I am in route of returning from a mission’s trip to the Dominican Republic with Compassion International. Their motto is “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name”. For me the trip was so many things. A contrast of living our days with impoverished children in small, cluttered villages, with make shift houses with no plumbing and in some cases, no electricity, to going back to our hotel for a buffet, hot shower, and clean clothes. So humbling. The children are beautifully brown with sparkling eyes and bright smiles. Many of you gave things for me to take to them, and I can’t stop tearing up every time I think of their precious faces beaming when they saw what you had sent. They appreciated everything, even the empty water bottles we tried to throw away. The conditions there are so desperate. Yet the sponsored children of Compassion are amazingly joyful and filled with praise to God. It’s amazing, and I believe, a glimpse of what we’ll all experience together in heaven.

While getting ready one morning at our hotel in Santo Domingo, I noticed that the hairdryer on the wall read PRESS TO RELEASE.

This week, I have been pressed – pressed to release – pressed to release children from poverty; pressed to release them from bondage; pressed to give more, to love more, to pray more, and even to go more. Pastors there need our help. They need help training their volunteers; they need supplies; their workers need encouragement and love.
One pastor asked me several times to please come back to train his workers. Another pastor I talked to has 3 churches that he oversees. And did I mention that each of these pastors care for over 300 children?

The harvest is great; the laborers are few. I am pressed to release more children into the Kingdom of God.

“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me”(Matt 25:42-43).