DR Prayer Requests

July 2008

Please pray for our national staff—that they would be unified in their love for Christ and the mission of raising children who transform nations.

Our nine interns arrived safely in the Dominican Republic. Pray for them as they adjust to the Dominican culture and that they would have servants’ hearts as they minister to children.

Many months after the devastation of Tropical Storm Noel in October 2007, homes continue to be rebuilt in the village of Los Robles, where COTN has a Village Partnership Program. Using donated funds, COTN began a rebuilding effort, and a church’s social services group in Barahona is continuing the effort of constructing new huts there.

We are thankful that the JESUS film has been reaching people with the story of Christ in the Dominican Republic. The film has been shown in all five of the villages where COTN ministers!

June 2008

Please pray for COTN–DR staff member Lucrecia Cuevas as she prepares for the many teams that will be hosted at Casa Betesda, our mission center, this summer. Thankfully, the Lord has provided two people to assist her: Kathy McGaughey and Jenna Bishop. Jenna is an intern with a degree in hotel management who works at a Disney hotel in Florida. She hopes to share her experience with some of the teens from the bateyes (impoverished rural Haitian villages) about how to work in the hotel industry.

Please pray for our Sponsorship Coordinator in the Dominican Republic, Guadelupe Espinoza, as she takes on the full responsibility for managing sponsorship profiles, photos, and information for over 800 children!

Praise for 46 new sponsors who have joined the COTN family in the month of May! Please pray for wisdom in decisions regarding our medical clinic—that it would become financially self-sustainable.

We are excited to announce that I Love Baseball, an outreach which was previously a COTN partner, will now be an official COTN ministry! I Love Baseball strives to teach and model a balanced life through a baseball academy program for boys and young men in our targeted areas who have proven baseball skills. Jairo, one of our teen boys recently said, “I am so blessed to be able to be in this academy. Thank you!”

Please pray for energy as our DR staff hosts hundreds from the USA.

May 2008

This past month, Country Director, Angel Peña and Education Director, Maritza Cuevas, had the opportunity to visit our Silverdale, Washington office. We thank God for their visit and safe travel to and from the Dominican Republic. Please pray that they will be able to rest and recover from their busy visit.

Several of our COTN–DR staff members had a terrible attack of fever and flu. Praise God for their full recovery and recuperation.

Jelena, one of our children in Los Robles, lost her father last week. She is now a double orphan and her two sisters have AIDS. Please pray that the Lord would provide godly wisdom as decisions are made concerning her care.

Please continue to lift up Claudia in prayer as she continues to receive chemotherapy treatment in
the capital city Santo Domingo.

March 2008

We praise God for our staff in the Dominican Republic. God is creating unity among them as they join together in prayer to fight the evil they see in the bateyes.

Country Director, Angel Peña, is the proud father of a new little baby girl, Dulce Maria. His wife, Daysi, had a healthy delivery last month. Angel now has four little princesses running around his house.

Those affected by the Tropical Storm Noel in Los Robles are still receiving provisions from those who donated to this need. Many are still receiving mattresses and they have been able to repair floors in many homes as well as build two new houses.

Please pray as our national staff prepares to receive a team of 73 members from United Presbyterian Church from Seattle. Pray that their ministry would be effective and that God would protect them during their ministry and travel.

Scott and Kelly Hampton, who are serving in the Dominican Republic, continue to thrive in their new environment. Please pray that they would find a healthy balance between their ministry and their personal life.

The many schools continue to excel in teaching our children. Pray that the teachers have patience and wisdom as they serve.

February 2008

We praise the living God, last week many people were brought to Christ and received healing during an open-air revival. The entire staff, 12 members and 3 principals, were able to meet for prayer last week. Please pray that the COTN–DR staff continues to make this a priority.

Our Algodon feeding program is now receiving pure water from a local delivery service, praise God for His provision.

Our mission house, Casa Betesda, has hired two new staff members for maintenance and grounds keeping. What a blessing to invite them into the COTN family.

One of the girls attending our school has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Please join us in prayer for her healing. Pray that the Lord would provide the funds needed for her to travel to Santo Domingo and receive chemotherapy treatments.

A youth conference has been postponed due to miscommunication, please pray for the pastors involved, that there would be unity among them and they would work together to reach the youth of Naranjo (a small community outside Barahona).

Also pray for our Country Director, Angel Peña. His mother recently passed away. Please pray for the family and staff members as they grieve this loss.

January 2008

As the people of the Dominican Republic continue to recover from the Tropical Storm Noel, we praise God for the way He is using this storm for His glory and changing the lives of these people.

The church in Barahona continues to grow, hallelujah! Pray for a great harvest of souls in the year 2008. Please pray for wisdom for our DR staff as they plan for the coming year, and grace to accomplish the projects they are planning.

There is a need to focus on the teachers and parents of children in our programs. Pray for their salvation and that we would have the skills to empower them to become better parents and teachers.

We praise God for new life as our Country Director’s wife is expecting this month and two other staff members have added to their family. Pray for the health and safety of these new little ones.

November 2007

Devastating news from the Dominican Republic last week—Tropical Storm Noel made a direct hit in the Barahona area. Our bateys, especially Algodon and Los Robles, were heavily hit. Homes and schools were flooded causing entire communities to evacuate.

Praise for the quick response of our COTN–DR staff, taking families into their homes and transporting others to partnering churches. Praise God that our staff, families, and children were not among those killed or reported as missing by the raging waters and mudslides.

Praise for the safe return of an eighteen-person medical team led by Dr. Mike Jungkeit from Washington. They left the Dominican Republic the day before Noel hit. Praise for the multiple surgeries they were able to perform while there—bringing healing and treatment to many during their two-week mission trip.

Praise for God’s perfect timing in two things. First, for the two 40-foot containers that arrived in the DR several weeks ago, only to be held up by customs. Now, in light of Noel, the delay was a blessing—had they been released earlier, all would have been lost or destroyed due to the flooding. Praise God—the Provider! Praise God also for his perfect timing with a Venture Team scheduled to head to the DR on November 10th—a construction team! Pray God will use them in a mighty way during this time of great need.

Pray also for Scott and Kelly Hampton, an American couple that will be serving in the DR for two years. They will be arriving and settling in next week.

October 2007

Sad news from the Dominican Republic. Abel Benaut, a four-year-old boy from Altagracia who was recently diagnosed with tumors in his stomach, died last week. Though he underwent surgery last month, the tumors turned out to be cancerous and doctors were unable to treat him. Please pray for peace for his family and community. Pray that in spite of the grief, God’s glory will be displayed during this time.

COTN founder and CEO, Chris Clark, is in the Dominican Republic this week. He will accompany our Dominican staff as they attend a weekend retreat. Pray this will be a time of rest and encouragement for them. Thankfully, a family from Gig Harbor provided the funding for this much needed retreat.

New teachers and staff have started school with over 1,000 students. A special gift was given this week to build a new kindergarten next to our skills center in Pueblo Nuevo. Seventy-five children are overly excited.

Several American associates and short-term missionaries have applied to join our national team. Pray that they will be able to raise needed support and training will go smoothly as they transition into ministry in the Dominican Republic.

Pray for additional Skills Center and University Program funding to support the growing number of young people entering these programs.

September 2007

Pray for our students as they head back to school after the summer break. Last month, about thirty of our teachers and some of our school staff were able to enjoy a back-to-school weekend retreat at Boca Chica, a small beach resort. Pray for these teachers as they resume their teaching duties, refreshed and energized to start the new school year.

Pray for our new program in Pueblo Nuevo and plans to build a new preschool. Pray for the funds for construction, hiring of the staff, sponsors for the children, etc.

Pray for a family in Los Robles—a single mother and two children, that lost their home to a fire. Pray for this family and for God’s provision as we estimate the expense to buy materials to help rebuild their home.

Praise for the two 40-foot containers that were shipped to the DR last month. They arrived last week with much anticipated supplies, including school equipment (desks, bookcases, etc.) for the new classroom in Don Bosco.

Last month, we held our second Skills Center graduation ceremony. Several students and young adults from the community of Barahona completed programs in computers, sewing, and English.

Pray for the basketball court in Algodon that was started by Paige McKonkey’s team from Minnesota. The basketball court has been built on a piece of land that adjoins the baseball field and the people of the community agreed to donate the land to for that purpose. The final part of the basketball court will be finished when the hoops and backboards arrive in the containers.

Praise for the last team of the summer, a team from Celebrate Church in Orlando, Florida. They were able to evangelize in a community called Paraíso, visit the bateys, and do VBS with the kids. They also hosted a performance for the staff at Casa Betesda, COTN’s mission house.

Pray for unity as the COTN–DR board grows and expands to meet the needs and challenges. Pray for wisdom and discernment as they make important decisions.

August 2007

Pray for the health of the remaining teams in the Dominican Republic. Three interns as well as other team members are still recovering from Dengue fever, a flu-like disease carried by mosquitoes in the Caribbean. Pray for their full recovery so they can end their time well.

Pray for the interns as they are preparing to return to the States after a summer of service. They’ve had the opportunity to built great relationships with the children as well as the teachers. Pray for their final week and debriefing time as well as a smooth transition back into the States.

Praise for the new generator that was installed at Casa Betesda (our mission house in Barahona) as well as a new pool pump and filtration system. Casa Betesda serves as a base-camp for interns and visiting teams, hosts numerous day events and retreats for the children in the bateyes we minister to, and will soon generate an income as we ready the property for rental for various community events.

Praise for Paige McKonkey’s team from Minnesota as they are currently building a basketball court in Algodon.

Praise for the new preschool program in our newest batey, Pueblo Nuevo. Debbie Moutier (DR Sponsorship Coordinator) and Pam Wright (COTN Communications Director), on recent assignment in the DR, completed initial intake interviews and photos of 47 preschoolers that will be enrolled in our Village Assistance program starting this fall.

July 2007

Pray for safe travels for Debbie Moutier (COTN–USA Dominican Republic Sponsorship Coordinator) as she departed for the DR on July 8th with her two daughters. Debbie will spend a month serving in the DR.

Good news from DR Country Director, Angel Peña. The health of his wife Daisy has been cleared and they received a very positive report from doctors last month. They had suspected breast cancer. Also, congratulations to Angel and Daisy as they received the good news they are expecting another baby.

Pray for the repair of internet service to the office. Equipment was struck by lightening, but Angel thinks it’s repairable.

We have a new fence completed at our school in Altagracia and a new classroom in Algodon. Praise the Lord! COTN students’ end-of-year academic results are excellent and we are thankful for the parental support at Don Bosco and Los Robles. Please pray for wisdom as we select new teachers that are needed for our schools.

Praise for our next summer camp hosted by Westminster Church from Bellevue, Washington. They raised all the money needed to put on the camp. Pray for a safe trip from Barahona to the camp and for good health for our campers.

Pray for our interns that are serving in the DR this summer—that they will become more global-minded through this mission experience, and for our children—that they will see and experience Jesus through their interactions with the interns.

June 2007

Praise that a hostile situation in Los Robles has been settled. Workers hired to build a fence were not from the Los Robles community and were received with hostility and violence. Community representatives have signed an agreement that future incidents will be settled with the police.

Pray for wisdom as our summer team, headed by Pete Reiny and including Brent Reed and Pam Marquardt, as they develop summer infrastructure. Brent will be setting up policies and procedures for the new mission house, Casa Bethesda. Pete Reiny will work on intern/team coordination. The kids are out of school this month. Programs for the summer are all lined up: VBS, summer camps, retreats, sports activities, etc.

Pray our kids’ hearts will remain on fire for the Lord over the summer break. Alcohol and sexual promiscuity continue to be an issue as our children turn into teens. These two issues have always been the two biggest strongholds in the DR. Pray for wisdom in dealing with these issues.

May 2007

A special prayer request for teens in the village of Don Bosco. Our DR staff has shared that discipline issues, anger, and uprisings among Don Bosco teens are of concern right now (this is not an issue in any of our other villages). This is due in part to the rapidly growing population in Don Bosco—the success of our Village Assistance program and feeding center there have attracted many families to the community. Many of these families are unable to find work, are now displaced, and are expressing frustration and anger, which is passed down to their children. Pray for wisdom for our staff in dealing with this situation. Pray that those in our program may have an effect on these teens and that we may be able to grow our program to minister to these kids or develop a program for them. Pray for more sponsors to commit support so we may expand our programs to include more children.

Praise God! Two much-prayed-for staff positions have been filled! Jose Angel Carrasco recently came on board as the DR Sponsorship Coordinator, and Kelvin Peñon has taken on the role of Youth Spiritual Leader. He will be working with the youth in all the villages we support.

Pray for continued development of our new preschool in Pueblo Nuevo (the batey where our Skills Center is located).

Pray for the health of a boy in Algodon who is recovering from surgery.

Pray for Pam and Adam Marquardt as they prepare for the summer camp for teens to be held in July. “Purity” and “Spiritual Commitment” are the focus of this event. Last year, several teens came to Christ. Pray this year’s camp will be an evangelical success.

Praise for the safe return of Pete Doyle (COTN–USA Computer/Technology Specialist) from the DR, and the advancements in technology made between COTN–USA and COTN–DR. Praise for a $23,000 donation from the Sequim Rotary Club that greatly upgraded our existing computer lab at the Skills Center: twenty new computers and a large flat-screen monitor for the instructor.

April 2007

Praise for several short-term teams that are coming and going over the next couple of weeks and leading lots of sports, VBS, dances, and crafts with the kids. Kids are out of school this week for Easter Break. Visiting teams are looking forward to having the entire week to spend with the kids in the various villages.

Debbie Moutier, DR Sponsorship Coordinator from the international office, was in the DR last week conducting sponsorship updates. Praise that her lost luggage (which contained the necessary sponsorship paperwork) was found after a day.

The Feeding Program in Altagracia was “officially” dedicated this week with Chris and Debbie and the DR Board. Our DR staff has been trying to come up with a name for the newly acquired mission house and have decided upon “Casa Bethesda,” translated “House of Healing” (named after Bethesda, the healing pool mentioned in John 5:1–6). Pray this house will, indeed, be a place of healing, refreshment, and sanctuary.

Praise for two new welding machines for the Skills Center. Instructors are excited to begin teaching. Pray for funding for two additional classrooms at the Skills Center to meet the growing needs of the program.

Continued prayer for much-needed DR staff: for a Sponsorship Coordinator and a Spiritual Youth Leader.