Spiritual Fruit

This summer, Miriam Sicard started working full-time in the Microfinance Site. It was my intention from the beginning that I find a national to work with me in the site. She has done an excellent job of filling that role.

We compliment each other well. I can handle the administration of the site. I created the accounting system and work with the money. But I just can't connect on a significant level with the women in the site (for a variety of reasons). Miriam is just the opposite. She's not as skilled with managing all the details of the site, but can be that connection point, a light in the communities we work in.

Every morning she visits women in their businesses. Sometimes she talks about their work, other times it's just to have a café and talk about life. She teaches one woman how to read, and takes another to pray with her elderly mother each week. She normally has lunch at a woman's house in the community she's in that day, and that afternoon all the women meet for their MiBanco meeting.

I can't say enough how crucial this is to my ministry. I don't care if we have a 100% repayment rate for 10 years, if people aren't hearing the Gospel and responding to His Call for us, than the site is a failure.

Well, I'm happy to say that one of the women Miriam is discipling gave her life to Christ. She is in our 4th bank in Mata Gorda and her name is Georgina. She owns a food stand. She is very soft spoken and deals with an abusive husband. The very first day we went to her house for an interview she broke down crying because her mother was dying. Miriam was able to come along side her through the whole process. Now, Miriam goes to her house every Monday to cultivate her new faith.

Please pray that in every community we go, womens' lives would be changed the way Georgina's was changed.


Miriam enjoying a cup of juice with one of our summer students. Free snacks is the occasional perk to our ministry.


Georgina posing for her picture that will eventually go on her MiBanco ID Badge.

Women's Retreat

This past week we had a 5 day retreat at the Social Work site. It was wonderful!! Three amazing women from Indiana and Chicago came down to lead it. It was based on Beth Moore's Bible study "Breaking Free." We talked about being trapped in a prison of lies and how to break out victoriously with Christ on our side. We also did some fun activities each day such as manicures, pedicures, massages, haircuts, and jewelry making. Several of the women shared how blessed they had been by the study and how much they had learned. I have learned from working in the community that people are pretty inconsistent with attendance and committments. But this week a consistent 25 women came every single day! On the last day we took all the women to a waterfall (which most of them had never been to!) where they were able to relax and have fun. We also used the time to show them that just like water is everywhere and unending, God's love is more than enough for everyone in the world to have without it ever running out.


Debi sharing about Step 1: Recognizing our captor


Lori grew up in Mexico, so she was able to be our translator for the week....a huge blessing/break for me!


Looking up Bible verses


Karen giving a haircut


Debi giving pedicures


Some of the women making beaded cross pins.


Salto Biguate. If you look closely you can see Ramona all the way at the top!


The whole group

Job Opening

As everyone knows, Caroline and I have committed to another year here in the Dominican Republic. However, as we look ahead to finding our replacements, that process needs to start now. There is already someone very interested in Caroline's position. We'll let you know more information as we learn it.

If you or anyone you know is interested in working as the Microfinance Site Director, please contact me.

Here is a job description for the position.

24 weeks

People have been asking for some belly pics so here I am at 24 weeks...