To God be the glory GREAT things he hath done! The first week of August, marked our anniversary, celebration week. During the week, the church went all out with a first-class Vacation Bible School for children and a special youth retreat on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the church celebrated by having eight people baptized in a special baptismal service after the morning service. This was followed by a picnic in the afternoon. That evening, the church had a special worship service with the highlight and focus being on the Lord's Supper. It is not the activities or the programs that we are excited about, but the continual change in lives. God is doing a great work in and among our people. Above, Richie, son of Robin and Llodelis, was among the eight people who followed the Lord in believer's baptism on our third anniversary.

Jesus es nuestro Amigo! Viva! That was the theme this year for the Vacation Bible School at the Iglesia Bautista Evangelica de Macoris. The auditorium was transformed into a Mexican city with adobe houses and giant cacti. Pre-registration helped us know how many children would come and so we were prepared for the 103 children that filed into our doors on the first day! They all started with a time of songs and welcome, then went on to game time, crafts-which included creating a candy-filled, hot, chili pepper and painting a bright sun, and the Bible story time. Throughout the time, they were divided into three teams, the Chiles, the Suns and the Sombreros! The suns pulled out a win in the end and got to break open two pinatas! In the meantime, they learned Bible stories and verses and the Gospel was given every day. The most exciting part of this time was seeing the church people get involved in every aspect. From making a chili pepper costume to serving refreshments, our people were involved in this outreach. It was a Fiesta to see them all working together in this evangelistic outreach! Nobody sat on their nachos this week! Jesus is our Friend! VIVA! Above, during VBS, you could step from the street in San Pedro into a city in Mexico.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you simply receive more than you give. Such was the case late last month, when Allison, Wendy and the three interns had the privilege of serving alongside choice servants of God, John and Kelly Webb, in their church’s VBS program. The Webbs have planted a Baptist church among the nearly one million residents of Santiago, Dominican Republic. The theme for the week was “I am God’s Creation.” The Webbs had an awesome VBS with a great pre- registration process that allowed them to meet parents and tell them about the church. The 60 children were organized into teams with matching T- shirts and nametags, which helped make them feel special. John and Kelly and the large group of workers from their church were such a blessing to our “delegation.” John and Kelly serve with such a humility, yet have been used greatly by the Lord. They are an encouragement to our team and ministry. And it helps that they love to laugh and truly enjoy the life that God has set before them. Being around them, is contagious.

Please pray for the Webbs, as their church is facing a trial. A day before the VBS started, the owner of the church building informed the Webbs the building was being sold and the church basically had to get out as soon as possible. The church, which has future building plans, has to find a place to relocate until sufficient funds are raised to buy a lot and build a church building. Please pray for them and the church in this transition. If you’d like to help in this need, know more about their ministry or to contact them personally, please write them at: jkwebb@verizon.net.do It would be such an encouragement to their church to know that the body of Christ in the United States is praying on their behalf.

Above, Kelly Webb describes the intricacies of being a caterpillar... or at least, we think that's what she is doing!