Back in SD for a bit

I've currently been back in San Diego, California for 11 days and it is sooo good seeing old friends. While it is evident that we have all changed in the past year, it is still such an encouragement to know that there have been people praying for me while I was in the DR. I will only be here another 2 weeks, but I hope on continuing seeing friends, attempting to fundraise, and getting some cold-water surfing in.
Being in SD has really opened my eyes to the fact that I truly feel home when I am in the Dominican Republic. The relationships and ministries that I have in the DR have become more familiar and comfortable than here in the US. I consider it a blessing.
God has really been opening my eyes recently to what it means to pursue significance more than success. Romans 12:3 states that and because of God's gracious gift to me I say to everyone of you; Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the faith that God has given you. We're only doing what God has called us to do and we can only do it by HIS grace by acting in LOVE within the community that he has placed us. It would help us all to live and work with the idea that God doesn't call the qualified, but rather qualifies the called.

1st national leaders meeting

On September 17th, 2010 we held our first national leaders meeting for Christian Surfers Dominican Republic in the capital city of Santo Domingo. It was a huge blessing seeing everybody come together from different parts of the island. Representatives from Cabarete, Bavarro, and Nagua were present. We all arrived around lunch time and after an amazing meal, we got down to business. Our current initiatives for 2011 are as follows:
1- Feb 4-6 CSDR's first national surf competition. A weekend of activities including a concert, a movie premiere, and a morning beach service. We're hoping to have a bus from Punta Cana provide transportation from Punta Cana, through Santo Domingo, and up the North Coast to Cabarete and back.
2- National Camp-Out Iniative. In order to continue with the spiritual growth of our local surfers we will be hosting 3 local camp-outs in Cabarete, Nagua, and Bavarro. In lieu of these activities, we will be hosting a national camp-out next fall in Bavarro.
3- National Facebook Page. To post weekly bible studies structured for surfers by surfers, promote the prayer and support of all surf events nationally, and connect surfers nationally.

School of Music Starts up again

Last Tuesday, our little group of musicians were proud to start up the school of music for this school year. Most of all the kids have come back and are trying to shake off the rust from the couple months free of playing. There is one kid named Junior in specific who at the age of 12 has begun playing with our Spanish youth band behind the drumset. It’s been very exciting to see him from the start and even more exciting seeing him help teach some of the new guys some of the basics (even though they may be 6-7 years older than him).
We’ve also been able to hire a new guitar teacher this year named Lardwin who plays guitar with me at our English Service. He attends one of the bigger churches in the area and is a regionally renown guitarist. We’ve been very excited to have him with us and it’s allowed us to expand our amount of students. It’s amazing how God has been blessing us down here.
My current plans are to take a one month break from the Dominican Republic from September 21st thru October 18th. I will spend a couple days in Costa Rica learning from the Christian Surfers ministry over there and then head back to California for a couple weddings, seeing old friends, and fundraising opportunities. Please let me know if you would like me to come speak about what God is doing in the DR at your church or small group. I am currently trying to plan a couple more fundraising opportunities.

Santo Domingo Trip with Papito

On Monday, August 2nd a local Christian Surfer named Papito and myself took a trip to Santo Domingo to meet up with a mission team from California doing ministry within the surf community down there. Papito was able to share at a local youth group what God has been doing in the DR among the surfers and how God has impacted his life personally. Papito is one of our most faithful members of Christian Surfers at Playa Encuentro and is currently ranked #1 in the national rankings. This trip also allowed us to make contacts with many pastors in California whose hearts are moved by the surfing community in the Dominican Republic.

Nagua, RD Competition

This past weekend the Surf Community in the Dominican Republic united for the fourth national contest to make the national team. It was a weekend of poor waves, but bringing everyone together held enough joy that sustained the positive atmoshpere. We were blessed to host a bible study Sunday morning before the finals right on the beach with a large majority of those competing. Isaac, a local surfer to Nagua shared his testimony. It was a huge blessing hearing from him and connecting with him in order to impact our national surf community. We were able to make a lot of other connections as well in uniting Christian Surfers around the entire country. Its a true blessing to see God moving nationally through a ministry that started on one simple beach.

Noah's Arc Surf Flick PC

About 3 weekends ago, myself and 3 other local surfers from the north coast went to the far corner of the country (Punta Cana) in a rental car to assist our brothers in putting on a christian surf flick for their local surf community. It was a full weekend of activities. About 40-50 local surfers got together friday night to watch the movie and yours truly performed an acoustic set after the movie. It was great to see nearly the whole community of surfers together in a Christian setting. Then the next day everyone got together at Macao beach for a BBQ and a local Pastor formally blessed the Surf School/Shack. Our friends at Macao beach are our first contacts in creating a national network of Christian Surfers here in the Dominican Republic. Please be praying for Rafaelito, Gustavo, Jesse, and Armando as they continue to influence their local community of Surfers for Jesus.

Change in support

As of July, 2010 my support will be run through Christian Surfers North America. I am still working under New Missions, however Christian Surfers NA will be processing my funds for me. Thank you all soo much for your support and continued assistance as I’m here in the Dominican Republic. Please see my donate page on my website for more info. www.dmmissions.com