Over the last couple years God has been breaking my heart for the girls of this barrio. I’ve nursed their broken backs and prayed with them as they return to their abusive homes. I’ve cried with them — and for them. I’ve been awaken by their face in my dreams and tormented by their personal stories. I want to save them, but I know there is nothing I have to offer that can save them. That is the truth I become more and more aware of with each new day here.

The only thing that I have to offer is the love that I’ve found in my heavenly Father. Through Him captives are set free and comfort, along with gladness, is given to those who mourn. Because of Him the good news is preached to the poor and the lost are able to trade their despair for praise and their ashes for beauty.

God has not only been moving in me but also in the women around me. He has been breaking their hearts for the girls in our community also. We are currently preparing a girls retreat and have a list of 40 girls that have been abused, entered into prostitution, seduced by older men, offered as payment for family funds, or have simply begun to make bad choices in their vulnerable adolescence. We are not adequately prepared or trained but are celebrating in our weakness because we know that God is moving and loves to use the weak to show His glory and might. Please join us in declaring the words of Isaiah 61 each day as we pray it aloud, pray that God show each of us the specific girls we are called to mentor, the stories and testimonies we are to share, and pray that he prepares their hearts to receive.

I will try to keep you posted as to the progress of this journey through personal stories and battles won.

I was telling a friend of mine the other day that big things were about to happen, I could just feel it. When she asked me to explain, I couldn’t. God is stirring something deeply in my heart and in those around me — preparing us for something bigger than we ourselves can imagine. We can feel it and we are waiting with great expectation.

I received this note from my friend and his words could have been mine as they expressed so well what was taking place within my own heart so I post them below.

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I know it is bad blogging to be silent for too long. Entries need to keep coming frequently in order for a blog to remain fresh and inviting to the audience. Thank you for your patience. My silence is definitely not a sign that nothing is going on. Actually, very intense and good things are going on. It’s hard to describe, or perhaps impossible right now, but I will try. There are deep things stirring in my heart these last few months and especially these last few weeks. But it’s as if the Lord is bypassing the intellect and brewing things directly in the heart instead.

The personal revelations coming are the kind that are radically changing me but cannot necessarily be explained in words until, perhaps, they have shifted my whole life and perspective and I have lived them out a bit.

These personal revelations are not ‘new’ ideas but rather ancient ones that are piercing deeper into my heart and totally affecting the way I rise up in the morning and face the day and face the future. Jesus introduced these mysterious concepts like embracing weakness, accepting God’s lavish mercy, and standing up confidently in grace.

I know these religious concepts have been explained to me in a thousand ways over the last 30 years of my Christian life (and I’ve tried to explain them to hundreds myself), but now Jesus is over-riding my religious understandings and bringing experiential truth in a way I can feel deeply in my heart but I cannot seem to explain in words. They are overwhelming me like ocean waves, and I suspect that I am only beginning to scratch the surface of all that is available in them. I am both terrified and thrilled at the potential these ideas have for my heart and my family.

We are all part of the same body, countries dividing us, but the spirit uniting us. I love that!
Joy

I write this article to highlight the fact that what we do at T.E.A.R.S. School is family and community focused. On Monday I visited my friend Anthony’s house, hopping in his taxi after classes had finished up. He is the father of two students here: Darling (grade two) and Baiolette (grade three). The entire family used to live on Eleventh Street- a minute’s walk from the school- but due to financial difficulties they were unable to pay the rent. They are now living in another barrio, very far from the school, but Anthony and his wife Thomasina are dedicated and go the distance to ensure their kids are receiving education.

During the afternoon I had a really meaningful discussion with Anthony. We got into thinking about the centrality of Jesus Christ as expressed in the Bible and also as he applies to our lives. Looking into the Old Testament, we found that the story of Samson in fact pointed to Jesus- the ultimate judge. Samson defeated a physical lion, but Jesus conquered the most menacing lion of all time. He took on Satan and eternal death- and triumphed. Samson- when they tried to contain him- lifted up the city gates and walked away. In the same way, Jesus- when the Pharisees attempted to weigh him down with commands and trap him with questions- responded by saying that they would not enter through the gate, for truly is the gate. And so he bore the weight of the law upon his shoulders, carrying it outside of Jerusalem, and all who believe can now enter through him. Samson broke through physical ropes, but Jesus shattered the chains of fear that once bound us, freeing us by his grace. Samson brought down the temple with his death, as did Jesus- but in an incomparably more profound way. Because of his sacrifice we have free access to God; the veil is torn!

Anthony reinforced that focusing on Christ- contemplating the truth of the gospel- is so central to what we do as we live in the kingdom, making disciples. “Refusing to let Christ rule in our hearts,” he said, “is spiritual starvation.” He is a very passionate man and hopes to enter into full-time evangelism in the future. Currently he works as a taxi driver, and he feels that God is using this time to prepare him for ministry. Anthony is a real man of God, with a passion to see his community transformed by the gospel, and it was so encouraging to get a glimpse of his faith.

Being a student at TEARS School is a privilege. We look for parents who have a desire to make an impact in their community, and Anthony’s family is a great example. Despite all the hardships they face, they are full of hope and Christ-centered ambition. After returning home I was hit by the fact that God is truly doing great things among us; that seeds are being planted and fruit being shown. This ministry is a blessing, and I give the glory to God.

On September 1st, Obed and Rosmary entered into holy matrimony, confessing their vows before a small group of family and friends in Sosua here in the Dominican Republic. I had the triple honor of being their chauffeur , padrino (the one who gave her away) and marrying them all on the same day!

Joy Reyes was the madrina and Helena & Isaac the ring bearers. On a beautiful evening at the beach we gathered on a terrace overlooking the Sosua bay and we prayed together, asking God to bless this marriage. Obed (a T.E.A.R.S. missionary from Colombia) was glowing with joy and his bride Rosmary (a teacher at T.E.A.R.S. School) was absolutely stunning!

We are so happy to have been able to share in this special day of their lives.If you would like to write and congratulate them, their email address is oblaca007@hotmail.com. If you would like to send them a gift please send it to: Rod Davis / TEARS 13226, 100 Airport Ave., Venice FL 34285 (Note: wedding). You can also send a check or money order to: 3614 NE 50th Ave Portland, OR 97213 (Note: Colombia Worship ) or you can give online on our T.E.A.R.S. website www.tears.org (Note: Colombia Worship).

The bell rings, echoing through the halls- everyone knows what time it is. Recess!

The students squirm in their seats, waiting for the teacher to announce that they can leave. Walking in an orderly line and burning with excitement, the children slowly make it down the stairs and outside into a spacious, open court.

Along the fence on the left side people are selling various baked snacks and the Dominican equivalent of freezies. Many will first buy something to eat, enjoying their treats in the shade so they don’t melt, re-energizing for the second half of the day. As everyone is finishing off their food- or even still in the midst of eating it- the children start to play. On second thought, maybe they didn’t need that extra burst of energy. These kids are machines!

A favorite game- at least during the day I observed- is a game rather like cops and robbers (guys versus girls, of course). Here they call it police. It turns relatively chaotic after the first few minutes, and tends to become more of a free-for-all, fend-for-one’s-self fiasco. Kids began running around randomly, crashing and forming what I can only compare to a rugby scrum. The boys would lock arms and form lines, walking slowly and ominously forward to enclose the girls and take them to jail. Every so often a jail break would be issued, sending people running happily in all different directions; free to begin the madness anew.

Recess is in fact a crucial and beneficial part of what we do at TEARS School, ensuring that the students have a chance to blow off some steam and experience physical as well as mental learning. It gives the teachers a little break too; it’s an all around fun event, and often the highlight of the children’s day. Praise God for recess!

First off, I just want to praise the Lord of all creation; the One who has given life to all of us and formed us with a specific purpose in his glorious kingdom. I rejoice in God every morning when I see all the children in the barrio lining up, anticipating another day of school. How joyous it is to consider that their years here will lay the foundation for a life of learning and growth, planting seeds and ensuring strong roots as they dive into the future God has for them.

This week I want to focus on the unique experience I had as I sat in with the very youngest children in our school. Sofi has undertaken to invest in the lives of these three and four year olds in such a way that it will leave an eternal impact.

As I entered her class and took a seat at an empty table- hoping not to totally distract all the children, or to break the tiny chair in which I sat- I immediately noticed the liveliness and vibrancy that marked Sofi’s actions; she was doing exactly what God had made her to do, and loving every minute of it. She sang and danced and encouraged everyone to get involved. In a way that I will never be able to fully express, she got on a level with these kids. She wasn’t the tall, intimidating figure I remember having in elementary- she was shining with sincerity and joy.

She had everyone participating, correcting them ever so gently if they were not listening, ensuring their attention. She helped the children engage as active learners, bringing one student up to the front to recite a song she had just taught. At first he was really shy, but Sofi bolstered his confidence, addressing the class: “We can help him sing.” They raised their voices together, in a chorus that- though uncoordinated and out of tune- exulted in the harmony of the heavens.

With a word of prayer the day was done, and the children walked home with smiles on their faces- knowing that they were not only loved and accepted by their teachers and peers at school, but by God himself.

Rod is still going strong in his “Biggest Loser” program. We are proud to announce, through this program, Rod has lost another 14 pounds! That puts his total lost at 31 pounds! Rod would love continued encouragement and for you to prayerfully consider pledging in order to help him achieve his goals of losing weight and supporting his family financially. Learn more about supporting Rod with “The Biggest Loser.”

Weigh-in #3 (September 4, 2007): 311 pounds
Weigh-in #2 (August 4, 2007): 325 pounds
Weigh-in #1 (July 4, 2007): 342 pounds

Next weigh-in October 4, 2007.

Rod has the following message to share regarding his program:
Let me start by saying how grateful I am for all of the support and prayers.
I feel great! It’s a real challenge to say no in this “eat together, all the time, relational society”, or even to myself. This is especially true, since saying “no” has never been my strong point. I am realizing lately that the benefits definitely outweigh the challenges. I feel sharper mentally, physically and spiritually. I am thrilled to have gone from a 54-inch waist down to a 46-inch in my pants size and from 5x shirts size to a 3x! Overall, I have more energy and feel more effective in whatever I am doing.

A Day in the Life of “The Biggest Loser”

I am usually in bed by 11:00PM and up by 5:30AM for prayer and my morning walk. I make it back by 7:00AM to shower and have fruit, yogurt and 32oz of water for breakfast. At 7:20AM I am off to Santiago to take the kids to school. I will usually finish my 32oz carry around water bottle (second one for the day) before I get back to the office. I am in the office from 9:00AM to 12:00 (noon) in which time I will knock-off one more 32oz bottle of water then home for a light, low-carbohydrate lunch and chat with Twila.

When siesta time is over around 2:00PM I am off to Santiago again to pick up the kids in which time I have another 32oz of water. I return home by 4:00PM and I have visitation time (with my Dominican friends) until 6:00PM and then a semi lo-carb dinner with 32oz of water. From 7:00PM until 9:00PM, while the kids are doing homework I try to catch up on various work projects while have another delicious 32oz of water! After I am finished and the kids get ready for bed I will pour myself a yummy 32oz big mug of water and put my feet up to while I catch the evening news or read a good book.

Before I brush my teeth and get ready to go to bed I treat myself to a delectable granola bar or a mouth-watering piece of fruit and a 32oz jug of water and then hit the sack. Then I get up to GO TO THE BATHROOM and back to bed to pray myself to sleep. Mommy always said to drink lots of water. If she were here she would be proud of me!

In His grace,
Rod