Getting Started

Hey Everyone!

By now you should have received a mini-package from us including a letter telling you about what we're up to, a prayer card and a response card. We didn't want the mailing to have a lot of overwhelming information, so we thought we'd do it in steps. Here are some questions you might have after reading through our letter:

Why did you decide to go with Students International? 

Good question! In 2006, I, Amy, had the opportunity to go with a group of people from my church for a short-term trip to the DR with SI. We found out about SI through a connection we had. Having been on short-term missions before, I was completely impressed with how SI does missions. I like knowing that, as a short-term contributor, any work I invested in the DR would carry on through the commitment of full-time staff they have living down there. 

As short-term participants, we didn't just show up somewhere and try to get something going-- we were integrated into an established on-going ministry that would continue after we left. I was impressed enough to join their full-time staff and for 2 years worked at an art ministry site in the DR. Clint was also very impressed by everything he heard about SI and this impression was cemented in when we went for a 5-day trip down there in October. We are excited about the opportunities to serve the Dominican people and the American short-term teams who come down to serve with us.

Where is the Dominican Republic? What religion do the people practice? What are the native peoples like? 

The Dominican Republic is a small country that shares an island with Haiti. This island, originally called Hispaniola, is in the Carribean, just below Florida. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, but very few actually practice it. There is a strong belief in superstition and many Dominicans visit witch doctors. The Dominican people are a mixed race of Spanish, African (from the slave trade) and European. The native Taino Indians were killed off within 2 generations of Columbus's landing. They are a friendly, hospitable people who love music, dancing, laughing and baseball. They are very open to the gospel.

Why go to another country when there is so much need right in your own backyard? 

Some of us respond to God's initiative to take the gospel to other nations while many respond to God's initiative to reach the people right around them. Clint and I believe that, as believers in Jesus Christ and in being his disciples, we should be sharing the gospel with people near and far and we hope that our lives have reflected this belief and continue to reflect this belief.

If I want to support you, when should I start giving? Aren't you still working jobs in San Luis? 

Our missions organization requires 100% of our start-up budget to be raised and 90% of our monthly budget pledged before we can enter the field. This is why we want to encourage you to start supporting us right away. We will continue to work in San Luis Obispo until the funds are in. 

All donations sent to Students International in our name will accrue in our account until we are prepared to draw on the funds. Some of the funds go toward a required 4-week, pre-field training in Colorado (www.mti.org), and to cover all associated traveling expenses. As monthly donations accrue, they can go toward building up our start-up budget. Once we begin our lives as missionaries, SI will begin paying us the monthly salary based on the budget that we set. 100% of the funds you donate go directly to us in the field. You can donate safely and easily, by clicking here.

How long am I supposed to give toward your support? 

For now, we have made an initial two year commitment to serve in the DR. This commitment begins when we arrive there. It would greatly help us if you could start giving now as well as during our two years there.

We hope this answers at least some of your questions. We realize there may be many more! Please do not be shy in asking us any question that arises, as we are all learners together in this process called 'missions'. 

Helping us learn is a book we have been reading called, When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fickert. Serving the poor is an idea that needs to be looked at and evaluated over and over, especially since so much damage has been done in the "name of Jesus" throughout history. 

God has been working in the Dominican Republic since its inception. We simply want to go and join in what God is doing and allow Him to use our gifts and talents to reveal more of who Christ is - both through us and to us. 

We are so thankful for all of you and look forward to an ongoing discussion about what it means to be a daily disciple of Christ!