Puerto Rico (2nd trip)...

Here's some pictures from our Puerto Rico trip in April.  We did our ministry at the same local school we worked at in February.  Again, we served the school by doing different work projects, but more time was spent inside the classrooms, where the team was able to share the gospel to different classrooms.  We also served all the staff/teachers of the school by providing a home cooked meal for their lunch period.  During the meal, team members were able to share with the faculty the reason why we come and serve.  Two men also were able to share with parents of many of the students.  The principal got these men from the group to share the gospel with the parents because recently there have been a couple of gang shootings in the area of the school.  Most of the community lives in fear.  There was actually a shooting while we were there.  We definitely saw the Lord's timing for having us there when He did.  Please pray for the people of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.  They desperately need the Lord to continue His work there.

Puerto Rico

Jesus was proclaimed in Arecibo, Puerto Rico this past week. Thank you all for your prayers over the trip. It was such a blessing to serve alongside believers at Primera Iglesia Bautista de Arecibo. We loved on children at the local school through songs and games and most importantly by sharing the Gospel with them. We were allowed to go in to classrooms to share the Truth and pray with students, declare Jesus as healer to some adults in the community who were suffering the aftermath of shootings in the area, help build a physical education classroom, and bless the teachers at the school with lunch and encouragement. I believe the Spirit is at work in Arecibo and I ask that you join me in prayer for the Church there.

"For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Dominican Republic

Here's an assortment of photos from the Dominican Republic.  They include worship from Sunday morning, ministry pictures from the week, some pictures depicting Dom. Rep. culture, and one from our beach excursion on the last full day.  The trip was definitely one of the top mission trips I've taken, if not the top.  It was incredible, and I'm thankful that the Lord allowed me to serve on it.  If you have questions about any photo or want to know more about the trip, then... just comment below or email (okratiger@yahoo.com) to ask me.

Water Festival

The Myanmar New Year is celebrated in April. With Myanmar/Burmese culture being deeply entrenched in Buddhism, there is a heavy Buddhist influence on their celebrations. "Water Festival" is the celebration of the new year. Water Festival is right after the hottest season(March) in Myanmar when everything is hot and dry. Traditionally, the Buddhist Burmsese would ask one of their gods to bring water to the land. Each household had a ceremony and there was also a parade of young people that would toss/throw water EVERYWHERE and on EVERYONE. The ceremony symbolized "cleansing" from the old year to prepare for the new year.

Water Festival is still a big part of Burmese culture today, for Buddhists and non-Buddhists. It is still a huge celebration of water. There is also dancing, singing, and traditional deserts. This weekend, we were invited to Water Festival at our Burmese friends' church. This was quite the experience! First, we had a worship service. The festival was held at the church, so the Christian Burmese used it to invite their lost (mostly Buddhist) friends who would want to celebrate the new year. They had their normal church service with a time of worship and a message from their pastor.
                                 

We enjoyed worshipping with the believers there and seeing their hearts for not only their people group, but for the Lord. I love experiencing and remembering that Jesus does not speak English, but speaks the universal language of Love; our heart language.

After the worship service was the Festival! We were able to visit with many of our friends who we had not seen in a while and catch up with them. (as best we could in our broken languages) And we also learned a great deal more about Burmese culture.

We had desert..

    Coconut balls with brown sugar, toasted coconut
     with rice, pounded sweet rice in seaweed, and
       mon phe to (bananas and sticky rice in seaweed- my
 favorite Burmese dish) 

 I'm not sure what this dish is called, and I
  can't say that I tried it, but they love it!
It's coconut milk, green jelly, bread, and ice :) 

We watched some traditional dancing...and I was asked to participate in some dancing as well. I'll spare you the videos of that and just put a pic :)

We were also "blessed" with splashes of water and sweet smiles. Overall, it was such a fun time with them. I really enjoy learning more about their culture and just getting to know them more. The Lord is definitely at work among the Burmese community in Nashville and we are so blessed to be a part of it.