December 2016 Newsletter
Feliz Navidad from Barahona!
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth this month, many of us have certain traditions we follow. Some are family traditions passed
down from generations, while others are cultural or maybe traditions within our church. Likewise, people in the
Dominican Republic have their own Christmas traditions.
If you spend much time in Barahona during
December, you are likely to notice many people
painting their houses during the month. One
requirement in the country’s labor law is that
employers pay a “Christmas Salary” to their
employees. If the employee has been working the
entire year, it could amount to an additional fullmonth’s salary. With this extra money, people fix up
their houses and buy new things for their homes, as
well as new clothing. Dominicans take a lot of pride
in their homes, and love to decorate their houses
This festive wall greets visitors in a neighborhood
and streets for Christmas. You can see everything
on the way to the Mission House.
from colorful lights on houses to decorations tied
on trees to colorful Christmas and New Year messages painted on walls, curbs, and speed bumps!
Black Friday? Yes, it has become an event in the Dominican Republic. One of the United States’ more culturally
significant contributions, for sure (please note the sarcasm here). Radio commercials and mobile advertising trucks
jubilantly (and loudly) announce “Black Friday” specials, as do signs on businesses – even in Barahona! And yes, they use
the English phrase; it wouldn’t really mean anything to them if it were translated into Spanish!
Christmas Eve is the big celebration night. Family members gather together for a meal, enjoying an assortment of special
dishes and sharing memories of Christmases past. Christmas Day is less of an event; it is a national holiday, so mostly it is
a day for relaxing with family and friends. Generally, gifts are not exchanged on Christmas Day in rural areas like much of
Barahona and the bateys. That is probably different in more urban areas like Santo Domingo. The more traditional day for
parents to give gifts to their children is on January 6 – “El Día de los Reyes Magos” or “Three Kings Day” –
commemorating the gift-bearing kings’ visit with Jesus.
New Year’s Eve is another festive night. Many people join in local celebrations and some light small fires, called ‘fogatas,’
as a way to hope for good health and prosperity in the New Year. Late-night New Year’s Eve services are very popular
among Christians, with churches packed with worshipers offering their praises to God and prayers for the coming year. It
is such an uplifting way to start the year! (Continued on page 2)
Continued from page 1
It is truly wonderful to consider that our brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic share the joy of this season, even
though they may celebrate it differently than we do. As you fellowship with family, friends, and your church this season,
celebrate Jesus and pray that Christmas will be a time for our Dominican friends (and us) to draw nearer to Him! May the
peace of Jesus Christ be with you now and forever! Merry Christmas!
Serving Up Some Changes
Earlier this year, Ricardo, our local Manager in Barahona, presented the Board of Directors both a concern and a
recommendation. He and his team believed that some of the batey residents we serve really needed more food than what
they were receiving from the ministry. Many elderly residents have no one else in
the home or community to provide for them, or they are providing for several
family members in addition to themselves. Young, single mothers rely on
government support that may not meet their needs. As Ricardo talked with batey
residents, he learned that some of the people receiving food from the ministry
didn’t actually need it. There are some families with both parents at home where
the father makes sufficient income from a job to provide for the family. And some
families operate a colmado (small store selling food, drinks, and some general
merchandise) from their home, which generates income to provide for their needs.
And finally, some families receive financial assistance from family members living
elsewhere in the Dominican Republic or even outside the country. We thank God
for His providence in each of these situations!
Ricardo confirmed his observations through conversations with the batey leaders
and pastors in the bateyes. He and the team wanted to provide additional help to
those families who need it, yet they knew that funds were not available to just
increase the distribution portions. He suggested that we could continue to provide
spiritual nourishment for those families who are able to provide financially for themselves (which is the ultimate goal for
everyone!), while saving the physical nourishment for those residents who have a
greater need.
Pastor Jack and Ricardo speak to
residents in Batey Algodón about the new
distribution program.
In November, after many planning meetings, discussions with pastors and batey
leaders, and in-home meetings with batey residents, the ministry implemented
changes to the food distribution program. The weekly distributions will be done in
a local church in each batey, with volunteers from that church assisting in the
distribution. By involving the local churches, residents will come to associate the
food assistance as a gift from God through the local church. Our hope is that this
will also reinforce the evangelistic message of our ministry.
It will likely take several months for the new process to have all the details ironed
out, and we will continue to work with Ricardo and his team as they refine it. Each
of the pastors and batey leaders has been assured that families who need the food
will receive it. Ricardo has asked each of them to directly inform him if anyone is
being missed. What about the residents who are no longer receiving the food? In
his conversations with many of these families, Ricardo was told that they
understand, and that the food should really go to those who need it.
(Continued on page 3)
Local pastor in Batey Altagracia teaches a
bible lesson before the first distribution
under the new program.
Give a Gift & Spread the Word
The Least of These Ministries is blessed to have a community of generous supporters who
have a passion both for sharing the gospel and helping to improve the lives of Dominican
families living in poverty. In order to continue our work in the bateys and expand our
outreach in the future, we need to enlarge that community of supporters. One of the ways
this is accomplished is through our current supporters – that’s you! – telling others about our
ministry’s work in the DR. Do you have friends, co-workers, or family members who have a
heart for missions? Tell them about us and invite them to become involved!
This is a perfect time of year for introducing someone to the ministry through a gift made in
their honor. Complete the enclosed form and return it to us, and we’ll send a note card
acknowledging the gift either to you or directly to the honoree.
How Do My Gifts Help?
We are honored and grateful to receive gifts of any amount. In my recent visits to churches,
several people were interested in knowing just what impact their gift may have. Following are
some examples of how your gifts directly help those we serve:
- A gift of $15 provides food to a single mother with two children for two months.
- A gift of $30 provides food to an elderly couple for six months.
- A gift of $60 provides food to a family of four for six months.
- A gift of $100 provides food to a family of five for eight months.
- A gift of $250 provides food to a family of eight for a full year!
Resident of Batey Cuchilla holds his new
distribution card.
These amounts reflect just the average costs of the food provided to the families. There are other expenses such as salaries for our Dominican staff,
fuel and maintenance of our trucks, and maintenance of our warehouse.
Los Robles Church
In June, 2015, one of our mission teams (led by Suncrest UMC in Morgantown, WV) poured sidewalks leading to and all around the church in Batey
Los Robles. Those sidewalks have proven to be quite a blessing for Pastor
Ramón and his family, and the church family. This season has been quite rainy
in the area, and with the poor drainage, a lot of water pools on the land close
to the church. The new sidewalks allow the family and the churchgoers to walk
right into the home or church without having to wade through the mud! Now
to solve the drainage problem to reduce the mosquito population…. One step
at a time!
The church does have some specific needs, however. Pastor Ramón has, for a
long time, wanted the ability to have outdoor services and movies, and the
ability to play Christian music for the services and for the community.
However, the church does not have a sound system. We would like to bless the
church by providing the equipment, but cannot commit to the $500-700 cost
of the system. Also, the church is in need of four new fans at a cost of about
$25 each.
Heavy rains this season leave behind a muddy mess next to
the Los Robles Church.
If you would like to help out with any of these needs, please mark your
donation for “Los Robles.”
Serving Up Some Changes (Continued from page 2)
In the near future, Ricardo wants to begin a discipleship program with batey residents. He envisions using volunteers from his church to build
relationships with people in the bateys, with the goal of encouraging and edifying one another in their Christian faith. This is in line with the ministry’s
plan to place missionaries in one or more bateys in the future. Please pray for God’s will to be done through each of these exciting new ministry
avenues!
Merry Christmas!
We wish each of you and your families a Christmas season filled with the
Peace and Joy of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your support during 2016!
–Marty Hogan, Lori Teitelbaum, and the Board of Directors
Christmas display in front of the National Palace in Santa Domingo, DR.
Ways to Donate
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Online
leastofthesemin.org.
Click the “To Donate” link.
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Electronic
Set up a donation through your
on-line banking or PayPal.
Mail
The Least of These Ministries
PO Box 2824
Westminster, MD 21158-7824
Join Us on Social Media
www.facebook.com/TheLeastOfTheseMinistries
The Least of These Ministries, Inc.
532 Baltimore Blvd, Suite 304, Westminster MD
PO Box 2824, Westminster, MD 21158
410-848-2128
Marty Hogan, Executive Director: [email protected]
Board of Directors: Andy Hood, President
Bill Cole, Treasurer
www.twitter.com/LeastofTheseMin
[email protected]
Founded by Steve and Ann Hull
www.leastofthesemin.org
Lori Teitelbaum, Executive Assistant: [email protected]
Dianne Drupp
Dale Howard
Rev. Bill Warehime
The Least of These Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Maryland.