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!