First Bible study at Truth Baptist Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Steps

 

Several months back when our little Ashley began taking her first steps there was an awful lot of wobbling and falling down.  After much determination and hard work, she finally learned to walk.  It has been similar to our ministry here.    We have begun to take our first “baby” steps; and it is an exciting time!  This past month we have rented a store front which will serve as the first church building for  Iglesia Bautista La Verdad (Truth Baptist Church.)  We have already begun holding Bible studies on Sunday mornings and have had a wonderful response with many visitors.  Also we have continued in our downtown park ministry and neighbor-hood visitation which have yielded many good contacts and saved souls.  Praise the Lord!  Please continue to pray for us as we take those “baby steps”!

Big offering

Usually when we think of a “big offering” we think of thousands of dollars given to a church or some other huge donation.  However, this week I witnessed one of the biggest offerings of sacrifice that I have seen.  David, one of our new converts, is a shoe shiner downtown.   Instead of working on Sunday, a busy day for him, he decided to attend our Bible study.  This young man has little in this world besides a few clothes, his shoes, and a shoe shine box.  While driving him back to work I told him that the Lord would honor his sacrifice.  His response was, “You have to dedicate time for God.”  This simple statement encouraged us that God is already working in the hearts of people here! We also realize that many of you are making big sacrifices so that we can serve the Lord here in the DR.  Thank you!

 

Ashley doing her part in the unpacking process....being sweet!!!

Getting Settled 

It is hard to believe that we have been in the Dominican for two months now.  Boy, how time flies!  On the mission field, some days seem to “fly” faster than others.  For example, we spent the first 16 days in the capital working on getting our container out of customs.  Though this may sound like a long time to you, in reality we were able to get our container in record time.  We praise the Lord for the help of some fellow BIMI missionaries and a local lawyer.

After our container cleared customs we moved our things into our new home and have been spending our time getting unpacked and adjusting to our new culture.

Fresh Fruit

Our area in the Dominican has many orchards and fruit trees of all kinds.  There are few things sweeter in this world than fresh fruit right off the tree.  Likewise, in our Christian life there is nothing “sweeter” than leading someone to the Lord.  Recently I was passing out tracts in our city square when a young man approached me and asked me to explain the tract to him.  I was able to present the Gospel to him and another man, and praise the Lord, both men received Christ as their Savior!  These two men, Manuel and Teodoro, are our first two Dominican converts.  They are fresh “. . .fruit that may abound to your account”!!!  (Phil. 4:17)

Prayer Requests

-Souls to be saved

-Spanish improvement

-Building to rent for church

-Continued good health 

-Personal walk w/ the Lord

 

Our first week in the DR

Our crew of helpers

Ashley and Luz

 

Never too late!

We have many memories from our year at language school, but the most special one occurred during our final week in Costa Rica.  Holly was able to lead a lady to the Lord that we had been praying for the entire year!   Holly had spoken to “Luz” about the Lord often, but “Luz” had never received Him as her Savior.  After much prayer, Holly witnessed to her one final time.  She and Holly both shed tears of joy as she prayed to become a child of the King.

Ready, Set, Go! 

After 18 months of deputation, and 12 months of language school, we finally arrived in the Dominican Republic on February 14 — yes, Valentine’s Day! Much of our last month was spent packing as we prepared to load our container.  We want to thank our family, as well as the members of White Plains Baptist Church, and the men of Macedonia World Baptist Missions for their help in packing our container (seen above).  After our container was shipped, we traveled to our home church for Erik’s ordination and our send off service.  Pastor Pittman preached a challenging message that exhorted us to serve the Lord with all of our heart.  Now, more than ever, we covet your prayers as our ministry in the DR is just beginning.  We greatly appreciate your vital role in our ministry through your prayers and financial support!  Thanks!

Prayer Requests

-People to be saved

-Our Spanish skills

-Cultural adaptation

 

‘Tis the Season

With the help of our fellow language school students, we organized and threw a Christmas party for 87 local orphans.  We had carnival style games, piñatas, face painting, gifts, and most importantly we were able to share the wonderful story of our Savior’s birth with them.  Our prayer for these young orphans is that they would understand that there is a Heavenly Father that loved them so much that He sent His only Son to be the Greatest Gift of all!

The Greatest Gift

As the Christmas season approaches we often think about beautifully wrapped gifts placed under the Christmas tree; but it is the Greatest Gift, the good news of Christ, that we should be giving.   Recently I finally felt comfortable enough with my Spanish to go soul winning by myself; so I began witnessing to our neighborhood guard, Antonio.  After speaking to him on three separate occasions about salvation it was apparent that he had already accepted Christ as his personal Savior; however, his assurance of salvation was very weak.  I asked if he would allow me to begin a Bible study with him, and he readily agreed.  In the last month we have had more than 12 lessons covering topics such as assurance of salvation, the Bible, and prayer.  Please pray for him to continue desiring to grow in his daily walk with the Lord! 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! 

We want to wish you all a very               

Merry CHRIST-mas!! 

The Johnsons

Ashley having fun on her mat.

Men in our Church dressing up for Independence Day

Family fun in the Costa Rican rain.

Life at Language School

Between studying full-time and being completely immersed in a Spanish environment, we have kept very busy this year.   We have had the opportunity to visit many good local independent Baptist churches. Helping with neighborhood outreaches, going soulwinning, and participating in special cultural days has helped us gain many good ideas for our future ministry.  (The men in the picture above are dressed up for Independence Day.)  Living in another country has taught us many valuable lessons, most of which deal with our need to know the language well before we can have an effective ministry in the Dominican. We have just a few months remaining in our studies before we return to GA to pack our container, but we are so glad for the time we have had here to learn both language and culture.  We want to personally thank all of those who have given and prayed so that we can serve our Lord.  Please continue!

My LIttle Word

Just wanted to let everyone know how I have been doing since it has been a long time since you have  received an update on me.    I now have 2 bottom teeth; I am eating Gerber baby food, and I crawl around the house so much that my parents do not know what to do with me!  I am very healthy, and I thank God for His goodness to me and my family.  I miss you all!   

Prayer Requests

-Continued good health

-Language studies

-Residency visas

-Container preparation

-Find housing in DR

Surveying the City

What a blessing it was to recently be able to visit the city the Lord has called us to, San Francisco de Macorís, during a break from language school. This trip really encouraged us as we make our final push at language study in Costa Rica.  We had the chance to visit and become better acquainted with the city where we will soon be serving.  While there, we were able to pass out many Gospel tracts, find several good options for housing, and we even found some affordable places to start our first church.   We also met a young man named Argelis while in the Dominican.   After talking to him for a few minutes he admitted that he was not saved and did not go to church.  Please pray for him!  We are so burdened to see people like Argelis come to know the Lord, but we know that we cannot do it alone.  We thank you for your prayerful and financial support; however, the battle is about to begin and we need your prayers more than ever.  With the Lord’s help this city will be won! 

 

Preaching in Español

On our trip to the Dominican Republic I was able to preach my first message in Spanish at the Fountain of Life Baptist Church in Santo Domingo.  The message title was “El Evangelio” (The Gospel).  Though the message was not a long one, it was thrilling to be able to share God’s plan of salvation in another language

Erik and Holly look of San Francisco

Erik preaching in Santo Domingo

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Memorable Memorial Day!  (Robbery) 

Memorial Day started out as a normal day for us.  We both had our usual classes and planned to celebrate our national holiday with a “Johnson family fiesta.”  Erik went to the store to pick up a few things, and that is when it happened.

At least three armed men broke through our locked gate and into our home; they found Holly in the kitchen and made her go to the back patio where they tied her up.  They proceeded to take many valuables from our house:  our laptop computer, digital camera, TV, etc.   Thankfully, Holly was not physically hurt, and neither was Ashley who was upstairs on our bed .  Erik arrived home just in time to see the robbers.  As they fled, he called the police.  We praise the Lord that no one in our family was hurt!  God has taught us through this trial the great need for His care and protection.  Though we were robbed, we know that His hand of protection was upon us.  We thank you for your many prayers, and ask that you would continue to regularly pray for us!  We realize that things of earth are temporal, but the things above are eternal.  Pray that the Lord will use this trial to help us reach our unsaved landlord and his family who were also robbed.  “For we know that all things work together for good.”

Through Ashley’s Eyes 

Though some people may “pity” missionary kids, I am definitely enjoying being one!!  My first three and a half months have been full of fun adventures:  getting my passport, flying in an airplane, riding in numerous taxis, sleeping with a mosquito net, visiting a rain forest,  experiencing a temblor (small earthquake), and ” talking” to my grandparents on the computer.  I wish everyone could have as much fun as I do!!! 

Dear praying friends,                                                                                 March/ April 2008

 

Hello World!

Our precious baby, Ashley Hope, made her grand entrance into this world on February 20, 2008.  As Mom was crying for joy and Dad was grinning from ear to ear, we both gained a greater awareness of the miracle of life.  God had laid on our hearts the idea of reading a portion of Scripture to Ashley at her arrival.  We chose Psalm 78:4,7.

   We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. That they might set   their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 

Please pray that as new parents we would properly train Ashley to set her hope in God and keep His commandments throughout her life.  (To view pictures of Ashley, visit www.johnsons2dr.org.)

 

Home Grown Missions Conference

Before returning to language school we had one final meeting, the missions conference at our home church, Temple Baptist in Herndon, VA.  This year was unique as all of the missionaries in the conference were sent out of our church.  We could never put into words the range of emotions that filled us each night as we watched the video presentations of our friends that have been called into missions.  In the last 5 years there have been 6 families sent out, and another family is about to begin deputation.  What a blessing it has been to see our church give of their finances and people to world missions!  It is impossible to thank the Lord enough for the faithful people at Temple as well as all of our supporters who have given abundantly so that we can reach the world for Christ.  We are truly overwhelmed by your generosity!

 

Prayer Requests                                                                                                                                                                                                            

-Safety and health in Costa Rica           

-Spanish studies                                                                       

-Salvation of loved ones                                               

 

Depending on Him,

                        Erik, Holly, and Ashley Johnson

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