Prospere la jornada

One of the closing hymns we sing at church often (HL 748) includes the line "Denos pan con que vivir / Y prospere la jornada." It translates to "Give us bread with which to live / And prosper the __________."

According to my go-to online Spanish dictionary, a "jornada" is a workday, journey, or day trip.

Last weekend, Concordia the Reformer Seminary here in the DR hosted its 3rd jornada evangelística - an intensive, multi-day campaign in which the residential students plan and carry out a variety of outreach activities targeting a certain neighborhood. 

While said neighborhood was Licey al Medio this time around, the weekend kicked off with a Bible study for Chamos volleyball league players in an area not near any of our current church plants. Chamos is an NGO run by Victor Reyes, a Venezuelan member of Iglesia Luterana Pueblo Nuevo. The growing league currently consists of ~250 players in 2 major cities. Victor's goal is to teach not only volleyball skills but to raise up godly young people. He presented his work at a pastoral retreat in November and again at the March FORO, seeking a partnership to which the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission readily agreed. Lutheran pastors and students are present at practices whenever possible, and players' uniforms feature a giant Luther's rose on the back!

(Throwback to my first time witnessing Victor, the Rev. Dr. Ross Shaver, and a cadre of seminarians in action on a Friday night in December.)

Building on a foundation of having led short devotions for months, week 2 of a more in-depth 3-week Bible study fell on jornada weekend. Fellow missionary Kris Shaver & I went so she - and the Shavers' two boys - could see their church planting husband/dad in action! Cuban pastor/seminarian Fernando's led the study, with Vicar Josh Wareham closing in prayer. Afterwards, a crew of others stood by to pass out tracts and stickers. 

I wasn't involved in Saturday's activities at all, but the Cordero de Dios church WhatsApp group clued me into the fact that there was a marriage workshop in the morning. I later learned the students divided into groups to canvas the surrounding neighborhood for a few hours in the afternoon. 

Nearly the whole group joined us for Sunday morning worship. Instead of our normal pre-service Bible study on one of the Psalms, the seminarians re-hashed the marriage workshop. At the end of the service when first-time guests are normally introduced, seminarian Edwin presented a neighbor lady in the back who'd come as a result of a Saturday afternoon visit. I'd say God certainly "prospered" the...whatever you want to call it!

I went straight from worship to the airport to pick up the first of 10 LCMS district presidents who'd be joining us in the DR for a 4-day mission education-type experience. It's been a fun few days of meeting and interacting with these humble, dedicated leaders ever since. More soon...

Until next time, blessings in Christ!