in events and church services. One of the individuals who has been teaching guitar and band dynamics for years here is named Jesse Owen Brechtefeld and much of this has been developed by his heart and passion for sharing the love of Christ through the art of music. Thank you, Jesse.
P.S. - The Picture is of my recent birthday I celebrated with my friend Luigi whose birthday was on the same date as mine.

25 for 20

As many of you know, things have been very busy and I have been all over the place since I’ve been back to the DR. God has already opened so many doors and opportunities in the way of me purchasing a surfboard, a new scooter, finding a place to live, continuing with the surf ministry, the music ministry, and ultimately just interacting with the people here. I have been quickly reminded how hospitable and loving this part of the world is.
However, It is difficult for me to continue participating in these ministry without the financial help from my friends and family. While I have received a couple generous donations in the past it is still not sufficient for my continued ministry.
I need to receive approx. $500 a month to continue my services while I am here and while I am in San Diego, CA. Therefore, I am challenging you to join the 25 for 20 group. I need 25 people or families to commit to donating $20 a month toward the works that God is doing through this ministry. While I am living very simply, there are still funds I need to raise for gas, food, school bills, and transportation back and forth from the United States. You can easily set up a payment plan with Shirley in the New Missions office using your credit or debit card. Please consider and pray about committing to this group. It would help me a great deal.

TO JOIN 25 for 20:

1) Send check or money order monthly to

New Missions at P.O. Box 2727 Orlando, FL, 32802

please put my missionary ID (M0036) on the bottom
portion of your checks and write the check to New
Missions.

Use credit or debit card by phone

Simply call Shirley with New Missions at

1-800-937-4248 and tell her you would like to support me.

* more information on the donate section of my website at dmmissions.com

I almost died

I am officially back in the Dominican Republic!! It was a crazy flight over here. We attempted to land on the island initially and bailed on the descent because of an intense rain storm. We then waited the rain out a little bit and the pilot decided that we’d go through a little bit of turbulence, but we’d be ok to land the plane. As we were very near landing the plane our pilot decided that it definitely was not safe and at the last second decided to bail from landing again. However, this time as we were lifting out we flew right through the center of this huge thunderstorm and insanity broke loose. There were people throwing up next me, the plane was going up and down frequently, the lady next me was nervously laughing and asking if this was normal (it definitely was not), and it was nuts. However, by the grace of God we survived and landed the plane north of the island on a set of islands called Providenciales.
In Providenciales, we were asked to stay on the plane. Apparently, we were carrying some sort of deadly virus or something because the local health commissioner would not let us out without proper paperwork. So we waited about an hour on the plane while a group of local women with the airport checked all the seats of the plane for signs of mold or something? (The question mark is because I fell asleep and I really just don’t know.) They then left and the captain informed us that we could then return to land on the island of Hispaniola and my partial home, the Dominican Republic.
I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

First Surf Trip Planned!

The trip is still under construction, but we will definitely be hosting bible studies, surfing everyday, and serving the local surf community by means of hosting lunches, a movie night, and helping maintain Playa Encuentro which is the beach community we will be located.
If you are interested in coming on this trip, sponsoring this trip financially, or sponsoring this trip through material donation please contact me through email at miller787@gmail.com you can also join the network on facebook by going here. This trip is being promoted via Christian Surfers Encinitas Chapter.
If you do not feel as though you can attend this trip, but want to still help out we are wanting to hand out the surfer’s bible and different surf dvd’s that share about authentic love. Feel free to contact me about donating these items or other items such as surf wax, resin, or leashes that are always needed down on the north coast of the DR.

The New Website is up!!

Please go to www.dmmissions.com and check out what I am doing with my life! Feel free to get involved, contact me, or just check out the photos and such. Regardless, you should go check it out

-Dustin

Back in San Diego, CA

As of Sunday, May 10th I am officially back home in San Diego, CA! It was a long and very fast drive across the country, but it was great to see my cousin Jen and family in Phoenix, AZ and everybody back at 7 SD church on Sunday morning.
Since I’ve been back, I began working at Panera Bread Co. in Eastlake, CA. My friend Tyler was gracious enough to hire me on to his team. It has been a great experience so far as our store is in the same community as my home church. I have already had more than one conversation with a customer or co-worker about Jesus and 7 SD church. The former was obviously the more important topic. Nonetheless, it has been a huge blessing and I plan on working here part-time until I make my way back to the Dominican Republic.
On June 22nd, Camp Able will begin again and I will be supervising this summer. I have been involved with this camp the past two years and am very excited to help run it this summer. Camp Able is a day camp on the beach at Coronado, CA specifically designed for the disabled community. Campers enjoy sailing, playing in the sand, playing in the waves, arts and crafts, nature hikes, canoeing, and a ton of energy! It’s by far one of my favorite places to be in San Diego, CA.
There has been no doubt in my mind that I feel God’s presence in the ministry I am pursuing here. Arriving back in San Diego has been a huge blessing. I can’t wait to see what connections and ministries God has in store for the Dominican Republic as I continue to network this summer. I will be posting more and more blogs as things get going. I am already meeting with people in the next week to discuss the possibilities. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

My Friend Simeon

On my way back to San Diego, California last week I decided to spend a few days in Panama City, Florida with my friends Chris Nowicki and Simeon Lohrmann. During this stay we decided to rent mo-peds and ride around the city and along the beach. Unfortunately, my friend Simeon lost control of his mo-ped and was rushed to the Emergency Room. Simeon suffered from a concusion, a broken collar bone, and a fractured rib. He just recently arrived back in California, but is still in a lot of pain as he heals.
After talking with the doctors and replaying the incident in our minds, we realize just how much worse it could have been. It was evident that God had protected us that day and that though Simeon is still in pain, he is loved by God and his friends.
I’d like to thank everyone who was praying for this incident as it happened and for those of you who are continuing to join us in prayer as we pray for Simeon’s quick healing.

Decision to work abroad and home

Dear family and friends,

During the months of September, 2008 to March of 2009, I found myself at work doing that which I feel God has specifically gifted me to do. I was serving in Sosúa, Dominican Republic with a Not for Profit group called New Missions as an on-site missionary. It was through this experience and the short time I had spent with friends and family back in the states after my trip that I feel allowed me to define my vocation more clearly. I use the term “vocation” as a place where my deepest passions meet the World’s greatest needs. Allow me to quickly describe how I came to discover my vocation through these recent experiences.

After leaving my term of six months in the Dominican Republic (DR), my goal was to begin my graduate studies in the field of School Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU). On the plane back to the states however, I was already missing my ministry and friends in the Dominican Republic so much that I had nearly told myself that I would return if I was not accepted into the graduate program. As I visited my home back in San Diego, California and interviewed for entry into grad school however, God put a desire back in my heart to serve the people of southern California. One week later, I received notice that I was not accepted into the graduate program at SDSU. I was now faced with the decision of going back to the DR or moving back to San Diego (SD) and pursuing other opportunities.

Following this news, I sought the advice of a lot of close friends and family members trying to decide what to do with myself. While I was active in most all of my passions and desires in the DR, I found myself being called at the same time to SD to pursue very similar ministries and activities. Thus, after praying, fasting, and consulting with a lot of close friends and mentor figures in my life I was very torn in deciding which way to go. I knew for sure that I had a huge heart for both locations and both ministry opportunities. However, I also wanted to make sure that my decision was primarily based on where I felt God was calling me and also that this choice would ultimately bring the most glory to God. Therefore, I have decided to pursue living in both the DR and SD.

Vocationally, I find the most fulfillment when I am working to serve 2-3 months in SD and 2-3 months in the DR. I hope to work while advocating for New Missions when I am in SD and to continue and grow the ministries I was involved with previously when I am in the Dominican Republic. The more I pray and discuss this idea with friends and family, the more at peace I become with this decision. I do want to emphasize however, that I am doing this because I feel called to serve both locations, not because I do not feel I have the capability of raising funds for living in the DR solely. With that being said, I pray and hope you will find favor in me as I begin to pursue the calling that I feel God has placed upon my life.

With Love,

Dustin Miller