Family focused

   Well, it's been a while since we have blogged. It has been so hectic since our trip to the U.S., then getting back in the swing of things here in the DR, and now God has blessed us with a house (from a tiny apartment) that has a yard. God works things out. Someone here (who claims to know us and we have no idea who it is) knew someone else, who knew the owner of the house in New York, who decided to rent us the house and even dropped the rent to fit our small budget, because he has "heard good things about our family". I have never met him or the people who know him! He even said this was a "God thing", because he would never rent it that cheap and is very picky with who he rents to. I didn't think we were even looking for another place, but my wife said she had been praying since we got back (the building we live in has no yard and the kids are stuck inside most of the time) and the Lord seemed to just put this place right in our lap.  It is a nice house and has room for the kids to play in the back, which is very cool, but now comes the part I am sure everyone hates....moving. Oh well, not complaining, God has been so very gracious to us it doesn't even make sense really. Thank you Lord.
   Óther than the trip to the US (which went very well ), and our our big move coming up (which is actually just around the corner, lol), here's the latest on what God has been doing in our lives and here in the DR. Since we have been back, it seems that God has been showing us the importance of the family. Not just having or being a family, but the actual biblical roles of the husband/father, wife/mother, and children. Allow me to be transparent and vulnerable for a moment. God has used people close to me who lovingly pointed out areas of my life as a christian husband and father that I had been neglecting (unintentionally) because of my busy schedule. Ministry is tough and it takes a toll on the minister, his marriage and his family. But our family is our number one ministry. And I am thankful to God that he opened my eyes to some very important things. Being missionaries, our focus is on disciplship, making disciples of Christ who make disciples of Christ. And in the ministry, especially on the mission field, you can get so busy with hours of study, getting pulled in all directions, and consumed with so many overwhelming needs that we sometimes unintentionally put those closest to us on the backburner. But if I am going to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, then I should begin with those most important relationships first, those I will give an account for to Christ Himself on that day, my wife and children. As a christian husband and father it is my number one responsibility to love my wife, and teach her and our children God's Word!
   We have now changed things a little in a way I believe is more biblical and God honoring. We now start most of our mornings with a family time of prayer and a family Bible study. We are going through the Scriptures so that I can teach my family God's plan of redemption as it unravels progressively, so they get the "big picture"  ultimately getting to the most important time in history, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! We have been using David Platt's Radical experiment family worship year plan. We are all enjoying it and the kids are responding well. It is awesome knowing this is God's will and seeing the family respond as we are bonding and learning together. I want to encourage all husbands/fathers to do the same with their families.
    Not only is our family "family focused", but the thrust behind much of our teaching and preaching in the churches here have been on marriage and family with Christ always at the center of it all. The families here are in bad shape and it is deperately needed. Brother Jared has preached a very good series of sermons on the family and roles of husbands and wives out of Ephesians 5. Pastor Jose, Jared and I had a meeting and we all agreed that we need to be very disciplined and consistent when it comes to discipling our families because only then can we help teach other men to do the same with theirs, leading by example. This is not an easy task, and we are sure to be met with opposition from the enemy,so we will need your prayers. We are all excited to see what God will do next, not only in our family, but to those families we are ministering to as well. The church is made up of families and if those families aren't healthy, then the churches wont be either. Pray that the Lord raises up more faithful men  to lead their families and His churches.  To God alone be the glory! Pray.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,- Ephesians 5:24-26 ESV