Posted in General Posts by Mari Tomer on 7/22/2010
It was about 9 in the morning and we had just arrived at the church. We all were saying hello to all the children and the people in the neighborhood when we noticed something that looked like a dead rat in the gutter. As we got closer we realized it was a small dog. We asked Calvin, one of the kids who comes to the VBS, if the dog was dead. Calvin looked down saw the dog and told us the dog was dead and that it was his dog. The look on his face made all of our hearts break. Calvin left for a few minutes and when he returned he has a plastic bag. He picked up his dead puppy and placed him in the bag.  He then took a short walk down to the river to dispose of the body. As he walked to the river you could see how completely devastated he was. He had just lost his pet, his companion, and best friend. The tears were flowing down his cheeks and you could see the pain in his eyes. We tried to comfort him but there was little we could say or do to ease the pain he felt from losing his best friend.
A few minutes later we brought all the children into the church and started VBS. The lesson we were teaching for the day was titled "Jesus: Our Best Friend". We got to tell all of the children that Jesus care so much about each and every one of them and that he was to have a personal relationship with them. And even better, the Jesus wants to be their best friend. We explained to them that Jesus wants all of us to talk to Him, He wants to hear everything and anything that we want to say to Him. And He also has things to say to us and we just have to listen. In John's Gospel Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life...No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends..." -John 15:13,15 
The day that Calvin lost his puppy and best friend we got to share with him that Jesus wants to be his best friend and that there is no one in this world who cares more about him or loves him more than Christ. We got to share this precious truth with him, that Man's Best Friend is really Jesus Christ!
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Posted in General Posts by Mari Tomer on 7/22/2010
 
For the past 10 days my team and I have been working in a barrio called Quij'a Quieta. We have partnered with the iglesia del remanente. We have been putting on a vacation bible school for the children and making house visits to encourage and pray for those in the community.
 
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Posted in General Posts by Mari Tomer on 7/8/2010
So change of plans...instead of heading to Haiti this first month we will be heading to San Juan in the Domincan Republic. And for the next three weeks my team will be based in San Juan but we will be traveling to different villages in the mountains. God is so good. I cant wait to get started, please keep us your prayers as we head down to San Juan tomorrow. Love you all...
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Posted in General Posts by Mari Tomer on 7/4/2010
We land safely in the Domincan Republic three hours ago. After arriving we walked out of the airport and into the very welcoming heat and humidity of Santo Domingo. We´re staying at a catholic compound not too far from the airport. We all took our first adventure to the grocery store this afternoon to get some lunch and buy food for the rest of the week. We bought some avocados and made some delicious guacamole..jpg)
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Posted in General Posts by Mari Tomer on 6/10/2010
Introducing Team SOL (Servants of Love)
Over the next year I will be living with and serving along side six other members on the P-squad. These six individuals are amazing servants of God and I feel so blessed to be a part of this team!
(Top Row: Me, Caitlin, Alexandra Bottom Row: Julian, Tara, Bethsaida, and Jeff)
We chose the team name SOL.
SOL means sun in Spanish and it is our desire as a team to bring light to all the dark places on this world.
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." -Isaiah 58:6-8
The name SOL also means Servants of LOVE...
This next year we want to be servants Christ told us that he did come to be serve but to serve, we want to humble servants and follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ!
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet -John 13:5-20
God is Love. Because of His Great Love we have New Life. We want to bring God's Love to all nations!
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through LOVE SERVE one another." Galatians 5:13
Please Pray that Team SOL would bring the LOVE of Christ to all we come in contact with!!
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Posted in General Posts by Maryhelen Tomer on 5/27/2010
It's been five days since we have all arrived here and it feels more like a few weeks. In just this short time I've gotten to meet all 75 of my new teammates. Together we have begun to prepare for the journey we are about to embark on. The AIM (Adventures in Mission) staff has spend many hours giving us direction and guidance so that we may begin to prepare our hearts and minds for what we are about to encounter. In just about four weeks we will launch and head down to Haiti and we need your support not only financially but also in prayer. The bible says to praying without ceasing so I ask that you all would begin to pray for us and pray for Haiti. Please Ask God that he would prepare all 76 of our hearts to serve, love, and minister to the people of Haiti. Pray that He would cover us in humility and that we would continually remember this journey is not about us and and what we are going to do- But it's all about what God is going to do. Please pray for our protection not only over the physical body but also over minds and souls. And let us all pray that we would see God move in a mighty way this next year!
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Posted in General Posts by Maryhelen Tomer on 4/19/2010
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Haiti
Haiti was hit with a life-altering earthquake on January 12, 2010. While the nation was left in shambles, it's far from struck down and destroyed. Haiti is experiencing a spiritual revival right now. Communities are turning to pastors for leadership and the Church is becoming the driving force behind Haiti's rebirth. This month we'll help with relief efforts, establish connections, teach, provide for immediate needs, and more.
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Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is an island nation in the middle of the Caribbean. With a population around nine million, it's a country with more affluence than its neighboring country, Haiti. After the earthquake on January 12 in Haiti, the D.R. quickly became home to thousands of refugees searching for food, shelter, and comfort. This month, we'll serve at orphanages, refugee camps, and more.
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Ireland
Each year, the Awakening is a time for World Racers, coaches and alumni to gather together. This year, it's in the land of the Irish. We'll spend a week in Dublin with close to 400 other racers worshipping, teaching and encouraging one another in your journey. The time spent there will help fill us so we can finish out your year strong.
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Thailand
With nearly two million people estimated to be stuck inside of prostitution in Thailand, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city and rock worlds in the countryside.
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Cambodia
28 years ago, Cambodia experienced one of the most gruesome genocides known to man where over one third of the country's population was slaughtered. Still in recovery from their past, the people of Cambodia are thirsty for hope.
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China
Host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and home to 1.3 billion people, China is known for its grandness, not just in land mass and population. While the Han Chinese comprise the largest people group, there are over fifty minority groups, including the Uighurs, a people without a country. Due to the legacy of Mao's Cultural Revolution, Communism is not just a political system, it is almost the state religion. Speaking of which, depending on where we are, we may meet Buddhists, Muslims, and Taoists; there are even churches government approved and regulated. The exact size of the underground church is unknown (hence the name), but what it is known is that it is large and still growing, thriving even in the midst of persecution. While there, we'll pay homage to the Great Wall, and bring light and hope to a people in darkness and depression.
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Philippines
This Asian island nation, once a Spanish colony and an American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music and dance and community. While there, we may find ourselves living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.
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Mozambique
This is one of the most beautiful countries in the continent of Africa. This is a favorite location of the World Race for a variety of reasons (the people, beautiful landscape, ministry partnerships, and more). Although the stronghold of poverty grips this nation, Mozambique is seeing signs of redemption and economic recovery. Due to this extreme poverty or perhaps in spite of it the church is growing, as well. This month on the Race, we will be teaching, preaching, practicing "true religion" with widows and orphans, and more.
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Malawi
Known as "the warm heart of Africa," Malawi is definitely a place that you visit to ignite yourself with the fire of God. This country has a beautiful landscape and an even more beautiful culture and population.
This month, we'll be helping plant churches, raising up leaders, and infecting the people with the love of God.
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Pioneer Africa
Once during your World Race experience, our team will take a month to ATL (ask the Lord) for a new mission field. He may lead us someplace in the middle of a buzzing city or somewhere that can't even be found on a map. Either way, it's a time of listening to the Lord's voice and following him with true abandon.
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Turkey
A primarily Muslim nation, the country of Turkey is also the least evangelized nation on earth. One of the birthplaces of the Church, it is now a nation closed to the Gospel and home of persecuted Christians. This month, we're going to take some risks in sharing our faith. And for safety reason we can't share exactly what we will be doing.
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Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here we'll teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more.
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