Andrew, Dawn, and the three boys made it to the Dominican Republic! It’s a new era for them. They are starting anew in a new country. It’ll be a new language, a new culture, and a new (and old) ministry. They will be living in the Santiago area, which is a large city…it even has an IKEA! They are currently in an Airbnb while they buy appliances, beds, and furniture. They are very grateful that Andrew’s parents and youngest sister flew in with them to help with childcare and get settled. The house they’ve rented has good “bones” but is a bit rough around the edges. They’ll need to deep-clean, install window screens throughout the house, and do much, much more to get it ready to live in.
Once settled, they’ll work on completing their legal paperwork, finding a vehicle to buy, and beginning language study. They will establish and lead RMI’s Ezra Institute School of Leadership, a post-high-school institute designed to train young people to be Christian leaders in the business world and effective leaders in their home churches. Our DR partners, Convención Bautista Dominicana (CBD), or the Baptist Convention of the Dominican Republic, were very excited about this vision – it is just what they felt they needed.
Teams are being welcomed; medical teams (working with a Dominican doctor), teams that want to explore becoming a C3 partner, or coming to provide 2-week intensive courses at the Ezra Institute are just some of the possibilities. Contact Jim.starkey@rmibridge.org.
Pray for Andrew and Dawn as they make their way through these first days and weeks in this new era. Pray for patience, understanding, strength, good health, and for things to come together as they establish a new life and ministry.
(family goodbye crew: Dawn’s parents, brother and family, one of her cousins & his wife)
