Mission Team Summary

In their own words, some of our mission team members share what they experienced while ministering in the Dominican Republic.

Sandy Lanzo~

Sandy Lanzo (holding the board) with Renee Gibbons.

“Shortly after they poured cement by the door of the house, the husband stepped in it. The look on the wife’s face was priceless! I had our translator tell her that husbands are the same no matter what country they come from – they do not always pay attention!! Then we laughed and hugged 🙂 Then Greg (Lanzo, Sandy’s husband) troweled the footsteps out for her.”

Doug Hanson~

“I spent most of my time there around Norma’s family.   From the short conversations we had (through interpreters), it was evident that life is anything but easy for them.”

Doug Hanson with Norma, her children, and her father, in front of her father’s house showing the name of Norma’s husband, Jorge Marco, who died last year.

“Norma, of course, is adjusting to the death of her husband and provider and her new reality of being a single mom in a place where there are no safety nets beyond immediate family.  Her elderly father shared with us about his health problems and how his wife cares for him while also being the main bread winner for the whole family.”

“I have a sense that our (GREFC) efforts made a huge difference and that what God did through us did a lot to rekindle hope in their family.  I really believe our giving and going will change the lives of those 3 families tremendously, especially the children.  I am convinced they know that the houses and things they received are from God’s hand (given through us) and that the experience will strengthen their faith in Him.  Norma’s quiet yet sincere gratitude was a stark contrast to the exuberant, fist pumping thanks we received last fall from Victor, yet there is no question that she recognized and appreciated how God was blessing her through us.”

“Over and over I found myself pondering the question of why, in God’s providence, am I so blessed as to have been born into a “middle class” family in the USA and afforded all the opportunity and privilege that goes with that?  I also thought about the responsibility that goes along with being the recipient of such good fortune.”

“I’ve come to believe that in God’s economy, we are blessed so that we might be a blessing to others and so we need to be tuned in and seeking the opportunities God provides for us to share.  This trip was just such an opportunity and I am proud of our people who recognized that and chose to give, pray and go.  The question I have now is, “What does this look like going forward? And should/will we return to help change more lives?”

Paul Huttner~

“Our church is filled with talented tradesmen of all kinds. On our job site it was truly a pleasure to watch all the different things Tom Geisler can do with a circular saw in his hands. Besides all the different ways he used it for building the house, I’m pretty sure I saw him brush his teeth, shave his beard and trim his mustache, and would be willing to bet he uses one to field dress and process his deer every fall.”

“I continue to be amazed at how God can work through us when we surrender to Him, especially through trials.  The biggest negative of the trip was, undoubtedly, Lisa’s injury.  I would argue that her and Duane’s godly response, however, transformed that potentially toxic event into one of, if not the most, powerful and positive things that happened all week.”

“I’m sure I’m not remembering it perfectly, but Duane described his concern as he walked back into the small emergency room in Santo Domingo.  Lisa was leaning forward with her head in her hands, seemingly in pain or defeated in some way.  She lifted her head with a smile on her face and explained she was praying for the other sick and injured people with her.” Asking for medical claims is important but making your case is crucial and a legal expert can help here.

“The young Dominican man responsible for the accident, and the community at large, witnessed her come back to the job site the same day, and every day after, with no anger, judgement or resentment, but rather with love, grace, and forgiveness.  God was truly glorified through them and I feel so blessed to call the Mrnaks my brother and sister in Christ!”

Paul (with saw) and Lisa Mrnak working alongside others.

“I am grateful for the forming and strengthening of relationships among the team members.  I really enjoyed getting to know everyone better.  It was amazing to watch others form such incredibly strong bonds in just a few days, that otherwise might have taken years in their normal routines at home.  Specifically, Tom Geisler and Robert Nettles.  These are two men cut from the same gentle-spirited, humble, hard-working cloth.  They seem like family now.”

Greg Lanzo (yellow), Robert Nettles (back middle), Paul Huttner (right) and Tom Geisler (middle) with boys from the village.

“For over a year, God has been hitting me hard with verse after verse regarding how he feels about taking care of the poor, loving the marginalized, and reaching out to the lost.  My prayer is that this trip would pour gasoline on a fire that is already burning in  me, and in our church, to, most importantly, love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to truly love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”

“To paraphrase a Christian author, “That we would continue to realize there is more to Jesus than the routine religion that we are tempted to settle for at every turn.  That when we take a serious look at what Jesus really meant when he said, “Follow Me”, we will discover there is more pleasure to be experienced in Him, indescribably greater power to be realized with Him, and a much higher purpose to be accomplished for Him than anything this world has to offer.  And, as a result, we will all, every single Christian, eagerly, willingly, and gladly lose our lives to know and proclaim Christ.  For this is simply what it means to follow him.”