Recently, RMI President Dan Shoemaker, along with Andrew and Dawn Tlucek, spent a week in the Dominican Republic (DR). Each one had a list of specific goals to accomplish, questions that needed answering, and partnerships strengthened.
It was a week worth its weight in gold. They were able to sit down with the leaders of our national partners at the CBD (Dominican Baptist Convention) to further get to know each other’s heartbeat for ministry. They also heard Andrew’s explanation of the Ezra Institute and his vision for how it could prepare young people to be capable, knowledgeable leaders of integrity. The CBD president and vice president shared how RMI could support them and help reach their people.
Dan was also able to share RMI’s ministry with a training school in the capital. We hope that this school will produce quality graduates for RMI employees in various positions. They are a valuable partner for us, and have already been an immense help in advising and guiding the Starkey family when they moved there 9 months ago.
Andrew was able to share his vision for the Ezra Institute with the CBD leadership. Being there in the DR, seeing the churches and the country helped him quite a bit. He shared, “It was an excellent opportunity to foster relationships and future ministry partnerships. For our family, it was wonderful to catch a greater vision for what ministry will be in the future.”
After living in a 4th- or 5th-world country for most of her life, Dawn was delighted to find out what a 2nd-world country is like. Seeing the country, and particularly Santiago, made it more real. She fell in love with the culture and people. April Starkey was able to show her where they shop and where to buy things. This, in turn, will help Dawn as she packs up her home in Haiti and makes the move to Santiago. She and Andrew were able to see different areas where they could live and establish the Ezra Institute. Dawn especially enjoyed meeting the CBD leadership and being part of the meetings.
A big thank you goes to Andrew’s parents and his youngest sister for flying into Ft. Myers to take care of Layton and the twins while their parents were overseas!
