Baptizing in the Caribbean

Not exactly your typical setting for a baptism - turquoise waters, the gentle breeze dancing with the warmth of the sun, Dominicans playing along the beach and the scattering of Speedo-clad European tourist wondering about this circle of Dominicans and Americans in the water.

What a joy to be a part of a baptism service with Pastor Janel and his ministry to the Youth of La Victoria. Eight kids, ranging from five years-old to eighteen, were baptized. Many of these kids come from challenging environments and now they have found a community where they are accepted, loved, shown the gospel, and encouraged to live it out.

As I stood in this circle hearing the words of Pastor Janel and looking up a the clouds in the sky, I imagined God and the majestic hosts in heaven looking down dancing with joy because the lost have been found.

In Luke 15, there are three stories in a row that Jesus gives about the lost. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons (we often call this the Prodigal Son). It is striking that in each of these stories, after finding what was lost, there is rejoicing and celebration. It is extravagant, bewildering, and shocking. It is a reflection of God's economy, He gives all for the lost. That is the depth of His heart for just on person.

Why?

Because He loves them and because He desires that they would be a part of the celebration that is intrinsically a part of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are a divine circle, a dance of life looking down at this broken circle, in the middle of the Caribbean, declaring a need for God and His dance of life.

DR: June 26th - July 3rd Pics

Beach Day

The Caribbean, the best setting ever to preach

Check out the shadows. I think Sammy got a little more air than me.

Keko and Marnie at the Beach

Party at the Community Center

Praying for Pastor Janel (a great man with a David's heart)

Working on the drama at Biemba's for the campo

The girls did a great choreographed dance for us.

Worship dance time in the campo (poorer outskirts of La Victoria).

On Wednesday, Gregg took Jim and myself

up to the mountains to check out a couple waterfalls.

Absolutely refreshing from the sweltering heat. Just imagine waking up three in the morning because the power went off and you have a ring of sweat around your neck on your t-shirt.

Dominican Republic Trip - June 26- July 3rd

(Left to Right: Pastor Janel, Jim Maynard, Adam Long, Damion Johnston, Barb Dokter, Mercy Tucker, Gregg Tucker, and Pastor Bello)

We arrived in the Dominican Republic on June 26th after a thankfully uneventful trip...and with all our luggage. Barb Dokter and Jim Maynard and I flew down together while Damion and Judah Johnston would be joining us the following day. We met up with Gregg & Mercy Tucker with their two kids, Taryn and James who are down in the D.R. for a month this summer.

(From a blog sent two days into the trip)

Jim Maynard, Damion and Judah Johnston, and myself are staying with Tito, a good Dominican friend we have known for years.

On Sunday morning, we headed off to a town close to Santa Dominica to a recently built church that the youth of La Victoria are reaching out to. Pastor Janel joined them to serve the community.

So... here came a bunch of kids on a bus to love the kids of this community! They were also praying about the possibility of trying to create a community center in that area.

We were in the top room praying together with open hands with what God wanted to do. We asked that it would not be our idea but God's.

And then it hit me.

What they were doing -- coming to God in openess -- is what we from Lookoutare doing by coming down here. We want to come with open hands, listening to how God wants us to connect with them. Much like life in Christ, we need to walk with open hands asking God where he is working.

Sweating for Jesus,

Adam Long