April Newsletter

Dear Prayer Partners,

April was a fun month with opportunities to explore the island, spend time with friends, and be encouraged in ministry. We are now in our final stretch of school with only 7 weeks remaining in the school year. I can't believe we're almost to the end of the year! It has been a long and stretching year but there have been more blessings than I can count along the way. I am praying for daily strength, endurance, and faithfulness to finish the year well.

Updates

• At the beginning of the month, we had a week off of school for Semana Santa and I got to take a trip to Rio San Juan with a few other young missionaries during this time. This was a good time to rest and reset. We had a worship night together watching the sunset on Good Friday. We got to sing, pray, and share together as we reflected on Christ's sacrifice. It was a sweet time to share with friends.

• I enjoyed celebrating Easter here for the first time. I was able to sing on praise team at church on Easter which was a special time to worship together with our church family. After church I was invited to an Easter lunch at the pastor's house where I got to know some of the people I serve alongside on praise team better. I am very thankful for the loving community I have here.

• I had the opportunity this month to go and visit Mercy Workshop. This is a jewelry workshop ministry that is part of DR Vision. This ministry reaches women exploited in the sex trade on the streets of San Pedro. The workshop provides women with a life of dignity by giving them an opportunity to work in the workshop and receive job training, counseling, and biblical discipleship. Many of the women at Mercy attend my church regularly and some even have students in my class this year so it was good to visit with them at work and build this connection with them.

• My roommate had the opportunity to lead one of her students to the Lord this month! It was exciting to celebrate this together. The student's family has recently started attending IBEM (the church I attend). We also had another Las Palmas student who accepted Christ as their Savior this last week at youth group. It is always exciting to hear stories of students that God has called to himself.

• We have started a new Bible study through the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings with the English teachers at Las Palmas. My roommate and I have been able to lead worship weekly for this study. I am grateful for the opportunity to have this fellowship and encouragement among the other believers here.

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for health. My roommate and I have had students with everything from chicken pox to pink eye to lice the last few weeks. So far, we have stayed healthy but we would appreciate prayers for health and protection for us and our students.

• Pray for the students and teachers at Las Palmas as we near the end of the school year. Pray for continued strength and wisdom for teaching each day.

• I finally received and submitted all my paperwork for my residency. I am now waiting for them to review my application and set up an appointment for me to get my residency. Please pray that this happens quickly and goes smoothly so I am able to complete this process before returning to the States for the summer.

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support.

Blessings,

Natasha