Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might

A light glimmers In The Distance ... and .... Renewed Optimism

I attended the Solid Rock board meeting this weekend 
and I am happy to report:
1) an agreement between SRI and ACPSI (our Dominican partners) was signed at the meeting  - this includes formation and recognition of an operational committee that will help oversee the new clinic
2) AND that the property and new clinic building is now jointly owned by Solid Rock and ACPSI. 

These signify a true partnership that recognizes and ensures the importance of SRI involvement in ownership AND operation of the facility.  
The assurance that the money you and others have so generously donated is not just being put in the hands of foreigners in a third-world country - it is going to a facility now equally owned by SRI with the commitment by SRI board members who are determined to make it a successful facility able to provide care to the poorest of the poor, as the SRI mission statement states. Very experienced doctors and others will help guide the clinic to a successful opening and operation.  ACPSI has wonderful and dedicated members, but an undertaking such as the Revolution Clinic needs to have the best of the best from both organizations and beyond working together so we do exactly what we want - Serve the Poor.

The remaining issue is tax exempt status of ACPSI for purchases and imports - a large hurdle yet to be overcome but now in-sight with an alternative plan if needed. We are working to submit paperwork to the Dominican officials who will determine if ACPSI can be recognized as an organization able to have full tax-exempt status. Needless to say, although the DR may still be considered a third-world country, they have perfected the black hole of bureaucracy, even better that Washington, DC.

Two timely (once again and yet another example of  Godincidences) occurred to me today. In stating this, I recognize my pitiful lack of recognizing ALL that my God and my trusty guardian angel are doing in my life on a daily basis. 
1) A wonderful sermon from our Rev. Rachel C. Thompson talked about the church being something children (we are all God's children) may run to in excitement for what it provides. Hits home in many ways, and certainly can be related to a clinic. I hope to post a link to her message when it is available.

2) A post from Oswald Chambers is relevant to where I and everyone involved in the Revolution stand - I hope you consider this message in your daily schedule, I know I need consistent reminders!

Do You Worship The Work?

We are God’s fellow workers…  1 CORINTHIANS 3:9

Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their work. The only concern of Christian workers should be their concentration on God. This will mean that all the other boundaries of life, whether they are mental, moral, or spiritual limits, are completely free with the freedom God gives His child; that is, a worshiping child, not a wayward one. A worker who lacks this serious controlling emphasis of concentration on God is apt to become overly burdened by his work. He is a slave to his own limits, having no freedom of his body, mind, or spirit. Consequently, he becomes burned out and defeated. There is no freedom and no delight in life at all. His nerves, mind, and heart are so overwhelmed that God’s blessing cannot rest on him.

But the opposite case is equally true– once our concentration is on God, all the limits of our life are free and under the control and mastery of God alone. There is no longer any responsibility on you for the work. The only responsibility you have is to stay in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him. The freedom that comes after sanctification is the freedom of a child, and the things that used to hold your life down are gone. But be careful to remember that you have been freed for only one thing– to be absolutely devoted to your co-Worker.

We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work.

 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). From My Utmost for His HighestUpdated Edition

A long time for reflection, patience and perseverance

It has been 5 months since my last post, so for those who you who have followed my blogs an update is due.
The status of construction is the same as my post in October (if you didn't see that post Click Here).

As I explained in October, some significant steps need to take place before construction can resume, so that when we resume construction the donations that you and many others have so generously provided will be used to help complete the project without paying the Dominican's 18% tax on the finish materials. Solid Rock is passing 100% of your donation to the project (taking nothing for administrative and other expenses related to the operation of Solid Rock ... an unusual step for most non-profits), so it would be sad to give the Dominican government 18 cents of every dollar when purchasing materials.  So we continue to wait for our Dominican partners (ACPSI) to receive official government recognition and status so that they are a tax-exempt entity. As with all governments (especially 3rd world countries!) bureaucracy shines through as the best way to bog down charity. It is a process that is difficult and often seems to be a moving target,  but the good news is that we are making progress regarding knowing this status and even better news is that we have a plan in place should ACPSI fail to get full recognition.

SRI has been working to also ensure that the future is secured by formalizing a true agreement between our organizations as well as getting the ownership of the property equally into both organization's names. Representatives from ACPSI and SRI recently met and the documentation for these two issues are just about finalized. Once opened, the new clinic will need a good partnership with the Dominican government and other institutions as well as the dedication of both Americans and Dominicans committed to seeing that the facility be run as efficiently as possible.

Because we needed to stop work, I returned home in October and we are now back in our house and in our own bed. (We had been renting our home to a family that had experienced a fire at their home). I have resumed my remodeling business and with God's help things are up and running.

Recently I gave the meditation for our church's Kairos mid-week service. In the relatively short talk I shared with my church family some of my experiences both good and bad of Stacy's and my 3 years in the DR, and I am thankful to our minister Elizabeth Link for asking me to do the mediation - because her request caused me to step back and look at where I was, and how the message in Luke Ch 5 lifted me from a state of being fairly lost to a much better place. It was very disappointing to return home with the project stalled and not really have a wonderful ending to tell of our experience.

 We committed to 3 years and it is disappointing that we ended up spending many of those months intentionally not working in order to get issues resolved for the betterment of the project. Elizabeth's request helped initiate much thought into where I was and the reasons why. I am thankful for being led to a better place. It has and is a frustrating situation, knowing what will happen next is unknown, and that can only lead a person toward their Faith, that the project will open it's doors at some point and serve the poor in the San Juan region.

Even when these items are in place many challenges remain that will require  me or whoever is involved a great deal of work regarding the construction and many others to take care of all other aspects.  Many many decisions need to be made, funds raised, partnerships established, plans established and construction completed. With finish details known, the Clinic can be completed with a year's work.

It will be a glorious day when the doors are opened. It is a day that will happen, knowing when that day will be is only known by God. Incredible works have happened because of the ACPSI / SRI partnership hosting all of the amazing volunteers that have changed the lives of countless Dominicans, I hope that generosity and dedication can continue for generations to come in the new facility.

Until we have these initial items resolved we must continue to wait and we must maintain our faith that only with God's guidance will the project be completed. We must persevere.

Waiting is hard, but worth the wait.

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.                   Romans 5