-----Original Message-----

From: Kathy McKey

Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Subject: Experiences of our Youth from the Dominican Republic

Dear friends and family,

Today I thought I would get some reactions from our youth about what they are experiencing so far on this trip. I am certain that as you read their comments, that your hearts will be overflowing with gratitude to God for what He is doing in and through our youth.

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Gianni Dalotto – It’s an awesome experience! I’ve personally been working with the kids and watching how happy they are to have visitors working with them and how much joy they have hearing about the word of God

Hanna Melara – I think it’s amazing how God can use someone like me, because I always thought I was too shy to ever get up and preach a series of meetings and lead people to Christ. I think it’s just amazing how many miracles God has worked for me. This trip has increased my faith in Him incredibly!

Nathaniel Kirby – It’s just amazing to see how God works in people’s lives. Like the small things like cutting one’s hair. Jordan Ellstrom had been “attached” to his hair and he just gave it up. It just seems like we’ve all gotten close to the Lord and He’s just using everyone. It’s definitely brought me closer to the Lord to see His power working in us. I never thought I would’ve been preaching a series of meetings, but now I am, and I can see the Lord working through me.

Jonathan Prakash – I remember Friday night when it was our first meeting, I was standing out in the courtyard and the sun was starting to go down. And I saw all of these kids start coming out of their rooms. These are kids who were so different back home, who were caught up in the ways of the world and were all just living their lives; but I saw these kids come out and they looked so beautiful. All the girls looked like true women of God, modest and simple in their dresses and skirts. The guys with their hair cuts, dress shirts, and their ties modeled the clean, neat, and organized nature of our God. I truly saw an army of youth and I knew that it was only by the power of God that that army of youth was raised. It really hit me hard!

Eric Ramirez – One of the things that got me is that a lot of the students from TAA [ Thunderbird Adventist Academy] had never, ever really preached a sermon or even considered preaching a sermon. Here, many times, I have seen how much Satan has tried to make their sermons not go well, but when these students come back from their meetings, I see the fire in them, knowing that God has blessed them. Even if Satan puts obstacles in the way, they persist in carrying forth God’s message because, although they have little experience working for the Lord, their hearts are being changed by relying on God to do everything for them.

Sondra Smith – It is so amazing to see God work and so humbling to have Him work through me! Through all the challenges and difficulties that have faced us, it has taught me to rely more completely on Jesus. I thought that I was going to come here to change other people’s lives but most of all, my life is the one that is changing.

Kymbrelee Smith – The other night, after speaking about heaven, I gave an appeal for anyone who wanted to give their life to Christ, to live with Him in heaven, to please stand. I know the devil was trying to distract people from the call, because just as I started my appeal a little kid came running into church and tripped over the cables to the sound board, sending it crashing to the ground and distracting everyone. I kept talking until everyone was focusing again and then I started singing my appeal song, “I Surrender All.” No one stood, but I kept praying. Finally at the end of the second verse, one girl stood up. After the meeting she told us that she has come to this church many times and has attended evangelistic meetings, but has never made a decision to follow God and that tonight she wanted to choose to follow Him. A couple nights later she told us that she has never felt so much peace in her life and she wants to get baptized just as soon as she can! Praise God! That night I saw that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” I believe that God wanted me to come on this trip not only to reach people in Dominican Republic, but to change my life as well!

Aimee Smith – I never dreamed that I would preach three sermons in 24 hours and every night see Christ work! Last night my computer was working up until the sermon time, and as soon as I got up front it totally blacked out. I prayed and it then worked perfectly. Every day everyone has such amazing miracles that happen to them that they are a common experience. I see God at work everywhere not only in the lives of the people, but in my life. This Dominican mission trip is changing my life!

Cody Akers – My experience in the Dominican Republic is great! I am having so much fun here preaching the Word to these people here. I can see Christ working through me. Well, last night I had to ride a short distance on a moped from a neighboring house to my site. I stuck my sermon notes under my arm and when I got to my church I realized that they were gone. So I just prayed and the guy that drove me over there went and looked for them. I was so scared that he was not going to find them because everyone was burning their trash. He came back to my church and he had found my sermon notes. Then at the end of my sermon, one of the members of the church said to me that tonight’s sermon was the best of all of my sermons, and that just made my night. This mission has already changed my life and it is not even over yet!

Mick McKee – I first came to the Dominican Republic, not having preached a single sermon in my life. I was quite nervous about getting up in front of a lot of people and was unsure if I would do a good job. The first night, our car died and we were going to be late. We prayed, and as soon as we had finished praying the car started! It was very cool. So I believe that God brought us here for a good reason. Besides that, everything has been going well. The food is good, and the weather is nice. I’m very glad I came here and hope that the rest of the trip goes smoothly.

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I just came from the site of Kelly Finch. He stands before his audience with confidence and it is very apparent from his delivery that he is well prepared for his meeting. I’ll get his comments tomorrow.

I wish you could have been at our worship this morning. John Daniel shared about how God impressed him to preach last night and fill in for one of our speakers, Grant Parfitt shared a couple of amazing “miracles” and Ray Navarro, Jr. shared how the Lord is blessing at his site. I hope to let them share with you tomorrow.

Today was another great day! Each day brings new excitement as God works in and through us — changing us for eternity!

Blessings to you,

Kathy McKey

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