March 2014 Newsletter

Cattle Truck Confessions
They quickly load us into the cattle trucks. It is time for us to leave the village we were currently working at and head back to the Meeting God in Missions Compound. The Village was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was spread out, mountainous, and jungle-like. It was quite a different experience for quite a different trip.

The truck takes, off leaving a trail of dust behind it. Some stand, but I choose to sit. I think back at the week and reflect and smile. The week was rough, but I love it here. And then it strikes me, and the sadness sets in: this might be my last trip for a while.

Suddenly, the skies open up and the rain hits. Not a drizzle, but a pour. The rain pelts us in the face, and it hurts. I stand up, letting the beads smack and abuse me – and I love every single minute of it. This week has smacked and abused me – and I have loved every single minute of it. Was it my experiences that made the trip? No. It was the student’s experiences.

When I was a kid, I loved receiving presents as a kid at Christmas. My face would light up as I violently tore open package after package. Now, as a parent, I take delight in giving gifts. I take delight in watching my kids’ excitement as they receive a new gift. That is the way I feel about this trip. My delight comes not from my own experiences, but through the experiences of my students. Yes, I am sad because of the realization that this experience may not happen again for a while, but I take solace in the experiences and memories God has given each and every student.

Dominican Republic Student Testimonies

Spencer Brown (left), Cody Latimer (middle), and Jeff Schallick (right) are students who are repeat Dominican Republic visitors. They decided, in their discipleship group, to write up their collective testimonies about their experience.

All: When it comes to sharing testimonies from the Dominican Republic, really no one story could accurately describe what everyone got out of this trip. For each student, what was learned on the trip was as diverse and unique as each person was on the trip. We each had our own story, so instead of sharing just one story we opted to share three.

Cody: For me, returning to the Dominican Republic presented an opportunity to see the different ways that God is moving all over the world. Whether it be in the daily on-goings of students here taking classes at Pitt, or in the lives of Dominicans living in the middle of a sugarcane field with hopes and dreams just as big as yours, it was encouraging to see that God is present in all things. It's often hard to grasp God's sovereignty, and my week spent in the Dominican Republic really reminded me that He has a plan for all of His people - one that’s too big and too perfect for us to even begin to comprehend.

Spencer: Last year when I came back from the Dominican Republic, I guess you could say I had a small existential crisis. I had this overwhelming sense of insignificance as I returned to the tedium of classes, feeling as though I had no meaningful impact now that I had returned to my life. I wasn’t alone in my feelings; some of my friends shared them. As the trip wound to a close this year, I felt a similar helplessness: a helplessness to break the systems of governmental corruption, of corporate abuse and enslavement, and of all the forces working against justice in the Dominican Republic. But God was working even in this seemingly desolate place of impotence. In this feeling of weakness, He revealed to me the need for representation of all professions, all walks of life, and all kinds of people in the Body of Christ. We need Christians equipped to fight in Washington, in board rooms, before national leaders, and inside corporations; equipped to fight for the manifestation of Christ’s Love in all these spheres. It’s something I’ve always heard in church and read in the Bible—that the Body of Christ has many members—but I’d never fully understood the beautiful truth that is until now. Work glorifying to God is not confined to mission trips, abroad; it includes every career path; it extends into education as people collect the equipment they need ignite change from within; it intertwines with every aspect of our lives as we go about our days and interact with the world and people around us. God needs instruments everywhere. The Body of Christ needs every organ and digit to function. You can always make a difference where you are now. Insignificance doesn’t exist.

Jeff: Going back to the DR for me was a mixture of excitement and anxiety. As much as I tried not to have expectations, I couldn’t help but think of playing with the kids again. The problem with that was I wasn’t allowing myself to be open to where God wanted to send me. Though I realized how selfish I was being and how I didn’t have it together for this mission trip, God was still able to use me that week. He revealed to me His love in new and creative ways that I never expected. This year I got to see how beautiful the people of the Dominican Republic are and how, like the kids, they have such a deep rooted joy in knowing Christ despite the brokenness all around them. I know a lot of people struggle with seeing the poverty and depravity in the DR, but the unexplainable joy these people have kept me from ever taking in their circumstances. It may seem like they’re missing so much, but in reality I’ve discovered they have everything. I realize now I do these trips not to do more for people or do more for God, but to simply give more of my heart to God. Only then does the work I’m doing have an impact and it’s only then we can begin to make things change.

All: Though we may all have different experiences, God is present in all of them. And that’s the beauty of it; God is amazingly personal and intimate. I believe it was by no mistake we all had unique takeaways. God knew what we all needed from this trip, and what we all learned will stay with us forever. We have all been changed and our change continues to this day.

Financial Update

This past month was much better for us than January, and we are so thankful for your giving and God’s providence. He always has provided and always will. He has taught us that many times over. We are very thankful for the support given to us as well as our wonderful supporters! If you are interested in supporting this ministry, I would love to meet with you. Please contact me using the information on on navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Moore News

As you may have read in my last newsletter, my family and I just spent a week in Disney World. I had the preconceived notion that it would be quite chaotic and stressful. What I experienced was quite the contrary: it was chaotic and wonderful, going from ride to ride, and from character to character. The entire family had a blast. It was a wonderful time to spend with my entire family. And the best part? Getting the Lego Millennium Falcon set and being able to build it with the boys at home. It created some awesome family time. If you are interested a reading an article I just wrote about my trip to Disney, and some theological thoughts about it, click and check it out: http://thepittstop220.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-theology-of-disney.html.

It seems that Emily survived the week alone with the boys while I was gone to the Dominican Republic, and that minimal damage was done. They did give me a huge surprise by meeting me at the airport. It is always great to hear the excitement in their voice when they first see me. They (including Emily) are all doing well.

We thank you all so much for taking the time to read this newsletter and for your constant support. May God Bless you!

In Christ,
Andy Moore