The past few months

These past few months have been busy for us. We had two groups that were awesome. One in March and the other in April. I know people have posted blogs from both of these groups and told about what they did. We enjoyed having them here and for the enormous help both groups were. I also had a minor surgery/procedure (they put stints in my ureters to open them and keep me from having kidney infections) done down here at the beginning of April. This has been a lot more of an inconvenience than I was originally thinking. All surgeries are an inconvenience but I was told by my doctor that I would still be able to do a lot of things and be on my feet within a couple of days. Well, I ended up spending a week in Santiago recovering and since then I still have pain here and there that keeps me from doing certain things (the stints will probably come out in a month). I also am very tired. Please pray for my health and that this procedure will alleviate the problems I have been having for the past year.
Brian's parents came down for spring break which was a lot of fun. We took them to Pancho Mateo and Chi Chi Gua on Good Friday. They brought down a craft for the kids to do and also New Testaments for all the older kids. The craft consisted of all the kids decorating a foam cross that they would be able to hang in their homes. The older kids were so excited to receive Bibles. We're praying that they will read them and grow in the knowledge of God's Word. Please pray for the kids in the village - for safety and protection as well as them coming to know Jesus. Please continue to keep Brian and I in your prayers as we are in the villages each day and working with these kids.

CBC DR Trip

It was such a blessing to be with Sharla, Brian, Bethany and Ruben from March 27- April 3. God truly blessed each of us as a team and individually. This is a letter that I sent to family and friends who supported and prayed for me. I think it somewhat sums up the week. Thanks to the Makarios people for loving the DR people and be willing to be a part of their lives and allowing us also to take part in this wonderful ministry.

Dear Family and Friends,

I wrote to you way back in November of last year telling you of an opportunity that I had to be a part of a short-term mission’s trip that, the Lord willing I was planning to do with Calvary Bible Church to the Dominican Republic. Well, the Lord willed and with the generosity of your prayers and financial support I was able to take part in the wonderful experience. Thank you so much.

We were on the north coast of the island and worked with Makarios International, a non-profit organization that ministers to the Haitian and Dominican people. Our team of 7 ladies and one man (Pastor Megilligan) departed on March 27th from Newark International Airport and returned on April 3. It was an exciting and exhausting trip, but well worth every minute of it. To have the opportunity to serve God in the Dominican was a blessing to our entire team. None of us wanted to leave at the end of the week and all have stated the desire to return.

It had been decided that we would minister to the adults. We worked in two villages – Chichigua (which I called “Chicago” because I couldn’t pronounce it) and Los Cocos. The projects that we decided on doing were teaching them how to make braided rugs, pot holders and knitted dish cloths. We also took things for the kids, coloring books, jump ropes and assorted other things to play with. The ladies and even some men were very receptive to our projects and showed us a thing or two in the process. They made all kinds of things with the braided material-small rugs, bowls, hats, a centerpiece that is pictured above (we had cut all the material into strips before we went). It was great and they were so willing to take part. Now those of you who know me know that I am not a sewer or crafter, so my role was playing with kids, holding babies and whatever else that didn’t have to do with crafts!!! It was so much fun to step out of my realm and into what God had prepared for me to do. Yes, I was tired at night. But God showed me that through Him all things are possible even when you are over 60!! We also had a baby with us during the week. Pastor named him Isaac. He had been abandoned by his mother and was being taken care of by a missionary family. They asked Sharla, the head of Makarios, if she could take care of him for a few days, thus he became one of our team. He was so tiny as he had been premature, but won each one of our hearts. We are praying that his mother would be found and that she would sign papers to allow him to be adopted. Pastor Megilligan held classes at the Makarios House for 20 church leaders and pastors. He did this each day from Tuesday until Friday. In addition to teaching, Pastor was asked to preach at a service in Chichigua on Friday evening. He spoke in English, and then it was translated into Spanish and Pastor Mares translated to Creole – that was interesting. What a blessing to be a part of such a service.

We also had the pleasure of visiting a coffee plantation owned by our new dear friend, Ruben who is as Christian businessman whose coffee operation supplies work for other Christians and benefits Makarios. Ruben was pastor’s translator for the week. Brian and Bethany are the resident teachers for Makarios Intl. and also were our guides and translators. They are a lovely couple and it is plain to see why all the kids love them. In addition, we had the privilege of taking stuffed animals to the children and adults at the Crippled Children’s Home in Santiago. Now, this was heart wrenching, as they were all in one big room with row after row of beds and cribs. Some were also blind, but so loving. Through the generosity of our congregation and others, we were able to take gifts to the people. We had put together sewing kits, and also some volunteers had made tote bags which we filled with toiletries, sunglasses, bandanas for the women and baseball hats for the men and children, as well as a variety of other things for both the adults and kids. We also gave the women sheets and towels. In addition, we left them all the leftover supplies that we had brought with us. They were so appreciative. It was a blessing to each of us as well as to them. Yes, there is poverty all around, but their teachable spirits were very evident. Thank you again for touching the lives of those in Chichigua and Los Cocos through our team.

I have put together a photo site that will tell the story in pictures. There is just too much to say in words. I hope that the pictures will convey to you what God did through us that week. The site is: www.hyansak.photosite.com/drmissiontrip/
Thank you once again and may the Lord bless you.


In His Service,
Helen Yansak

cutest easter baby ever!

back in the US

posted by sharla

I've never been more emotionally drained than I was from this past trip. Obviously I got attached to little Isaac after taking care of him for a week - including one night in the hospital when he had a fever. but we also had 4 or 5 other encounters that really touched me/us. our group did a lot of crying! there are so many hurting people in this world. they need Jesus and often times, they need us. He uses us to meet their needs. it's a blessing to be in a position to help others, but it's also hard to see how they suffer.

please pray for the people of haiti and the dominican republic. and take time today to find someone in need and see how you can help.