The
Diocese of Western Michigan Partners in mission & ministry
with the Episcopal Dioceses of the Dominican
Republic (Iglesia Episcopal Dominicana), Eastern
Michigan and Michigan.
2012 Michigan D.R.E.A.M.
Dominican Mission Project
Please consider attending one of our Companion Mission Trips this summer! We will have 3 consecutive trips scheduled in July starting the 14th through the 21th and July 21-28. We have raised the funds to complete the shell of the first floor of the church and we will travel to complete the construction of the roof on the first floor. YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE TO ATTEND!
We are also traveling January 14-21 with a group and are still accepting volunteers. These would be persons interested in a leadership role on the upcoming mission trips, fundraising for next year and sustaining the ongoing mission. All trips will be with our fellow Diocese missioners in all of lower Michigan. Please don't miss this opportunity to put a little action into your faith!
If you are interested in the January trip, contact Beth Drew as soon as possible ---plans are currently underway and tickets need to be purchased within thirty days of departure. For more information and the application package, click here.
Beth Drew
Bethdrew7@gmail.com
269-244-0467 (cell)
269-244-9908 (home)
Mission Trip Press Release! Please distribute!!!
Posted on January 26, 2012 by Sandy Reardon
Michigan Team of Episcopal Adults Return from a Dominican Republic Mission Trip
The project is called D.R.E.A.M. (Dominican Republic and Episcopal Churches in all of Lower Michigan). Three Episcopal dioceses from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula are partnering with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic to complete the building of a church and school in San Simon located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Having established relationships with Bishop Julio Holguin of Santo Domingo and his staff, area teams have been formed combining ideals, talents, finances and dreams to work together over a four-year period to build a new church and school. As described by Clarence Jordan’s Cotton Patch translation of Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the turning of dreams into deeds, the betting of your life on unseen realities.” Working together, the Episcopal missionaries are creating a new reality in San Simon.
Team #1, comprised of 11 Episcopalians from different locations within Lower Michigan, met in Detroit on January 15 and flew to Puerto Plata, DR via Miami. Though the majority of the team had never met and some had never travelled outside the country, they quickly formed friendships that allowed the group to bond together. The group was met at the airport by a matching group of Dominicans lead by their pastor, Padre Bienvenido who is currently assigned to 4 churches in the area.
Upon arrival and checking into the local accommodations, the immediate culture meld began to occur. Dinner comprised of the local menu of rice, beans and meat and salad before the group headedg directly to the temporary location for Sunday’s church service in a small, candle-lit room, packed for worship with the visitors from Michigan and the local members. The overcrowding left many parishioners standing in the open doorways, porch or dirt streets. The traditional Episcopal service spoken in Spanish didn’t prevent the American’s from contributing and participating. An immediate ‘bond’ between the groups began to form.
The daily schedule involved rising early, traveling to the work site in San Simon, working onsite in the morning and afternoon, and then returning to the hotel prior to dinner. Several fellowship opportunities were planned throughout the day, allowing team members to enjoy morning devotion, a noon lunch break, a team meeting, and informal evening gatherings. Since we were helping to lay the foundation for the new church, much of the work consisted of moving dirt from one location to another. The work was difficult and further compounded by severe rain storms that filled footings with water and caused walls to collapse. Though disheartened by the weather, the missionaries kept their spirits up and worked diligently beside local workers to achieve the objectives set for this trip.
Establishing relationships was just as important as the labor provided by the team. Our acceptance by the community as being a part of their community was impressive and indicative of the bond that developed between our respective groups. This acceptance was culturally bridged by the hospitality extended to us by the people of San Marcus. It was also addressed spiritually by Padre Bienvenido’s request for us to conduct the regular Thursday Eucharist (which we gladly did) in English and our subsequent invitation to a parishioner’s funeral to be part of her “laying to rest.”
Adults participating in this mission team included Beth Drew (team leader), Terri Lynn Hope, Larry Putt, and Mary Lou Schlotterbeck from the Western Michigan diocese; Herb Head and Eric Travis from the Michigan diocese; Charles Bash, Linda Crane, Roger Wood, Larry Parks, and Sandy Reardon from the Eastern Michigan diocese.
The team is actively involved in raising funds for future trips. As you can imagine, the need is great and your support could benefit a worthy cause. Contributions can be sent to your local Episcopal Church or diocese and marked for support of the San Simon project in the DR. Or, send directly to the Dominican Development Group (www.domincandevelopmentgroup.org), attention Bob Stevens at P.O. Box 661, Ellerton, FL 34222. Questions can go to Bob Stevens at 941-776-1018 or emailed to ddgstevens@aol.com. All contributions will be used entirely to fund the four year mission.
The Dominican Development Group
c/o DaySpring * P.O. Box 661 * Ellenton, FL 34222 * tel: 941-776-1018
Dear Friends of the Dominican Episcopal Church,
This is the 28th volume of the Joint Companion Diocese Newsletter which we have been publishing since 2001. We try to publish the Joint CD Newsletter three times a year to give our many DR friends periodic updates on what is going on in the life of the Dominican Episcopal Church. As many of you know, the DR is one of the most dynamic Churches of any diocese connected with the American Episcopal Church, and it is interesting, informative, and worthwhile to keep up on what is going on there.
Many of you have received the Joint CD Newsletter for several years. Over those years it has changed incrementally. Now, with the generous assistance of many others, the newsletter has been converted into a bilingual format and we have significantly enhanced the look. I trust that you will enjoy the new format.
If you know of others that would like to receive this publication, please forward their contact information (name, email address, etc.) to the email address below.
Thank you and God bless,
Bob Stevens
DDG Executive Director
A Newsletter of the Companion Diocese and mission relationships with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic:
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