Surfer's Retreat

The first weekend of October, 2011 marked the first national camp-out for Christian Surfers Dominican Republic. Participants traveled together from all different parts of the country to arrive Friday afternoon at Macao Surf Camp in Playa Macao, Punta Cana. There was a large bus of 25 surfers from Cabarete, a van full of 8 from Nagua, A Caravan of vehicles from Santo Domingo with over twenty total, and all the local crowd of Playa Macao. We were also joined by a small group of guys from Christian Surfers USA who assisted in preparing meals, tents, and whatever clean up or other needs became necessary.

With all the planning we did however, it was God whose perfect will took control of our weekend. There were a lot of surfers there who were not Christians and the forecast predicted that there were not going to be waves the whole weekend. In preparation for this - we prepared a bunch of different activities like a tandem surf contest, paddle races, etc. We figured we could still have fun and were hoping that the lack of surf would encourage people to look to God. However, once Friday arrived a storm that had already passed by us decided to turn around and come back to give us chest high waves. We were stoked that we'd at least get a little of surf in for all the guys, but by the time everyone arrived the waves grew to over-head. In fact, setting up camp was a bit of a challenge because all of us wanted to be in the water. We had dinner that night and worshiped God together fireside.

When we woke up the next morning, the waves were still over-head and glassy and remained like that the whole day. What was so awesome about the waves - there was not one person there who denied that it was God who had sent us the waves for the weekend. In fact, we postponed our morning worship service b/c everyone was so stoked on God and surfing His creation. During our Saturday evening worship service there were some of us in tears just realizing how Great our God is. The next morning - after breakfast and worship all the participants received a Surfer's Bible and a Christian Surfers DR t-shirt (thanks to Cobian Sandals/Pacific Summer Surf Shop) before we all went our separate ways.

The guys from the USA also brought down a big bag full of girls Cobian sandals donated by Beautiful Feet. The local Punta Cana Chapter of Christian Surfers DR donated all the sandals to the girls at the local public school. It was a great lesson in giving for the local guys and a huge blessing to the local school in which many of the students come from under-privileged families.

The theme for the weekend was "identity" and we feel like everyone was able to find themselves as part of the ministry of Christian Surfers DR, but more importantly - part of God's Kingdom. Thank you to all who blessed this event with prayer and please continue to pray for us as we continue demonstrating God's love to our surf community.

Summer is over

I wrote you a poem -

Summer has cometh to an end
Autumn no existeth in the Caribbean
So I'll stayeth in Summer
As Summer stayeth in the Caribbean

Haha.

I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who sponsored, prayed, and cared for all that God has done in the DR this summer through me. For all that welcomed me in Florida for my younger bro's wedding in May, for those who came down to Nagua in June to start the first surf school/ CS chapter (the school is meeting every week currently!), for all who donated and prayed for my trip to Peru where I learned so much about ministry to surfers at the America's Conference put on by Christian Surfers International, for all who came down to minister with New Missions and our communities, schools, and churches.

As I continue on into the fall I feel very blessed for all that God has done and given me through all of you. I could not have done it without you and please know that God has begun beautiful works through our partnership.

This coming week we will be starting up the school of music again. This year we have a piano teacher and I am happy to say my first drum student ever here in the DR (Jan Carlos) is taking my position as the drum teacher. I will be teaching guitar this term. We easily will have at least 20 students on any particular afternoon. God has blessed us.

At the end of September we will be hosting our first ever Christian Surfers DR Surfer's Retreat. We have groups from Cabarete, Nagua, and Santo Domingo all traveling to the host chapter in Playa Macao where 17 tents, a stage with a band, and different speakers will be supporting the sport of surfing by spreading the love of Christ. The theme of the weekend is called "Identity." We hope that all participants will grasp what it means to be a Christian and how to live it out in our culture of surfing here in the DR.

Thank you all again for the constant support and love. God has been bringing us together to do great things for His kingdom.

The photo above is all of us at Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru for the America's Conference.

Christian Surfers Nagua

The sport of surfing in the Dominican Republic has been a growing and flourishing form of recreation among our shores. The sport has brought numerous tourists to our coasts and more and more nationals are participating and performing at an international level. However, there are still many coastal towns with good waves, but suffer from lack of surfboards, experience, and a continual surf presence. One of these towns is called Nagua. That is, until now.

On June 7th, 2011 a team of missionaries from Daytona Beach, FL representing Christian Surfers USA joined Christian Surfers DR in order to begin the first ever Surf School in Nagua, DR. The week of events was hosted by local mission organization - Everyday Ministries who took care of transportation, translation, room & board, and had a great reputation and knowledge of the community. It was truly a coming together of many persons, organizations, and hopes that the sport of surfing joined with the love of Christ could positively impact the town of Nagua - forever.

Many things were accomplished through this week of ministry. Firstly, the good news was preached and represented at every location and event as was the primary goal of all involved. Secondly, CS Contact and Nagua local Isaac Gil Peña was blessed and received the charge of running and maintaining Christian Surfers Nagua and the surf school as an on-going ministry on the shores of Nagua. Thirdly, the 12 surfboards and materials (leashes, rashguards, repair kits, etc.) that were donated to the surf school will serve to give free classes and rentals to the local surf community, but also to increase the tourist market in Nagua by making available classes, rentals, and knowledge of the local waves so the school can be self-sustaining.

The start of this surf school has been the hope of the locals in Nagua, the community of Christian Surfers DR, FEDOSurf (federation of surfing for the DR), and God who has called us all to serve with the talents and gifts he's given us.

Please be in prayer for Isaac Gil Peña and Christian Surfers Nagua as they develop the sport of surfing through the love of Christ.

Dustin's rad summer plans

Happy April everyone. I hope spring has come to you in a special way and that all that read this are less cold. Spring in the DR means that the air temp and humidity are rising, kids are finishing big school projects, and everyone is getting ready for their travels and/or the abundance of visiting mission teams to our Caribbean climate. For me personally, there are a few items that I am preparing for -

End of May - My bro Aaron is getting married to the beautiful Amanda Beechy in Sarasota, FL. I will be participating in the wedding, visiting surfing friends and co-workers in other parts of Florida, and celebrating the high-school graduation of my youngest bro - Brady Miller. It will have been over a year and a half since the last time I was with the family in Florida.

June - Hosting a Christian Surfers mission team in Nagua, DR in order to support Isaac Gil Peña and the opening of the first surf school in this city. There will be surfboards coming with the team from Florida and other parts of the DR in support of this Christian affiliated surf school. Isaac will be initiating the Nagua chapter during this incredible week of ministry and we will be offering free surf lessons to the entire community of Nagua.

End of July - America's conference with Christian Surfers in Punta Hermosa, Peru. I am still about $700 short of the funds I need to go to this conference, but I am believing in God that I will make it there. I have been asked to represent the Dominican Republic in this conference and will be sharing on what God has been doing on our shores. There will be at least 18 surfing nations represented and guest speakers whom specialize in ministry to surfers.

June/July/August - Assisting in hosting New Missions' short-term mission teams and promoting the school of music and a new sports ministry began by my good friend Jose Manuel (Cheko) whom I have been investing in the last couple years through bible studies.

SO thats it! If you feel led to donate to my trip to Peru simply hit the paypay donate button on my blog or visit my personal website at - www.dmmissions.com and click on Donations

Thanks for reading and all the love and prayers.

-Dustin

Field Trip Eco-Awareness

I've been blessed recently to involve Colegio Nueva Vida in the first local marine ecology awareness program through PADI and my friend Matt Wegner. The goal of the program is to educate the local student population about pollution control and caring for our local marine environment.

On February 25th, we took the freshman class to the North Coast Dive Center. After a short class on pollution control, Coral species, and an introduction to snorkel equipment - we took to the sea to explore the coral below and the coral re-production plan of our local diving community.
Thanks to our local Dive shop we were able to spend an afternoon out on a boat over three different under-water rock formations which harvest and host numerous forms of marine life. Snacks and all required equipment were provided at no-charge.
The kids were super stoked on the trip. Some of them had never even entered the ocean prior to this trip. In fact, a majority of Dominicans are so nervous around water we had to actually go to the houses of a few of the parents to receive permission for the kids to go. I claimed complete responsibility in at least two occasions. haha.

What excited me most about the program is that the education will continue through-out the year. As you can see in the under water picture - each planted and growing coral is tagged with a name of one of the students from our freshman class. Monthly, each student will receive a photo of their coral in order to see it's growth, but more specifically to encourage ownership in caring for the ocean that they all live soo close to. We are planning a return trip at the end of the year to see the progress of each student's coral.

surf contest!!!

Are we really two months into 2011 already? My apologies for not staying up to date on my blogging. it's been a busy and awesome February.

I'd like to thank everyone that was praying for the christian surfers contest we put on last week. It was a huge success and blessing for all of us who put it on and for all the participants. We know that it was by the grace of God that it went soo well.

To start off, we had 2 weeks of no waves before the contest. And lo and behold the swell came in the day before the contest.

We opened the weekend friday night with an inscription party with two christian rock bands from the capital. It was a beautiful starry night as the bands played, competitors registered, and the bbq was sizzling. The fact that we were right on the beach helped the atmosphere as well. We found out later that evening that it was pouring rain ten minutes down the road.

We began the heats the next morning at 9 AM and the waves were not too big for the juniors or females, but big enough that the real surfers were able to manipulate the wave fairly easily. God allowed everything to begin smoothly and it was great having the christian surfer team from the states helping with judging and beach control. We packed up mid afternoon and prepared to watch the Bethany Hamilton surf movie on the beach that evening.

As we were setting up the screen and all the sound equipment for the movie night - there were dark clouds and wind all around us. I had received phone calls that there was rain close to us and that it was heading towards us. Regardless of the notice, we continued setting up and by the time the movie started there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the wind died down, and we were able to give a surfers care package to all the kids that showed up. We closed the evening with a couple bonfires on the beach.

We met Sunday morning at 8 AM for our normal beach service and after Jesus Perdomo shared some words with us - we began the semi - finals and finals. The waves were still good. Everything continued to run smoothly. We finished the last final at 3 PM and presented the awards to the victors right afterward.

We hosted competitors from all over the country in local christian host homes and there were at least a handful of amazing testimonies through the relationships formed via this weekend.

There were over 70 competitors, 12 volunteers from CS United States, and a beach packed with people hearing about God's love.

All glory goes to Him. Thank you all for your prayers and your continued support.

christmas is awesome

Dear Everybody -

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

This will be my second Christmas in the Caribbean and I am soo excited for it! Dominicans celebrate on the 24th with what they call the "noche buena." Basically their whole family gets together and its a massive potluck. I've already been invited to a couple different gatherings and I don't think my stomach is going to make it till Christmas without exploding. This is a good thing. haha. I'll also be performing for a holiday party in Cabarete next saturday, assisting with a holiday outreach in the community of Charimicos on the 23rd, and assisting with an English Christmas Eve service at our English speaking congregation. Fun Fun Fun.

I was blessed to be able to go back to Punta Cana this past weekend for a surf contest. We held a service on the beach before the finals on Sunday and the majority of the participants joined us for some worship and the word. Our local CS contact, Rafael also announced that they will be beginning weekly services at the beach from here on out. What a blessing to have two locations of surfers worshiping God every Sunday in the DR.

I've attached a picture of a competition here at Playa Encuentro where CS met the last day of heats. This is Jesus Perdomo leading us in a closing prayer.