FAIR Blog

Fellowship International missionary Helene Hwang recently shared some reflections about ministry life during 2023 at Joy Foundation (Dominican Republic). Joy Foundation ministers to children in two locations. The first is a school for the children of illegal Haitian immigrants; the second is a preschool for both Haitian and Dominican children which started in the fall of 2022.

Climate change has arrived in the Dominican Republic. The weather from December to February was exceptionally long and cold. Then the hottest weather we’ve ever seen started early and stayed for a long time, making it difficult to even breathe. I start to sweat if I move just a little, and even locals also say that the current heat is difficult. Among the Dominicans and the Haitians living as illegal immigrants, there are many people who live without windows or even fans.

We pray that cool grace overflows in the hearts of these people every day.

Many people (churches) visited the Dominican Republic this year. From January to August, a total of 10 church mission teams came here to do children’s ministry, youth ministry, evening assembly, local churches’ Sunday sermon ministry, visits to sponsored children, medical ministry, and launching a new church in a local Haitian village. We served as a house-painting ministry. It was not an easy time because of the sweat flowing down without a break. By sharing love in a practical way with the people here, the grace of confessing God’s existence and love through work overflowed in all mission teams.

Above all, the need for youth ministry deeply touched my heart, and God provided for me to start youth ministry through that time.

Seeing the local teenagers shed tears as we praised and prayed together was so encouraging. I learned that the timing God has set is now.

We begin our youth ministry by praying with churches in the United States and Canada. First of all, I hope to be a friend that children can lean on. We are praying and looking for and meeting the youths God has prepared for us. Currently, 10 teenagers are taking English classes because of the support of their sponsors.

At Joy Foundation, we long to see the young people grow into leaders and disciple-making disciples in each village. We are, of course, starting with studying God’s Word together, but are also planning to hold an English Bible camp in the summer (2024). A church in the United States has already started training camp leaders. We pray that we will wait for God’s direction with patience, and will have the ability and energy to serve well within the youth ministry.

The Haitian refugee school ministry and kindergarten ministry are going well by God’s grace. At the end of August, after summer vacation, schools and kindergartens reopened. More children enrolled in school, and the kindergarten has started again with new teachers, new children, and a new heart. In addition, with the support of love, insulation materials were installed in the ceiling of the kindergarten. That makes the preschool classrooms a little less like an oven!

This year, all the toys, uniforms, school supplies, and everything needed for classes were provided by sponsors. We pray that our children will enjoy their time with us this year as they know God more.

Old tree roots cracked and shattered the floor of the church in Santiago, as if from an earthquake, but God sent a sponsor, so we were able to do the floor work.

Until September 2022, the child sponsorship ministry was carried out only in Santiago. The launch of the preschool/kindergarten in Puerto Plata was very exciting, with a focus on reconciliation between Haitian and Dominican families. Many sponsors came here to meet the children this year and many of the people who came with a summer mission team became sponsors.

The child sponsorship ministry is a blessing to those who support it, and it is also a grace and joy to the children receiving support and their families. Children can go to school through the sponsorship, receive food and school supplies, and many items are provided according to individual needs. These supports are a great help to those who live a hard existence here.

There are many children currently waiting for sponsors. We pray that we can deliver the Good News to these children in God’s time.

We started sharing rice in July. We are distributing 3kg-10kg of rice to 55 families and 120 children.

Since the beginning of 2023, God has blessed our Joy Foundation.

Pray that we will become a Joy Foundation that does not forget God’s grace, and handles the ministry God has given us with joy.

Praise and prayer requests:

Praise God for the provision of the funds to purchase a pickup truck for the child sponsorship ministry and rice sharing program, and to allow access to areas with poor road conditions.

Please pray with us for God’s wisdom during the purchase process.