The month of August is already in the rear view mirror! The first week of the month, Tim traveled to Constanza with Bro. Autrey and a visiting group from Indiana. In the mornings, we held a Vacation Bible school in the city, and despite the cooler weather and rain, the attendance grew each day. By the last day on Wednesday, there were more than double the children than we had on Monday. Praise the Lord for over ten children that placed their faith in Jesus Christ. In the afternoons, we had a chance to blitz the area with gospel tracts and literature. It was encouraging to see two of the teenagers hand out over 300 tracts individually in a single day! In the evenings, the church hosted revival services for the whole family. Five adults and children accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior during the evening meetings! Pray for the pastor and Constanza Baptist Church as they seek to disciple the new believers as well as continue in the work of the Lord in Constanza.

We are continuing to progress in our Spanish. We sang a special in one of the Sunday morning services in church. Tim also translated for the group during VBS in the mountains. Please pray as he is preparing to give his first devotional in Spanish at the end of September. Stephanie continues to help in her four to six-year-old Sunday school class every week, and she has Spanish class each Wednesday and Friday.

On August 13, we held the first in a series of youth rallies at the church. The theme for the day was “The Christian Teenager and Worldliness”. Many visiting churches came to participate in the meeting. Tim brought the first message on Joseph and his stand against temptation, and the assistant pastor and another man in the church shared about Daniel and Samson. Pray as we are planning on hosting another rally in the month of November.

Throughout the summer, we have worked extensively in the renovation of the facilities in order to bring the property to school regulation standards, to prepare the classrooms for a new year, and to improve the bathrooms and storage. School began on Monday, August 28, and Tim has been able to help in the orientation and devotionals in the morning. He will teach Bible to the high school students, and Stephanie will teach English to fifth and sixth grade.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Stephanie’s eye. It is getting better each day. In her last two doctor’s appointments, the doctor personally came to the waiting room to tell Tim about the vast improvements in her eye. We are asking the Lord to heal her eye without the need of any surgery.

Tim has put in a lot of work over the last two months in regards to our visa. The process as a whole as been somewhat frustrating as the requirements given on the internet and from the immigration office are not complete as required by the actual workers inside the visa department. Tim submitted the paperwork and had his medical exam on August 19. Please pray as we still have another step left before everything is complete and we receive our visa. Our current visas will expire at the end of the month.

Much has happened during the past 31 days. We are thankful for what the Lord has allowed us to do for Him during this time. We also want to thank Him for the blessing of so many people praying for us. Please take a moment to view the following video highlighting our youth rally.

In July, we saw God’s hand moving, not only in the lives of children, but also in the healing of Stephanie’s eye. We started the month with a time of visitation and tract distribution for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. A group of seven ladies from Temple Baptist in Texas came to help us with the VBS as well as with decorations in the Academy. Even though it was hot, we had a great group of children come out every day. By the final day, we saw over 40 children place their faith in Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord! Please pray as we seek to not only disciple these children, but also reach their families. The following week, we had the chance to visit a local girl’s orphanage with the ladies. It is amazing as every time we go seeking to be a blessing to these children that we in turn receive more of a blessing. The final Thursday of the month, I was grateful for the opportunity to preach on salvation and works and how they are evidences of our relationship with Christ, not the means of our salvation.

As many of you know and have been faithfully praying, Stephanie contracted the Salmonella bacteria in her right eye this past month. On a Monday evening, she was feeling some discomfort in her eye, and when she awoke the next morning, she was unable to open her eye due to the pain and swelling. We were very thankful that she saw an ophthalmologist the following day.  He informed us of the severity of the bacteria as well as the ulcer covering most of her eye. After many doses of eye drops and medication, the infection cleared and the ulcer dissolved. However, she was still unable to see. Following two weeks of disappointing news, little change, and much prayer on our behalf from so many wonderful people, the Lord began to work, and the doctors were amazed at the rapid healing of the cornea. She is able to see a little more each week, and we are trusting God for a complete recovery. Thank you so much for your prayers! Our God hears and answers prayer!

Please continue to pray for more opportunities to be a witness to the doctor. It is evident that the Lord is working in his heart. He has even asked Stephanie to be in prayer for him and his family. Also, pray for Stephanie and I as we take a larger role in helping in New Life Christian Academy in August through teaching English and Bible. We hope that you take a few minutes to watch some of the highlights from our Vacation Bible School.

https://youtu.be/CKDncgxJ4u0  

We were blessed and encouraged over the last few weeks as we read so many special notes and e-mails of support and prayer for our family. The Lord has definitely used this experience to help teach us patience and reliance on Him and His plan.

Stephanie’s eye infection from the Salmonella bacteria cleared up a few weeks ago. The doctor changed the treatment some to help in the healing process of the ulcer. Last week, he asked her if she was able to see out of her right eye. She told him no, but she hoped to see more when the ulcer dissolved. He then informed her that the ulcer was in fact gone, and the scar that was covering much of her eye and the swelling were hindering her vision. We left discouraged but knowing that God had a plan. At her appointment on Monday, the doctor gave the same report about the severity of the scar and the slow healing process ahead of her. However, she began to notice a change on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we noted that there had been a drastic change in the size of the scar and “cloudiness” in her eye. Before, we were unable to see her pupil and most of her iris, but the “cloudiness” was gone and the scar was much smaller.  On Thursday at her appointment, the doctor repeatedly said “Oh” and “Wow” before calling in another doctor that practiced with him. As they rapidly talked back and forth in Spanish, Stephanie said that she began to feel anxious about a new problem. After a few minutes, the doctor switched to English and told her that there was not a problem. He said that he and the other doctor were just discussing how fast the eye was healing from the infection and how rare that it is! We are praising the Lord for what He has done, and we are comforted to know that healing is in His hands!

We are praying that the healing process would continue to progress. Her cornea is still swollen, but she is able to open her eye a little more every day. Would you continue to pray with us in the following areas:

1. Swelling in the cornea to subside
2. Continued healing of the eye and the scar
3. Return of her vision (she can now see basic shapes)
4. Good testimony and more opportunities to witness to the doctors

Thank you so much for your prayers! We are so thankful to have so many people praying for us!

We are so grateful for the continued prayers for our family. Stephanie had another doctor’s appointment today, and he told us that the infection is gone! Praise the Lord! She will continue to use the stronger eye drops for the next few days. We will discuss with the doctor next week regarding what more we can do to help in the healing process of the eye irritation, ulcer, and use of her eye. With the absence of the infection and diminishing of the drops, it will heal much faster. We are continuing to pray for complete healing without the need for a cornea transplant. Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement. We are blessed in so many different ways from our Heavenly Father!

Our hearts have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of prayers and encouraging notes! We are so blessed to have so many people praying for us. Stephanie had another eye appointment today. The doctor told her that the infection has moved out of the aggressive stage, and it is only located a little in the ulcer and on the bottom of the eye. Lord willing, the infection should clear up in the next few weeks. However, the doctors are concerned about the damage done to the cornea from the ulcer on her eye. They informed us that there will be some type of scar, but they are concerned about the heightened possibility for the need of a cornea transplant due to the severity of the infection and ulcer. We will know more after the infection is gone and the eye has had time to heal. We are thankful that none of these events were a surprise to our Heavenly Father, and we know that He has a plan in it all. Would you help us pray in the following areas?

1. Clearing of the infection
2. Healing of the ulcer and irritation
3. Wisdom for us and the doctors in this process

Thank you so much for your prayers. God is good, all the time!

Dear Praying Friends,

We trust that you had a wonderful time with family and friends on our nation’s birthday this past week. We are asking for prayers for Stephanie. Last week, she developed a serious eye infection. After further investigation and tests, it was determined that she had salmonella in the eye. The doctors began a rigorous regiment of strong eye drops to eradicate the infection. Praise the Lord the infection is slowing getting better with each passing day. However, it has caused significant irritation to the eye as well as an ulcer covering her pupil. We are asking the Lord to remove the infection completely so that the irritation will subside and the doctors can begin treatment on the ulcer. As with any eye infection and ulcer, there is significant chance for scarring and loss of some of the vision in the eye. Would you please pray with us in the following areas?

1. Removal of the infection through the treatments
2. Healing of the ulcer covering the pupil
3. Soothing of the intense irritation in her eye
4. No permanent damage to her eye or vision

We serve a God Who is able and Who has a plan for us. Thank you for your faithful prayers for our family. We are looking forward to what God has in store.

God bless,

Timothy and Stephanie Germano

June brought the end of the school year activities and the beginning of the summer plans. I was able to preach on June 1 during the IBBI group’s visit from Isaiah 40. This chapter serves as a wonderful reminder of Who our God is and how He can give us the strength we need! During their stay, we enjoyed a visit also from Stephanie’s family the first two weeks of the month. It was great to spend time with them in person and catch up on many different things. The kids especially enjoyed Papa, Lili, and Uncle David time. We were able to show them where we live and serve as well as some of the different sights to see on the island.

During their time here, another mission’s group came from one of Bro. Autrey’s supporting churches to help us in the ministries to the children and teenagers. On June 11th and 12th, we hosted a youth rally with the young people at the church. A great group came on Saturday afternoon for a time of games and fellowship followed by a message from God’s Word. A greater number returned on Sunday f0llowing the morning service for more preaching and activities at the park. On the Tuesday, we visited the El Faro boy’s orphanage for a service and activity time with them. Stephanie, the kids, and I always enjoy ministering to these children.

In the midst of these activities, the New Life Christian Academy held their end of the year program and graduation ceremony. The school provides another outreach into the community and into the families in our city. A few times this month, I was able to either translate publicly from Spanish to English or help lead some of the services of the church in Spanish. We are grateful for the opportunities to practice the language as we minister to the people. On Father’s Day evening, I was invited to fill in and preach at a local church in the capitol without a pastor. We were welcomed with open arms during the service and time of fellowship afterwards. Please pray as the church is actively seeking a pastor. The following Sunday, I shared from the Scriptures during the morning service from Psalm 23. Praise the Lord a first time visitor accepted the Lord as her Savior. Pray with us as we seek to help her in her new walk with Christ.

There is much to do during the summer break from the school year. Please help us pray as we continue working in the building, and pray for the outreaches coming up in July. We will host a Vacation Bible School from July 13-17 as well as services in two of the orphanages.

May was a time of warmer weather, two Mother’s Days (one US and one Dominican), a little sickness, an ending, and a construction group. I had the chance to preach on a few occasions in May in the church and Christian school. On Sunday, May 1st, I continued a series on “My Reasonable Service” which began in April. On Wednesday, I shared with the high school students in chapel about the boldness of Phinehas and standing up for what is right. The next day, I began to feel weak, and in just a short time, it was apparent that I had contracted Zika. A few days in, Stephanie came down with it also. However, praise the Lord that it only lasted a week and that the children did not get it. On Sunday, May 15, I was able to return to the pulpit and finish the series from Romans 11 and 12.

While we celebrated US Mother’s Day with medicine and rest, we were able to have a second chance with Dominican Mother’s Day at the end of the month. Bro. Autrey shared a fantastic Bible message on our relationship with our mothers. I am thankful for Stephanie’s sacrifice and godly example to our children as she helps raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!

May also brought the end to my formal Spanish classes. I am thankful for the past six months with our Spanish tutor Adones. He was able to offer tremendous help and instruction in a one-on-one environment. I will continue to work with different Spanish textbooks and programs throughout each week in order to increase my Spanish. Stephanie will continue with her classes for the foreseeable future.

At the end of the month, we were blessed with the help from a construction group with IBBI. There is still much to accomplish and renovate at the new property as we convert the buildings to school and church facilities. The men were able to focus on expanding the bathrooms, rewiring the church, constructing a church sound room and office, building a pulpit, and re-roofing part of the building. May the Lord bless them for the sacrifice and service. Please pray as the church raises more funds and moves forward with the work.

New Life Christian Academy is approaching its final days of the semester, and the season for mission’s trips is quickly approaching. Pray for the three groups that are coming this summer as there will be many different outreaches, not only here in the city, but also in different parts of the island.

March brought full-fledged renovation at the new facility. We devoted most of the month to converting the existing buildings on the property to our needs for the ministry. As we waited for the previous owners to finish moving from the main building, we focused our efforts on the second and smaller building which was to house the church. This is a separate facility which allows for a greater seating capacity in the auditorium than the old property and which is used only for the church. By mid-March, we began the work in the main building as well which is to be used for the school and seminary. The majority of the classrooms are located on the second floor with the offices, cafeteria, and room for chapel services on the first floor. We were thankful for the four men who came from the United States to help us in this work. After many long days, we finished the basic renovation. The church held their first service at their own location on Easter Sunday, and the students had their first day for the school on April 4.

We continued Spanish classes and ministry throughout the construction. I preached in high school chapel during March; this was a treat as once a month the high school students have their chapel service in English. I was also able to preach at one of our Thursday night services. In April, we began to resume a normal schedule for work and ministry at the new location. We are enjoying the ability to become more involved in the work as we learn more and more Spanish. Stephanie began helping every Sunday in a children’s Sunday School class, and she had the chance to visit a local hospital with the church to pray with the new mothers in the maternity ward as well as give them diapers and gospel literature. I continued to help in the various ministries in the church each week. We helped with the monthly youth meeting, and we sang another special in Spanish on a Sunday morning. We are grateful for the opportunity to practice our language skills with the church members; they are very patient with us a we work not only with the vocabulary and grammar, but also with the pronunciation. I was able to preach this past Sunday at our morning service, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to speak more in the next few weeks.

We had a special blessing during the month of April; my parents came to visit us for a week. It was exciting to share with them what they have heard about through our many conversations via telephone or Skype. Landon and Elena wasted no time in showing them their new home and way of life here. We enjoyed our time in fellowship with them face to face!

Please keep praying for us as we continue to adjust to the new facilities and to work on preparing the building further. We are excited about the greater opportunities to reach our city with the gospel of Jesus Christ! This past week marked six months of service for our family in the Dominican Republic. We want to say thank you to the many precious people who have faithfully prayed for us and supported us during our transition to service here. Please take a moment to watch our latest video update of our first six months on the field.

February has come and almost gone! We continue working away on our language classes three times a week. We are thankful for Adones, our Spanish tutor, who can work with each of us on our specific needs. He teaches in the Christian school and attends the church. We have already learned so much, but there is much more to learn!

Before the church’s 15th Anniversary service on the 7th of February, we were able to pass out many flyers and tracts in the surrounding neighborhoods. Praise the Lord for my two partners. They are twin boys in the 6th grade with a desire to serve the Lord! They boldly spoke with everyone who received a tract and invitation. May we all be a strong witness for the Lord. On the Sunday, we had a full pavilion despite the rain (torrential at times). Pastor Davis, a visiting pastor from the states, preached a powerful sermon, and five people placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! On Monday and Tuesday, we continued the celebration with stirring revival services with Pastor Davis. We even had the privilege with the Lord’s help to sing two specials in Spanish.

I was able to speak in chapel on Wednesday of that week to the high school students. I challenged them about the salvation that is found only in the name of Jesus Christ and the command to live and tell this message. On Saturday, February 13, we began helping with the monthly youth servicea. We had a time of activities and food before a message from God’s Word. I preached for Bro. Autrey on Valentine’s Day to the church regarding “A True Disciple“. During the invitation, a few more precious souls prayed to God in salvation! We, as believers, have an awesome privilege and responsibility to share the wonderful words of life with a lost and dying world!

Work continues to be underway in renovating one of the buildings on the new property in order to hold our church services in the coming weeks. Please pray for this endeavor as well as the renovation work in the main building for the school and seminary. Lord-willing, they will began utilizing this new location by the end of March. Thank you so much for your prayers for God’s work here in the Dominican Republic; we know that we have so many people who are praying for us!