Transformations in Palmarejo: Real Lives changed by the Power of God

Palmarejo: a small former batey of less than two thousand mostly Haitians, huddled on the very edge of Northwest Santo Domingo.

Eleven years ago we planted a stake with scriptures on this corner of Los Alcarrizos to declare this land and people for God and to place on notice the demonic forces that held this people captive to malaria, Aids, prostitution, polio, hepatitis, open sewage, bad water and superstitious malevolent voodoo. Three voodoo priests and no churches maintained a gloom of misery unknown and unseen not only to North American travelers but to most Dominicans, especially the insulated middle and upper class.

Healing over a decade may seem slow and imperceptible but we made an intentional effort to build relationships and return again and again to witness the remarkable changes that have taken place. There are no more voodoo priests to exploit the fears of Palmarejans. There are three churches and most of the village has been evangelized and a great many have received Christ. Prostitution is no longer a visible factor. There have been no cases of malaria for four years. Although desperately poor, there is a UN funded water supply and new roads with curbs leading in and out of Palmarejo. A Catholic school educates the children without birth papers, who by Dominican law cannot go to public school. Many are receiving health care at our nearby Ebenezer Clinic in Pantoja. They benefit from our free medical care which includes medicines they would never access otherwise.

One child stands out as a miracle in progressive healing. His name is Yunior ( pronounced Junior). He is also about eleven years old coincidentally, and we met him in 2005 on a visit to his town. Stricken with polio and encephalitis in his first year, he nearly died. He could not walk or talk. His legs were so thin you could wrap your hand around his thigh in a closed grip. His head is dysmorphic suggesting profound retardation. He drooled incessantly BUT... he smiled as wide as the tropical sun when we came to hold him, love on him and pray for him. He underwent some therapy which we sought funds for in the US, but it was discontinued because of various logistics for the family. God remained our hope that he would thrive and be well. He got new clothes, a new home from some other source, and a wheelchair but his preferred method of travel was to scuttle on his naked buttocks through the alleys of mud and bad water wherever he wanted to go.

Last year, through brother Andy's insistence we prayed for his mind and his speech. He was always non-verbal, though attentive with his eyes. We were bold to ask God for a complete healing and functional life for little Yunior.

On this September's trip we found Yunior walking without assistance for the first time AND... Praise be to God Almighty, as we live and breathe he was talking. Not gibberish but in Spanish, even yelling at his friends down the alley to come on over.
It seemed so right and normal on the one hand that God would continue to honor our prayers but on the other hand we were astonished into silence. How can this happen naturally? Is there any other explanation for a non-verbal ten+ year old to suddenly begin to talk? Take a look at Yunior's picture above. Continue to pray for him. He remains the symbol of real life transformation in Palmarejo. This community is radically different than we found it eleven years ago. And we are witnesses of God's redeeming power, and He deserves all the glory for this. We are only his servants, simply daring to BELIEVE and even that is a gift from God.

Would you join us on one of our short term missions? We will be scheduling four trips in 2012, God willing, beginning on the last Friday in January and every three months thereafter. Begin to communicate with us if you have the desire to go and check our postings here on this blog and on Facebook for further information.

May God continue to bless you to be a blessing to others in His Name. Amen!

Ken Peters

The Implanted Word in the Tropical Forrest

In the Sierra Cordilleras of the Dominican Republic sits a bowl like valley that is a breadbasket to the Dominicans. It is Constanza and the approach is breath-taking. Soaring volcanic mountains and winding roads double back in a steep ascent colored in every shade of green. The valley floor is nearly 4,000 feet and the highest peaks range up to 10,000 ft above sea level.

Twenty two years ago we made our first trip there with Food For the Hungry, an international NGO serving the extremely poor. It was during this trip, while a newly elected legislator, that I received my call as a missionary, simply saying to the Lord that I would go anywhere anytime to serve His Kingdom and the poor.

During one of our trips in 1990 a North American prophetic team was ministering in a church and called out a young man named Cesar Lebron, a non-descript teenager. The word of the Lord given that day said he would be raised up to be a pastor among God's people and he trembled at the word. Who can fathom how God may use a simple clay vessel to contain His Glory? Over the years, time proved the accuracy of this word as he mixed with faith what was given him and focused his life on serving the Lord.

Today Pastor Cesar Lebron has three churches overflowing with vibrant believers. One of these churches is deep in the tropical mountains. In fact one needs to travel from Constanza by horseback for seven miles (10 km) crossing the same winding river fourteen times to arrive at this little subsistence farm community. God has raised up a church of believers where the gospel had never been preached! Praise God!!! One wonders, if there are not many subsistence farmers dotting the landscape of this vast national forrest. Isn't it marvelous how the Lord points the way to future development?

Next summer, Lord willing, we will send an exploratory team into these mountains to water the church and uncover the treasury of God's hidden people. WOW... what an expedition working alongside the nationals to further His Kingdom. Does it get any better?

At a school in El Chorro, Constanza we set up a clinic and served nearly 1,000 adults and children with medical care and medicines and dental work. We brought a team of doctors and one dentist with $70,000 in donated meds and another donation of medical supplies for the regional hospital. The community rejoiced because most are never able to afford medical and dental care or buy prescription meds such as analgesics, anti-biotics,cold meds,vitamins etc. We shared the gospel with a classroom of two hundred children and parents who ALL prayed to receive Christ, some for the first time. At the evening service on Saturday we worshiped with a standing room only group of Dominicans, while one of our Pastor/Doctors Luis ministered the word in a sermon.

The men of our team witnessed the enduring power of God to perform His word and glimpsed the vision of fruitful endeavors for the future. What about you? Will you pray about going yourself? The time frame will be the last Friday in July 2012 for ten days. May God touch your life with a desire to search for eternal worth. You are welcome to inquire of us about this or any other mission trip. We are always looking to engage in conversation that leads to action.

Be blessed to be a blessing!


In Jesus'Name,

Ken Peters