This past month has been one of connecting.  We’ve been privileged to see what happens when churches from North America purposefully gather with churches from the RDC network in Latin America.  We’ve also been witness to God opening some powerful possibilities as churches from the RDC network in Dominican Republic connected with leaders from the RDC Costa Rica and churches from RDC Guatemala. 

With so many rich experiences, it would take pages and pages to write all of the amazing stories to be able to tell you what God did in the midst of those gatherings.  For now, may it be enough to hear about just a few of those moments.

Mark 14:3-9 

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard.  She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Christ Church of Oakbrook and Redeemer Community Church in Boston joined forces from September 30 to October 7 with Iglesia Comunitaria Cristiana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to retreat, reflect, and relax.  After a few days of preparation and team time in the Colonial City, the group of 8 from the North took time away with a group of 19 from the church in the Dominican Republic for 3 days in a beautiful camp in Comatillo.  On the first evening, we began a process of unpacking (literally and figuratively) that would prove to be a gift to all of us.  

(more…)