Season 20, Episode 1

Tirzah & I flew back from Belize with six DR FORO partners: congregational, district, and RSO representatives invested in God's mission in the Dominican Republic. Together, we weathered a maintenance issue that led to deplaning and waiting three hours for a new aircraft...and later, a pilot...but thanks be to God we still arrived by early evening with enough time to get a full night's sleep before our cultural excursion day. 

DR FOROs typically begin as such so everyone can recover from travel and get to know both missionaries and fellow partners. On this occasion, 47 of us headed for the hills: specifically, the Cafe Monte Alto coffee factory in Jarabacoa. I think I was the only one who had been there before. 

The tour was even better than I remembered it being six years ago, but no, I still don't drink the stuff. 

A coffee cherry might have 1, 2, or 3 beans inside. At this stage, they taste a little like green beans.

I see what they're doing here...shamelessly using tour groups for free labor!

Even child labor!

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed chicken & sides at a parador I read about in a guidebook forever ago. Josh & I stopped there post-hike one time and categorically decided that his chicken was superior to my ribs. 

The remainder of that day and the next followed the DR FORO's typical formula: fueling up with a Krey backyard cookout for a full day of ministry update presentations. I got to hear Josh preach in English for the first time at Morning Prayer and even made his sermon! #futurepastorswifegoals

Sunday, however, was exceptional. Lutherans nationwide gathered for a celebratory joint service honoring the DRLM's 20th anniversary. Instead of the rainstorm that usually befalls any event that takes place under the tent, we battled extreme heat. Boxed lunches arrived in the middle of each congregation sharing a bit about its trajectory to the present day. 

Partners and missionaries came together one final time Sunday evening for a pizza party wrap-up. Dana asked me to make a veggie tray; I wasn't at all mad about an excuse for a late afternoon run to the air conditioned grocery store. 

Thanks be to God for his two decades of grace and favor. It's heartening to think that none of the lay leaders, deaconesses, Lutheran school teachers, or national pastors who belted out "A Mighty Fortress" in unison even knew what a Lutheran was a generation ago. May our gracious Lord give each of us the resolve to keep walking forward by faith for the next 20 years and beyond, trusting that He and He alone will make straight our paths. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!