Healing bodies and souls in the DR

Hope Church has been sending medical/dental teams to Hato Mayor, the Dominican Republic since 1999 and has had innumerable opportunities to provide healing to the sick in body as well as in soul.

The next Hope team is forming now! The dates for the trip are Feb. 3-11. Medical personnel are needed but the team is not limited to that field. Anyone led to go whether with medical training or not is welcome!

If you are interested, please contact Terri Lancaster for more information.  Applications are available on the website.  Applications are due Sept. 15.

Pack a Backpack!

Have you noticed the sale ads lately? Yep, it’s that time again, time for school, that is. Time for a new backpack, fresh new pencils, crayons and markers, composition books ready for math problems, new vocabulary and some really creative doodling!  Time for a new backpack with Captain America, or Barbie emblazened on the front!

But for some kids, there’s not a lot of money in the family budget for all they need to succeed in school. They may show up the first day without paper to write on or markers for that science project. This month, Hope will be collecting school supplies to help out children in the Highland Park area of Richmond. The Northside Outreach Center on Meadowbridge Rd. will collect supplies from various churches and groups and then distribute in local schools with the help of school administrators.  The NOC School Supplies 2011 list will give you some ideas.

So as you’re out shopping for your own kids, or just picking up some groceries, slip some extra supplies in your cart.   Use the sales and Virginia’s  Tax-Free weekend to rack up some savings at the same time.   Just remember to bring your donations to Hope by August 21.

Closer to home, Hope Thrift is also helping by collecting kindergarten nap mats for Carver Elementary School.   These can be new or used in good condition.   Just bring them by the store during store hours.

Richmond Justice Initiative invites you!

RJI Is excited to invite you to Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, a documentary on the global sex trade!
Richmond Justice Initiative is collaborating with Exodus Cry to present Nefarious at the Byrd Theater in Richmond on July 24th from 6-9pm. The evening will include the movie screening and a local survivor’s story. This revealing  movie was shot in 19 different countries and 4 continents around the world and is sure to impact the community.

Nefarious promises to be a huge success in raising awareness about Human Trafficking but also in touching the lives of the people in our city.  It brings a message of hope and  will grip the hearts of all that attend and draw them to the Lord!

Because of the adult content,  everyone attending the movie shoule be 18 and over, there is a $10 dollar suggested donation to help offset some of the costs.

If you would like to volunteer at the event, please contact Sandy White.

2011 D.R. Day 8

The DR team is headed home today. We leave Hato Mayor for Punta Cana, then fly to Atlanta to clear customs. Then we head to Richmond.

The team should arrive in RIC a little after midnight tonight.

Pray for safe travel.

We can’t wait to get back, see all out love ones, and share the blessings we have had this week with you all.

HOPE church is a huge part of the lives of so many people down here.

Thank you for following the daily updates, and your prayers and financial support to make this trip happen.

2011 D.R. Day 7

And on the seventh day, the team rested.

Being finished with the work allowed us to do more touristy things today. We drove to the city called La Romana. We saw one of the churches in that area that HOPE helped build, and it has really grown huge.

We then went to the equivalent of a Walmart. We helped boost the economy, and enjoyed the first air-conditioning we have felt in a week. And ice cream. And we drove by the baseball field where Sammy Sosa got his start.

We stopped by the Jalonga church in the way home for a photo for Carlos.

Tonight is the volleyball match between the US team and the Dominicans. To date they are unbeaten. We are going to do our best, but after the practice we just had, it is not looking good.

I’ll send an update after the game.