A Busy Month in the DR

Our team in the Dominican Republic has been hard at work this December! The Lord is giving them opportunities to minister to those in Carrera de Palma and they are seeing spiritual growth. Claudia, one of our missionaries on staff with OVI, started a women's bible study almost 2 years ago. In that time she has seen these women grow from being interested in the Bible, to women who are seeking after God's own heart. Recently, they approached her and asked if they could take turns leading the study. What a blessing! Now Claudia helps them prepare but is able to be a part of a group that is teaching EACH OTHER from God's word.

Recently it was Aris's turn to lead the discussion. She shared that "In the time I have attended bible study, I learned that we can not kneel before pictures and statues because the Bible, the Word of God, says that."

This is a powerful statement from a woman who has grown up in a very Catholic community where prayers to Mary and the saints are the most common forms of worship. Claudia had made a point to avoid talking about religion and only taught straight from God's Word, so this testimony was a "light in the dark" for these women.

The men have also started a bible study on Sunday afternoons with Alejandro.

This is a great answer to prayer and we are excited to see how God will use the men of Carrera de Palma to lead their families and community to Christ! Continue to pray that:

1. God would stir a passion in their hearts for His Word
2. He would give Alejandro wisdom as he leads them closer to the Lord
3. They would invite others to join them in bible study

The youth also had their first bible study this weekend! Even though these kids have been involved in the after-school program from the beginning, this is a great way to intentionally reach out to the older youth and teach them what it means to study the Word.

Last, but not least, December is the month that the after-school program celebrates June-December birthdays. The kids all came together for a big celebration at Mathilde's house.

We are so thankful for our Dominican team and all of the hard work they put in to see the Lord glorified through the lives of these men, women, and children! We are also grateful for our sponsors, trip participants, donors, and prayer warriors, that help to make this all possible. God is doing a great and mighty work in Carrera de Palma, DR!

A Gift that Gives Back

Black Friday....Cyber Monday....Trying to find a meaningful Christmas gift can be stressful and often makes one forget the real meaning of Christmas. Christ! During this time we should be drawn to thankfulness. Being thankful for Jesus, his birth, life, and sacrifice for us. Without Him there is no reason to celebrate after all.

All throughout the year, our focus is to share the love, compassion, mercy, and truth of the Gospel with people in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Asia. We do so by helping meet immediate physical needs such as providing training so that women can earn a living for their family, school scholarships so children in the DR can have an education, and medical clinics so low income families have access to trained doctors and medicine.

This Christmas you can avoid the malls and online shopping to give a gift that gives back to the people of Brazil. You can choose an ornament that describes the needs of a child, adult, or entire family in rural Brazil.

By choosing an ornament, you are committing to purchase either a hygiene pack (which you can shop for yourself) or to donate $50 towards a water filter. This filter will be used by an entire family to provide clean water to drink, cook with, and wash dishes.

You can email rcox@onevisionintl.org to sign up for a ornament or stop by our office at 2915 Alcoa Highway to pick one off of our tree.

These hygiene packs and water filters help keep parents healthy so they can provide for their families and help kids avoid treatable illnesses so they can stay in school. When believers pass these packs and filters out to needy families it also opens the door to share the REASON we give. We give because Christ first gave to us. We sacrifice for others because He sacrificed everything for us.

Consider giving a gift that makes a difference!

Team Insights

Ben Golden has travelled with One Vision on several occasions. We have been blessed by the opportunity to get to know him, his heart for the Lord, and his passion for missions. Last month he joined us on our first trip back to Brazil in five years. When asked to summarize the trip, this was his answer:

"By spending a brief yet immersing 8 days in Brazil, I developed a new appreciation for community and fellowship. I learned so much from the local Believers about what it truly means to live out the Great Commission and share the love of Jesus. Going into this trip, I wanted to expect nothing and experience everything. As far as the country of Brazil, I enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather, the unlimited tropical fruit, the beach, and the overall laid back atmosphere. My two main takeaways from the trip revolved around the relationships built and the type of work we did. As the week unfolded, I really enjoyed getting to know my teammates and seeing how God had purposefully placed this team together. From the start, we were shown incredible hospitality and love from Pastor Florencio and his family, and everyone else involved in our stay. We built genuine friendships even with language barrier challenges, and this had such an impact on me.  Taking part in the construction of the church and attending the evening church services was the perfect blend. The mixture created such a visual, knowing that the building structure would be a continual gathering place for local Believers. I look forward to being a part of these gatherings on my next journey to Brazil with One Vision."

Ben has already committed to go back to Brazil in 2016. If you have questions about how you can join him on his trip or would like to know more about how God is touching the lives of people in Brazil, email rcox@onevisionintl.org for more information.

A Lesson in Teamwork, Humility, and Urgency

One Vision has been blessed with the opportunity to serve in Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the past several years. It has been incredible to see how the Lord has worked in and through the hearts of those overseas and how he has transformed trip participants in just a few short days. Recently, when He closed the door in Haiti, we were left wondering what the next steps would look like. However, God never ceases to prove his faithfulness and where one door closed, another opened.

There is no easy way to sum up the most recent trip to Brazil. We went with the hopes of finding a specific project that One Vision could invest in. Rather than finding one particular project, we found at least half a dozen areas where the Holy Spirit was already moving in and through the people.

One of those was a church plant in Madiero where we helped to finish construction on their new church building. Christians from the mother church, other local churches, and new believers from the community all came out to work on the building and spend time together. It was encouraging to see Christians from all denominations so excited about reaching their own people with the Gospel of Christ.

While we were there we got to hear their stories, work together, and help them reach out to local schools and classes. This was not a time where we went to serve or came to be served but rather a time where we all came together, as a family of believers, to serve people who did not know Jesus Christ. Pastor Machado was a constant example of what it looks like to humble yourself before others and reflect the love of the Lord to a lost community.

On Wednesday night we arrived at the completed church building for the dedication service. We were concerned when we noticed there were large fires burning on either side of the church and winds were pushing them closer. We were told that teenagers had started at least one of the fires but no matter what, the service would go on as scheduled. As we watched, we noticed that there was one man working to put out the flames. Pastor Machado was standing beside his new church, in his suit and tie, beating out any flames that threatened his church body. (See video in FB page)

Where we were quick to worry, he was quick to act. He never brought attention to himself and people filing into the church didn’t even seem to notice. How often does the Lord care for us in that way? While we spend our time worrying about what is to come he is already quietly caring for us. Holding back harm and planning for our future. He does not scream, “Look at me!” but whispers, “I love you, and you are mine” Isaiah 43:1-13

There are too many stories to share them all but the trip can be summed up by remembering that we are not taking Jesus to Brazil. He is already there and moving is ways that are hard to describe in words. What we CAN do is continue to be faithful to the call to GO! We can partner with our brothers and sisters who are already sacrificing so that their own people will understand salvation. We can share the joy, hope, and redemption that the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts. Our friend Florencio told me, “missions flows in our veins and our hearts burn in clamor because of our suffering people who are enslaved away from God"

Does your heart hurt for the lost?

Container of Hope

Can you imagine being forced from your home in the middle of the night? This is the case for thousands of families that are trying to keep their loved ones safe. They are seeking refuge in a camp that is facing overcrowding and extreme temperatures. Food supplies are low. Clothing is worn out. Medicines are hard to come by. Even more crippling is the loss of things that you can not see. The loss of hope, pride, and a sense of security.

We can not help everyone but we have a responsibility to let our brothers and sisters overseas know that they have not been forgotten. We have not turned a blind eye to their needs because they are uncomfortable or hard to hear. We care for them as Jesus cares for us and we want to help.

One Vision International is currently collecting clothing to fill a shipping container that will be sent to an unreached people group. While I can not give you the exact location of the container, I can tell you that these items will be shipped to a refugee camp that is currently home to over 18,000 refugees. These brother and sisters are living in harsh conditions but thankful to be with family and, for the moment, to be safe.

We need your help to fill the container with boxes of winter clothing for children and adults. All details are below:

Dates- We will begin collecting clothes immediately Final Date to Accept- Thursday, October 15th Shipping will be Monday, October 19th

We are asking for families, small groups, or sunday school classes to fill 2-3 large boxes each. Please include an itemized list of your boxes contents. The size of the container is 40' so there is A LOT of space to fill.

*New items are preferred. Used clothing will be accepted as long as it is in good condition.

Items Needed: Winter Clothing (Men's, Women's, and children) Long Underwear Hats Gloves Scarves Shoes & Socks Blankets Diapers (all sizes including adult) *If possible do not send the color blue. Culturally, this color is offensive and will not be worn to avoid conflict.

This container is different than others we have sent in the past. I can not help but emphasize the reality and gravity of this situation. This container is not only necessary, but essential to the survival of this people group. If we do not help these brothers and sisters, it is very possible that they will not make it through the winter of 2015.

Our office will be open for drop off from 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday, and 9am-12pm on Friday. There will also be a designated drop off location at Sevier Heights Baptist Church on Sunday mornings. We are located at 2915 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville TN 37920.

If you have any questions please feel free to call 865-579-3353 or email rcox@onevisionintl.org