Meeting Randi!

The Greiner's - Gene, Robin, and Andrew - have been sponsoring a child in the Dominican Republic for about the last year.  I can't tell you how much of a blessing it has been for US to enter into the life of a child in a very tangible way - a child who has very little by the world's standards, but through this ministry, can be introduced to Jesus Christ and learn how he can receive the greatest gift of all time.  Salvation by the blood of God's Son will not only put Randi back in right relationship with his Creator, but will make him the Son of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who "owns the cattle of a thousand hills."  Salvation in Christ will make Randi the richest of men for all eternity.

During this 2008 Crew trip to the DR, I am going to be able to visit Randi and his family!  Please pray for me, Randi, and his family that this visit will be a blessing to everyone.  On Monday, Feb. 4th, I'll travel by taxi to Cien Fuegos, just outside of Santiago.  A Compassion representative will meet me and act as an interpreter.  I can bring a few gifts.  Robin, Andrew, and I made a Wal-Mart run the other night.  A mitt and ball, "shakable" flashlight that doesn't require batteries, t-shirt, candy and a backpack will make up a package for Randi and we've stuffed a bag with towels, sheets, t-shirts, and soap as a gift for his mother and family.  Drawings from Andrew and family pictures will hopefully draw our two families closer together.  These families have very little as it is, so even a few basic gifts will go a long way. I have to admit that I'm very nervous about the visit.  When we chose Randi, we did so with the hope that we could visit during the Crew work trips.  Now that the time is here, and with the language barrier, I've very apprehensive but I since I know that God has given our family this ministry opportunity, He will use it according to His good and perfect will.  Please pray for safe travel and that God would bless Randi's family and ours with the trip. Below is some information about Randi.  You can click on the Compassion logo above to go to their web site and learn more about this worthwhile ministry.  I will post pictures, video, and an update on Monday evening, (D.V.).  Please check back often!

Update 02-04-08 I had the joy of meeting Randi and his family today!  Holly Vallette drove me to the bus station where we met Kare, a representative from Compassion who had ridden in from Santo Domingo.  Thank you, Holly!  I was much more at ease having you with me to help with culture and translation. Randi met us at the bus station as well with a local representative from Compassion.  We drove to Cien Fuegos, the area outside Santiago where he lives.  This area is very depresses as is much of the DR.  It is also the site where all of the city's garbage is dumped.  In fact, many of the residents pick through the trash in search of recyclables to sell. To be honest, I'm still processing through the whole trip.  Not that it wasn't a good one.  It was awesome, but it was clearly a clash of two cultures and I was overwhelmed with the poverty and need.  Compassion is doing a wonderful job at this site in caring for the children and families and the trip reinforced for me that the ministry is worth supporting and it making major impacts in real life people.  I found out that there are currently 36,000 supported children in the Dominican Republic alone through compassion and many more who need a supporter. We were able to visit for about 3 hours.  I saw his home, met his family.  He has a 3 year old sister, 2 year old brother, and 3 month old sister just born in December.  The fathers are not in the picture as is often too common. Randi walked us along the way he would go when he walks to the Compassion project building 3 times a week.  The project is attached to and supported by a local church and there are 15 tutors and workers who work there full time ministering to the children.   They took us on a nice tour and are clearly proud of their facility and ministry.  Randi's eyes just lit up when he was there and is clearly happy to be in the program which he can stay in until he graduates from high school.  Below are as many pictures as I can put up right now.  I'll try to post a more complete update later.  Thank you for your prayers!!!

Randi De Jesus Hilario Lebron was born on April 29, 2001.  He lives on the plains of Cien Fuegos with his mother, brother, and sister.  This area of about 100,000 residents is just a few kilometers outside of Santiago.

Randi with his mother (right) and aunt (left) with his siblings.	Randi with his brother and sister inside their home.  It is 2 rooms, the first is about 8' x 12' with a small room in the back which I couldn't see.  Quite a small place for a large family.	This is the building where Randi lives.  His door is in the back.  The front of the building is a salon.
He loved his baseball hat, glove, and ball and we were able to play catch for a while.	A view from outside his home.	This is the street that goes in front of his home.  Holly told me that this is what the most depressed areas look like and unfortunately much of the DR is like this.
Inside Randi's classroom at the Compassion project.  He is standing at his favorite seat and his favorite color is green.	Playing on the playground at the Compassion project.	This is the outside of the Compassion project.  The office and classrooms are the two-story to the left.  In the center is the playground.  To the right is the area where they are fed meals and has a kitchen in the back.
Randi's playground.	This is the view from the second floor of the Compassion building.  Those aren't mountains in the background - they're trash heaps.	Randi's walk from home to Compassion.  This is the typical street.