What we've been doing of late

For the past couple of months we've been attending Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Marion Oaks (First Baptist of Marion Oaks), a Spanish speaking church if you couldn't tell. Two of the pastors, Pastor Matos and Pastor Al Hernandez are giving us Spanish lessons as well during the week. Please be in prayer for our learning of the language as we still have a long way to go. Celia and I still struggle to comprehend the Sunday school lesson and the message (we really don't as of yet), but we think headway is being made. 

On October 30th, the Marion Baptist Association adopted Celia and I as their missionaries at the annual meeting held at FBC Ocala. The pastors present prayed over us and unofficially commissioned us as missionaries. I believe that was a first for the association. Many people have asked us why we are raising financial support independently instead of going through the International Mission Board (IMB). This past January, we met with an IMB official and discussed our calling and options. While we did meet the IMB's requirements, we declined from seeking their support primarily because of one reason. That reason being because the objective of the IMB at this time is to reach "unreached" people groups and the Dominican Republic is not considered "unreached." Thus, they would send us to one of those unreached places (probably somewhere in Asia). Instead of turning them down immediately, we fervently prayed for God's guidance and wisdom in the matter. Through much prayer, Celia and I both came to believe we would be disobedient if we did not attempt to go to the Dominican Republic. 

Currently, we are speaking at churches local (and afar...we spoke at Trenton First Baptist in Trenton, GA this past Sunday) sharing our testimony and seeing how the Lord uses it. It is a beautiful thing to be in a place where you cannot see the end but you have faith that God will provide because you are confident you are in  His will. Celia and I praise God for that, because we both know what it is like to be confused and searching as well. Though, I must confess, there is a beauty that comes in being in that place as well, and I wonder if in this life any of us will ever totally leave that state.